Alpha's Spoiled Princess - Burgov Series VI

8. Sean

4 months later

The season had changed, flowers bloomed and everything around me turned from dead and white to a palette of colors. At least outside, but my home and my inside are just as suspended in purgatory as they were that day.

Four months. Four f*****g months, and she hasn't as much as send me a text that she's fine. Nothing. Almost as if she'd disappeared.

I remember that day as if it happened yesterday. I groaned in frustration and waved my hand after Lana told me that Cilia was just outside my office, listening to my conversation with Jackson. That wasn't such a big deal. I haven't said anything she shouldn't have already known, because our successful union WAS the one thing holding this family intact. Was she expecting me to be blind to that?

Jackson suggested that she make a run after hearing about Tara, the she-wolf I occasionally have been sleeping with. But that would be just ridiculous. Cilia couldn't possibly expect that I hadn't had a fling before, especially since she was far from being a virgin herself. So, in the end, it felt as if she was looking for a reason to bail on me.

The day after was a nightmare. Explaining to Nicky where his cousin had gone, while I hadn't had the clue myself, wasn't easy. She made it a point to not contact him either, and without knowing where we stood, I omitted the part about our bond. That wouldn't be helpful, especially after everyone would start accusing me of hurting my mate, forgetting about the most important detail, about where she could have been. So I kept what happened between us to myself.

Together with Nicky we went to Night Walkers, Stonewall, and Wolf's Den hoping she would seek refuge with Ellie or at one of her acquaintances, but no one had seen her.

Jackson's scouting the area hasn't brought any better results. Thanks to the trail she left on the fresh snow, my Gamma was able to follow her to the clearing thirty miles from my pack, where she shifted back and paced back and forth, just to once again run away in her wolf form. But even the freshest snow and the best trackers couldn't follow her from the airport, where the trail finally ended.

She must've jumped on the plane and even though I checked every single flight, I couldn't guess where she had gone.

She could be anywhere, alone, or even in grave danger. And no matter how many times I tried reaching out to her, her phone stayed turned off.

Three days after she left, Nicky informed me that she had contacted Igor. She wasn't in the Dark Woods, that I knew for sure, but she sent him word about leaving the States and being perfectly fine, nothing more. No word about why she left, no word about finding her mate, no word about her plans or the destination she was heading to.

Igor was raging. Before, he at least knew she was safe, but after receiving a message, he lost it. He sent one search party after the other to every pack he thought Cilia could be in. But each of them came back empty-handed. But at least Cilia contacted his mate, Letitia, and she promised she'd call her once a week to appease her brother's nerves.

And it went like that for almost four months, with Cilia somewhere out there, making her weekly phone calls about being alive and well.

It was good enough for Igor, and he surprisingly easily gave into his sister's defiance, calling off his men and allowing her to do what the hell she wanted. But it wasn't good enough for me. That's why I kept on searching on my own, but with every new dead end I started losing hope for ever finding her.

There was, of course, one person who could have helped me, but she refused each time, claiming she had no idea, although we both knew it was a lie. Markie wasn't as great of an actress as Cilia, so it was clear as day that she was in constant contact with my mate, yet out of undying loyalty to her best friend, she refused to tell me anything. Not to mention, that she hasn't even hid her dislike towards me, hinting she, unlike me, knew the reason for Cilia's sudden departure and, apparently, I was to blame.

I thought so many times about what I would do to her after we met again. The most probable was strangling her after making sure she was alright, or locking her in a place she couldn't leave from.

Was I angry with her? Of f*****g course I was. But most of all, I was terrified of her wellbeing.

How could she be so irresponsible to leave in the middle of the night? Even if I had done something to her, she should have yelled at me and got things straight, like adults do, not run away like a f*****g Cinderella. However, I would have appreciated some clue left behind.

I even wondered if that wasn't her end game all along, score me to fulfill her youthful fantasies and then jump on a better opportunity. But that didn't sound like the girl I saw in her. She could pose for a heartless b***h, but she's definitely not one.

So here I am, left with an entire room of her belongings and memories of her, with no idea why it came down to this or how to change it.

My phone rang, taking my attention off of the window, and I felt relief seeing my Step-father's number on the screen. The last thing I needed was another relative calling to ask for the hundredth time what could be the reason Cilia left, as if I had any idea.

"Hi, Vanya." - I answered.

"How's my favorite step-son?" - he asked in his usual good-natured tone.

"Aren't I your only step-son?" - I asked with a chuckle.

"True, but you would still be my favorite. So what's new, kid?"

"Same old, same old. Dad and Cynthia are in Stonewall and they are heading back here in about a week." - I said.

"Finally. I started thinking we wouldn't see their faces anymore." - he said.

