Chapter 16

"How are you here?"

Those were the words that escaped my lips as my eyes faintly opened to Claire's face. There she was, her smile as bright as the morning rays greeting her face. Our breaths softly gracing each other's cheeks and our legs intertwined under my white bed sheets.

Her pink lips were inches apart from mine and her honey irises glistening with this divine joy. At the same time, I could feel her breasts rocking against my chest. I should be enjoying this but instead, my head spun in confusion.

"How are you here? Claire." I mumbled again while her right fingers softly trailed my cheeks.

"You don't remember last night?" She whispered like a seductress. I frowned. If I could remember correctly, last night was just like any other night. Me sleeping alone on this king-size bed with my usual dark emptiness looming my insides.

"Or do you want me to leave and treat you like a nobody again?"

Her soft voice tousled my thoughts and like an instant impulse, my left arm curled around her waist. Pulling her closer so her lips brushed against my jaw.

Although I was still puzzled as to how my mate landed on my bed last night, I wasn't ready to lose her either. I couldn't tolerate the fact she would have to call me a nobody.

My lips parted into a tiny smile while my eyes engaged hers.

"I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to ever call me a nobody. You're mine and mine alone for the taking, Claire."

I ascertained in the thickest tone my chords could orchestrate. A tiny smile spread on her lips whilst my finger briefly caressed her cheeks. I felt another series of exciting sparks course throughout my body. Passion and lust ignited within me the next moment and all I ever wanted was to kiss those lips.

She stared into my eyes as if she could read my thoughts and at the same time gave consent. Our heads drew closer and just when my lips were about to lock against hers, I heard a knock boom from my door.

My eyes wavered from Claire to the door for a split second and by the time it returned to my mate, she was gone. Her touch, her presence, they were now replaced with a white pillow I clutched unto like my life depended on it. It was a dream after all. A beautiful dream ruined by a useless knock.

The knock sounded again causing me to toss my pillow away. With a heavy sigh, I alighted from my bed, bare chested with a pair of ash shorts.

"Come in." I mumbled in a dry voice, expecting Gabriel to usher himself in with useless Pack talks.

"Good Morning, Alpha." I frowned and my head sharply focused to the door which quietly opened only for Rose to step in. Holding a tray which obviously beheld breakfast.

She froze immediately as her eyes stole glances of my body and only then did realization hit me I was bare.

"Good morning." I chorused and her body jolted back to life. She immediately bowed her head as a way of respect but deep inside, I knew it was to stop her from gawking.

I smiled cockily before strolling to my wardrobe in search of a big shirt.

"I brought breakfast for you, Alpha." She mumbled. I turned to her again, this was the first time anyone ever brought breakfast to my room. My attention soon drifted to her countenance. Even with her head bowed, I could sense extreme worry.

"That's new." I mumbled. "And you don't have to bow your head whenever you're talking to me." I added as I donned an oversize brown shirt.

"Beta Gabriel asked me to be your personal Delta. To take care of your needs." She stated while our eyes met. Her eyes confirmed my suspicions. She was indeed worried. Extremely. It reminded me of yesterday, how she had cried profusely during Jerry's punishment.

"To take care of my needs." I answered with a sigh. First he ordered Guards at my mansion and now a personal Delta. "I'm not some kind of weak puppy who needs to be catered for." I muttered while I pinched between my eyebrows.

"Yes Alpha but he mandated me to." She stuttered.

"It's alright. You can drop it over there." I pointed to the desk opposite my bed. She bowed her head courteously before moving to the desk where she placed the tray carefully.

"Rose." I called after several seconds of deliberation. My Pack Member is worried, it was within my jurisdiction to at least help.

"Yes, Alpha." She answered with her eyes staring aimlessly about my room. I walked towards the desk, drawing the two chairs out for us to seat.

"Seat." I beckoned as I relaxed to one while my hand poised at the other. She hesitated for minutes, her eyes wavering across the floor hastily before yielding to my offer.

"How is Greenville treating you so far?" I started on a solemn note with my eyes holding her gaze. I wanted to study every inch of expression, to read in between the lines.

"Good." She mumbled after minutes but I could tell those words lacked conviction.

"That's a lie." I stated and her eyes exclaimed for a split second before relapsing. Her fingers were intertwined with each other in a forceful mannerism. Her body quivered a bit and her breaths toured out unsteady.

