Page 112 of The CEO Alpha’s Substitute Mate

And today on the anniversary of our mating, I get to experience another milestone in my life. I look at the building before me. I own it. Today marks the opening ceremony of Maya Dance Studio.

The scissors are ridiculously big, but they will cut the ribbon that kickstarts a dream of mine.

“Don’t overthink it.” Zara gestures with the clipboard that she’s been carrying around since morning. She’s also wearing a headset, which she needs even less, since there are four of us working today, and all four are inside this room. “Smile. Cut. Everybody claps, then we open the prosecco.”

Sixty people applaud. Somebody at the back whistles with two fingers. I look over my shoulder and see my son standing in the crowd waving at me. I wave back. Just a few feet behind him is his father and my mate, watching me with his arms folded. To anyone else, he would look handsome but intimidating. My heart soars when I see him. He told me he had a meeting today but he’d try to make it. To see him here fills me with a wild joy.

Afterward, there’s prosecco in plastic flutes and a great deal of noise. My leg starts complaining at the ninety-minute mark, which it still does on concrete, so I claim a windowsill. Luca finds me there and installs himself under my arm.

“Are you getting bored?” I kiss his cheek.

He shakes his head, and I smile teasingly. “You can tell me the truth.”

He gives me a serious look. “Dad said what’s important to you should be important to us. So I am having fun.”

I laugh at that and then kiss him on forehead. “Just two more hours and we can go home.”

He nods eagerly and slips away. I stay there for a few more seconds, and then Callum appears, and his voice is deep. “Congratulations.”

His words make me smile and tilt my head back. “This wouldn’t have been possible without you.”

He gives me a smile. “I didn’t put in all the hard work, the late nights, the meetings. You deserve this.”

I wrap my hand around his tie and yank him closer. “Then I guess I should thank you.”

My kiss is sweet, a gentle peck on the lips, but I should have known that wouldn’t be enough for my husband. He immediately deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding inside my mouth. I let out a soft groan, and he pulls me impossibly closer, his hand sliding down the length of my thigh. I immediately grab it before it slips into my slacks. “I don’t think so.” I bite his lower lips in punishment, and when I see the wolf in his eyes, I immediately realize my mistake.

“Callum,” I hiss. “There are people still here!”

“So?” he asks lightly. “This whole building is yours. We can find any room in here and —”

I smack his chest. “Stop it.”

He sighs indulgently and releases me but not before stealing one last kiss.

I’m about to mingle with the guests when I see a familiar face in the crowd. Corinne Thorne is carrying a large red bouquet and is looking around. Her eyes meet mine, and she hurries toward me.

Ever since Silas’s death when Corinne became the family head, she’s grown increasingly confident. She’s also brought many changes to the Thorne estate, especially when it comes to the illicit dealings her brother and uncle had going under the table. Even Callum is impressed by how eager she is to learn.

“Ariela,” she says breathlessly on reaching me, “I heard today was the inauguration ceremony of your dance studio. I wanted to congratulate you in person.”

I smile at her. “Thank you.”

She clears her throat. “I’ve adopted two girls from the second branch of the family and would like to enroll them here. They love dancing, so I thought if you would be okay with it—”

“Bring them on Monday.” I smile at her.

Her whole face reddens. Then she nods twice quickly before escaping back toward the drinks table. I let her go because that’s about as much as either of us can manage in one afternoon.

Damien is standing much too close to Zara over by the fire door. She’s telling him something with both hands, and he’s laughing. Zara catches me watching, and over his shoulder she mouths something so obscene I have to look at the ceiling. The ceiling is beautiful. That’s another thing that took four months.

I smile in satisfaction and lift my wine glass in the air, murmuring, “Here’s to you, Maya. I hope wherever you are, you’re looking down on us.”

A soft breeze darts through the window, and I close my eyes at the faint smell of jasmine, a soft smile playing on my lips. “I hope I do you proud, big sister.”

❦ ❦ ❦

Callum wakes me late the next morning with a mug of coffee, black and way too sweet, and a bag already packed by the door. “Luca?”