"Like that would take off your good night's sleep." - I snickered.

"Hey! I very much like Cynthia, and I guess your father is alright too."

I smiled to myself at that. Vanya and my father had every right to hate each other, to be completely honest, they even should. But somehow, for the sake of my Mom and I, they formed a long-lasting truce, agreeing that the situation wasn't ideal, but it wouldn't get any better with them bantering. And so, my father never gloated over having my mother first, and Vanya never belittled him in front of me. Instead, they settled for being two role-models I could draw inspiration from. So I ended up with two strong sets of parents, and two homes, but to screw me up as little as they could, they went above and beyond to make my childhood work. I spent just as much time with my siblings in Harvest Moon, and with my future subjects in Lunar Tide.

But I'm secretly glad to have just one address now. Going back and forth was exhausting and inconvenient, two things I hate the most, and the exact two things my mate has in excess.

"Yeah, I bet you do. How's Mom?" - I asked.

"She's fine, son. I was actually thrown out of the room, because apparently, I'm distracting her month-end closing." - he said with a huff.

"Not mine, I hope?"

My mother was a woman with an astonishing work ethic. She claimed she could never give up on having her own income, no matter how wealthy her mate was. So, through the years, she's been taking care of Harvest Moon, Midnight Banes and Lunar Tide's finances, making sure her two sons and favorite nephew wouldn't go bankrupt.

"Dean's, I think." - Vanya said.

"That's good. How's your little clone, anyway?" - I asked, referring to my younger brother.

"Splendid as always." - Vanya said with an edge to his voice.

"O-oh, what did he do now?"

"Nothing. But he makes me feel like a dinosaur. Apparently, all my ideas are outdated and so last decade."

"Ah, so you're still trying to lead him by the hand." - I smiled, taking a seat behind my desk.

"No, absolutely not! I'm just trying to help him. Goddess knows how many times I wished to have someone to guide me." - he said sadly.

Vanya started Harvest Moon when he was my brother's age, and he held the Alpha title for almost thirty years. With both his parents gone, his sister - my aunt Sasha, away in Midnight Banes, and a younger brother - Ilia, with a different rank and set of skills, he was alone behind the wheel of his own pack. He told me a few times how great of a burden that was at times, especially before he had my mother by his side.

But ironically, I ended up in a similar situation. Sure, I have him and my father if I need a word of advice, but things would have been so much brighter with a partner. That is, of course, if that partner wasn't as infuriating as Cilia.

"He's a smart, kid, Vanya. He'll ask if he needs you. But for now he probably wants to get out of your shadow. You know, you old dogs cast rather long shadows, right?"

"I'm gonna ignore that you just called me an old dog." - he chuckled - "But I guess, I'm just worried. Dean isn't as level-headed as you are. Sometimes it feels like he is Ilia's."

I laughed at that, resting my head on the headrest.

"Sure, and an uncanny resemblance to you is merely accidental." - I deadpanned.

"Don't be such a smart-ass, boy. Goddess, it's a good thing that at least your sister isn't causing problems." - he murmured.

"She will just give her some time." - I joked - "How's our little redhead, anyway?"

"Good. She's found herself a new hobby, the one that apparently has her out of the penthouse all the time."

"I told you they wouldn't last for very long. Dean is a slob. You should get Anya her own place. She's almost twenty, it's time." - I said.

"I know, I even offered her one, but she declined, claiming that she doesn't mind living with Dean."

"So why is she out all the time, as you claim? What is she doing, anyway?" - I asked.

"Sailing. She bought a boat, and she's been practicing on that lake nearby since the ice melted."

"Huh. Good for her."

My sister was the odd one ever since I can remember. She acted unnaturally mature for her young age, and she always seemed to follow her own path. We all learned to accept her just as she was, and just roll with it. She was always a dreamer, who seemed to never have her head in the place she was at, but then she would say one thing that was so insightful and strange that you got the feeling she already had all the answers at hand.

"And how's the rest?" - I asked, hoping that this time he would drop Cilia's name and tell me something new. I hated this situation, but I would hate seeing Vanya's disappointment once he heard I had driven his niece away and stayed silent for all this time, even more.

"As usual. Although, Ilia told me that Ellie is preparing another fundraiser for her foundation and she was thinking of hiring a few of you as casino dealers, apparently your cousin thinks that a few handsome, ranked wolves would make older ladies cash up even more."

I chuckled at that. It was so Ellie-like. She would even flinch at selling s****l favors if that would have brought her closer to the goal.

"When will the gala take place?" - I asked.

"Middle of June. You will, of course, help if she goes through with her plan, right?"

"Sure. Count me in." - I agreed - "Any news from across the Atlantic?" - I asked, seeing how Vanya wasn't about to start this subject."

