Chapter 18

hapter 18

Caden’s POV

I’m fighting with my wolf as I move back to where I was formerly seated.

She’s our mate. Why can’t we have her?!’ Xavier growls, his teeth baring at me.

sway

We can’t. We just can’t. We have fought about a lot of things and most times, I let Xavier have his because he always wanted what was best for us. This time, I’m not giving way for him.

Alessia may be our mate but that was going to be it. We aren’t going to mate with her or stake our claim on

her.

Overall, everything will be so much easier if I just reject her and put an end to all this, but for the life of me, I can’t do that. I can’t bring myself to say the words. G o d knows I’ve tried to do so countless times. Xavier shuts me out and I sigh, knowing that I’m going to have to increase my runs to get him back on my good side and even that may not work. I’m well and truly screwed.

Five minutes later, Alessia steps out of the changing room with her previous clothes back on, holding onto two piles of clothe

I stand up and walk over to her. “You’re done?” I ask, ready to go back to the pack house and recollect myself. Being alone in Alessia’s space is a dangerous thing.

“Yes, I just need to put this pile away, she answers, looking down at the pile on her right hand where on top of it is the black dress that she got stuck in..

I take them from her hold. “Go wait in the line. I’ll put these away and meet you there.” I take away the pile of clothes before she can voice out a complaint.

She nods and walks in the direction of the check out where there’s a bit of a line.

I wait until her back is turned to me before I move for a rack and put back the clothes, minus the black dress. That one is coming home with me.

Then I quickly pick out a plain white T-shirt and some jeans, bundling the dress in the middle of them. I walk over to Alessia and hand my credit card over to the cashier when it’s time for her to ring up our items. Thankfully, Alessia’s gaze is fixed on something else so she doesn’t notice when the lady adds the black dress to our bag of clothes.

I quickly sneak the dress into the bags containing my clothes and hand over the other bag to Alessia.

“Thank you,” she says as she takes the bag from me. “I’ll find a way to repay you. I promise, she whispers. “Ok,” I answer, knowing this is what she needs to hear to feel alright about accepting my help. Something tells me that she wasn’t used to being dependent on anyone other than herself. “Let’s go back to the pack house.”

MBBBBBBBBBBI

*四臣

95% 11:23

Chapter 18

I lead her back to the car, opening the back seat and throwing our bags on the seat. Then we slide into the car and I drive us back to the house.

When we get to the house I park out in the front and leave the engine running.

“Take your bag. I want to go park the car at the back,” I tell her and watch as she gets out and opens the back seat. She pulls out her bag and just before she closes the door, she mumbles another quick thank you.

For some reason, I find myself smiling as I back the car and drive around to the garage to put it away.

Grabbing my bag from the back seat, I lock up the car and start heading for the front of the pack house.

Just as I’m about to turn the handle on the front door to open it, I hear a conversation from the other side

of it.

“You s l u t! Are you throwing yourself at Caden to get new clothes?” An irritating voice asked.

I immediately know who the voice belongs to and my blood boils as I twist the door kn b and push the

door open.

I find Julianna all up in Alessia’s space and backing her into the wall. My wolf growls, seeing red and I feel my claws dig into my palm.

Moving over to them, I stand behind Julianna and Alessia’s eyes flick up to mine. She must have seen the danger in them because hers widen.

“Julianna,” I growl lowly u DER my breath, fighting to keep my wolf in check.

Goosebumps break out over her exposed back and her spine stiffens as she turns to face me. “A-

alpha,” she stutters, bowing her head down.

“What how on earth do you think you’re doing?” I step into her space like she did with Alessia.ght a

guest into my pack and this is how you show your hospitality? By harassing her and questioning morals?”

She must have realized just how much trouble she’s in because she breaks into a s o b and falls to her knees. “Forgive me Alpha. It wasn’t my intention.”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to my guest who you offended,” I whisper darkly.

Julianna nearly falls onto her butt as she turns around on her knees to face Alessia. “I’m very sorry for insulting you. Please forgive me.”

By this time, we’re already drawing a crowd as people hurdle up with confused expressions on their faces, wondering what the f u c k was happening. I need to end this.

“Next time, I won’t let you off this easily,” I growl at Julianna. “Get out of my sight.”

She scrabbles to her feet and flees out of the room, shoving and pushing through the crowd.

2/3

&& MNB BBBBBBBBB1

Chapter 18

N

Alessia is still pressed to the wall and staring at me with the same expression on the crowd’s faces.

Confusion.

95% 11:23

I clear my throat and turn my gaze to the crowd. Within a second, they’re tripping over each other to get out of my view.

With one last glance at Alessia, I pass the now-empty hallway to my room. On the way up the stairs, I remember the dress I got for Alessia and turn around to head for her room instead.

I open the door slowly to find the room thankfully empty. I quickly drop the dress on her bed and exit the room like I was never there.

MM BB BBBBBBBB I