Finding the Alpha Queen

Cake

Cameron

After Yvonne walked away from me in the bar, I felt so much anger that I tore out of the place and ran into the woods. I shifted into Aero and howled loud enough to shake the ground. I hate it, I hate her, and I hate how she makes me feel. Why was she not coming to me? Most women threw themselves at me, so why was my mate the one resisting?

I stop at the top of a ridge overlooking the territory. The lights from the town sparkle as the last of the sun's light fades. ‘It’s not right,’ I say to my wolf. He has mostly been silent and resistant to shifting except when I pine for Yvonne.

‘You rejected her,’ He grumbles. ‘You didn’t even hesitate.’

‘That’s before I realized she is a white wolf,’ I mutter.

‘And that made the difference?’ He asks.

We sit on the ridge for some time before running home. I shift back into human form and throw on some shorts to trudge up to my room. The smell of vanilla assaults my senses as I walk in. Destiny is sitting in bed reading when I enter.

“Hi, baby,” She greets me with a smile.

I sneer at her and stumble into the bathroom. Leaning against the counter, I stare at the sink.

“Cameron,” Destiny’ says from the doorway. It’s grating and annoying.

“What?” I grunt.

“Are you okay?” She shuffles over to me and touches my arm.

I flick my eyes to her before pulling away, “I’m fine, “I respond through gritted teeth.

“Why don’t you want me?” She says.

I look at her full on. I never noticed how unattractive she was. She has a pointed nose and dull brown eyes. Sure, she has a nice rack on her and blonde hair, but that’s all. “You aren’t my mate,” I confess.

She frowns, “I know.”

I narrow my eyes at her, “What do you know?”

“I know who your real mate is,” she turns away.

“And?” I grab her shoulder. “Do you want me to be with her?”

“No, I want to be with you. But clearly you want to be with Yvonne,” She states.

I shake my head, “I don’t know what to think.”

Destiny touches my arm, “I’m going to go stay with my parents,” she says and leaves the bathroom.

“Destiny,” I yell and follow her out of the bathroom. “Destiny,” I grab her arm.

“I can’t keep doing this, Cameron. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t want me,” she says.

“I want you,” I say.

“Then kiss me,” she presses. “Kiss me and take me to bed.”

I stare into her face, trying to muster attraction. I lean in and touch my lips to her. They taste like ash, and I step away from her.

“That’s what I thought,” she whispers and plods into the closet. “I’ll be back for the rest of my stuff later.”

I say nothing and sit on the bed. I bury my face in my hands and remain that way until I hear the bedroom door close. “Yvonne,” I say and lie down. I stare at the ceiling, imagining her pure white wolf. Then I remember the royal beta coming to see for himself. I have to make sure that he can’t find her. I sit up and ponder for a moment. Picking up my phone, I dial my beta’s number.

“Hello,” Aidan responds.

“Aidan, it’s me,” I say.

“Cameron,” He slurs.

“s**t, are you drunk?” I ask.

“Yeah, where are you?” He asks. “You just like disappeared.”

“I’m at home,” I grumble. “Your sister works at the bakery, right?” I ask,

“Angela,” He mutters. “She doesn’t work.”

“No,” I snort. “Yvonne.”

“Oh, yeah, bakery,” He laughs.

“What’s the name of the bakery owner?” I ask.

“Huh?” Aidan giggles. “Bakery,” He laughs louder.

“s**t,” I groan. “Never mind,” I say and hang up the phone. Sighing, I dial my mother. She and Dad moved out of the packhouse after I became alpha.

“Cameron,” she answers the phone.

“Mom,” I say.

“How are you, dear?” She asks. “How is Destiny?”

“Fine,” I respond. “Mom, I need something.”

“What?” She quips.

“Who owns the bakery?” I ask.

“Oh,” she sighs. “Let me think.” She pauses. “He wants to know who owns the bakery,” I assume she just told Dad. “Right,” she says. “Emmilou Thomson,” She finally says. “Her mate was one of the guards killed a few years ago.”

“Uh huh, thanks,” I say, hanging up the phone. I leave my room and go down to the office where the files of every pack member are kept. Sitting behind the desk, I look up Emmilou's number and pick up the phone. I hate calling her so late.

“Hello?” She answers after three rings. “Alpha Cameron?”

“Yes, I am sorry for calling so late, Emmilou,” I state, trying to sound as professional as possible. “As you know, the royal beta is arriving tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she mutters.

“And I know there was already a large order for that,” I say. “But I need something else.”

“Anything for you, Alpha,” she replies.

“I need a nicely decorated three-layer cake,” I say.

“Three layers?” She says. “And what flavor.”

“Try vanilla,” I say, explaining what decorations I want on the cake.

“That’s going to take some time, but we will get it done,” she says. “I’ll put my best decorator on it.”

“That’s Yvonne Blackburn, right?” I remember how much her mother and my mother praised her work.

“Yes, Alpha. You noticed?” Emmilou chuckles. “She is quite talented.”

“Yes, she is,” I say. “Thank you.”

“Okay, we’ll get that done, Alpha,” Emmilou says.

I hang up the phone and lean back in my chair. I ponder for a moment before heading back up to my room. Grabbing a bottle of whiskey, I lay on my bed and drink until I fall asleep.

The alarm going off the following day jars me from my dream. I shake my sore head and roll out of bed. Heading into the bathroom, I take a hot shower, hoping to stave off this hangover. After the shower, I get dressed in one of my best suits and leave the room. Destiny is standing in the hallway. “What are you doing here?”

“I am still your Luna, right?” She says.

“For now,” I shrug and take her arm.

After breakfast we prepare for the arrival of Royal Beta Nathan Wright. I stand with Aidan and Dylan as a sleek black limo, and two black SUVs pull up in front of the house. A well-dressed driver runs to get the door. A beefy-looking woman wearing all black slides out, followed by a man dressed similarly. They line up beside the door as a well-dressed man with brown hair emerges. He looks directly at me with dark blue eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I step toward him with my hand out, “Beta Wright,” I say.

“Alpha Marsh,” the royal beta nods.

“I am honored to have you in my pack, sir," I awkwardly hold my hand out to him. "We have prepared for your arrival.”

“My stay here will be short, Alpha,” he says in a direct tone. "We need to get right down to business.”

“Right,” I mutter and turn to Aidan and Dylan. “This is my beta, Aidan Blackburn, and my Gamma, Dylan Terry.”

Beta Wright nods at them, then flicks his intense eyes to me, “Where is the white wolf?”