Chapter 23: Exposed
Henry was the first to stride in, grumbling, "Can't we take turns? Why do we all have to come together?"
He froze mid-step, pointing at my aunt in shock. “Holy crap—that’s the famous Hollywood actress, Ivana!”
The Southwells who followed him also stood there, stunned. Christopher, upon seeing my aunt's face clearly, nearly dropped the gifts he was carrying.
Everyone seemed taken aback, except for Benjamin. His expression remained indifferent, but his eyes shifted to me, scrutinizing me with suspicion.
Ignoring his gaze, I was at a loss for how to break the awkward silence. My aunt patted my shoulder reassuringly before standing up. She flipped her hair back and began, “Hello, I’m Hayley’s aunt.”
“You’re her aunt?” Christopher’s eyes widened in disbelief, glancing at me awkwardly. He probably remembered boasting about taking me to meet celebrities and now felt incredibly embarrassed.
Benjamin stepped forward slowly, his movements graceful. He extended his hand toward my aunt with an air of elegance. “Hello! I’m Benjamin from the Midnight Pack.”
“Hello, I’m Ivana from the Shadow Pack. I came back to the country and decided to visit my niece Hayley,” my aunt explained, casting a glance my way. I could instantly see the approval in her eyes as she looked at Benjamin.
She then adopted a more authoritative tone, “You all came to see our Hayz? She’s quite the treasure in our pack—my father’s precious gem! Her injury has the whole family worried.” Thankfully, she managed to cover it up, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Sorry to have worried you. As the Alpha heir of the Midnight Pack, I promise you this won’t happen again,” Benjamin said earnestly.
“Thank you,” my aunt smiled, pleased with his sincere promise. She turned to my side, teasing, “Hayz. I think Benjamin is quite dashing and suits you well. He might just be your destined mate.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Benjamin’s face instantly darken at her words. I immediately grasped his disdain. He still viewed my Omega status and ‘plain’ appearance as beneath him.
“Auntie…” I tugged her sleeve, signaling her to stop.
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
“Since Hayley’s aunt is here, we should be proper hosts,” Irving suddenly said, breaking the tension. I looked up and met his gaze. He knew one of my secrets, and his demeanor toward me had softened, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He then turned to Benjamin, his tone still calm, and asked, “Ben, what do you think?”
Benjamin responded curtly, “Fine, you handle it.” Their hierarchy was evident without words.
After Benjamin spoke, Irving smiled at me and asked, “For dinner, shall we invite Miss Carson along?”
Dinner! The thought excited me. After days of hospital food, my appetite had dwindled. A proper meal was a welcome change.
“Of course!” I agreed without hesitation.
My aunt looked at me, slightly concerned. “But your wound hasn’t healed yet. Can you eat out?”
“I can, Auntie,” I replied confidently, not giving her a chance to object. I whispered in her ear, “Remember, I’m actually an Alpha. My body is strong.”
She nodded immediately.
The dinner table soon buzzed with conversation, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this meal wasn’t just about welcoming my aunt—it seemed like she was here to find me a mate.
“Ben, could you help Hayz cut her steak? Her hand isn’t fully healed yet,” my aunt said, deliberately involving Benjamin.
So, while I was still savoring the foie gras, a plate with a large steak appeared beside me. Before I could speak, Benjamin said, “You’re welcome!” I silently fumed. Welcome for what? I hate my steak medium-rare, and he picked such a huge piece!
After a while, I put down my knife and fork, resting my chin on my hand, and lazily glanced around. Everyone else was engrossed in conversation, except for Benjamin and me. Just as I was about to look away, I found Benjamin’s eyes on me. He began to speak slowly—