An Alpha's Dark Secret

Chapter 3: Mate

-Madeleine-

I had Lucian come to pick me up. I had never learned how to drive. Maybe it was time I did, but for now, I needed someone to drive me, and he was happy to help. He talked the entire trip about how amazing it was working with the king and the things he was doing that he was genuinely proud of.

It was incredible to see this change in him. I noticed he had gotten a bit bigger too. Was he working out with them as well? Was he becoming the alpha he truly was meant to be? It seemed so, and it made me smile as I watched him.

“We’re here,” he said.

The huge castle where the king lived came into view, and my jaw dropped at the sight of it. I heard Lucian chuckle beside me, and I turned to him, smiling.

“Quite the place, huh?” he remarked.

I nodded. It certainly was impressive.

“Want to come inside?” he asked.

I smiled, quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, and walked outside. The castle looked even more glorious up close, resembling the grand old structures you see in history books and classic paintings. I absolutely loved it. We approached the entrance, and I stopped in front of the massive door. Should I knock?

“Come,” Lucian said, opening the door.

We walked inside, where Kate was already making her way down the stairs with Chris trailing behind her and Koda by her side. She rushed over to me, squealing and hugging me so tightly that I could barely breathe, while her dog sniffed me happily, his tail wagging furiously.

“Maddy!” she exclaimed joyfully. “You’re here!”

-Evan-

I stood on the balcony of my room, savoring the cigarette in my hand. I felt even more restless today, as I always did after a nightmare. I wanted to go for a run, but dinner was coming up soon, and we were all expected to attend. I could skip it if I wanted, but there was no point. These people were my only real connection to reality, and spending time with them helped me remember who I was.

Suddenly, I heard a strange scratching sound at my door. I wasn’t sure if it was Kate’s dog, Koda, or the little furball that had been spending even more time with me since Koda arrived. I opened the door to find the chubby orange cat, just on the verge of being overweight from too many treats. She purred loudly and rubbed against my legs.

“What?” I asked.

She walked just outside my room, plopping her big butt on the carpet, and stared at me with her calm but sharp yellow eyes.

“What?” I repeated.

“Meow!”

“If you’re hungry, go find your owner. She’ll feed you.”

She stared at me, her tail swaying back and forth. It was odd—she had never acted like this before. “Meow!”

“What? What do you want? You want me to follow you?” I asked.

This was ridiculous. I was having a conversation with a cat! She purred even louder and started to walk away. If that wasn’t an answer, I didn’t know what was. I groaned in frustration. I didn’t want to follow the little furball, but it seemed like she really wanted me to.

Sighing, I stubbed out my cigarette in the ashtray on the coffee table and followed her out, closing the door behind me as she led me down the long hallways. It was stupid, really—I was trailing after a cat. But I had come this far, so why not see it through?

She wasn’t far ahead of me when, suddenly, I heard something. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard, and it stopped me in my tracks, but only for a moment before fading into silence. The cat turned her head and meowed again, and now I was more determined than ever to follow her.

I lengthened my strides, and as the sound echoed down the hallway again, I felt my wolf stirring inside me, growling deeply. I paused, taken aback by the possessive rumble inside. What the hell?

Now my steps were more urgent. I wasn’t following the cat anymore—I was chasing the beautiful sound that had awakened my wolf and... my heart? My chest pounded as I reached the large balcony overlooking the entrance hall below.

I froze when I saw her. She was standing by the door, talking to Kate, Chris, and Lucian. Kate hugged her tightly, practically squeezing the life out of her. Then Chris stepped in, lifting her off the ground, making her laugh. That laugh... My hands clenched at my sides as jealousy surged through me, seeing her so close to another male.

Mate...

Oh no.