"I haven't talked with Dmitry, you know that he isn't my Orlov of choice. But Sabine called your mother yesterday."

I sat up straight in anticipation, hoping he had some news about my mate. For f**k's sake, fishing for scraps of news from Vanya makes me look pathetic.

"Cilia called Lettie again, and she sounded happy. If you want to know my opinion, that girl cut them off to live her own life. Dark Woods isn't for everyone." - he said grimly, recalling the pack where he was born and from where Cilia is.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to offend anyone, especially my mother's memory, but being a part of the Orlov family leaves you no place for being a careless child. I'm glad I could raise you guys somewhere else. I saw how that place overwhelmed Sasha when we were young, and she wasn't even in the same position Cilia is."

"Meaning?" - I asked.

"Alpha's daughter. My sister was just Alpha's niece, and still, even as a young girl, she always drew too much attention from people who saw her as a means to their game. So I don't blame Cilia for running away, she was always the smart one."

My shoulders sagged. I wish I had this conversation with Vanya before I came to the wrong conclusions about the woman who turned my world around.

But even shame over my poor judgment couldn't overshadow the green monster at hearing that Cilia was happy. Her days probably weren't filled with thoughts of me, like mine were. And who knows, maybe she's already with someone else. That would make a lot of sense, and explain why she never showed her face in Dark Woods or any other pack.

"Vanya, listen, I have to go. Say hi to everyone and if Ellie asks, I can be a dealer." - I said, feeling it's best to end this call now.

"Okay, son. Take care. And remember your mother expects you here in a week's time for a family dinner."

"I know. Every third Sunday of the month." - I confirmed.

"Good boy. Stay safe, Sean."

"Thanks, Vanya, you too."

I disconnected, threw the phone on the desktop and groaned at my ceiling.

What if Vanya is right and she started over somewhere else? Without me, without the rest of the family and the baggage we bring with us. I never really thought of that, but it's probably because I tried looking at things rationally, but Cilia isn't rational. She's driven by emotions, even though she hides them pretty well.

I have to know. I have to know if all I was searching for was just in my head. I have to know why she left mere hours after she promised to stay. And most of all, I need to know if she has moved on.

Even thinking about it makes me pissed, but I know I wouldn't find peace of mind without being sure. So I snatched my phone from the desk and started dialing Markella's number. I know for a fact that she won't tell me where Cilia is, or any other major details that could steer me towards finding her, but maybe she will take mercy on me and tell me whether my mate already has another.

The phone kept on ringing, making me lose my hope with every other beep, when finally, just before redirecting to voicemail, it got through. Although it wasn't the person I was hoping for.

"Is there a reason why you're my woman?" - Orson asked, as usual, just half-jokingly.

"Um… I wanted to ask how she was feeling." - I quickly came up with a convenient lie. Not even Orson knew about Cilia and I, so Markie's pregnancy created a perfect excuse. Actually, no one aside from my Betas and Gammas did. Somehow, it felt easier that way, especially when I had no idea if I should use present or past tense while referring to her as my mate. And something deep inside my subconscious didn't allow me to cross out a positive outcome just yet. Or maybe I was just a coward, who couldn't admit his defeat and face all the music.

"Well, she's sleeping now. But judging by the few hours of screening, I would say not great."

I frowned, thinking why the hell would a heavily pregnant she-wolf scream at him, when it hit me.

"She went into labor?"

"Yup." - Orson conformed with pride even in this single syllable.

"Congrats, man. Why didn't you call me?"

"The babe arrived like fifteen minutes ago. What were you expecting, a live streaming?"

"No, of course not." - I chuckled - "So how was it? I bet you fainted."

"f**k you, Maslow, I haven't fainted. But it feels like my balls retracted a bit. I tell you man, I would choose any, even the bloodiest beating, over the m******e I just experienced. Thank Goddess I'm a man."

"Are you sure about that? You sound more like a pussy." - I snickered.

"I won't even get mad at this one, today I feel generous. Besides, we'll talk after it's your turn."

If your mate won't help me, I don't see it happening any time soon. - I thought to myself.

"So is it really a boy or did they screw up the ultrasound?" - I asked instead.

"It's definitely a boy. He has already pissed at the nurse, so I think he will be a little devil too." - he chuckled.

"Just like his Papa." - I pointed out.

"Well, what can I say? There were voices lately that the pack was getting too quiet, my people could use a little troublemaker."

"Have you picked the name yet?" - I asked.

"Nope. Markie claims all my ideas are stupid and she'd rather leave me than name her first born like that."

"Like what?" - I asked with a smirk, because, knowing Orson, there was a good story behind it.

