Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

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Lillian’s POV

As much as I wanted to hide away and feel sorry for myself, that just wasn’t the kind of person that I was. I had obligations and commitments that I had already agreed to, and knowing that attending them might help take my mind off of Grayson’s absence and my increasing, irritating jealousy, I dressed and left the room, ready for the morning brunch event with all the ladies of the court.

The minute I entered the sitting room, I spotted Odette-standing on the far side of the room. She was holding coffee and surrounded by the other ladies. They were all so enamored with her, that no one seemed to notice my

entrance.

No one but Odette herself.

“Lillian! There you are,” she called from within her circle of admirers. She waved for me, and I had no choice but to go toward the crowd. Some of the ladies turned to look at me, their glares filled with venom or annoyance, likely at having their time with Odette interrupted.

“Lillian is going to be arranging my welcome banquet,” Odette told them all, smiling brightly. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be such a wonderful event, I’m sure. I can’t thank you enough for volunteering for this role, Lillian.”

I had not volunteered, something that Odette knew well enough. She had been standing right there as the Queen demanded I organize this event.

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, but Odette only allowed the awkward moment to continue for a moment longer before she accepted a question from one of her admirers and changed the subject.

The women all turned from me, giving me the cold shoulder. All except Josie, who came toward me, looped her arm with mine and led me toward a small table she had been sharing with Clara.

“Sit with us, Lily,” she said.

I was happy to. Coffee and pastries were already on the table, and I was hungry. I was also happy to be around my friends.

As I ate, Josie kept looking at me out of the corner of her eye, like she had something to say. I remained patient, waiting for her to just ask.

After a minute, she said, “You don’t like Odette very much, do you?”

“It’s not that,” I said, though she wasn’t far off from the truth. “I just don’t know here. She comes here out of nowhere and… Then there’s the things everyone has been saying,”

“What have people been saying?” Josie asked.

“You know,” Clara said for me, and I was grateful for it. “People are already pairing Grayson and Odette together like Lily isn’t even in the picture.”

Josie huffed as she shook her head. “Baseless speculation. People just like to gossip.” She looked at me again. You don’t believe that, do you?”

I didn’t want to, but, “They’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

“It’s not like that at all,” Josie said. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the back of my wrist. “Please don’t misunderstand the relationship between Odette and Grayson. They are just very good friends. I’m her friend too. She’s a good person, I promise. Please be kind to her.”

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“I would never be needlessly rude to her.” I said.

“I know, but…” Josie sighed. “Our whole family owes a great debt to Odette. She saved Grayson’s life when they were kids.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Well, he -”

“Josephine,” Odette called from across the room.

Josie immediately quieted, turning her head to listen to Odette.

“Come over here, would you? I want to tell them about the time we tried to bake a cake together, do you remember? We made such a mess.”

Josie, laughing, was out of her chair in an instant, rushing to Odette’s side.

Another pang of jealousy filled me. Josie hadn’t even waited until finishing our conversation before rushing to Odette. Swallowing down that feeling, I looked to Clara, who was watching me with a frown on her face.

I was afraid to ask her what she thought about Odette, not wanting to isolate even farther from my friends. I didn’t want to be suspicious, or even annoyed, with Odette, but since her arrival, a spike has splintered through my life, with everyone I cared about flocking to her, spending less time with me.

I hated how that made me feel.

“You alright?” Clara asked.

“I’m okay,” I told her, because to tell the truth would be to admit something I wasn’t ready to. These feelings of impatience and jealousy were entirely selfish. Odette had been gone a long time, people had thought she was dead. It made sense that they would want to spend time with her.

I had to push down these feelings and ignore them.

Clara eventually nodded. “Okay.”

We continued to eat in silence.

After a while, I lost my appetite. “I think I’m going to head out,” I said.

“The brunch isn’t over,” Clara said.

“I’m not feeling well,” I said.

“Okay,” Clara said.

I stood and started to walk out. The minute I stepped into the hallway, it was as if the noblewomen I had left behind in the room had forgotten I had ever been there. I could hear their voices like I was standing next to them. All I had did was walk around the corner.

“I don’t know why she even bothers showing up to these things now that Odette is back.”

“She’s embarrassing herself. Soon enough, Grayson will make the better choice and pick Odette over her.”

“I’m only shocked it hasn’t happened already, especially now that Odette has such royal prominence, the adopted daughter of the Lycan Royals. And with Prince Reginald backing her…”

“I’m sure it will happen soon. It has too!”

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“Lillian will be pushed aside any day now.”

Not wanting to hear anymore, I walked forward, slowly moving away. I didn’t know where to go. I had eaten, but returning to my room seemed like the worst thing I wanted to do. I couldn’t stand being alone with my thoughts right now.

They were reeling, sending memories flashing through my mind like pictures on an out of control projector. I saw the past, my first meeting Grayson and his wolf, my fear of him, his wolf’s acceptance.

When I learned the truth. And every moment after that where Grayson and I played tug-of-war with trust and

respect.

I remembered the moments he held me. When he touched me with his fingers and his mouth. When he brought me to untold pleasures that I had never even knew existed.

To now, when he was gone most of the time and I missed his presence beside me.

Not that long ago, I would have preferred he kept his distance. In the beginning, I had wanted so badly to escape this marriage.

But now…

If Grayson chose Odette, I could leave. I didn’t think Grayson was a bad person. He wouldn’t send me back to my father, and he wouldn’t cast out Ronan. He might even set me up in a room or a cottage somewhere so that I could continue to visit Ronan.

In the past, I would have given so much to have that option.

Now, freedom was close, practically within reach, but looking at that fate for myself, I found no joy in it. Not

anymore.

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