Chapter 141

***ANNIKA***

It eventually unfolded that Braden was an Alpha prince of a wolfdom who was here to find his mate, Kara. At first, I was confused if it was the same Kara I knew. He said she was his mate. Which meant she was a Luna but according to him, she had left him for the human world to be with another man.

That was where I began piecing the puzzles together. If Kara was Braden’s mate, did that mean Mateo was a wolf since he claimed Sue was his sister or was there a veil of lies that shrouded the reality?

Braden’s definition of kara was weak and poor compared to the one in the human world. She was feisty, sweet, and extremely rich and could stand up for herself at any time. She wasn't a woman one dared look into the eye. She was that influential.

“Listen, I'll keep you here in my house and help you find your woman,” I said, “But firstly you must help me.”

“How would you help me out when you're not sure about her?” he asked.

“Listen, Braden, I don't know if she's your kara because the one I'm referring to is a celebrity. She's well-known and very wealthy. Not the weakling you portray her to be.”

“Do you have a picture of her?” he asked.

I nodded, suddenly remembering we had taken a picture together. I scrolled through my photos till I finally found one. I handed the phone to him and watched Braden’s face contort from nonchalance to shock.

“Oh my God— she's the one. Damn, Kara… how?” he blurted in amazement.

“Perfect. Since you're convinced she's your wife, I think I can help you out. She's a friend of mine and I can make you guys meet but firstly you have to agree to help me too,” I proposed.

I clicked my tongue, “I knew something was going on when I saw you on the same necklace she had on. I almost thought the wolfdom was occupied and most of you had to leave. Kara doesn't look like a wolf though but as a half-blood, I can recognize that necklace anywhere.”

“So is your sister a wolf too?” he asked suddenly.

I shook my head vigorously. “Antra is not a wolf. She's mortal. Listen, we are foster sisters. My father was an Alpha but my mother was a mortal and after she got pregnant with me, she never saw my father again. She had to leave the wolfdom because my father was the one who protected her but when he suddenly vanished, they cursed her and said she and the baby she was carrying were evil,” I swallowed hard, as my mother's words came back to my memory.

“That's what happened? I'm sorry I asked,” he whispered, empathy edged in his voice.

I scoffed, “It's okay, don't pity me. Anyway, after having me, my mother grew tired of bringing me up by herself so she abandoned me. I also don't know where she is. I was found by a foster family and that was where I met my little sister Antra. We bonded and now we find ourselves here,” I explained.

“Which means she has never seen your real eyes?” he further inquired.

“She has but she thinks they're contacts since I have a lot of them. Being a werewolf is a secret I hold dearly and a problem. Also, I think we're drifting from the main problem here. How to get Kara.”

He sighed, “She’s your friend, yeah? How do we go about it?”

“She’s your mate but I'm sorry I don't like her. She didn't do anything to me first off. She has been really kind but then she's been stealing my spotlight. Braden, you and I are like the same person. Ambitious and driven by a passion for what we love and want. I love my work, Braden, I'm a model. So is Kara.”

“Kara is a model?” he asked.

I nodded. “Kara is many things. She's a brand influencer, she's a model, she's the CEO of a make-up company and a humanitarian. God I envy her so much and I've tried following her path but it just doesn't work for me.”

Braden listened with keen interest, bewilderment spread all over his face, “How did she become all that? How long has she been here?”

“About a year and her growth is stunning. I used to be the face of everything but since Kara appeared no brand wants to work with me. They all want her. I mean, she's beautiful and hot—” I glanced at her picture, “she's gorgeous.”

He paced my room as he mulled over my words. “You hate her because she's all they want now?”

Reluctantly, I forced out a “yeah.”

“I'm not judging you. I've been there too so I understand what it's like to be in the same thing with someone and they suddenly surpass you. It then seems like you're not putting enough energy and regardless of what you do, they don't see you.”

“Yes,” I said, “You get it. That's why I say you have to help me. I don't want to kill Kara, I just want her out of the way and that's only through you.”

“What can I do?” he inquired.

I sat opposite him, my hands gesturing as I spoke. “Our similarity is that we don't like to be defeated. Kara is meant to be in the wolfdom running to your beck and call. But here she is making a life for herself, leaving you as the alpha to run after her. If you can convince Kara to return to the wolfdom then everything would fall in place.”

“How?”

“Without Kara in the picture, I will get all my brand deals back. I'm desperate at this point. I'm tired of getting insults from my firm. Then you'll take her back to the wolfdom. What do you say?”

“Give me time to think this through,” he said before walking off.

I didn't know how things were going to play out but I knew what happened when two selfish minds met. They conspired and made things work. Braden didn't trust me but I was willing to give him time to adjust.