Bad Boy Alpha's Daughter

Land Grab

Caspar

Those green eyes looked up at me, knitted in confusion, “What is a mate?” She asks in a soft raspy voice, and my heart drops.

I sigh and softly stroke her forehead, “We are meant to be together,” I tell her.

“Oh,” She responds as her eyes flutter and close again.

“Nova,” I call to her. “Nova, please open your eyes,” I plead with her.

Kael is in my head, softly whimpering. It’s been a week since I found Nova in the woods. For a week, I have sat her by her side whenever I have free time. I pleaded with Nova. I pleaded with the goddess. I held out hope that she would be okay. Dr. Holman said her physical injuries were healing. But he didn’t have an explanation for what was happening in her mind. I say here, watching her. Sometimes she would mutter in her sleep. She would tremble with fear and flinch from whatever caused the scars on her body.

My heart ached for her. My wolf tried contacting her wolf but said she was trapped within Nova’s mind. I vowed that one day I would find who hurt her so badly and destroy them.

“Nova,” I say as she snores.

“Alpha,” Dr. Holman steps into the room.

“She was just awake,” I say to him. “Then- “

“I see,” The doctor approaches the bed. He gently opens her eyes, and they are rolled back. He does a quick exam, “I think she needs more time to heal.”

“What hurt her?” I wonder.

The doctor touches her cheek, “I hate to postulate, Alpha. But I assume the marks on her back are from a whip.”

I cringe at the thought, “Who could hurt her so badly?”

“The cruelty of others makes me shudder, Alpha,” The doctor frowns.

“I need to find out where she came from,” I say as I rise from my seat. “I have to get back to work.”

“I will let you know the moment anything changes,” He softly smiles at me.

I touch his shoulder, “Thank you, Lewis.”

He nods, and we walk out of the room together. We move down the hallway, and Dr. Holman stops at the nurse’s station. “Kelsey, I need you to go and stay with Alpha’s mate,” He informs a brown hair nurse.

She stands up and nods at me. I notice she is heavily pregnant, “I will do that, doc,” She replies. “I will take good care of her, Alpha,” She bows at me.

“What is your name?” I ask her.

She steps out from behind the desk and touches her large belly. For a moment, my mind flashes to seeing my own mate in the same state. “I am Kelsey Ward,” She replies to me.

“Ward,” I say, “Right, your mate is Milo Ward, correct?”

She nods, “Yeah,” She giggles.

“He is a good warrior,” I inform her.

“He would be so thrilled to hear you say that, sir,” She responds. “My father is Jeff Smitty also.”

“I know your father,” I shake my head, “How did I not realize who you were?”

“I spent a lot of time with my mother’s family growing up,” She replies. “My mother was a witch-healer.”

“Really?” I ask. “I don’t recall your father ever mentioning that. I thought his mate managed the diner.”

“Oh, that is Linda, my stepmother,” Kelsey tells me. “My father’s real mate. My mother passed away when I was three.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I gently touch her shoulder. I feel a buzz in my head. I forgot that I had my wall up, so I lowered it.

‘Cas, can you come to the office, please?’ Abel pleads with me.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask my beta.

‘Alpha Garrison keeps calling and insisting that you speak to him,’ Abel responds.

I let out a loud, irritated sigh, ‘I’ll be right there.’ I look at Kelsey and the doctor, “Duty calls,” I joke, and both laugh. “Thank you,” I say to them and walk away. As I am leaving the hospital, I run into my mother.

“How are things with your mate?” She asks.

“She woke up briefly,” I reply.

“Where are you going?” She asks.

“Work,” I smirk.

“Right,” She sighs. “Would you mind if I sat with your mate for a bit?”

“That would be great, thanks, Mom,” I touch her cheek.

“Anything for my boy,” She grins and practically gallops into the hospital.

I hurry my pace, knowing that Alpha Garrison isn’t someone to keep waiting. After five minutes, I reach my office, and Abel is behind my desk on the phone while Karl is sitting on the couch playing with his phone.

“He’s here now, sir,” Abel says into the phone.

I hurry around the desk and take the receiver from Abel. He vacates my chair, and I sit down, “Hello, Alpha Garrison,” I speak into the phone.

“It’s about fricking time, Alpha Silverstar. I have been calling for hours and have had no answer. What kind of ship are you running there?” A gruff, angry voice rumbles through the phone.

“I was attending to other business,” I respond.

“I can’t believe your father thought you were ready for this job,” He grumbles.

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath to compose myself. “What can I help you with, Alpha?” I say through gritted teeth.

“You remember my pack borders yours to the south, correct?” He says, and again, I roll my eyes.

“Yes, I am familiar with what packs border mine,” I say with a hint of attitude.

“I do not appreciate your attitude, Caspar,” He snorts.

“I don’t appreciate yours, Doug,” I snap back.

A low, threatening growl reaches my ears, “You be careful, boy. Surely, Avery told you about me,” He huffs.

