Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 249

Kane POV

"I will be two minutes," Connie purred, attempting to sound seductive as she swept into the fitting room, trailed by an assistant whose expression screamed frustration. It was well past closing time, and this exhausted employee clearly wanted to go home. And fuck did I get it.

"Don't you think, that if you liked THESE dresses that much, you would have bought one eight hours ago?!" I whined loudly, although I felt I deserved a little moan after Connie had trailed me around every shopping centre and boutique all damn day. Just so my delusional mate could search for the 'perfect dress' for this insane Luna ball that she was throwing for herself.

"No, of course not!" Connie giggled as I sat here, depleted, still in my suit, hungry and beyond exhausted; I fully understood the employee's frustrations as I found myself back in the very first shop we had visited this afternoon. Although, hopefully, it was the last store of the night because I still had pack work to get to before I could hit the hay.

"Good luck," I mouthed to the young girl; she rolled her eyes at my 'mate' and followed her.

"Don't miss me too much." Connie tried to coo to me as she slipped inside the curtained booth.

"I'll try," I silently snorted. Groaning in resignation, I slumped down on a sofa strategically placed in the centre of the shop's plush viewing area. With its lavish decor and quietly exorbitant price tags, the store resembled a bridal boutique more than a simple dress shop.

"Baby?" Connie called out a moment later. The way she used that word made my skin crawl. I wasn't her baby, but nonetheless, I played the part, forcing out a begrudging.

"Yes?"

"Don't you think your parents should be more interested in this ball?" Her voice was needy and drawn-out, like she was stretching each word to its breaking point. Closing my eyes, I sucked down all sarcastic remarks that I felt toying on the tip of my tongue.

"Why do you say that?" I asked, trying my best to sound interested in whatever imagined slight she was grappling at.

. I am going to be their daughter-in-law, their Luna. They should want to support me." she muttered through a vexed groan.

"They are busy, you know," I tried to explain, but she scoffed dismissively, not letting me finish.

"Too busy for me? They were not too busy for... Lottie." The way she pronounced Charlotte's name—my princess's name—tightened my back, and a surge of anger rose within me, but I fought to keep it under control. Now wasn't the time or place.

"But Kane, it's about family, about unity. Don't you think it's important that your family shows they accept me?" She emerged from the fitting room in another extravagant gown, her eyes searching mine for any sign of agreement.

I looked at her, really looked at her, and felt the weight of the role I was forced to play. Here she was, draped in silk and diamonds, yet all she wanted was something that money couldn't buy—genuine acceptance, something I knew in my heart I couldn't give her.

"Unity is important," I admitted, my voice softening slightly as I chose my words carefully. "And they will come around in their own time. For now, let's find you a dress that makes you feel like the Luna you want to be."

Her face lit up at that, and for a moment, I could almost believe she was genuinely happy.

"Really? You think so?" she gushed, rushing over to me as fabric swooshed around her feet.

"I know so," I replied, mustering a smile. It wasn't a promise I was sure I could keep, but for tonight, it was enough to bridge the gap between expectation and reality.