Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 294: Old Faces

Riley ignored Harlan completely and walked past him as if he were nothing more than background noise. The silver chains on her back caught the light as she stepped toward our car, her chin lifted high. Even in heels, she moved like someone who refused to bow.

Lewis was waiting by the door in his wheelchair, the perfect picture of calm restraint. But I could feel the quiet strength beneath that act. His presence wrapped around us like an invisible shield.

"This isn’t the right time or place," Lewis said evenly.

Harlan’s jaw tightened. He swallowed whatever sharp words were rising in his throat and forced himself to nod. "Don’t forget our agreement," he reminded Riley.

He reached out to steady her, but Riley pulled away before his fingers could touch her. The rejection was small, but in our world, it meant something. It was a silent refusal of closeness.

Just before the car door shut, we heard his low voice behind us.

"Who told you to dress like that?"

There was a rough edge to it. Not anger alone.

Something more possessive.

Lewis turned to me then and extended his hand. His touch was gentle as he helped me into the car, careful and controlled. Even seated, he carried the quiet dominance of an Alpha who did not need to prove himself.

I leaned closer to him once we were inside. "Do you think Riley will be okay?"

He gave me a calm look. "Harlan talks too much. He won’t hurt her. And... he’s starting to change."

"Change?" I repeated softly.

Lewis’s lips curved faintly. "He just doesn’t know it yet."

Only then did I notice Lewis’s outfit properly. He wasn’t wearing his usual dark suit. Instead, he wore ivory almost the exact shade of my dress. Even his bow tie matched.

"Lewis," I said honestly, "you look very handsome tonight."

For a second, the powerful Alpha beside me looked like a shy boy. His ears turned slightly red, and it was so adorable that my heart squeezed. It was strange how someone so feared could look so innocent in a moment like this.

His gaze lowered to my bare neck. "Where’s the stone?"

My fingers instinctively touched my collarbone before I remembered. "In my bag," I said quickly. "An old woman in the village recognized it earlier. I was worried someone might connect it to... what I shouldn’t exist as."

The secret of my rebirth.

The truth only a few of us knew.

He studied me carefully. "Don’t lose it."

"I won’t," I promised. "I’ll wear it again after the banquet."

Tonight’s event was for Bailey White’s eightieth birthday. An elder of one of the oldest pack families in the region. The hall was grand, filled with crystal lights and the scent of expensive perfume mixed with something sharper territorial pride.

As soon as we stepped inside, I realized not everyone there was a stranger.

Yenick.

He stood near the center of the room, polished as always, smiling like he owned the place. The moment Lewis was pulled away by a group of elders, Yenick approached me.

"Riley, you look beautiful tonight," he said smoothly.

His tone made my skin crawl.

Before he could continue, I pointed behind him. "Lewis, is that you?"

Yenick’s face drained of color. He spun around immediately, panic flashing across his features. But there was no one there.

When he turned back, he looked irritated. "You’re tricking me."

"I was just playing with a stray dog," I replied lightly and walked past him.

"Wait, sis!"

Riley had let go of Harlan and rushed toward me. In her haste, she almost collided with Yenick. Her heels were too high, and she stumbled forward.

"Watch it!" Yenick said, reaching out.

But Harlan was faster.

He pulled Riley into his arms, steady and firm. His voice dropped low. "Why are you running?"

Riley froze when she saw Yenick up close. Her hand tightened around Harlan’s sleeve without thinking. Her body went rigid.

Yenick stared at her forehead, at the small red mark there.

Identical to mine.

"You..." he breathed.

Riley’s fingers dug deeper into Harlan’s cuff. Even though her feelings for Yenick were long gone, there were still shadows between them. Memories. Old pain.

She was too young to hide it well.

Harlan felt the shift immediately. His eyes darkened slightly. "Mr. Pearson, who is this?" Yenick asked, forcing a smile.

"My wife," Harlan replied coldly.

The word hung in the air.

"Oh," Yenick said, swallowing. "Mrs. Pearson, you’re very beautiful."

Harlan gave a short snort. "Obviously. Did you need to say it?"

Yenick’s smile stiffened, but he didn’t retreat. He needed money. He needed connections. Desperation was written all over him.

"Hello, Mrs. Pearson. I’m Yenick Hudson."

Riley’s hand tightened again on Harlan’s arm, almost painfully.

"And why does that concern me?" she asked, her voice like ice.

She linked her arm through Harlan’s and walked away without another glance. I noticed her eyes were slightly red. Her body trembled faintly.

Something unresolved lingered there.

As more people gathered around them, curious about the woman Harlan had kept hidden for three years, Riley stayed close to him. She didn’t let go of his arm. Harlan introduced her patiently as his wife, but his attention kept drifting to her face, studying her reaction.

Since she was surrounded, I decided to look for Lewis.

He was deep in conversation with several powerful figures. I didn’t want to interrupt, so I stepped away quietly.

The banquet hall was enormous. Music floated softly through the air. Laughter mixed with the tension of political alliances and hidden rivalries.

I greeted Fiona and a few others. They were much warmer to me now. After Grant publicly acknowledged me and handed me authority within the subsidiary, their attitudes had changed. In pack society, power determined respect.

"Looking for Mr. Hale?" Fiona asked. "I saw him head that way."

"Thank you," I replied.

I walked toward the buffet table, suddenly aware that I hadn’t eaten all day. I picked up a small slice of cake and took a bite. Sweet. Soft.

I paused.

Lewis probably hadn’t eaten either.

Without thinking, I chose another slice in his favorite flavor. The simple act felt intimate, almost domestic. Something about caring for him in small ways made the bond between us feel warmer.

As I turned around, I nearly collided with someone.

"Riley," a familiar voice said smoothly. "What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to see you here."

My heart dropped to my stomach.

Yael.

He stood there as if he had always belonged in this city. As if he hadn’t once torn through my life like a storm.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

He looked exactly the same.

Like a ghost that refused to stay buried.