He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 35
JAKE
I have never felt more conflicted in my life than I feel right now. The turn of events kept flashing at the back of my mind, and I had been sitting in my office for the last three hours after the gala ended.
Before the gala, I was sure that I would not have my fated mate for my Luna. But I didn’t know what I wanted anymore the moment I saw her tonight.
I thought I had everything planned out, but the Goddess kept messing with my plans.I thought I was in control until she walked in tonight, looking like a goddess of her own in that blue-silhouetted midnight gown that did nothing to hide her curves.
She looked perfect. Everything about her was mesmerizing. And her sweet smell, her smell, had always enticed me but this new scent she carried around had me addicted in a second.
I had to control myself and my wolf from jumping on her and taking her to my room so I could have her just for myself. I wanted to dig my nose into her skin and take all I could from her.
Not to mention the desire in me to end the lives of every male who threw a l*usty gaze at her, especially Aeon. I was already on the verge of throwing him out of the ballroom and snapping his neck if he ever tried to stop me from dancing with her.
Goddess! Why the f*uc*k? You knew I wanted her, but you made sure she turned out to be everything I wanted and didn’t want.
***FLASHBACK***
I was ten years old and sitting uncomfortably in my grandfather’s office, Alpha Thelon. I had just come out of my morning training when the Alpha requested me.
I saw the anger and hatred in his eyes the moment I stepped inside his office. I feared no one except my Alpha. He knew how to put me into place.
“What did I do wrong this time, Alpha?” I asked him, my gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to lock his eyes with mine. He had taught me to look people in the eye when speaking to them. They should know and feel the power my gaze held.
I was trained to be an Alpha and, despite the fear I felt inside, I was good at hiding it now.
He shook his head and combed his hair with his hand before looking at me. “It’s not you, son. It’s your hell of a man, father. He still keeps declining his rightful place just to be with that disgusting female.” He spat those words out in anger.
“I am so close to the point of banishing your father from this pack, Jacob. This close!” He punched his desk, leaving a dent in it. My grandfather, the Alpha, was close to fifty years old, but he didn’t look a day over thirty. But his eyes say otherwise. His eyes were tired and full of disappointment.
Three years ago, my father went to another territory to sign a treaty on behalf of my grandfather. There he met his fated mate and decided she was worth abandoning his family for. I was seven when he left, leaving me behind and my mother — his chosen mate, to be with his fated mate. My grandfather tried to talk him back and offered to make his fated mate his second wife. But the female refused. She wanted my father just for herself.
And just like that, I lost my father, and soon after, my mother took her own life.
After my mother died, we tried to reach out one more time. Still, he refused to come back.
“Then banish him, Alpha. I will take the Alpha seat once you think I am ready. I will not disappoint you.”
My heart was full of hatred, not just for my father but for the female who took everything away from me. My father’s mate, she didn’t just take my father away from me. She also dragged the life out of my mother and took my childhood away from me.
From that day forward, I promised my grandfather and myself that no female could take hold of me the same way it had my father and my forefathers before me.
***END FLASHBACK***
A knock on my office door woke me up from my slumber. I didn’t have any grasp of time, but it couldn’t be that long since I drifted off to sleep.
‘Are you decent, Alpha? Can I come in?1 Aaron opened a mindlink, a teasing tone to his inquiry.
“Come in,” I called out, ignoring his mindlink.
Aaron eased in and sat directly on the chair in front of my table, but not before his gaze took a fast sweep of my office, a playful grin escaping his mouth.
I raised an eyebrow, a frown etched on my face. ” What’s that for? Are you expecting to see something?”
“Or someone?” He teased. “Well, we have tons of beautiful females from last night. I was expecting at least one of them to end up here.”
“When did I ever f*uc*k anyone inside the pack house? And did you forget that your sister was there at the gala as well? Were you expecting that she might be the one in here?” A smug smirk formed on my face as I stood up from my chair, swiping two empty scotch glasses from the counter and heading for my whisky cabinet as I waited for his response. “Nah. I saw her go home. She said she got bored, and I made sure she was safely tucked in her bed before I went to sleep.” He mirrored the smug smirk on my face.
“You don’t trust that she won’t be able to resist my charms?” I let out a low chuckle, trying not to show the real emotions I had. I had no idea if Aaron knew that his sister was my mate.
“Well, you can’t trust the big bad wolf. And that’s why I’m here, Alpha. ” His tone changed from playful to serious.
I walked back to my table and slid him a glass of whisky.
Aaron caught it perfectly. “Isn’t it too early for this? For goddess’ sake, Jake, it’s only six in the morning?”
I slumped back on my chair, not minding his question and more eager to hear what he had to say about Clair. “Spill it. What do you want to say?”
I brought the glass to my lips, sipping my drink slowly.
“I’ve said it before, but I want to say it differently this time. About Clair. You’re free to get to know my sister if you want. But please, as soon as you realize that you don’t intend to make her your Luna, you need to stop and let her know where she stands.
You are fully aware that her mate rejected her, and the last thing I want is for you to play with her and dump her like trash when you get tired of her. She deserves better.”
A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to say something, but nothing came out. He took my silence as his cue to continue talking.
“I saw the way she looked at you last night. For a fleeting second, I almost believed that she was looking at you as if you were her mate if I didn’t remember that her f*uc*king mate rejected her.”
I put my emotions in check so as to not crush the glass in my hand, but the reality hit me again. I could never run away from it. She still wanted me, despite and in spite of my refusal to acknowledge our bond.
He shook his head, pursing his lips before adding more. “But then maybe it’s natural. She always had a crush on you. I thought she got over it. Evidently not yet.”
We stayed silent for a long time. I have no idea what to say. A part of me wanted to confess to my Gamma, her brother, but a part of me was conflicted.
It should have been an easy choice. I made my decision years ago, but now I wasn’t sure anymore.
Aaron let out a sigh before standing up. “I guess that’s all.”
He leaned his hands on my desk and looked me straight in the eyes. “I will always support you, Alpha. I always did, but I will not hesitate to denounce my position and challenge you if you ever play with Clair’s heart. Let her know where she stands so as to not let her hopes rise just to be crushed again.”
He turned on his heel and walked towards the door. “I will be at the training ground with our warriors. Just call me if you need me anywhere today. And in case Beta Gavin forgot to remind you, you have breakfast scheduled with Dahlia at eight today and lunch with Serena. Better go up to your room and fix yourself. You look like a mess, not a man pursuing his future Luna.” He c*oc*ked his head, smiling teasingly at me before giving me a salute as he opened the door of my office and walked out.