"You know how my father's and my names end with -son, right?"

"It's hard to miss even for an amateur detective, Ors." - I pointed out, rolling my eyes.

"Shut that clever mouth up, you dick." - he snapped - "Anyway, the generic of that is adding son to one's father's name, right? So I suggested we should take my name and add an affix."

I blinked two times before comprehending what he actually said.

"Wait, so you wanted to name your son Orsonson?" - the silence was the only confirmation I needed - "My friend, I'm with Markie in this one. Hell, I will even help her pack if you push that idea any further."

"Shut up, it's brilliant, no one else has a name like this." - he argued.

"I don't even know how to respond to that, but one thing is sure, it isn't brilliant, but so f*****g dumb that I'm actually speechless."

"Oh yeah, so what would you name him?"

"With -son at the end, probably something like Harrison, Jackson, or even Mason." - I said off the top of my head.

"All boring." - Orson huffed, clearly irritated he didn't find an audience. - "Anyway, it's good that I have you on the line. We're doing a small family gathering in his name, or lack of it, if Markie and I don't reach understanding. But long story short, I want you to be his Goddess-father."

My eyes went wide, even though he couldn't see it.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting this" - I said, a little taken aback. With Nicky and Markella's brother in the picture, I thought they would choose one of them.

"But you accept, right?" - he asked.

"Of course, it'll be my honor." - I said.

"Good. I had to battle for you, so you'd better be a damn good substitute if I die."

"Don't worry, Orsonson will be one lucky kid. After I changed his name, that is." - I said, and he started laughing.

"You're such an Asshole, Maslow."

Yes, that I am. At least Cilia stated so too.

I cleared my throat, feeling a lot less humorous now.

"So who am I sharing an honor with? Uliana?" - I asked.

"Cilia."

My heart skipped a beat and I pressed the phone closer to my ear.

"And she's actually coming for the celebrations?" - I asked just to be sure.

"Apparently yes. Markie told me to not worry about it, so I'm not worried."

"Has Markella told you what Cilia was up to all this time?" - I asked because I simply couldn't help myself.

"Nah. I was kicked out of the room each time she called, which was each f*****g day. Do you know Markie even once woke me up from my nape just to throw me out? As if I care about their tampons or dresses. Women are weird." - I knew it, I f*****g knew they were in constant contact. - "But if you asked me, my dear cousin had to hide the aftermath of her indiscretions, if you know what I mean." - he added.

"Orson, I barely ever know what you're talking about, so please, elaborate." - I sighed.

"I think she got knocked up. Why else would she disappear for four months?"

The phone fell off my hand and I barely caught it before it crashed to the ground.

"Are you sure?! Did Markie say something?" - I asked, probably a little too frantically.

"No, she didn't. But why else would Cilia bail on everyone like this?"

I could have an idea or two. But was it really possible that she had a pup? Jesus, I hope not. I wouldn't want history to repeat itself with an absent father and heartbroken mother. No, that's not how my pups would come to this world. That can't be true.

However, we haven't used protection. At least I didn't.

Fuck!

"So when's the hoopla?" - I asked, getting a grip of my raging emotions, even though my head still felt like spinning.

"Next Saturday. And I can bet you a hundred bucks that Cilia will have a pup attached to her tits." - he chuckled.

"Dude, stop speaking this way about your cousin."

"Why? Who knows, maybe she brought to this world a new generation of Lunar Tide's Gammas."

"WHAT?!" - I boomed.

"What? She was at your place last, maybe she hooked up with Jackson. You know that one is a wild dog, just like we were back in the good old days." - he chuckled, completely unaware of what his words were doing to me.

This conversation has taken the course I didn't have much appreciation for. Not to mention, I started losing my temper.

"Look man, I have to go. But I'll definitely be there next Saturday. Congrats once again, and send my regards to Markella. After all, she did most of the work."

"I did a lot of work, and when you see my son's junk, you'll know." - he argued.

"I'm gonna pass on child's pornography." - I said a bit weirded out.

"You think I'm inviting you to eat and drink on my dime for nothing? You're on diaper duty, buddy." - he laughed, and I even sorted. That was all Orson, no games, and basically everything that came to his mind went out of his hole. But those big mouth got him into more problems than I care to count.

"Sure. I'll start watching tutorials now." - I said mockingly.

"You better, Asshole. Now go, I need to check if Markella still hates me. Last time I checked she claimed I would never, ever, ever, ever touch her again."

I laughed at that.

"Okay. Good luck then."

We ended the call and I sat in my chair thinking about everything he told me. It's possible that Orson was full of bullshit, as per usual, but there's also a chance he could be actually right for the first time in his life.

I guess I will find that out. And hopefully she will really make an appearance.