Chapter 415: Accept Her

Benjamin’s POV

Hayley turned to face me, excitement evident in her voice. “Ms. Southwell just mentioned it, right? Johnny will be there too! I haven’t seen him in so long, and I really want to catch up!”

I remembered what my mother had said earlier. If she discovered that Johnny, the person she’d always longed to be close to, was Hayley’s godfather, I could only imagine her reaction. It would be quite a sight!

But I wasn’t going to tell my mother that the Omega she had always looked down upon, Hayley, was connected to Johnny in this way. I wanted my mother to recognize her bias and truly accept Hayley for who she was.

“I’ll go with you,” I said, snapping out of my thoughts and offering my suggestion.

She smiled and nodded eagerly. “Sure!”

The SK Pack’s banquet was held at a lavish estate owned by the Jaggeds. The event brought together almost all of the political and business elite from Eastshore. Anyone lucky enough to receive an invitation was expected to bring their families, making it clear that the Jaggeds held immense power in the region.

Hayley’s POV:

“Mrs. Southwell, Mr. Benjamin…” As soon as Alpha Brayden Jagged spotted Odessa and Benjamin, he eagerly walked over to greet them. As the host, he completely ignored me, focusing instead on chatting with Odessa.

Odessa seemed to enjoy the attention, her face glowing with pride as she carried herself with the poise of a former Luna of the Midnight Pack. A faint smile played on her lips. Beside me, Benjamin slipped his arm around my waist, silently ensuring I wasn’t forgotten.

Brayden finally noticed me and asked, “And who is this?”

Odessa was about to speak, but Benjamin intervened first, calmly introducing me, “My fiancée.”

His simple declaration caused Brayden’s face to shift slightly; a flicker of surprise crossed his features. But, as most high-ranking werewolf Alphas were trained to do, Brayden quickly masked his surprise, offering a neutral smile. “I had heard you were engaged, but I didn’t expect your fiancée to be so beautiful. Which pack does she belong to? Is she the daughter of an Alpha?”

I didn’t hide anything. I looked up, smiling softly as I answered, “My family is from the Shadow Pack in the…”

Chapter 416: Accept Her

After I spoke, Brayden studied me for a moment, as though evaluating my words.

“They say the younger generation doesn’t care about rank or status, that it’s all about spiritual love. I thought it was just talk, but now I see that it’s no exaggeration.”

Odessa’s expression darkened at his words, and she quickly added, “They’re just children in love. Time will tell, won’t it?” Her comment barely concealed her disapproval of Benjamin and my relationship.

Brayden gave a polite smile. “Mrs. Southwell, Mr. Benjamin, please make yourselves comfortable. I’ll take my leave now.”

After Brayden walked away, Odessa shot me a sharp, disdainful glare. If Benjamin hadn’t been there, I was certain she would have already marched over to scold me.

“Ben, Vivian is over there. Let’s go say hello,” Odessa suggested to Benjamin.

Benjamin refused flatly. “You go ahead. I’ll stay with Hayley and get some rest.”

Without waiting for Odessa’s response, he took my hand and led me toward the lounge.

I was surprised. “What’s going on with you?”

Benjamin met my gaze and gently pulled me into an embrace. He whispered softly in my ear, “Don’t pay any attention to what my mom says or anyone else’s judgment. You have me. No matter what, I’ll always be by your side.”

I nodded, feeling all the anxiety I’d been carrying dissolve.

“I understand. Don’t worry. You’re the Alpha of the Midnight Pack, after all. It’s only natural that your mom sees me as an Omega and thinks I’m not good enough for you. But I believe, as long as we love each other, nothing else matters.”

“Exactly,” he said. “Just remember, as long as we love each other, no one can tear us apart. Hayley, you know, sometimes I wonder… why are you only starting college now? If you were graduating this year, I’d marry you without a second thought.”

I laughed and quickly punched his chest, teasing, “What are you talking about?”

He looked at me seriously, his eyes filled with emotion. “I’m serious. In a couple of years, once everything settles down, I’ll make it official. I’ll throw a ceremony and announce you as my Luna. How does that sound?”