He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 8l
Jake
Today would be my Union Ceremony with Clair and the Elders had taken her away from the packhouse. I won’t be able to see her until early tonight. We all decided to hold the union earlier because Clair wasn’t marked yet and her heat might arrive anytime when the full moon reached its peak.
I was in my office and going through the files I received from the Crescent Moon pack where the Claiming was held when my Beta stepped in.
I raised my head and looked at him as he slumped his body on the chair in front of my desk.
“Do you even sleep lately?” I raised a brow, my eyes scanned his face. His eyes have black circles around them and the hair on his face has been longer than usual.
“Did you get information? I still didn’t feel any bond breaking. I’m guessing she will be claimed tonight.” He ignored my question, his hand ma*s*saging his temple.
I sighed and slid the papers in my hand in his direction. “Not sure you wanted to hear this but you need to know. All the Alpha Females listed came out with their Alphas. No one backed out, no one came out unclaimed.”
I saw his hands coiled around the armrest of the chair he was sitting in, gripping it tightly. “But are you sure she’s younger than 20? Because
all the Alpha Females listed were 22 years old and older. Clair was the only one under 20.” I asked him when he failed to say anything.
“I don’t know, man. She looked young.” He reached for the paper and stood up from his seat. “I’ll take this. I want to check the names and see if there is someone here I haven’t met. Maybe it’s her.”
I nodded and watched him walk away.
“Gavin,” I called out before he fully walked out of the office. “Caspian is coming after lunch and I need you with me to welcome him. Do you think you can?”
He nodded. “Just link me and I’ll go down. I just need to lay down for a while.” He answered as he closed the door behind him.
I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. Clair still had no idea about Gavin finding his mate. I wanted to tell her but it wasn’t my secret and my Beta doesn’t want Clair to find out. He doesn’t want Clair to feel guilty about this, but I had no idea how long I could keep his secret from my mate. I wanted to let her know because it was already hard enough not to have someone to talk about it, and I had f*uc*king no idea how I would help him.
GAVIN
I just came out from my bath when the Alpha mind linked and informed me that Alpha Caspian had entered the territory and was now on his way to the pack house.
I immediately put on my clothes and wiped the little blood on my chin from the cut I incurred while I shaved.
The idea that tonight would be a full moon and the possibility of my mate being claimed and marked tonight was taking its toll on me. And as much as I just wanted to not fix myself and just slacked off, today would also be Jake and Clair’s union and the Luna ceremony.
Duty calls. I had to look presentable even if I was mourning inside. £)
I grabbed my jacket and head off downstairs where the Alpha was already waiting.
As soon as I stepped out of the pack house, I saw the Alpha smile. He was probably pleased with how I looked. I bobbed my head at him in acknowledgment as I stood beside him.
In seconds, two cars approached the pack house.
Together with the Alpha, I walked forward and stopped in the front of the first car.
Alpha Caspian came out of his car but I did not see his next move because my eyes shifted to the female that stepped out of the passenger side.
I never thought I would see her again.
The Goddess must be playing jokes on me.
My mate, the most beautiful woman that graced earth was right here in front of me.
My breathing hitched, hands automatically coiled into fists on my side as her scent swirled around me. Kurt howled in my head wanting to take our mate into our arms.
My jaw tightened when it hit me that Alpha Caspian had claimed my mate.
‘Gavin. Is she your mate? Focus! I heard the Alpha in my head.
I cleared my throat and accepted the hand offered by Alpha Caspian.
“Beta Gavin,” I said calmly, the moment he let go of the handshake my eyes shifted again to the female who was now approaching the Alpha without any regard for me.
If she recognized the bond, it surely did not show on her face or in her action.
She stopped in front of Jake and looked at him, a forced smile on her lips. “My name is Alia, Alpha Jacob.” She raised her hand and laid it in front of the Alpha.
Alia.
Her name is perfect for her. I wonder how it would feel when it rolled on my tongue.
Instead of taking it to kiss her hand, the Alpha simply took her hand and bowed at her. “Pleasure to meet you, Lady Alia.” He smiled and let go of her hand before turning his head in my direction. “My Beta, Beta Gavin.”
Her eyes narrowed as looked at me for a second, before returning his attention to Alpha Jake. “Alpha Jacob, I know the ceremony won’t start until later, do you mind if I ask for a place where I can rest?” to say something but he kept his mouth shut.
“Of course, my Beta would show…” The Alpha was not done yet when she cut him off.
“I would rather be a*s*sisted by someone else, not your Beta.” She said coldly, her eyes not moving away from him.
The Alpha nodded and turned to Matteo behind us. “Show Lady Alia her room on the 2nd floor, guest area.”
“Excuse me.” She said without waiting for any confirmation from the Alpha and followed behind Matteo, not throwing a single glance at me.
My eyes followed her movement, focusing on how her hips swayed and her skirt rustled as she walked. “I apologized for my sister, she can be demanding at times, and unfortunately, I don’t want to leave her behind whenever I needed to go far from the territory. I hope you don’t mind that I took her without any notice.” Alpha Caspian explained, and the moment the word sister left his mouth, I felt my lungs start to function again.
In fact, all of my senses came back to life.
And for the first time since the Claiming, I found myself smiling. A real one.
The Alpha must have felt the relief I felt that he too snickered from Alpha Caspian’s words. “No. Not at all. Women. You would never understand them. But I thought I saw her on the Claiming. Wasn’t she one of the Alpha Females there?” He asked the question I wanted to ask.
Alpha Caspian shook his head and stifled a laugh. “ No. No. I would never place her there unless she wanted to. She just came along because I want to go there. I was hoping I can spot my mate there.
Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on my side. Seemed my mate is still out there.”
“That explained. But I’m sure you’ll find her one day. You’re still young and have so much time left. Anyway, let’s go in.” Alpha Jake patted my shoulder, motioning for me and Alpha Caspian to follow him inside pack house.
“We can go to my office right now or I can direct you to your room if you want to rest first.” He informed Alpha Caspian.
I did not hear the rest of their conversation as I walked behind them inside the pack house, my mind was wandering somewhere, to someone.
Alia. Such a beautiful name.
My mate, she was not yet claimed.
And she hated me. Of course, she would. But it doesn’t bother me. Not at all.
She was unclaimed. That’s all that mattered now.