He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 67
Clair.
Everything went in a blur after I disconnected from my pack. I felt I was just being pushed and told what I needed to do, and I didn’t even have the strength to complain anymore. My mind was elsewhere, with someone.
The only thing that connected me to my mate was my pack bond, and now it was gone.
After I pledged allegiance to Alpha Noah’s pack, a new connection bound me to my mother’s old pack, the Night Howlers Pack. I had no idea what he wanted from me, but I have never hated anyone in my life the way I hate Alpha Noah right now. I needed to find out why, and I needed to survive it.
After talking with him, I was brought to the dining area and served dinner. The meal looked appetizing, and as much as I wanted to eat it to draw strength from it, my stomach couldn’t take it. I left it almost untouched.
Then I was brought to a bedroom after dinner. I was expecting a cellar of some sort. Maybe a dungeon like the one where Jake held the rogue captive they had caught last time. But I guess I was luckier or was I?
The room was decently sized but bare, aside from the necessities. It had a bed and side table, a cabinet, and its bathroom. At least I didn’t need to bump into anyone if I needed to go there.
As soon as the door was closed, I went directly to the window and pried it open, only to be disappointed. It was locked from the outside. And just as I was about to check the door, it opened again, revealing a young female with light brown hair and light yellow-green eyes.
She stepped in and closed the door behind her, but before she was able to close it completely, I was able to see that two men were standing outside my door.
Damn! I was guarded.
My gaze then drifted back to the female in front of me. Her eyes were beaming with happiness, and I wondered why. She was a little taller than me, but we were almost the same size. In her hands were clothes I a*s*sumed she would let me use.
“Hi, I’m Luisa. I’m happy to meet you, Clair. It’s been too long since there was any female around aside from me.” She smiled at me, her eyes were soft but filled with awe and curiosity.
“Who are you?” My voice was cold, flashing her a poker face.
“We’re cousins. I’m 17, so one more year before our uncle will choose a mate for me.”
“What do you mean?” My eyebrows hiked up. What she said sounded dangerous to me.
She giggled softly and went to sit at the end of the bed, placing the clothes carefully beside her before patting the space on the other side of her.
I went toward the bed and sat down, but left a space between us. She looked nice and friendly, but in this place, I should not trust anyone.
“Do you know why you’re here?” She looked at me with her own brows hiked up but still smiling.
I shook my head, my eyes fixed on hers. I wanted to read her and find out if she would tell me the truth or was about to trap me in some lies.
“I should not be the one telling you, but since we’re female and we’re cousins, we should look out for each other, right?” The smile faded from her mouth as she bit her lower lip.
I nodded this time.
She sighed deeply, her eyes darting to the window overlooking the bright moon.
“Uncle must have already chosen an Alpha to claim and marry you so he can build an alliance with that Alpha.”
“What?” My eyes widened. I threw my hand over my mouth to cover it and stop myself from screaming.
She nodded before continuing. “They’ve been doing this for generations. You see, we are a weak pack now. If we have another attack, we might not
survive. Uncle married off my sister to another pack’ s Alpha, so we are still surviving. That Alpha has been sending aid to our pack, but I don’t know until when they will help us. So I guess it’s your turn this year. He probably found out about you and saw that you were unmarked. And then… and then it’s my turn next year.”
Her eyes started to water as she dropped her gaze to her fidgeting hands.
“Do you know who you’ll be married to?” I asked, my voice softer this time. I didn’t know why I started to feel bad for her more than for myself.
She nodded. “I don’t like him. He was rude. He told me last time I should make sure I’m pure when he claims me. I had no problem with that, but he wasn’ t doing the same thing. He f*uc*ked every she-wolf he could. And when he visits here, he f*uc*ks she- wolves from here as well.”
My heart shattered for Luisa. I didn’t know her, but it must be hard to be in her place knowing she would be married off to the man she loathed.
“How long have you known this? Or him?” I asked with genuine interest.
“I have known I’d be married off since I can remember. But I only found out to whom when I was 16. He came here to offer training to our warriors, and then he saw me. He made the deal, and now, Uncle does everything to make sure I grow up according to how he wants me to be.” She sighed, and I kept my silence.
“I have been stuck in this house for almost two years now. I haven’t seen any females except the helpers, so I’m really glad you’re here. Even for just a short period of time.”
“Short period? Do you know when they will send me back to my family?”
“What do you mean? Don’t you get it? Uncle will marry you off to someone. The Claiming is on Saturday. That’s four days from now.”
My eyes widened in shock as reality sunk in, and my body stiffened. Rain was snarling and out of control in my head. She wanted out of here and to find our mate. I wished for the same thing.
I finally found my voice and started to speak. “No. This is not real! You mean he took me here to marry me off to some Alpha? Do you know who?” My hand gripped her wrist tightly.
She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I only heard about you coming during dinner last night. Uncle told me to give you clothes and a*s*sist you with the ballgown for the Claiming. So I a*s*sumed you would be Claimed there.”
My mouth parted as I gasped for air.
“I’m sorry, Clair. I wish I knew more about it or I had asked more about it, but then Uncle never shares anything except when I needed to do something. I hope I can help you, but I can’t even help myself out of this.”
“Where are your parents? Why are they letting him do this to you and your sister?” My nose flared in anger.
“It’s been a tradition. For how long, I don’t know. But we grew up knowing our fate was sealed once an Alpha took interest in us.”
“So you mean, if no Alpha would want you, you’re free to take whoever you want?”
“I guess so. But it rarely happens. Females with Alpha bloodlines are rare. So Alphas and Betas were aiming for us to strengthen their bloodlines.” “But we’re the third generation. We have weak Alpha blood now,” I insisted.
“Maybe for me, but it doesn’t matter because my Alpha still wants me. But for you, your mother is Aunt Camilla. She was a firstborn. Making her a strong Alpha Female so grandfather was disappointed when she chose your father instead of the Alpha she was promised.”
“No, no, this is not happening! I have a mate!” I palmed my face.
“You do? Oh, my Goddess! Was he nice?” Her mood suddenly changed, and her eyes beamed.
“It doesn’t matter. Do you know you can get away from that Alpha if you have a mate? A fated mate.” “No. There’s no way out.” Luisa kept shaking her head.
“Yes, there is! All we need to do is find your mate. He can take you away from here or he just needed to show up on your Claiming and they will honor the mate bond as long as the Claiming hadn’t started. Do you know what happened to my mom and dad? It was like that!”
“You think it’s still possible? But I don’t know. What if my mate doesn’t want me?” Her voice was low, and I could understand her. My mate didn’t want me either.
“Look. We’ll think about that after you turn 18. Hopefully, the Claiming won’t happen as soon as you turn 18. We need to buy time and find him first.
“You will help me?” Her eyes grew bigger as she stare at me.
“I want to, and I will if I can. But you need to help me as well.”
“How? I can’t even get out of this house,” she said in desperation.
Before I could answer her, the door to my room opened. Our heads automatically snapped toward it. It revealed one of the men stationed outside.
“Your uncle wants you in his office, Lady Luisa,” he said coldly.
“Okay. I’ll be there soon.” She nodded before turning her gaze back to me. “We can talk more tomorrow. Here are some of my clothes, you can have them. Get as much rest as you can.” She laid her palm into my hand gently before standing up and leaving.
“Okay,” I answered as I watched her walk away, closing the door behind her.