Chapter 10

Still Alpha River’s P.O.V

My mate thoroughly answered all the questions she was asked without interruptions till she got to the part where she let us know that she was going to train them herself and isn’t going to go easy on them because her mother didn’t.

The beautiful young lady that she had entered the room with cut her off and called her a sadistic bitch. I was about to growl in warning at her blatant disrespect when my mate looked in her direction and chuckled before telling the lady she won’t be Chaos without being the sadistic bitch that lady said she was.

And then went on further to playfully scold her. For trying to act like a saint when she was just a step behind her. My men and I watched in fascination and worry at the familiar friendliness between these two ladies and how they were at ease throwing jibes at each other even in our presence.

When I had had enough, I asked my mate who the lady was and I guess that was my mistake. Because my mate looked at the lady in question and after giving her a curt nod, the lady herself spoke.

“Why don’t you ask me yourself Mr. Alpha?” she said rudely

“Watch the way you speak to me woman” I growled out

“Or what? Before we get down to the necessary introductions, I want to make it clear that though you may be an alpha you are certainly not mine.

Chaos has been and will always be my alpha and that’s not going to change. And before you go all alpha on me, I’ve got something sweet for you.

‘The truth always comes out. No matter how deep its buried… you may be comfortable in the shadows because you think it’s a temporal home for your secret but know that, that same shadows is a permanent dwelling place for another’…” she said cryptically with mockery laced in her words

I turned swiftly to glance around the room and I knew in my heart of heart that disaster was nearing. I watched as his trusted men shifted uneasily in their seats whiles some looked out rightly nervous. It seems they had also caught on the depth of what the mysterious woman had said.

I set my eyes on my mate afterwards only to find her famous blank mask back on her face. My mind was running faster than it usually did and I couldn’t help but feel as if this new lady knew exactly what she was saying.

But then I couldn’t be so sure because like my mate, she also had the same blank mask on her face with her eyes dead cold.

Taking a deep breath, I asked as calmly as I could.

“Who are you?”

“Well now that you ask, my name is Kiara Khorne. Cousin to Chaos. That’s as much as you deserve to know. And oh, I’m also the mate of your beta” she answered coldly

Like a practiced act, we all turn to look at my beta in question only to find him smiling cockily. We now owed him. We had bet that he wouldn’t find his mate anytime soon when he had once told us that he felt her near.

We had all made fun of him for having false hopes and dreams just because I had found my mate. He had just smiled smugly and asked us to bet. We each owed him a hundred bucks each.

We had bet big because we were so sure of ourselves but then here, we are now. I looked at his mate and I felt uneasy. I can’t get rid of her now because was my beta’s mate and my mates cousin.

How lucky for her. I was still watching Kiara as she interacted with the other men in the room in a much lighter tone and mood that she had done with me.

And it has been established that she had a personal vendetta with me or it could be that she just didn’t like me. I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard the door to the room opening and then closing.

I threw a quick glance around only to realize it was my mate. Quickly getting out of my seat, I rushed out after her. I caught up with her easy and when I saw the painful look on her face, I couldn’t help but ask her what was wrong.

“It’s nothing. Just a headache” was the answer she gave me

I pressed on till I was sure it was just a headache but then I seems to be just one little fact. The enormity of our mating ceremony was also weighing on her nerves. I questioned that too to make sure that was really what she wants.

With the full moon happening afterwards and I was internally ecstatic that she still wanted it. With a kiss on her forehead I sent her on her way whiles I pondered on the events of the last couple of minutes.

To be honest Kiara had spooked me and something in my gut told me it had being deliberate. She had known what she was talking about. But I didn’t dwell on it too much when I remembered my mating ceremony was tomorrow.

With a smile on my face, I went to find my mum and dad to give them the good news.

*****************************

I find my mum and dad, Gregory sitting in the hall watching television in each other’s arms and the sight had me burning with yearning. I wanted what they had and now that I had found my mate, I would get it. Besides I get double because Tricia is also there.

I walk up to them and after ruffling my father’s hair just to spite him, I dropped a kiss on my mother’s forehead before seating myself in the couch facing them. My mother might have picked up on my good mood because she asked softly;

“What are you in a good mood about?”

“Well Chaos just asked if we could have our mating ceremony tomorrow and I said yes. And she spoke about an additional training method for the wolves who didn’t like hand to hand combat, physical contact or ghastly blood shedding” I replied with my chest puffed out with pride

“Oh, that’s great. I will go and start preparations for tomorrow” My mother squealed with excitement before rushing outside

I watched her exit the house with a smile on my face only to turn and find my father staring off into space with a frown on his face.

