Chapter 51 Eiden
Eiden's POV
The people in my pack want to know what I did to cause Alpha Jackson and my wolf to duel twice this month. He's usually not that aggressive.
I didn't know why people assumed I was the one who made him mad at me. Why didn't they just think he was crazy?
Unlike the elders and members of my pack, my Alpha friends had different questions for me.
They wondered if Alpha Jackson knew something about me, which is why he attacked my pack, because I would have let him win, or if I knew something about him.
The battle between my warriors and Alpha Jackson’s warriors a few days ago ended without a winner, and no one died. Still, the tension lingered between us, especially as our members mocked each other on social media.
"Why would Alpha Dragon want to know about my relationship with Alpha Jackson?" I shook my head.
"Even Alpha Matteo, who usually doesn't care about war, wants to know about it." I read the messages from both Alphas, which I didn't answer honestly and seriously.
The war experts are still talking about Alpha Jackson attacking my pack as if they want people to not forget it soon. My friends, who weren't initially curious, finally asked me.
'Alpha Jackson is in the spotlight because he dared to bring his warrior squad to attack Alpha Romeo’s pack first. They’ve fought each other countless times,' my wolf said.
'You’re right.' I nodded. Then my eyes widened, and my back stiffened at my wolf’s words.
'Why didn’t I think of this yesterday?' I slapped my forehead. 'Alpha Jackson is in the spotlight; even Alpha Lucas offered me the opportunity to attack him.'
I tapped the table with my index finger. 'Our pack is becoming famous because of that bastard. This is dangerous for Celeste, Liam, and Levi.'
I clenched my fists. 'Don’t let our other two enemies suspect Alpha Jackson knows my secret.' Even the elders didn’t know about my ex-mate and my son.
'Our warrior can’t be careless again,' my wolf said. 'I’m afraid you and Liam will decide to stop seeing each other.' I nodded, then rolled my eyes when he said, 'Plus you’re interested in Celeste.'
Just ignore my wolf. He’s just teasing me.
I raised an eyebrow at the name on my phone screen. Alpha Lucas was calling me. He knew the perfect time for us to call was when the sky was orange.
“Hello.” I picked up the phone after the fifth ring. “I’ll hang up if you ask me why Alpha Jackson attacked my pack,” I said in an irritated tone.
Alpha Lucas chuckled. “That’s why I called you. There’s no other reason.”
He shouted as I was about to hang up. “Hey, let me talk for a few minutes. It’s weird if we only talk for less than a minute.”
“I don’t care about that,” I snorted. “Just say it.”
"Don't you want to reconsider my offer? We'll make Alpha Jackson regret attacking our pack." For some reason, Alpha Lucas was so eager for me to agree to join him.
I remembered Alpha Dragon's words, saying that Alpha Lucas wanted to form a group with Alphas who shared his enemy. That's why he wouldn't stop trying to persuade me.
“I won’t change my mind,” I said.
“My ancestors never joined other packs to attack our enemies.” That was one reason others could understand. I really didn’t care what Alpha Lucas thought of me.
“You should try it,” Alpha Lucas said. “You’ll love it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You talk like you’ve done it before.” I sneered. “You invited me because you want to experience it too.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Alpha Lucas agreed. “We share the same two enemies. We can combine our warriors and strike them together,” he said enthusiastically.
“I’m sorry, I’m not interested at all,” I said firmly. This was the last time I would allow myself to listen to his ramblings.
“Okay. Okay. I won’t offer you anything like this again.” Alpha Lucas gave up, but he could have contacted me again when someone else also rejected his offer.
I was actually interested in his offer, but Alpha Jackson held my secret. I couldn’t just ignore that.
Night had fallen, and after dinner, I sat back in my office chair. Daydreaming like an idiot. In the previous days, I had worked overtime as if I were going to die tomorrow.
I yawned. The black coffee without sugar couldn't keep me from feeling sleepy. I hated being afraid to sleep because of those nightmares.
I could force myself to sleep, but I would only wake up from the nightmares. After that, I’d stay awake until morning. Sleeping felt pointless.
'Text or call Celeste. Ask her the usual questions, like if Liam has had dinner,' my wolf said. He’d been pushing me to do just that since yesterday.
'I’m sure Celeste is waiting for you.' My wolf said the impossible. He just wanted to make me happy and tempted to contact Celeste.
'You’re a coward.' Arlo sneered at me.
'You’re hiding from them. You’re afraid to hear their opinions.' He shook his head with a cynical look at me.
'Why are you overthinking? What if they don’t think the way you do?'
My fists clenched tightly as I stared at my phone on the table. I wasn’t like this before. This wasn’t me.
I grabbed my phone and called Celeste without giving it a thought.
My heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to explode, and I swore I wouldn't be disappointed if she didn't answer.
"Hello." I gasped in surprise at Celeste's soft voice, as if she were caressing my ear.
"Hello." My voice suddenly cracked. "Am I bothering you?"
"No. You can relax."
“Okay.” I was relieved. “I’m sorry I haven’t contacted you since yesterday. It’s not that I stopped caring about Liam, I was just… giving you some time without me.” I struggled to explain my thoughts to her.
“I think I understand,” Celeste said. “You must think we are so angry with you that we don't want to know you anymore.”
“Your guess is right.” I nodded. My back remained straight even though Celeste responded casually. “I was afraid Liam wouldn’t want to know me anymore because I failed to protect you all from one of my enemies.”
“No. He doesn’t think that way,” Celeste reassured me. “He’s just worried.” She paused for a few seconds. “Honestly, we were worried because we would never be ready to be famous.”
"I understand." I wouldn't force them if they weren't comfortable, because being known to many people isn't enjoyable, especially when you're known as an Alpha's ex-mate.
"It seems like it's taking Liam a while to accept me." I chuckled, feeling a pang in my chest.
"Yeah, you have to be patient." Celeste agreed.
It was okay. I was glad they didn't distance themselves from me. If they didn't want to see me anymore, Celeste would have told me without thinking about my opinion, because I wouldn't want them to pretend to be comfortable around me.