He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 75. Gavin
GAVIN
I’d been here for an hour and there weren’t any signs of her. I was already convinced that she was not here, and from the messages I got from the warriors who went around Alpha Noah’s territory, they were not able to smell her either. None of the females they talked with took notice of a new female around the area.
The only thing was, I have not heard anything from the Alpha since he started the meeting with Alpha Noah. I was hoping something was happening in there and that they found her in the pack house, although I knew it would be stupid for Alpha Noah to keep her there if he knew Jake was stepping foot in there.
I smiled at the female in front of me. She had been trying to get my attention for the last twenty minutes and kept complaining about the food choices on the buffet. It took me a lot of effort not to tell her to shut her mouth because she was really starting to annoy me.
And then my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw the Alpha’s name. I excused myself from the table and hurried outside to the balcony after I checked that no one was there.
“Any news?” I went straight ahead with my question once I answered the phone.
“She’s there at the Claiming. Her cousin told Damien. You need to double-check again. We’re on our way.” The Alpha said in one breath.
“She’s not here. She must be lying.”
“Check all the rooms around the ballroom and check the one designated for the Night Howlers Pack or check the list again. Do something!”
“I did that, Jake! No rooms were a*s*signed to Night Howlers and I saw the lists personally!”
“Check the f*uc*k again! And trust me on this one! She was listed for the Claiming!”
“Okay. I’ll do my best.”
“Do it now! We don’t have time. I don’t even know if I can reach there on time.” He took a deep breath before he added. “I’m commanding you to find her!
I winced as his Alpha command rolled over me. I needed to find her.
I dropped the call and slid the phone into my back pocket as I made my way to the man holding the list of Alpha Females for Claiming. Unlike earlier, he was now all alone in his corner.
With hostile eyes, I strode in his direction and slammed my palms on his desk. His eyes widened in fear as he tilted his head to look at me.
“Now, tell me again that you don’t have a Clair Montrell on your lists?” I snapped at him in a cold voice but did my best to maintain a toned-down voice.
His hands were shaking as he handed me the papers in his hand. “You can look for yourself… again, as I said… earlier she was not among the females… here. “ His words stuttered, making me believe he was lying.
“Stop f*uc*king around! Alpha Noah told me himself that his niece is here and that’s why I came here. Do I need to call him and say you were not doing what he told you to do?” I warned him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” He exclaimed but his eyes were shifting around the area as if looking for someone to help him.
I closed my eyes and coiled my hands into fists. F*uc*k this!
I lowered my head and leaned my face closer to his and talked to him in a low voice. “I know that Lady Clair Montrell was listed with another Alpha and she ’s somewhere hidden in one of the rooms here. But my Alpha did pay a good sum of money and land to Alpha Noah to claim Lady Clair tonight by challenging the other Alpha. So take out the list and put my Alpha’s name on it, or I don’t have a choice but to blow out your lies and the bribe you received to the Council.”
I straightened my posture without taking my gaze off of him. His ears were red, and by the looks of it, I did hit something. “I can also call Alpha Noah, but I think the Council would be more thankful if they found out what…”
But before I could finish my words, he opened the drawer on his desk and threw another paper in front of me while he looked around us.
“Here. Put the name of your Alpha there.”
I offered him a c*oc*ky grin before I focused on the paper.
F*uc*king Alpha Aeon! That lying moron! He was the one listed for Clair.
With one and a half hours to go, Jake would not be able to make it and use the Mate Bond advantage before the Claiming.
F*uc*k!
I grabbed the pen on the desk and wrote his name on the list under Clair’s name. He wouldn’t have a choice. He needed to challenge Aeon for his own mate.
I took a picture of the paper before throwing it back to the man’s face, my eyes throwing daggers at him. “Make sure you don’t change anything in there and don’t hide the paperback in the drawer or you’ll never see daylight tomorrow,” I warned him before walking away to call my Alpha.
9:40 in the evening (25 minutes before the CLAIMING starts)
GAVIN
I was on the phone with my Alpha an hour ago and they were still very far from the Crescent Moon’s Pack territory where the Claiming was being held.
A few minutes ago, a voice reminder was sent out that the Arena Stage would be opened exactly ten minutes before ten in the evening so that spectators could move on to their seats.
The Alpha Females would enter the Forest Grounds at 10:05, and Jake was nowhere near here.
