Chapter 26

"Claire." I mumbled as she walked past me, I tried to hold her, but she rewarded me with a deadly stare.

"Don't. Even. Think of following me." She warned in an icy tone before easing through the door. I froze and perhaps my heart stopped for a split second too.

"Are you happy now?" Gabriel finally found his tongue.

"Kevin do you realize what you've done?" Uncle Walker added. His tone and countenance expressing nothing but disappointments.

"You disrespected a fellow Alpha; you've created bad blood between Red Rose Pack and Greenville!

You've might have as well indirectly created a war!"

"There is no war." I asserted. "If he loves himself, he's not going to wage any war."

"Why?!"

"Because Greenville is strong and I'm the Wolf of Justice!" I acclaimed and immediately I felt stupid letting those words roll out.

"Can you even hear yourself?! Just because you're the 'Wolf of Justice' doesn't make the rest of your Pack Members automatically one. Besides, if you're smart enough you would know that war is not won by strength alone!"

He paused whilst pinching an area between his eyebrows.

"Kevin you're the Alpha of Greenville and you of all people know that this Pack is one of the best. Even with my presence here today, you still messed up.

I'm sorry but if you continue like this then Greenville is doomed."

He sighed before walking past me and through the exit door. I stared at Gabriel, patiently waiting for him to spill his own rant too.

"Just one tiny thing, one tiny thing Kevin and you messed it up." He started with a frown imprinted on his face. Just like I had expected.

"He was flirting with my mate, what do you expect my Alpha instincts to do?" I defended.

"Yes every man's werewolf instincts will set in at that point but yours is different. You let your untamable anger act upon those instincts. Your anger is disastrous, and you know it!

You don't care about the consequences of your actions until you vent all that fury out!

Yes, Alpha Simon crossed the line, but you should have been reasonable about it rather than make things harder than it already should be. Every important thing, you always find a way to mess it up!" He paused while I heaved a sigh.

"You need to change, Kevin. Control your temperament. Even Claire you're fighting for isn't pleased with your actions." He sighed as he neared my side.

"My only advice for you now is to find a reasonable way to pacify your Mate and hope Alpha Simon doesn't plan on waging war on us." He tapped my shoulder gently before easing through the exit too.

I heaved a sigh feeling guilty for all this mess. I let my anger get the better part of me and in return, I disappointed my loved ones.

It would be times like this I needed a cigarette and perhaps a bottle of beer, but that habit didn't intrigue me anymore. Ever since Claire has become a part of me, my body dejected that habit. So rather than stand like an idiot I chose to look for her. This time I let Lupus take charge, he would locate her easily than I would. The wind blew softly across my face and immediately I picked her scent, I kept on following the track till I arrived the valley. The same place where I jumped, the same place where we had our first kiss.

Fear and worry began to dawn in me. Fear of what she might do and worry, about how she was feeling. Nevertheless, I still approached her. My Claire wasn't going to go so easy on me, that I knew.

"Claire." I called and immediately, she tried to brush past me. I held her wrist firm, but she glared at me as if she was going to bite me.

"Let go of me Kevin!" She ordered while she struggled hopelessly in my grip. "Let go of me!" She pitched.

"He was flirting with you Claire!"

"And so?!" She paused in her struggle, eyeing me ferociously. "Did I flare up when that bitch who calls herself Lucy was eyeing you or did I flare when you were busy dancing with Rose?!"

My head went blank immediately, I didn't even dare to say anything for she could counter me with another bitter truth.

"Kevin today was an important day for you, for Greenville but you let a small issue trample everything!

Must you use fire for everything?! And look now all our efforts were wasted. I know you weren't inclined in meeting Alpha Simon today; you were just waiting for the perfect time to unleash your inner mind!

How do you want to be a responsible Alpha if you can't even tame your anger?!"

I swallowed my saliva retaining on my tongue. She was right, at this rate if I continued like this, then Greenville is bound to have the worst Alpha. I was only being protective but in the end, I passed a wrong message. My eyes peeled away from her, staring at the green grass in shame. To utter a word of apology was oddly weighty for my mouth.

And when she saw I did nothing, she finally released herself from my grip. Leaving me to the winds that stormed against my body.

I remained in that spot for hours until the evening dawned. I wobbled to the Pack House, thinking of reasonable ways to pacify my mate like Gabriel advised. Once I entered, I found Rita and Gabriel conversing as they watched a movie. They noticed my presence and their smiles vanished. Rewarding me with concerned looks.

"Claire is upstairs but apparently she's still mad at you." Gabriel mumbled. I heaved a sigh, I couldn't even muster enough courage to go upstairs, who knows what kind of words she would pierce me with.

"Did you guys try talking to her?" I asked but they wriggled their head in denial.

"She's locked her door ever since." Rose answered.

"So how do you plan on settling your issues with her?" He asked.

"I don't know," I muttered, my eyes darting across the large room aimlessly. "Perhaps sing her a song or say sweet words till she opens the door—" I paused when they stared at me in disbelief.

"I don't think you're ready to settle things out with Claire yet." Gabriel remarked.

"Why don't you tell me then?! You know I'm not good at stuffs like this."

"Yeah, the only thing you're good at is slapping Alphas and punching Betas." He retorted. I sighed, if it had been under a different circumstance perhaps I would have scorned him.

"You know, you don't have to remind me of the past none of us are proud of."

"Look Kevin," he pursed his lips as if he were looking for the perfect advice.

"Just follow what your heart says. Don't try to impress but try to express your apology in whatever way your heart desires."

