The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 2 - Past and present frenemies ...

Caspian’s POV

Hearing that I had to marry Alicia was one of the biggest shocks of my life. Hearing that my parents had changed their minds and I had to marry that lowly omega was just an insult! Then, a couple of years ago, I lost both my Luna and my son … I was heartbroken about my son, but I couldn’t show it. I never loved my mate. She was just the mother of my son. My father declared me Alpha a couple of months after my son was born, and I couldn’t let my pack down, so I had to stay strong for their sake. I had hoped that if Alicia returned for their funerals, I could change the hand that fate had dealt me, but she never showed up.

“Oh, goddess who the fu.ck was I kidding!” I wouldn’t have shown up after the way I had treated her over the years, but I just couldn’t help myself! I had no freaking idea why I acted the way I did around her!

Pacing my office after she left, I tried to figure out why the hell I had been so drawn to her all my life when her brother cleared his throat and informed me that we had a meeting to get to.

Alicia’s POV

I was making plans to get out of here the moment I left his office, but as soon as I walked into my father’s room, I knew I couldn’t just leave my father to fend for himself. He had been a strong Beta wolf in his day, but the way he looked now? I couldn’t just leave him. It took a while to get him out of bed and into a bath, and while I let him soak for a little while, I cleaned his room and got him a clean set of bedding. I had just made the bed when he stepped out of the bathroom and he already looked much better. I tried to tell him that he should have waited for me to help him, but I could see that his daughter having to help him get undressed and into the bath was already more than his fragile ego could take for one day.

Once he was neatly settled in his clean bed, I went to the kitchen to grab some lunch where I almost ran into Sophia, but I ducked her so fast I nearly literally kicked the bucket! The poor omega who was busy washing the floor nearly shrieked and I grabbed her, and slammed my hand over her mouth, effectively shushing her before Sophia could even look our way. Sophia was the gamma’s daughter, but the way she carried on, you would think that the girl was the Alpha’s daughter. Her sense of entitlement was even bigger than Caspian’s and I was convinced the girl thought she and Caspian were a match made in heaven!

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed at the omega girl and pointed in the direction where we could hear Sophia’s vile shrieking voice and the girl nodded before I let her go.

“Did you see her outfit?” Sophia laughed and I just knew they were talking about me. “I swear! I wouldn’t be seen dead in a pair of boots like that!” I rolled my eyes and as soon as they left, I quickly made two sandwiches and some warm tea to take to my father. Once he had eaten, he got a little colour back in his face and it felt as if I could breathe easier. I still hadn’t seen my own room, but I just knew it wasn’t what I used to have, which didn’t bother me that much, since I honestly didn’t plan on staying here longer than I absolutely had to. It just meant that there was nothing to rush “home” to. After spending some time with my dad catching up, I called the doctor and arranged an appointment for the next morning at around ten. I needed to take care of my dad first before I could go anywhere, and that started by finding out why he was so damn weak and sick.

I finally got around to looking at my room after dinner with my dad, and I was just so tired that even the old lumpy mattress didn’t bother me. In the general packhouse on the singles floor there were unisex communal bathrooms, and after spending the past six years on my own, there was no way in hell I was sharing a damn bathroom! I sneaked into my dad’s room and took a quick bath and changed into sweats and a t-shirt before sneaking back to my room.

Caspian’s POV

I couldn’t focus at the meeting, and I knew exactly who to blame! My pent-up frustration caused an enormous headache and I couldn’t wait to get back home. Knowing my Beta would drive as if his life depended on it, I gave him the keys to get us home fast. Unfortunately, the cops had to pull us over, which basically wasted a grand of my time! Yes, I said grand. That’s how much it cost me to get out of there eventually. It was either that or my hot-headed Beta was going to spend the night in jail and that was the last thing I needed.

