Chapter 54 You Reek

As Eira and the others headed toward the exit, the Hale family arrived at the elevators behind them.

Luna Margaret’s face soured when she saw Eira.

"You saw us earlier and couldn’t even come over to say hello? How rude."

Eira had expected this. Luna Margaret could turn anything into a reason to criticize her.

"I didn’t want to interrupt your family dinner."

"Your family?" Alpha Sebastian’s voice sharpened. He did not like how easily she separated herself from the Hales. "We’ll talk about this when we get home."

Eira looked at him but said nothing.

Alpha Sebastian could hardly explain the situation in front of everyone. Serena had planned the dinner and invited his family without telling him. Calling her out now would only embarrass her.

"And show my parents some respect," he added. "There’s no need for that attitude."

Before Eira could respond, Luna Margaret turned to Luna Seraphina with a tired sigh.

"Please excuse her, Luna Sterling. Eira has never had much respect for family. At home, she can barely take care of her husband, much less the rest of us."

She wanted Luna Seraphina to understand that a nice dress and a few powerful friends did not change who Eira was. Once the marriage ended, Eira would never find another Alpha like Sebastian.

Luna Seraphina’s smile cooled.

"I’m not sure why your son’s wife is expected to take care of you."

Luna Margaret stiffened.

"In the Sterling family, we don’t expect a daughter-in-law to serve us," Luna Seraphina continued. "We have staff when we need help. We also don’t expect her to wait on her husband. He’s an adult."

Luna Margaret’s face turned red.

"I only meant that family should take care of each other."

"Then the care should go both ways."

Luna Margaret had no answer.

Monica glanced at Alpha Sebastian. "Alpha Hale, you might want to think about why you stood by while your parents criticized your wife. If you keep taking her for granted, you may lose her."

Alpha Sebastian’s hand tightened at his side.

He looked at Eira.

Lose her?

For four years, she had stayed with him even though he had given her almost nothing in return. She had never seriously threatened to leave. As far as he knew, nothing had changed.

"Eira, I’ll wait for you downstairs."

He gave Luna Seraphina a polite nod, then followed his family into the elevator.

Once the doors closed, he turned to Serena.

"Why didn’t you tell me you invited my parents and Isabella?"

Serena blinked. "I thought you’d be happy."

"We were all sitting there like a family while Eira was left out. How do you think that looked?"

He was still angry about the way Eira had called them your family, as if she had already decided she no longer belonged with them.

Serena’s eyes filled with tears.

"I didn’t think about it that way."

"Serena was trying to do something thoughtful," Alpha Roger said. "Eira didn’t even bother to celebrate your success."

"She didn’t know about it," Alpha Sebastian said sharply. "If she had known, she would have planned something."

A tear slipped down Serena’s cheek.

"It’s my fault. I should have included her."

Alpha Sebastian’s expression softened slightly, but his frustration remained. "You should have told me who was coming."

The elevator reached the lobby, and Serena stepped out with her head down.

Alpha Roger and Luna Margaret motioned for Alpha Sebastian to follow her. Outside, Serena was already waving down a cab.

Alpha Sebastian watched her leave, but he did not move.

"I’m waiting for Eira. I need to explain what happened tonight."

"Explain what?" Luna Margaret snapped. "You don’t owe her an explanation."

When Serena opened the cab door, Luna Margaret gave Alpha Sebastian a push.

"Go after her."

Alpha Sebastian turned to his mother.

"No. And while we’re at it, stop criticizing Eira every chance you get. I’ve spent years focused on work while she handled everything at home. She took care of the house and made sure all of us had what we needed. She’s done enough."

Luna Margaret stared at him.

"You hired a housekeeper. Don’t act like Eira did everything herself. And do you even know what she’s planning to do?"

Alpha Roger shot her a warning look.

Alpha Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. "What is she planning?"

Luna Margaret quickly changed course.

"She’s planning to make a fool of you. Look at how close she is to the Sterlings. How do you know she isn’t interested in Alpha Killian?"

"She wouldn’t do that."

No one knew better than Alpha Sebastian how much Eira loved him.

"How can you be so sure?" Luna Margaret demanded

"Eira wouldn’t hide something like that from me."

Luna Margaret let out a bitter laugh.

"Then what about Serena? She comes from a respected family, and she has stood by you for months. Are you really going to let people treat her like a homewrecker?"

"Mom, don’t say that about Serena," Isabella cut in. "Sebastian and Serena were together first. Eira was the one who came between them."

The elevator doors opened behind them.

Eira stepped into the lobby with Luna Seraphina and Lila. They had heard every word.

Alpha Sebastian turned sharply.

"Eira."

Isabella did not back down.

"What? I’m not wrong. If Serena hadn’t gone abroad, Eira never would have had a chance. Serena should have been Sebastian’s wife from the beginning."

Eira looked at Luna Seraphina and Lila.

"I’m sorry you had to hear this. You should head home. I need to deal with something."

"You don’t have to stay," Luna Seraphina said.

"I’ll be fine."

Luna Seraphina studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Call Lila if you need anything."

"I will."

Eira walked them to their car and waited until they drove away. Then she returned to the Hales.

She ignored Alpha Sebastian and looked directly at Isabella.

"If you want Serena as your brother’s Luna that badly, convince your brother to divorce me. That would be more useful than yelling about it in a hotel lobby."

Alpha Sebastian stared at her.

Divorce?

No. Eira would never actually leave him.

"You think I don’t want that?" Isabella shot back. "I think about it every day."

"Enough," Alpha Sebastian said sharply.

He turned to Eira, and his voice softened.

"I’m not divorcing you. Stop talking like that."

Then he looked at his parents.

"Take Isabella home. Eira and I are leaving."

He reached for Eira’s hand, but she stepped away.

Alpha Sebastian told himself she was only upset about being left out of dinner.

"It’s cold," he said, forcing himself to stay calm. "Get in the car. I’ll explain everything."

"I’m going back to Mrs. Thorne’s. I’m not going with you."

His jaw tightened.

"Eira."

"I said no."

Alpha Sebastian caught her wrist and pulled her toward the car.

"Let go of me."

When she resisted, he lifted her into his arms.

"Put me down!"

He ignored her and carried her to the passenger side. He set her in the seat, then leaned across her to fasten the seat belt.

Eira pressed herself against the seat, putting as much distance between them as possible.

"You reek."

Alpha Sebastian went still.

"What did you say?"

To Eira, his betrayal had tainted everything about him. Even having him this close made her skin crawl.

His hand closed around her chin.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

A flash of panic cut through his anger.

Did she know about Serena? Was that why she had started acting so differently?

"You just ate," Eira said coldly. "You haven’t even brushed your teeth."