Chapter 48: CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT - MARICELA

I gulp, looking quickly away, staring at the screen. Only, my whole focus is still on him. He looks so much like Adriel. Like all his children. Though physically you can see that they’re all Lycans while he is a Wolf.

I can hear my breathing’s picked up. I can feel my adrenaline pumping like any minute he’s going to declare himself for Lia and toss me out.

“Popcorn?” Cain says, offering me the bowl like I’m not being so weird right now.

I nod, reaching over, grabbing a handful and stuff it into my mouth, trying to act normal.

“Stop hogging it all.” Connor says, getting up and stealing the bowl back from his father.

“See how they treat me?” Cain says with a smirk. “I’m not as scary as I look.”

I want to say that he’s not scary but that’s a lie. His children might be bigger than him, but he still dwarfs me. They all do.

He lets out a soft chuckle. “I hope you’re more feisty with Ad.”

“Oh, she is.” Ryker says. “She makes sure he doesn’t walk all over him.”

I shoot Ryker a look and Cain laughs.

“Good,” Cain says. “Because the one thing that boy does not need is a submissive mate. He needs someone that can give as good as he does.”

I don’t know how to reply. What to say back. Is he saying he believes I’m his mate? Is he saying that he’s on my side and not Lia’s?

“He thinks Lia is a bitch.” Khloe says.

Cain shakes his head, giving her a look that’s hard to miss. I shift awkwardly in my chair, once more feeling like I’m the cause of so many issues in this family.

“What?” She replies. “She is a bitch and the way she speaks to mum...”

“Stop,” Cain says. “I have my opinions, but it wouldn’t be fair on anyone to be voicing them now.”

“How about we just watch the movie?” I say, trying to be diplomatic.

“Now there’s a great idea.” Cain replies smiling.

We watch in silence until Khloe and Connor start arguing over the last of the snacks.

“Did your family behave like this?” Cain asks me.

I shrug. “I got on with all my siblings but Lucas and Lia fought all the time.” I reply.

“And your parents?”

“What about them?” I ask.

He pauses like he’s about to test me on something. “What were they like?”

I let out an exhale. He is testing me. “They had a tempestuous relationship.” I say and then shrug. “But everyone knows that. My father loved my mother, but she was a second chance mate, and I think at times that played on her mind. Made her see things that weren’t really there.”

His eyebrows raise. He clearly didn’t know that detail but then, not many did. My father’s first mate died right after they’d met. A tragic accident by all accounts, and I don’t think he ever really got over her.

“And did you get on with your parents?” He asks.

I bite my lip. That feels close to home. “Mostly.” I admit. “But my father and I had an uneasy relationship at the end. He was ashamed of me.”

Cain frowns. “Why?”

“Look at me.” I say. “I’m not the daughter an Alpha would be proud of.”

“No?” He says, tilting his head. “I don’t see any truth in that.”

I shake my own. “Maybe this Pack is different but the Aurora Pack values strength, power, vigour. I’m not any of those things.”

He lets out snort. “I think you are all of those things, Maricela. The problem is you don’t see it.”

I gulp. How can I respond to that? It’s obvious just looking at me that I’m lacking. That I’m weak.

“Enough with the pep-talk, dad.” Ryker says.

Cain rolls his eyes, looking right over my head at him. “Are we watching another movie?”

“Yeah, if you shut up for long enough then we can.” Khloe says and Cain throws a pillow at her face.

“Bloody kids.” Cain mutters but I can see he’s laughing.