We arrived back home after dark and I knew that the only thing that would get rid of my headache was a run through our forest. There was nothing as calming as the feel of the dirt under my paws and the scent of the greenery growing everywhere. I quickly changed into only a pair of trunks and made my way to the forest. I had just shifted and pushed my trunks into my leg bag when I heard a rustle not far off. Sniffing the air, I could smell rain … I looked up but the trees were blocking my view. I checked my surroundings and saw no sign of rain. Sniffing the air again, the scent was gone and I shook my head, thinking I was finally going insane. I hadn’t touched a woman since hearing my Luna was pregnant … They … Whomever they were … Were right! Having no se.x really did make you mad, but I had learned my lesson the first time around and after that woman fell pregnant, I changed my damn ways! I seriously didn’t want any more surprises, and I wasn’t surprised when I figured out, she had planned it all so damn perfectly! I was led around by my hormones and blind to what she was doing, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to be caught like that ever again!

As I had hoped, running was exactly what I needed and I checked in with the first group of border patrols. There have been a couple of attempts where someone tried to cross our border, but to date we haven’t been able to find out who it was. The scent wasn’t rogue, which was at least a good thing, but who would be trying to cross the border without permission? After my visit to the border, my headache returned, but the run home soon took care of that. I shifted just before the treeline and put on my trunks before making my way inside and the scent of fresh rain blew past me again! I looked around and tried to find where it came from, but it was gone! My mom told me stories when I was young that the first sign that you found your mate was their scent. Was this my mate’s scent? The only new addition to the pack in the past twenty-four hours was Alicia and she didn’t smell like that when she was in my office.

As I stepped onto the porch, it started to rain and I rolled my eyes at myself! I was really going insane! As I walked into the house, I thought about checking in with Alicia for a moment, but my dear Beta found me first. I seriously hated not having the freedom I had when I was little. Back then, if I didn’t want to do something, I could just avoid him. Now if I avoid him, I’m probably avoiding something very important. I wondered if all this thinking about the past was because Alicia was back, but I didn’t have much time to wonder as her brother started rambling on and on.

Alicia’s POV

As soon as Caspian walked through the door, I stepped out of the shadows on the porch and wished I could shift and run into the rain. When I was younger, nothing pleased me more than to just run in the rain, but since I hadn’t shifted in a long, long time, I was scared that it might hurt. I breathed in the scent of the fresh rain and realized how much I actually missed being here. After standing outside for over an hour, I went back inside only to walk smack-bang into the other person I hated almost as much as Caspian.

“Sophia,” I sighed, fighting off the urge to roll my eyes.

“Alicia,” She smiled, but the look on her face was one of clear disgust. “I heard you were back. How long will you be staying?”

“Yeah, right! As if I would tell you anything.” My eyes did their own thing and I immediately felt my cheeks turn bright red! I seriously had to focus on keeping a straight face while I was here and keeping my damn opinions to myself!

“There’s no need to be a b!tch! Especially when I’m just trying to be nice.” She pouted but I knew that her hurt feeling was as fake as her damn eyelashes!

“I’m sorry. I’m just tired. I didn’t mean to be rude.” I apologized more for my own sake because, rightfully, I was unranked and since her father was still the gamma … You get the picture. “I’m just here to help my dad. As soon as he is back on his feet, I’m going back home.” I tried to smile, but my lips just point-blank refused to move in that direction.

“Oh? So, you aren’t staying?” Her eyes sparkled and I knew that was all she needed to hear.

“Nope. Speaking of which, I need to check in with him before I go to bed.” I tried to cut the conversation short, but I should have known better. I almost physically shivered the moment she hooked her arm in mine and started walking with me.

“I’ll walk with you. Since you haven’t been here in a while, I would hate for you to get lost on your way.” Oh, brother!! I mumbled a thank you just in case and we walked in silence, but I knew she was only walking with me to make sure I didn’t go back to the main house where her sweetheart stayed! If only this girl knew the truth about Caspian, she wouldn’t be … No, wait! What the hell was I thinking?! They were absolutely perfect for each other! We reached my father’s room, and to my relief, she disappeared back to her side of the pack house faster than you could say fart.

I found my dad fast asleep and decided to go to bed. The next day was going to be a busy one, and I needed my rest. I still had to get some work done in between taking care of my dad. My boss wasn’t very happy when I told him I had to come home and I didn’t know for how long, but as soon as I promised to make sure my articles were on time, he calmed down a little. That is my biggest problem right now, besides my dad. I had absolutely no idea what the hell I was going to write about next.