Chapter 22

Chapter 0022

After school, I drop Jason off and head home. When I walk in, Dad looks at me and gives me a side smile, “What? No flowers?”

The look on my face must have been more serious than I anticipated because his smile drops. “Honey?”

I walk over to the living room and sit on the couch. I take a deep breath and tell dad about the lunch that was ordered for me. He whistles low, looking at me intently. “That could be taken a couple of different ways Cara.”

I silently hand him the card. He reads it and then stares at it for a second like I did. “Okay, only one way to take that. What does Artemis say? I’m assuming she was pleased?”

“Oh yeah, she was thrilled to be given the adoration she thinks she deserves.” I say laughing.

I see Donovan push forward as Dad’s green eyes go brighter. “She’s a Guardian and my pup. Of course she deserves it. Any male would be lucky to have her as a mate. This is the type of homage that is due a Guardian and my daughter.” Donovan’s gravelly voice states.

Dad forces Donovan back and we give each other a look. Sometimes our wolves act a bit….arrogant. “So, have you figured out who it is yet?” Dad changes the subject.

“No clue dad. Not one. I did rule out most of the guys in training this morning, mostly because they were giving me such a hard time about the flowers.”

“Could it be Alpha Liam?” he asks. He knows that Liam and I have been flirting. and spending some time together but I hadn’t mentioned Friday night’s chat. with him. I still wasn’t completely sure how I felt about it.

“I don’t think so. Plus he texted me last night after hearing about the flowers. I’m pretty confident it’s not him.”

“Oh! And, it was the owner of Ethereal that brought in my food today.” Dad whistles again. He looks thoughtful for a moment, then looks back at me. “It could be Alpha Rik.

I laugh out loud, bending over and holding my stomach. “Dad, I hate to break it to you, but Alpha Rik has no clue who I am.”

He cocks an eyebrow at me in question.

+15 BONOS

“He literally came up to me last week and asked me what my name was and. which pack I’m from.”

Dad, or maybe Donovan, growled about that. I quickly jumped in with damage control. I didn’t want Dad saying anything to Alpha Anders. “It’s fine Dad. He’ll figure it out eventually.

After training and dinner, I was up in my room finishing my homework when my phone rang. I saw it was Liam and sighed. I knew this was coming.

“Good evening Liam. To what do I owe the pleasure of a call?”

“I think you know very well Cara. Yesterday it was, and I quote only flowers, not a romantic dinner‘.”

“Well, it wasn’t dinner.” I reply awkwardly. What do I even say here? I have no idea who is doing this.

“Do I need to come have lunch with you tomorrow Cara?” Even through the phone I could feel his need to show his dominance to the other wolf that he feels is threatening his claim on me. He’s been patient. But now he has, what he would consider, competition.

“That’s not necessary, Liam. I’m sure you have more important things to do than have lunch at the local high school.”

“Artemis accepted the offering.” It was a statement, not a question, but I answered anyway. “Yes.”

I swear I could hear him grinding his teeth through the phone. It was quiet for so long that I began to wonder if he was still on the line or if he smashed the phone and disconnected the call.

“Liam?”

“I’ll see you soon Cara.” he stated abruptly and hung up.

After that, I decided to call it a night. The air was warming up and I went to my window and opened it to let in fresh air while I slept. I laid in bed thinking of what all this could possibly mean. Artemis basically had two wolves staking their claim on her, which also meant they were staking their claim on me. Artemis was purring in my head, thinking of two wolves fighting over her.

‘What is wrong with you? One of those wolves is an Alpha and would kick the other wolf’s ass.”

‘Only if the other wolf isn’t Alpha.‘ The thought of two Alphas fighting over her has her purring so loud I feel like my bed should be vibrating. For me though, it’s

+15 BONOS

is Alpha Rik. Since he doesn’t even know who I am, it can’t be him. Unless someone told him. Unless he’s figured it out. But even if he knows who I am, why do this? It’s likely that I’ll be his Guardian even if he doesn’t go to all this effort. Unless…..unless he’s worried about Liam. He did mention that he saw Liam and I Friday night. So, maybe this is a way to ensure that I remain in our pack?

Oh holy hell! Two Alphas in a fight over having me as their Luna? Wars start because of things like this. This could be terrible. It could cause so many problems. And what if neither of them is my fated mate? Will there be three of them fighting over me?

‘We could call it “The Alphas‘ Rumble” or “Battle for a Luna“. Or…what about ” The Guardian’s Battleground?” my very unhelpful wolf states.

‘Oh for crying out loud Artemis! We’re supposed to protect the packs, not cause chaos and war!”

“Those are human emotions. For wolves, only the strongest male can mate with the female. So it makes perfect sense that they would fight over me.‘ she replies, completely unphased.

I roll my eyes and give t

admirer is and fast.

on my wolf. I really need to figure out who my secret

Cooper

Author

What do you think? Is Artemis right? Should Rik and Liam battle it out? And what if neither of them ends up being her fated mate?

31

+15 BONOS

Chapter 0023