SCARLET'S POV.
Sitting there, tense and silent, I observed the two brothers bicker over me—a strange but fascinating scene.
While they exchanged words, I remained wordless, silently pleading for an escape. Surviving this moment felt uncertain; slipping out of this room might be my only chance at survival until the break of dawn.
Xavier's interrogation of his brother surprised me; it seemed there was more beneath their rivalry surface than I had anticipated. Taking over his brother's wife and kids seemed to be a sore point for Eliot.
A teenage girl entered, and Xavier's reaction—going from poised to slumped on the floor—indicated she was his daughter.
He had kids? Those portraits on the wall—his family pictures—suddenly made sense.
What puzzled me more was why his children didn't know him. It seemed like a poignant situation, one that would deeply hurt any man, but here, the reality was different. I was desperate to find a way out of this room.
Witnessing him transform from a fearsome figure to someone with tears streaming down his face was a revelation. As the Beta and Underboss, he seemed to have bottled up a lot, and now, releasing that pain seemed both unexpected and painful for him.
I stood there, contemplating whether to leave or console him, watching as he remained immersed in his thoughts, seemingly unaware of my presence.
Slowly, I approached and gently held his hand, but he didn't acknowledge my gesture.
"They need you in the hall," I spoke softly, summoning an unexpected courage.
"What's there to celebrate when my daughter doesn't even know me?" His bitter response cut deep, the words like sharp needles piercing my skin.
"My family doesn't want me, my kids don't know me. What's brotherhood worth?" He smirked, a knowing look in his eyes.
"You have me," the words escaped me, surprising even myself. I sensed his pain and felt the need to offer some comfort.
He chuckled heartily at my words before regaining his confidence, standing up with a renewed sense of purpose and fierceness.
"Don't worry, join the party. I'll be there. I need to change," he replied, striding towards the door, signaling for me to follow closely.
Once outside Alpha Eliot's quarters, we took separate paths. I headed back to the hall, eager to witness an event of this magnitude, something I'd never experienced before.
As I made my way, an arm suddenly gripped my wrist, pulling me into a dimly lit hallway where I had previously found Ryder with his boyfriend.
"Hey, I've been waiting for you," Ryder said excitedly, and I realized it was indeed him.
"Let's go," he urged, trying to pull me along, but I pulled my arm away.
"Where are we going?" I asked, curious about his intentions.
"To my club."
"I'm not into clubbing. Loud music isn't my thing," I hoped he'd respect my preference.
"Don't worry, my private quarters aren't loud," he assured me.
"What do you want from me? Last I checked, you're gay," I casually mentioned, and he immediately covered my mouth, scanning nervously in case someone overheard.
"How did you find out?" he questioned, his brow furrowed, eyes fixed on me.
"Just had a feeling. You're not out yet?" I asked.
"Shhh," he gestured for me to keep quiet. "I'll tell you more at the club."
"Why do you need me there?" I persisted, my life already complicated from the confrontation with Alpha Eliot and Xavier.
"Okay, fine. Your appearance," he finally admitted, but I blinked, trying to understand how that correlated.
"I need you as a stand-in for today. When fully covered, you give off a seductive vibe, which helps me gather leads for my sales," he explained, and I rolled my eyes, but secretly reveled in the compliment about my appearance.
"Yeah, I'm that person!"
"So, are you in?" he asked eagerly, checking for any signs of others approaching.
What choice did I have? Follow him to a place where I'd be noticed and appreciated rather than existing in a place where no one cared unless they were feeling frisky.
---
After a few hours, we arrived at a grand club, beautifully designed with guards stationed at the entrance.
We passed through, and the guards respectfully greeted and bowed to Ryder as we made our way to the main building where strippers were preparing for the day's activities.
What! There were two different sets of strippers - male and female. Ryder was really bold to have diverse and queer performers showcasing their talents in a place where society often shunned such expressions.
I followed him closely, observing the symbols inscribed on the walls, wondering if they were related to the Fedele symbol or just decorative.
After a few minutes, I changed into a disco outfit that accentuated my figure. I didn't care; after all, I was still the seductress!
Walking around the clubhouse as instructed by Ryder, a guard accompanied me, shielding me from unwanted advances. It was entertaining until I grew tired and joined Ryder at his table, playing the role of his fiancée, sharing drinks, and occasionally putting on a show for the guests.
Hours passed, and suddenly, I felt dizzy - probably from the drinks. Without hesitation, Ryder escorted me to his private quarters in the club, settling me on the couch while continuing to drink.
"So, you're gay?" I slurred, attempting to engage in conversation to ward off sleepiness.
"Mmm," he hummed, seeming a bit shy to openly admit it.
"And you've made it a part of the club. Kiddo, you're bold," I chuckled. "Who's your father?"
"I'm the Alpha's son, but the SAINT is my real father," he confessed slowly, his fists clenching involuntarily.
"The SAINT," I callously asked, not initially recognizing the significance.
"Shit! Xavier's son!" Tafe's voice snapped through the mind link, jolting me out of my drunken state.
"What? You're Xavier's son?" My eyes flew wide open as I sat up abruptly.
"Yeah, but…"
He swallowed his words. "Can we talk about this another day? I don't want to spoil my mood," he said, and I nodded in agreement.
Thoughts swirled in my mind: was this the reason he didn't want to attend the ceremony?
"Shit!" I murmured. Xavier has a child almost my age, and the moon goddess still made him my fated mate.
"He looks good!" Tafe scolded, but I just rolled my eyes, knowing it was true. He really was the reason his father broke down a few hours back, and here he is, enjoying himself nutting on some boys booty hole.
"Will you come again?" His voice snapped me out of my thoughts.