"You look worried, Rose." I mumbled. "Are you being maltreated or misjudged? Tell me what's wrong, who's making you look like this." I demanded softly whilst her intertwined fingers tightened unto each other.

"I found my mate." She mumbled with her eyes staring deep into mine. Her words alone carried disappointments and sadness. It was enough to tell me everything. Normally, when one finds their mate, they're usually excited and drunk in love. Rose case was different and with all certainty, her mate rejected her.

"Who is he?" I asked and then I noticed hints of tears her eyes embattled. My palms gradually curled into a fist. I could understand her pain, the feeling of rejection I've once felt. At this point, I really thirsted to know who hurt her so much.

"Jerry." She whispered. I frowned. "Jerry Manchester."

My eyes exclaimed in horror as I gasped. My heart thumped like it was going to explode. So, this was why she cried helplessly yesterday. My step Cousin, who I dearly hate was Rose's mate!

"That bastard is your mate?!" I couldn't help but blurt. "I nearly killed him yesterday and you couldn't stop me!" I muttered to her sad face.

"What if I had killed him?! Why didn't you tell me?!" I queried again, my frown as sharp as a hungry predator.

"I couldn't tell you because ever since you became Alpha of this Pack, you've been facing several turbulences and besides, there's no point," she sniffed. "He rejected me after all." She turned her gaze to the ground, wiping the tiny tears that lingered.

All the anger in me subsided at that point. I should be burning with fury but instead I was feeling a pang of guilt. I almost killed Rose's mate, an atrocity that can never be forgiven. Regardless of my hatred for Jerry I couldn't allow Rose to suffer in silence. Mate rejection is one of werewolf’s wounds that rarely heal up.

"He loves you, Rose." I said but she wriggled her head slowly in denial.

"You should have heard the words he said to me. He rejected me blatantly."

"Rose, you know how Jerry is. He's a jerk besides, he's currently in pain. He's still suffering from his father's loss and all this is enough to drive him insane. He loves you. He just doesn't know it yet." I explained while she shared eye glances with me.

"And maybe he will never know it." Her voice trailed a hopeless whispery path.

"He will, I assure you. I have a plan." She responded with a quizzical look.

"I'm going to release Jerry."

"What?! No!" Rose pitched. Her brows were arched upwards in a frown and her eyes lit in faint rage.

"He tried to kill you; he deserves that punishment!"

"He's also your mate, Rose." I persuaded.

"Who rejected me!" She retorted.

"That's why I'm going to release him." I sighed.

"For him to reject me again, No! I prefer to be alone for a thousand years than let him treat me like a nobody again." She pitched authoritatively even though her words lacked conviction.

"I'm giving him a second chance. I'm giving both of you a second chance." I muttered, studying her looks carefully.

"I know deep down you want him; you want to be the only woman in his life and to make this dream a reality you have to follow my plan."

She nodded slowly. I heaved another sigh thinking deeply about this plan I was arching up in my head. I was definite it was foolproof, but I wasn't sure if Rose was going to like it.

"Let's have a pretend relationship, you and I." I mumbled with less conviction. As I stared at her surprised face all I could think of was the danger this plan of mine was posing to my mate. She hasn't accepted me yet, but neither can I risk my Pack member suffering in pain.

"A pretend relationship?" She queried in a whisper, her confusion evident in her soft tone.

"Yes." I asserted. "We'll make everyone think we're dating including your mate. And as time passes by, the mate bond between you and Jerry will force him to show those hidden feelings. How much he truly cares about you."

"B-but—" she stuttered

"It's alright if you're not comfortable with this plan, I'll still release him regardless." I quickly interjected but she wriggled her head.

"No no, I'm comfortable with it." She responded with a tiny smile. "I'm just worried about your reputation." She sighed.

I chuckled.

"By now you should know that I don't give a shit about my reputation." Another smile spread on her lips again.

"So, it is decided then, we're going ahead with my plan."

She nodded.

"Thank you, Alpha." She mumbled softly.

"It's nothing, Rose." I smiled.

"No!" She protested as she wriggled her head. "You're going through a lot right now and doing this for me is like I'm adding more to your burden. So, Thank you, Alpha."

I chuckled again as I waved her off when deep inside, my heart was rejoicing.

"I'm simply fulfilling my duty as the Alpha."

