The Mark I Didn’t Want-The Mate I Never Expected Chapter 06
When I woke up the next morning, Baron was already awake-but I wasn’t there.
I’d gone home to shower and change, but Baron didn’t know that. He probably thought I’d bolted,
His guards blew up my phone, one call after another.
“Ms. Vance, please-call him yourself and tell him you didn’t run. He won’t believe a word we say.
Please.”
I almost laughed.
This was the man everyone in the city was terrified of-the one rumored to be running for the next Alpha King. The guy who never flinched at anything. And yet with me? Totally insecure. Totally
worried I’d ditch him.
Not gonna lie, it made me feel good.
Who doesn’t like being wanted like that?
I opened my texts and sent him a message:
[Babe, I’m on my way back.]
No response for a long time.
Instead, I got another call from the guard.
“Ms. Vance, what did you send him?”
“He got so flustered he dropped his phone in his water glass. His ears lit up all over again.”
“The doctor almost thought his rut wasn’t over.”
“That man never cracks a smile, but just now? He kept grinning to himself-couldn’t stop even
with all of us watching. The untouchable ice king, brought down to earth. Gotta say, it takes you to pull that off.”
I just stared at my phone. “…”
I did my makeup carefully-went all out. Put on the prettiest dress in my closet, curled my hair, stared at myself in the mirror for a long time.
Perfect.
Then I grabbed my bag and rushed back to Cedars Sinai as fast as I could.
But when I got to the door of the private suite, I heard Shane’s voice from inside-drained and
miserable.
“Baron, you said I’d get to meet my future sister-in-law today.”-
“Where is she?”
I grabbed the door handle and pushed it open.
“Elara?” Shane looked stunned to see me there. Then, after a beat, he snorted with that same old arrogance. “So you finally decided to show up. And you dressed up all pretty just for me?”
I shook my head, my voice flat. “Not for you.”
Shane’s eyes ran over me-and I caught the flash of surprise in them.
“Don’t lie. Girls dress up for the guy they like. If not for me, then who?”
“Where were you last night, anyway? Whatever. Good thing you didn’t show-I would’ve been completely done for.”
He gave me that smug, relieved look-like he’d just dodged a bullet.
I couldn’t be bothered. I ignored him completely, walked straight past, and stopped right in front of
Baron.
I tilted my head and asked him, with a little coyness, “Do I look good?”
Baron was lying on his stomach on the bed, and his eyes hadn’t left me since I walked in.
“Beautiful,” he said. “But a pearl necklace would really bring out your skin tone.”
He called the guard at the door.
“Go to my desk. Second drawer. Bring me that pearl necklace.”
The guard asked, “The South Sea Pearl one from last year’s auction? The one you bought for Elara’s birthday but had Shane deliver-the one that never made it to her?”
Baron frowned. “You talk too much.”
The guard grinned and bolted.
But Shane cut in: “Baron, I told you-Elara’s not into South Sea Pearls at her age.”
I didn’t let him finish. “Who said I don’t like them? South Sea Pearls are elegant, classy, total queen energy. I’m obsessed. They’re just too expensive-I’d never buy one for myself.”
Shane didn’t like me contradicting him. He crooked his finger at me.
“Come here Tell me what you like-I’ll buy it for you. Don’t be so formal with my brother.”
But Baron caught my wrist and held on tight.
Like he was terrified I’d slip away.
And his voice dropped-possessive and firm.
“She’s not going anywhere near you.”
Shane blinked. “What?”
Baron ignored the confusion in his brother’s eyes. For the first time, he wasn’t holding back.
“And for the record, she got dressed up for me today.”