I dialed his number and he answered right away.
“Where are you?” I asked directly.
“30-40 more minutes.”
“F*uc*k! That’s too late already! The females are entering the arena in 20 minutes!”
“I’m f*uc*king speeding up! Did you see her?”
“No! I wasn’t able to find her. You need to hurry up! I doubt if Aeon will wait longer before he claims
her. I’m sure he’s going to pick her up right away and lead her out of the arena in seconds!” I combed my hair as I walked to the balcony to get some fresh air. This was turning bad already.
“You think I don’t know that?! I just need more time! Just f*uc*king more time!!!” I heard him slam his palm on the steering wheel. He was starting to lose his temper.
I need to do something — anything to keep Clair from being claimed by Aeon tonight. But I don’t even f*uc*king know where they were hiding her.
“I’ll buy you time. Just get here and go directly to the forest entrance. If they stop you, f*uc*king tell them you’re listed for Clair Montrell. I’ll send you the screenshot of the list just in case you need it. They can’t stop you from entering and make sure to find where she is. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“What were you planning to do?” I heard the desperation in the Alpha’s voice.
“Trust me on this. Just be here and find her in the arena! See you later, I have things to do.”
I didn’t wait for him to answer and just dropped the call.
I have things to accomplish before the Claiming starts. I wasn’t sure if I’d be successful, but one thing was certain: I would protect my Luna at all costs.
Jake wouldn’t be able to make it to the arena on time, and Aeon would have had free rein to claim Clair by then. I needed to do something to stop him.
Just as I was about to go where I was headed, an intoxicating scent hit me.
I stood frozen by the balcony door facing the ballroom. My mind went into a daze as my lungs were filled with the sweetest scent of vanilla and morning dew.
F*uc*k this! Not now! This could not be happening!
My mate was here. Would somebody claim her?
My chest heaved as my breath hitched. Pain crossed my chest at the very idea that she would be claimed by someone else. She’s mine!
A low growl vibrated from my chest as my eyes scanned the room for her.
The ballroom was filled with Alpha Females but my eyes captured the sight of the female with green flowing ball dress. She was frozen on her spot, with her back on mine. She must have scented me.
She was standing 30 feet away. No! F*uc*k this!
I watched as my mate slowly turned her head and body around to search for something until she found me.
As our eyes locked, I felt the mate bond snap into place. Her round green eyes beamed with happiness as she stared back at me until she recognized the frown on my face.
My eyes dilated into full black as my wolf, Kurt, forced his way out. But I took hold of him before he was able to do something about the bond.
At that moment, I made the hardest decision of my life.
With my face void of any emotions, I turned around and walked away from the fated mate I had been waiting for all my life.
When I said I would give anything to save my Luna, I did not mean this. Not this.
Goddess, how could you be so cruel?
I knew I would regret this. And I had no idea if I would be able to live after this, knowing I would let somebody claim my mate.
I saw it in her eyes. She wanted me.
She was perfect. F*uc*king perfect!
The way her green eyes danced with happiness when she first saw me, her luscious lips that parted as they glistened under the bright lights, and her perfectly curved body that was supposed to be held just by me. She was made for me.
She was f*uc*king perfect in every sense, but I could never have her. Not anymore.
I had things to do. I made mistakes that needed absolution.
I needed to save Clair. A mate for a mate.
I took full control of myself and my wolf. With hurried steps, I walked towards the same man who held the lists for the Alpha Females. I couldn’t bother to look back at her. I knew she felt I was rejecting her, and I knew that if I saw her face one more time, I might not have the strength to finish what I needed to do.
“Give me the list for Clair Montrell.” I snapped coldly at the man in front of me. This time, he handed me the paper without any questions. I took the pen off the desk and held it in my hand for a while, gripping it tightly.
Sorry, little lamb. I had to sacrifice you.
Without any more thoughts, I let out a deep sigh and signed my name under Clair Montrell, and threw the paper back in front of the man. A part of me wanted to ask and search for my mate’s name and find out who would claim her, but I knew I would just lead myself to greater misery.
So I walked away. I walked away from the only thing that sparked life in my already dead heart.
I walked away without knowing her name, without knowing anything about her.
But I knew from this day forward, she would creep into my mind and into my heart for the rest of my life.