“What is wrong father?” I asked with worry

“What about Tricia son? I must say your mate is Luna material with great potential and I won’t sit back and watch you ruin her” My father said sternly

“Father I care about Tricia and I’m not going to throw her away just because I found my mate. It will take time and somewhere in the near future, we will go our separate ways and besides what my mate does know won’t hurt her”

“You disappoint me sometimes. You and your mother both because she keeps encouraging you to act foolishly. I advise you to break things off with Tricia before you ruin your life with your mate before it even begins.”

“What could possibly go wrong dad? The mating ceremony is tomorrow and I get to mark and mate with her. The full moon mating follows the day afterwards and then the deal will be sealed. She will be mine”

“You may be alpha now but I think you are letting your fling with Tricia get into your head. There are so many things that could go wrong after your mating and the things that happen afterwards always leave a lasting impression.”

“But….”

“But nothing. Stop taking you mate for a fool and give her the respect she deserves. End that fling with Tricia before tomorrow or you have just doomed yourself. You may be my son but I will not condone to this madness” my father said lastly before walking out on me.

I didn’t know why he was making a big deal out of all this. I’m not letting Tricia go period. I will have my ceremony and prove to him that he was wrong afterwards. He should just wait and see.

I had expected him to be happy for me but here I was, listening to him try to dictate my life. Well at least my mother was happy for me and I know the pack will be too. It’s a good thing I kept my relationship with Tricia from the eyes of the pack or else I’m sure it would have reached my mates ears by now.

Someone like Cindy who was delusional about being my mate and the pack’s Luna would have used that against her. In hopes of hurting her. I leaned back on the couch to take a brief nap and that was when I felt that foreign presence again but this time, I could sense saltiness in the air.

Whoever it is, was crying. I steadily stood up from my seat and tried to grab whatever it was only to come back empty. The foreign presence was gone. I sniffed the air but nothing. Not even a faint residue.

I walked back to the couch and settled back down only to be startled by a heavy knock on the door. I stood up to head to the door only for Kiara to swiftly overtake me.

I stood back and watched as she opened the door and squealed before throwing herself into someone’s arms. She had changed from the clothes she arrived in and was now wearing a sleeveless top with ripped jeans and boots.

I had to do a double take though because I now realized that she also had tattoos. A few matching the ones on my mate’s arms and others in languages and images I have never seen before.

I didn’t have to strain my neck to see who it was because she pulled the person right in.

My eyes widened when I took in the gigantic man standing in my home. He wasn’t much to look at but he was rigged in the right places and had tattoos littering the better part of his body that I could see.

What was it with this family and tattoos?

He had his bulging arm around Kiara’s shoulder and I was surprised he hasn’t squashed her yet.

Not that I would protest him squashing her. Nope.

I would just turn a blind eye. He made himself comfortable before lifting his gaze from a smiling Kiara who had been chatting his ears off in a language I didn’t understand.

He’s gaze settled on me and after studying me for a moment, he spoke;

“I am Hephaestus. Uncle to Kiara and Chaos”

“Oh… I’m Alpha River and welcome. I wasn’t informed you were coming” I said with a small smile as I took the seat in front of him

“I was supposed to arrive tomorrow but I wasn’t busy today and I decided to pass by”

“That’s okay. Do you need me to get Chaos for you?”

“No… no actually I came to see you. Chaos had always wanted her own personal library and training center and her mother thought it will be nice to build one for her as a mating present.”

“That’s great and I’m guess you wanted the go ahead to start building?”

“Yes”

“Well I have no problem. You can choose anywhere close to our home and start as soon as possible”

“Thank you. I will like to survey the land today and my workers and I will start on it as soon as possible”

“Thank you rather. It will be a great surprise to give her after our mating ceremony. She will be ecstatic”

“She surely will be” Kiara cut in with a smug smile on her face

I pretended to not have heard her before asking our guest if he wanted something to drink and apologized for not asking as soon as he had arrived. He declined though and asked if he could go out and survey the land right away.

I offered to take him but he said he was okay with Kiara. And that he need to catch up on lost times since it had been a while since they had seen each other. I forced a smile on my face and nodded in his direction when he stood to take his leave.

After he and Kiara had left, I sat back and tried to figure out what had just happened. I mean the visitor’s closed off attitude towards me. I felt he didn’t like me and was not impressed with me but I couldn’t figure out why.

First Kiara and now their uncle with a weird ass long name that I don’t remember. Even though he told me some few minutes ago.

I run my hand through my hair in frustration before pushing everything into the back of my mind. Tomorrow was my mating ceremony and I was not going to let anyone rain on my parade. Not at all.

Thanks for reading.

Until next time, XoXo...