I muttered and immediately I recalled one of Uncle Walker's talks about responsibilities and duties of an Alpha. This was it, the sacrifices I had to make just to ensure my Pack Members are happy.

The door quietly opened while My Beta, Gabriel stepped in. The smile on his face reduced as he sighted both of us.

"Good Morning, Alpha." He lucidly greeted with a slight bow. "I believe your personal Delta isn't giving you any problems?"

"No, she isn't." I smiled at him before exchanging glances with Rose.

"You may take your leave." I said to her while she nodded. We both arose from our chairs but just before she left my side, I pulled her wrist, so her beautiful face were only inches away from mine. Without thoughts, my head slowly closed the distance between us. And with Gabriel's exclaiming eyes fixated at us, I placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

She blushed, I smiled, and Gabriel's mouth went agape. I watched as she elegantly toured out of my room before focusing on my Beta, whose shock were clearly dancing on his face.

"So..." Gabriel chuckled nervously. "I didn't know you guys bonded on a whole new level."

I feigned a superficial smile but deep inside, Lupus was crazily battling me for my actions. I kissed a lady, one who wasn't my mate and yes it felt wrong.

"You wanna know how Rose and I bonded or tell me why you're here?" I asked.

He heaved a sigh while sternness dawned on his countenance.

"We can save Rose story for later but now, it's time for work."

"What work?" I responded quizzically.

"This work." My mouth dropped in horror as Gabriel pointed to large chunks of white labeled files carefully arranged on my desk. In my official Alpha office.

"I hope you like your office though." He added while I toured around the medium sized room. Adorned with fine walls of spotless white, a luxurious wooden shelf rooted by the wall which beheld several old antiques, a black desk with one swivel chair and two wooden chairs.

None of these was up to my taste! In fact, I'm not sure I have any taste. All I could focus on as I sat upon my swivel was the chunks of files laced on my table.

"When you mentioned work, I never thought I would be dealing with files like a businessman." I scorned with harsh glare fixated at the files.

"As you can see, this files are separated in columns," Gabriel chuckled as he sat on one of the wooden chair opposite me. I rolled my eyes, noticing the four columns. The thought of working on them alone was a nightmare!

"This ones," he directed his hand to the first column. "They're files regarding pack members who wants to leave our pack."

I frowned not from Gabriel's cold voice but the fact that a large number of people actually wanted to leave.

"This ones are regarding packs interested in dealings with our Pack. This one is regarding—"

"Enough." I blurted and Gabriel's hands slowly retracted from the files.

"Just handle this files and give me the final report on them later." I mumbled.

"Again!" Gabriel blurted with an evident frown.

"Once again you're rejecting your duties as the Alpha!"

"Gabriel you know I'm not cut out for all this!" I retorted with my hands slowly curling into a fist.

"When will you be ready then?!" His nose flared with anger faintly hinting in his tone. "Ever since you became Alpha of Greenville, you've been neglecting all your duties and responsibilities. You've been pushing them to me like I'm the Alpha."

"You are my Beta, and it is within my jurisdiction to order you to do my biddings."

"Well not today!" Gabriel blatantly declined.

"Not today, Kevin."

I studied his fierce gaze for minutes before resigning to a sigh. His countenance showed it all, it would be hopeless if I forced him to do this work.

"Kevin, I understand you never wanted this." His voice toured out softly. "Nobody was born ready for Responsibilities, but we're expected to live up to them. You became Alpha only for revenge, but that revenge must wait now. New priorities are in place, priorities you must attend to. This is your Father's Pack."

I sighed. If it had been days ago I would have scoffed but now, things had changed. The Pack I didn't want to care for was slowly climbing its way into my heart.

"Just do this work for me, as a friend." I pleaded while he sighed.

"I'll only do half of this files for you on one condition." He proposed while I arched an eyebrow upwards. "You have to meet with the elders today for our inauguration ceremony as the Alpha and Beta of Greenville Pack."

"But everybody already knows—"

"It is a mandatory tradition!" He cut me off.

I heaved another sigh, if getting half of this boring files off my desk was to participate in a stupid ceremony tonight then it's fine.

I nodded slowly while a bright smile instantly surged on my Beta's face.

"One more thing," I mentioned with my gaze holding his. "I want you to release Jerry." I stated as I arose from my swivel, walking towards the door.

"Why?"

"You'll understand sooner or later."