Chapter 23 Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Chapter 23
"Is all this related to Luna Adrianna's death?"

He looks taken aback by my question and for a second I think he isn't going to answer my question.

"It's okay if—"

"She died a day after Javier turned a year old. Sick isn't it?" He started, "We were experiencing an attack, something small. Something I thought I could handle but I underestimated them. I told her to stay with Javier as I fought but when I arrived, there was no trace of her. Javier looked so terrified Odetta. You should have seen him.

"For months we looked for Adrianna or maybe even her body. During that time, Javier did not say a word or make a sound. He stopped eating and started to lose weight; sometimes, we would wake in the middle of the night to Javier just standing outside in the dark or even screaming. I can't imagine what happened or what he saw that made him that way but I was determined for him to forget it. I had Dakota cast a memory loss spell on him, everything from that night but the side effects was that he wouldn't have any memories of the days before that too. You can't really select it, Magic doesn't let you. That's the price we had to pay.

"I doubt he even remembers anything about Adrianna. I convinced him that his mother died during childbirth and he grew up with that. It wasn't till he was three that he discovered the ability of his blood like his mother. I don't know how they found out, but he's been a target ever since. I need him to be safe."

"So Luna Adrianna could be alive?"

"No she's not."

"She could. You didn't see a—"

"Stop it." He snaps and flares his nostrils, "I didn't need a dead body to know that she's dead. I felt it—I felt that pain after she disappeared and I knew that she was gone. I had to go on for Javier. We had a closed casket and buried her favorite book in her grave."

I swallowed, "I'm so sorry. I can imagine how that feels. The pain of your mate taken from you."

He looked at me with glassy eyes, "I know you know how it feels. I'd only been with her for seven years, barely a decade. We didn't even have much time together."

I wiped the stray tears that had fallen, I never thought I'd be here feeling sorry for Alpha Casper, "Do you still think about her?"

"No, I haven't—I can't even try without feeling like it was my fault. I pray she forgives me for failing her. But I've learnt to move on and so should you." He murmurs.

He sounded so hurt, so broken at that moment and I didn't care if I hated him or he was intolerable, I just went straight in for a hug. I hugged him tight—tighter than anything and i swear that i felt a tiny spark. "I'm sorry you feel like that. It wasn't your fault and I'm sure she forgives you. You're doing such a good job with Javier." He surprises me by pulling me so close. It felt so good and warm and just—

We stay like that for a long time and I listen to his heartbeat as I whispered sweet things to him. I run my hands through his soft blond locks and he groans at that. He buries his nose on the crook of my neck and I swear that he sniffed and sighed. I feel him nibble on the soft skin of my neck and I involuntary moved my neck to the side to grant him access. He seemed to like this and bit harder, not enough to break skin or draw blood. He continues his assault on my neck as I swear my wolf purrs. Or maybe it was me. Who knows.

"Fuck." I moan when he sucks on my neck and it takes a moment for me to realize what is happening and I pull back as I push him away. He stumbles backwards into his desk and looks wide eyed at me. My wolf whimpers at the loss of contact and I mentally chastise her.

My eyes are equally as wide as I slapped my hand over the skin where he sucked on my neck. There must be a mark or something there now. "What the fuck did you just do?" My voice is trembling. I'm terrified and I don't know why. What if I hadn't stopped him.

He runs a hand through his hair and looks at me. "I didn't—My wolf—Oh fuck I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

"Yeah you shouldn't have." I hiss and my heart is beating so fast It might just burst out of my chest. Alpha Casper just stands there looking at me wide-eyed with worry in his eyes. No. no. no. no. This is all to fast. I can't do this.

"Keep your wolf in check next time. You could've marked me." I almost scream. "Let's pretend this never happened." I whisper as I leave his office and his suite.

I hurriedly go down stairs and bump into Sebastian on my way who had a love sick smile on his face. I immediately slap my hand against my neck hopefully covering the mark Alpha Casper made. He look like he was about to say something about the hand.

"Talk to you later?" I say and enter my room without waiting for his answer.

I remove my trembling hands from my neck when I'm sitting in front of the mirror. Sure enough, there's a hickey on my neck. A big, fat one.

"Fuck no. Victor and Dakota will never let me see the end of this." I murmur to myself.

There's nothing between us. It's just our wolves. There's nothing between us. It's just our wolves. There's noth—

I jump as I hear a knock on the door. I take a deep breath before swinging the door open.

"It's time for di—" Victor starts to say but his eyes widen before a big smile spreads across his face. I forgot the cover my neck. Fuck.

"It's a mosquito bite." I say a little bit quickly.

He gives me that look, "Yeah sure. A rather large mosquito bite if I do say so myself."

"I know right—The large mosquitoes you have around this area. You should take care of that."

"Don't worry I'll speak to the Alpha mosquito that did this. I'm sure he'd like to know that they're mosquitoes going around giving hickeys. I'm gonna have to warn Izzy about it." He snickers.

I sigh in defeat, "It was a mistake and don't say anything about this okay? Nothing is happening between us."

He simply nods, "I have a feeling you would like dinner in your room."

"Yes please.Thank you so much"

"It'll be back in a moment." He says and leaves.
I shut the door and lean my back against it and I hear a knock.

"Yes Victor." I drawl but it isn't victor standing in front of me.

"Casper—" I whisper then clear my throat, "Alpha Casper what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to apologize." He says but when his eyes flicker to the mark on my neck, they darken.

I quickly cover up the mark with my hand and he realizes what he's doing and looks at me before awkwardly scratches the back of his neck.

"I couldn't control him and I'm sorry. I don't ever want to make you feel uncomfortable. I wouldn't force myself on you ever. I'm sorry."

I sigh shakily, "It's okay don't worry about it."

"Don't say that, I can see the fear in your eyes, you're terrified. If I take a step closer, you might just bolt back home."

I was thinking of running back home. He isn't wrong.

I force a smile, "I'm okay, just go have your dinner. As far as I'm concerned this never happened." I say and shut the door in his face.

Packing my bags and going home seems like the best option.

I have a shower and change into shorts and a sweatshirt and comb my hair before letting it dry by itself before getting a knock on the door. I smell dinner which my stomach rumbles about and I know it's Victor.

I rush to the door and open it slightly before looking around to check if the coast is clear. Knowing Victor, this could be a trap.

"Casper is downstairs eating dinner. Now may I come in."

I let out a nervous laugh as he enters and he drops the tray on my bedside table.

"Thank you victor. This looks so good. Tell Isabella, I'm thankful." I look at the plate of barbecue ribs and mashed potatoes.

I bite into the ribs and moan as he says, "It was actually made by the mosquito."

I stiffen and drop the ribs onto my plate like it burns.

"Why are you so scared Odetta?"

I shake my head, "I'm not scared. Not of that Alpha or anything else."

He scoffs, "You're so terrified. What are you scared of? Falling for Casper?"

"I. am. not. scared."

"Are you are scared of loving again? or the overwhelming feelings you get when he's around? or—"

I was breathing so fast, "it's all so fast"

"Is that what's scaring you?"

I nod. "Everything seems so fast. How would you feel if everyone was so sure about you and someone? It feels like we're getting pressured to do this. If i want to do this with him, which I don't, I'd want to do it naturally. My heart's been broken by someone the Moon Goddess promised would love me. I don't want that to happen again.

"I understand. We're sorry. You can take this as slow as you want—no pressure. I'll tell everyone to back off."