Rejected, And Became A Heiress (Cara)

Cara's POV

"So soon?"

I ask, though I suppose, in hindsight, it really isn't that soon. I've been working as the pack Beta for a time, doing a good job behind the scenes.

"You've made significant contributions to the pack collaboration," Eamon says. "It would be a disservice to you to not be properly honored at the joint celebration. The moniker of Aylon has served you well, but for this, for now, I think it's better to eliminate confusion."

"I don't need the praise," I remind him. "That's never been why I offered to help.”

"Just because you don't need the praise does not mean I won't see you have it nonetheless," Eamon says, a small smile on his lips. "You've done well, Cara, for us and for yourself. Both packs should know."

"But Alaric..." I say before I can catch myself.

Eamon gives me a curious kind of look. "Is there some reason we should continue to keep the secret?"

No. I won't hide away just because Alaric will be there and will discover that I'm, in fact, Aylon Auburn, the Bloody Moon beta.

I made a vow to keep Alaric from affecting my life the way it is now. By hiding away, cowering behind a false identity, I would be doing just that.

He doesn't get to dictate anything about my life anymore.

Especially not this.

"No," I say. "No, it will be fine."

Eamon seems pleased by my answer. "Good. It's decided then. We'll make sure

to add time for the revelation in with the other accolades and awards."

"Thank you," I tell him.

Lightly he shakes his head. "Thank you, sister. It's your diligence and service that has made any of this possible."

When I arrive home, immediately I tell the children the exciting news. I'm not totally convinced they entirely understand the importance of the revelation of my secret identity, but they still like it, especially since it means they are in on the secret.

"Mom's like a superhero!" Mia tells Ethan.

Ethan gives her a look. "There are no such things as superheroes."

Even so, we spend the next little while lightly chasing each other through the yard,

Mia and I both pretending to be superheroes catching the self-described supervillain Ethan!

Laughter fills the air and my heart.

With these two in my life, I feel like there is nothing I can't accomplish and overcome.

Later, after the kids are tucked in bed for the night, I go to the closet and search through my clothes. I can't remember the last time I've attended a ball. It feels like a lifetime ago.

A quick phone call has me on the line with Ruby. We talk quite frequently, despite the physical distance between us. I'm grateful for these opportunities to catch up with her. I'm glad she is thriving in her own way, but I miss my best friend.

Especially in moments like these, where I'm at a total loss,

"My secret identity is going to be revealed," I say. "What do you even wear to something like that?"

"You have to wow them!" Ruby replies, excitement in her voice. "You wear the fanciest, most beautiful dress you can find, and you stun everyone there."

I have a few dresses like that. Still I'm unsure.

"...Alaric will be there," I say.

"All the more reason to look dazzling," Ruby says. "He doesn't know you are Aylon, right? It's going to shock him through and through. When he sees how beautiful you are in a stunning dress, he's not going to know what to do with himself. Oh, but he'll regret. He'll regret everything, especially how much he's hurt you."

"I don't know," I say. "If you listen to him, he wants to be a part of my life again already. He says he loves me..."

"Do you believe him?" Ruby asks.

"No," I say, but it doesn't feel right. "I don't know. I'm not sure he even knows what love is? In the past, he threw me aside so easily. How can he expect me to just accept his love now?"

Ruby hums and considers my words for a moment. "Maybe he already regrets.

"I don't know," I say. "He could just be hanging onto a past that doesn't suit either

of us anymore. I think it would be best for both of us to let each other go, once and for all."

"Cara..." Ruby starts to say, but then she stops herself.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me."

Ruby is my best friend. If we cannot speak freely with each other, then who can?

"Be honest with me," I press. "I trust you. I want to know your opinions."

"I just want to remind you of the children," Ruby says.

"You know I have no lost love for Alaric. I think he's an outright cad for the things he's done to you. But. With the children... maybe it's wrong to fully cast him aside without at least considering that he might be telling the truth now."

"I don't know..."

"Just think about it," Ruby says. "I'm not telling you what to do, or what to think. I only ask that, for the kids' sake, you don't make any hasty decisions one way or the other."

At that moment, I spot some movement by my

bedroom door.

"I have a visitor," I tell Ruby. "I'll call you tomorrow."

After hanging up, I go to the door, pull it open further and reveal Mia in her

pajamas looking up at me with her wide child eyes.

"Are you looking at dresses for the ball?" Mia asks.noveldrama

At first I tried to look stern catching her up past bedtime, but her wonder makes

my heart melt. I can't scold her like this.

"Do you want to help?" I ask her instead.

Her eyes light up like Christmas. "Can I?"

I wave her inside and she immediately rushes to my closet. Looking through my gowns, it takes her no time at all to settle on a soft coral gown with a flowing skirt. "Why that one?" I ask.

"It's like the flowers that uncle brought over earlier," Mia says.

I blink. Uncle? Flowers? I don't remember seeing any flowers or my brothers saying anything like that.

"We put them in the kitchen," Mia says. "Come on. They're so pretty." Grabbing my hand, Mia takes me into the hallway and then down and around the corner to the kitchen.

We've been so busy since I got home, that I didn't even take the time to look around. Yet there, now, I can see the soft tulips sitting in a vase under the window.

There's still a card attached, stuck into the flowers with a long plastic stick.

"Which uncle brought these?" I ask Alaric.

They are beautiful, the soft coral and pink light against the dark green stems.

Walking closer, I pluck the card away and open it.

It's a short note, written in a nostalgically fam