I nodded as I digested the words of my Beta. What did my heart truly want? How did I want to express my apology? I was still in the process when my stomach cried from hunger.

"I have an idea." I grinned while they kept looking at me to spill the rest.

"I'm going to cook."

"No offence Alpha, but the last time you tried cooking, the whole place was a smoky mess." Rose responded while Gabriel nodded in agreement.

"I'm going to cook from my heart." I ascertained. At least if I didn't know how to cook all the delicious meal of life, I still had a little expertise in noodles.

"Look Kevin, just let Rose handle it for you." Gabriel's pessimistic talk dissuaded me from my thoughts.

"Yes Alpha."

"No! I'm going to cook and that's final." I stated. "And as for you Gabriel, I need you to book Claire and I a reservation at the best restaurant outside Greenville."

Gabriel's face morphed into a cocky smile.

"So, is that a date?" He joked. "I'll also have to buy you a tux cos I know for a fact your wardrobe is awful."

"Yes. Thank you." I wore a tiny smile as I recalled Claire complaining about my clothes back in the morning.

"Random question." He toned mischievously. "Have you guys, you know—" he nodded his head whilst giving me knowing glances, but I pretended not to understand.

"Have we what?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know what I'm saying." Gabriel arose from the couch approaching me with knowing looks while Rose studied him.

"I don't."

"Have you guys made love?" He blurted but I could tell he was being a prude about it.

"Yes, out of our hearts." I joked causing Rose to giggle.

"You know that's not what I mean." He persisted.

"No, we haven't." I finally answered. His eyes exclaimed for a brief moment before reverting back to normal.

"So, what do you guys do then? You obviously sleep on the same bed with her." He gestured.

"Well, we cuddle." I shrugged whilst reminiscing on the countless times I've punished myself by holding back.

"You cuddle?" Gabriel toned like I committed a sin.

"Yes." I shrugged. "Besides, I'm taking things slow with her."

He rolled his eyes.

"I hope tonight you guys hit the jackpot!" He teased while I wriggled my head when secretly, Lupus and I enjoyed that thought.

"Just get me what I asked for." I wore a tiny smile before aiming for the kitchen. It took me thirty minutes figuring out how to cook a plate of garnished noodles and not get my kitchen on fire.

I stared at the plate which beheld gleaming noodles adorned with slices of onions, carrots, vegetables, and an irresistible beef complementing it all. I tasted the meal though, to at least confirm I hadn't cooked nonsense. Apart from being a little bit peppery, they tasted perfect to my buds.

And on that note, I arranged her meal carefully on a tray alongside a cup of orange juice. I had only neared our door, but I could feel the accustomed sparks ignite within me. At the same time, I was scared. Claire was definitely loving but when she's angry, her words are as sharp as two-edged swords that cut through my heart easily.

"Claire." I mumbled as I knocked softly. "I made Dinner." But I still got no response.

"I know you're angry at me, but will you transfer that aggression on this innocent food?"

I heard her footsteps before the doorknob turned, quietly opening to reveal her stern expression. I froze instantly, I was supposed to be the Alpha here, the dominant one but when she was like this, it was otherwise.

"Are you going to keep standing there all day?" She uttered and it immediately jolted me back to my senses. I ushered myself into the dark room illuminated by the rays of moonlight while she locked the door behind her. The crumbs of cheesecakes alongside crackers on our bedsheets easily caught my eyes.

"Looks like someone has had dinner." I muttered while she lazily trailed to the bedside.

"Did you think I was going to go on a hunger strike just because I'm angry?" She queried in a slightly mocking tone.

"Then I guess I can take my food back." I answered, making sure my eyes weren’t meeting hers.

"You can leave but drop that Noodles." She toned back and my eyes finally met hers. I needed to find courage to say my sincere words or else I'd be risking a weeklong argument.

I joined her by the bedside and thankfully she didn't restrain me from sitting so close.

"I'm sorry. I should have been very sensible with my actions today. I should have put my Pack and its reputation first." I paused. My eyes remained on the tray in my hands while her gaze was on me.

"I'm sorry for ruining all your hard work today and I'm sorry for not listening to you." I whispered as we both shared passionate gazes at each other. Her stern face melted into a tiny smile. She slowly retrieved the tray off my hands, laying it on her thighs, ready to devour my meal.

"No matter the multitude of men that lust after me, you're never going to lose me Kevin." She asserted and I smiled. "You just have to bear the burden of having an extremely beautiful mate." She chuckled and I rolled my eyes. That was it, we were back to normal again. Our smiles, our joviality.

"You're not that beautiful, to be fair." I teased.

"And your food taste horrible darling." She retorted. I almost chuckled until I realized it was an insult.

"Wait how did you know I cooked this?" I shot her a quizzical look.

"It tells all over your face."

"So, is it truly bad?" I asked. She dropped her cutlery gently. Smiling sweetly at me while she gently caressed my cheek.

"A little peppery but it's perfect." I blushed hearing those words.

"I just hope you didn't burn the kitchen."

"Maybe a little." I laughed causing her too.

"I also have a little surprise for you."

"And what's that?"

"Wear your best, we're going to have proper dinner outside Greenville."

Her blush bloomed on her face like fine wine.

"So, is my Alpha trying to be romantic?"

I grinned like a child.

"No, I just wanna have fresh air and a meal that's all." I denied.

"You know, you're horrible at lying." She laughed. "So why don't you leave and give me an hour to prepare?"

"As you wish, my little one."