“Yes,” I reply.

Alpha Douglas Garrison of the Darkcrest Pack is known to be ruthless and cold. He runs his pack like a military operation. Everyone down to young pups is forced to act with precision, and there is no deviating from his rule.

“I wanted to speak to you about yielding some of your land to me,” He explains. “I need it for my newest training facility,” He continues.

“You have a large territory already,” I respond.

“Yes, and every inch is devoted to my industries. I need land for a new facility,” He repeats.

“Build it on your land, Doug,” I snort.

“I will pay handsomely for the land, Caspar,” he says. “It’s perfect, and I won’t need much.”

“That’s what you told Alpha Hughes, and you took nearly all of his territory,” I remember my father telling me the story.

“Do not speak about what you know nothing about,” He growls.

“Alpha Hughes is a good friend of my father’s, so I know what I am talking about,” I growl back. “If you really want the land, draw up an offer reasonable proposal, and I will get back to you,” I say and hang up the phone.

“You didn’t just start a war, did you?” Abel asks.

I shrug, “He’s all talk.”

“Tell that to Alpha Hughes,” Abel chuckles dryly.

I take a deep breath, “It will be okay, Abel.”

“How much did he offer?” Karl speaks up from the couch.

“Were you listening?” I ask as Karl has his eye glued to his phone.

“I heard it all, Cas,” He laughs.

“Okay,” I snort. “He didn’t throw out a number. He just said he would pay handsomely,” I reply to my gamma.

“Oh,” Karl rises from the couch. “I have to take Lisa to the hospital for an appointment.”

“Okay,” I shrug. “You don’t have to ask for permission.”

“I wasn’t,” Karl sneers. “I was merely informing you.”

“Well, then get the f**k out of here,” I say to him jokingly.

“I will, asshole,” He smirks and exits the office.

I shake my head as I turn on my computer. Abel stands awkwardly in the middle of the room, “Abel?”

“Huh?” He shakes his head.

“Are you alright?” I ask my beta.

“No, I’m fine, Cas,” He chuckles. “I’ll go to my office,” He mutters and shuffles out.

I open my emails and get to work reading them. As I am typing a reply, my father barges into the office and stands in front of the desk. “Good morning, Dad. Just walk right in,” I say sarcastically.

“I just got a call from Douglas Garrison,” He informs me.

“Did you know?” I grin at him.

“He said you were rude,” Dad leans on the desk.

“So? He was rude,” I snort.

“He is not one to cross, Caspar,” Dad grumbles.

“He wanted to land, and I told him to draw up a proposal,” I shrug.

Dad sighs, “I know. He told me. But he said you gave him attitude.”

“I merely spoke to Alpha Garrison in the same tone he spoke to me,” I tell my father.

“Son, didn’t I teach you to be more diplomatic?” He grunts.

“Dad, I am not going to let other alphas bully me because I am new,” I rise from my chair. “You taught me that, remember?”

“Yes, but- “Dad flounders with his mouth open for a moment.

“And you are the one that told me Doug was all bark,” I look my father in the eyes. I sense his wolf, Donovan, trying to push forward. “Easy, Donovan,” I say to my father’s wolf as Kael growls in my head.

“You know Donovan doesn’t like to be challenged,” Dad growls.

“I am not challenging anyone, Dad,” I say sarcastically. “You are no longer Alpha. Let me run this pack how I want to run it.” I say and sit down in a huff.

“I am not going to stand by and let you start a war, Caspar,” Dad nearly yells.

“What war?” I shrug. “If Doug wants our land, he needs to come up with a reasonable offer. That’s it. How many land deals did you do?”

He opens his mouth to speak but stays silent.

“Exactly. We aren’t Red Springs,” I say, mentioning Alpha Hughes pack. “You know that Orrin Hughes was not the brightest alpha.”

“I know, son,” Dad sighs. “I just- “

“I know,” I smirk. “If you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do unless you want to help.”

“No, no,” He waves his hands. “How is your mate doing?” He changes the subject.

I sigh again, “She woke up,” I reply, and he smiles. “Then she went back under.”

“I am sorry to hear that, son,” Dad frowns. “I was hoping she would heal faster.”

“The doctor thinks there is a lot of mental damage, and that’s why it’s taking so long,” I explain. “Mom is there with her right now.”

“Your Mom is just so excited about your mate, Caspar,” He shakes his head. “She wants to start training her how to be Luna.”

“Nova needs to heal, Dad,” I laugh.

“I know, son,” He chuckles as my phone rings. “Answer that,” He laughs. “I’ll see you later.”

“Alpha Silverstar,” I answer the phone.

“Alpha, it’s Dr. Holman,” the doctor responds. He is one of the few humans living in the pack, and thus, he cannot mind link. “Your mate just woke up again.”

My heart leaps with joy, “I’ll be right down, doc,” I say and hang up the phone.