Switched Bride, True Luna - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Emily
“I’m sorry, I was told that Alpha Duke was engaged to someone else!” cried out Renee as security dragged her out. She tried to grab at anything she could to keep them from removing her from the store.
She managed to wiggle out of their grasp and came running over to me.
“Please tell me that is an accident,” she said, grabbing my shoulders. Logan grabbed her wrist and pulled her off me.
“What do you think you’re doing? You will not lay a finger on my future Luna,” he said.
The anger in his eyes seemed all too real. His usually indifferent gaze was fiery. I stood back in amazement. I felt a little bit of pride that he was protecting me.
“I’m sorry, Alpha,” whimpered Renee. Her knees buckled at the intensity of Logan’s gaze, and he let go of her.
“What are you standing around for?” Logan asked the security guards. “Get her out of here.”
The security guards picked her up off the floor. She looked between Logan and I desperately.
“Please don’t throw me out! I’ll never do it again!” She apologized over and over again, but she was thrown out and the door locked so that she couldn’t get back in.
Outside, she pounded on the door. She was shouting, but none of us heard her. After a few minutes, she finally stormed down the street.
I am sure that she will be reporting all of this to Chloe.
The manager walked over to the counter and shut off the security alarm.
“I can’t be more apologetic about all of this,” said the manager. “We will offer a discount on any purchases you make in the store today for the inconvenience.”
“Thank you,” I said, nodding to her. At least we’d get a discount out of this whole thing. The manager went to the back to get some things to help me, including a measuring tape to take my measurements.
Once we bought the dresses, they’d be tailored on site to fit me.
The manager, an elderly woman who moved quickly and quietly, returned while I was browsing the dresses. She took me back behind a screen where she would help me slip out of my dress.
She was quick to write and take my measurements, and then she explained how the process would work.
I had several options. I could find a dress there in the store, and after purchase they’d tailor it to my liking. I could also look through their design book and select any of those, and they’d create a dress I wanted from scratch.
She also explained that we could buy out a design for the right price, which meant I would be the owner of that design. It would be removed from the book, and no one else would be allowed to use it.
It felt like a lot of work to pick or own a brand new design. It also sounded like the more expensive option.
It was also more than I would ever need.
The manager then helped me redress before letting me out to continue looking at the store. She insisted I look at the design book, so I pretended for a little while before telling her I’d rather look at the dresses in the store.
She nodded before leaving to the back with the design book.
I sighed and went back to the many racks. Logan was waiting patiently near the front of the store, his arms crossed. As soon as I walked back into the main section, his eyes landed on me.
Logan and I stood there, alone, staring at each other. The tension was almost unbearable.
As he stood there, his cool gaze on me, I couldn’t help but notice how attractive he was. He was the kind of man that someone would carve out of marble. He was tall and proud, and he took care of his people.
And he took care of me.
My heart strained in my chest. So much so that I placed my hand over my heart. I didn’t understand why he made me feel like this. We had a contract, I can’t be over here being caught up in him.
Still, he made my heart pound.
“Why’d you come in here?” I asked. He put his hands in his pockets and flashed a small smile.
“I had a feeling,” he said simply. I have a feeling there is nothing that doesn’t get by this man.
“What kind of feeling?”
“That you might need some help.” I don’t know why, but I was a little offended. I could have handled all of this myself.
Yet, it felt good that he was here. He made me feel… stronger.
“Thanks,” I said. He motioned around the store.
“Pick out anything you like. Let’s get at least,” he thought for a moment, his eyes scanning around the shop, “ten dresses. Although you can get as many that catch your eye.”
I nodded and started to walk around the store again. I saw a few I liked, but looking at the price tag almost made me choke.
These dresses cost thousands of dollars each! In my wildest dreams, I would never make a purchase like this.
I turned to discuss it with Logan, but he held up his hand to stop me.
“Don’t look at the price tags. Just pick out what you like.”
“How can I not?” I said, holding up a muted pink dress with a ruffled collar. I flipped the price tag up towards him.
“This is too expensive!” I put the dress back on the rack. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
“I’m surprised, Emily. From what I understand, most women would die to have even a single dress from this shop,” he said.
“Well, I’m not most women. This is spending more money on dresses than everything I own combined. It’s just too much.” I pressed my fingers to my temples, frustrated. I can’t even imagine spending so much money on clothes.
“You insult me. As an Alpha, it is my duty to provide for you as my Luna.”
The entire idea of someone spending money on me made me uncomfortable. Even Michael, the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, refused to spend even a penny on me. He had always said any money we had should be saved for our future together.
“Can’t you provide something that doesn’t cost so much? That money can be used for something better.”
Dresses are not necessary, I never saw a need to be so extravagant. I’d rather spend that money helping people.
“Cost isn’t an issue. This is what all high-society women do.”
“Maybe, but that’s also part of their job. The more grand a dress, the greater their accomplishments are.”
“Do you think that you don’t have those kinds of accomplishments?” Logan asked. He took a few steps toward me.
“Well… not exactly. There are better things to do than dress up fancy. Dresses like this are no more than an expensive burden to me.”
“Forget about the past, Emily. Right now, your job is to stay by my side, as my partner and Luna. Think of this as an investment in your accomplishments to come.”
I thought it over carefully. Since Logan and I are in a contractual relationship, it did make sense to dress me up like the upper close. After all, I had to look the part.
It made me uncomfortable anyway. It was another reason to be sure I paid Logan back every cent he spent on me.
“If you insist,” I said, feeling defeated. Logan chuckled a little as he gently brushed a loose lock of hair behind my ear. I flushed a little and occupied myself by looking at a few more dresses.
He was surprisingly gentle when he wanted to be. He was so tall and broad that I’d expect him to be much rougher. Whenever he touched me, though, it was always carefully.
I wondered if he thought I was fragile enough to break.
“You are different from what I imagined,” he said.
“Is that bad?”
“No. Not at all.”