Cruel Alpha

Chapter 6

Margo hugged Robin so tightly, she felt like her bones might crush. “This is amazing, Ro, I can’t believe it!” Robin chuckled and leaned her head on Margo’s shoulder. “Yes, I know. But only thing is, I am leaving tomorrow.” At this Margo pulled away and looked at her face. “What?”

Robin sighed and pulled away. “Well, Declan says he can get his team down to... Oak Tails by tonight and tomorrow we can start the actual work with archaeologists and briefings and stuff.” Robin said moving from one foot to the other. “All in all, I will be gone for a week.”  She dropped the last bomb and waited for Margo to say something. 

“This is… surprising. All ready to start the project this soon?” Margo asked with her reservations clear on her face. “And you are ready to leave it all for a week in a heartbeat?” she eyed Robin and Robin looked right back at her. She was tired of stepping away from confrontation. “Yes, it’s not like I can say no to an opportunity like that. It’s my history.” Margo nodded. “Of course, I understand and I am really happy for you.” She stepped forward, putting her hands on Robin’s shoulder. 

“Maybe if you can manage a week in there away from all the packs and everyone, you can come to New York with me as well?” Robin smiled but shook her head. “You know that my answer will stay unchanged. I love you, but I feel like our worlds are too different sometimes.” Margo smiled too, she didn’t need to say anything. Their relationship was nearing a breaking point. 

Robin hugged Margo. “There is a pack dinner tonight for Declan, girls and I will have a mini-goodbye party afterward,” Robin spoke. You should come, I want you to come. Margo chuckled lightly, “I am so sorry, Ro. I have a work dinner with a potential Gallery owner.” They didn’t say anything as they pulled away, from the tears in their eyes, it was clear that they were both thinking the same thing. This was it. “Good luck with dinner,” Robin said and kissed her forehead. Margo smiled and inhaled Robin’s perfume. “Good luck with the research.”  

By the time people crowded the halls of the Pack House for the dinner, Wilder has convinced Lauren to come over for ‘free dinner and drinks'. Wilder didn’t tell her that he wanted her to come because his friends were teasing him and wanting to see the women for whom Wilder changed some of his horrible habits. “Opinions about the Pack dinners?” Wilder asked as his hand sneeked around her waist. Lauren looked around and nodded. “Happens quite too often, but at least you get a nice 3-course meal.” Wilder chuckled with a nod. “If you stick till the end. I will even find you a very nice unopened Champagne bottle to sneak away.” Lauren smiled at him and they made their way inside. 

Wilder scanned the crowd for his friends, but his eye got caught on Robin instead. Apparently after a year of nature’s instincts teaching you to look for each other, it was a very hard habit to unlearn. Sometimes he would step into a room just to make sure she was there. Robin noticed him too and lifted her hand in greeting. Wilder nodded and Robin’s eye got caught on Lauren and she shot Wilder a confused look. He never brought his ‘flings’ as everyone liked to call them to pack dinners. Robin shot him a look full of questions, Wilder rolled his eyes and walked towards Robin. Blair was always hanging with Robin and as River was inseparable from Blair, he also forced Carter and Adrian to hang around girls as well. 

As Wilder and Lauren neared them, the conversations among everyone died down, and they all looked at Wilder. “Good evening, everyone.” He said and turned to Lauren. “They are just too stunned by our excellence, ignore their weirdness.” He said and looked at his friends. “This is Lauren, my girlfriend, and this is, well everyone.” He waved his hand at the crowd of people. Lauren and others shook hands and exchanged names. Wilder noted how Lauren’s attentions seemed to linger on Robin. 

The topic of mates was one of the first concerns Lauren had when it came to fully seeing each other. So, of course, Wilder told her the truth of his freedom and lack of a mate. He assured Lauren that even Moon Goddess couldn’t see a lustful connection between him and Robin, there was nothing to worry about. When it came to Lauren’s turn to talk about mates, she admitted that she hasn’t met her mate and then changed the topic. Wilder wasn’t bothered by it. He didn’t want to sound cruel but, Lauren was 22, and the chances of meeting her mate were dwindling very fast. He was glad about it. 

After they all were done with introducing each other, discussions picked up again, Wilder came to learn the reasons for the dinner and immediately started to look around for an unfamiliar face, he wanted to find the ‘young Professor’ his sister and friends spoke of. He didn’t have to look for a long as soon the bell ringed and everyone was invited into the dining hall. He was supposed to sit among the Alpha’s line but as he had a date tonight, Wilder shuffled towards the part of the table that mates or couples sat in. He made sure to choose a spot next to River and Blair, he hated most of the mated wolves, there were only a few exceptions. 

As a gentleman he is, Wilder pulled the chair for Lauren first and she smiled as she sat down, Wilder sneaked a glance at the Alpha side of the table and noticed that his spot was taken by a stranger. Axel announced him as “Special guest of the night, Professor Declan Moore.” Wilder squinted his eyes at the head of the table to get a better look at him. Blonde, tall. Not as good-looking as me. He assessed and turned to his date. 

Dinner ended on a good note, as Wilder walked his date until her car and then proceeded to make out in the said car. A knock on the window made them separate, a blush creeping onto Lauren’s cheeks. Wilder looked up to see Carter. He never had any understanding of personal space or privacy. “Drinks at River’s,” Carter said loudly and waved them over. Wilder dismissed him with a. wave of his hand and looked down at Lauren. “Fancy a drink?” he said playfully and captured her mouth once again. 

River and Blair’s house was close to Pack House and it was away from the higher-ranked members' housings. This made it a perfect party spot for young couples and wolves. Wilder guided Lauren on which turns to take and soon they parked in front of their house. People were sitting on the lawn in front of the house, beer bottles scattered around them. Wilder held on to Lauren’s hand as they made their way inside and finally found the drinks. “This is way better than the Pack dinner,” Lauren said over the loud music and Wilder nodded. “Just wait until drunks start a fight, that’s definitely better than the pack dinner.” 

Wilder got pulled into the game of beer pong by the end of which he lost sight of Lauren. He walked back towards the kitchen, hoping to find his drink and girl in the same location. But drinks were running out, and the kitchen was empty. As Wilder looked around the empty bottles in hopes of finding the one full one, Robin entered the kitchen with the same idea in her mind. 

They nodded towards each other and Robin groaned at the sight of the empty bottles. “My exact reaction.” Wilder said with a chuckle. Robin ignored it and proceeded to look through the boxes of beers, they were all empty. “There you are,” A voice snapped Robin’s attention away from bottles. Lauren has entered the kitchen which immediately made Wilder smile. Robin was surprised by the amount of affect this woman had on Wilder, it was usually the other way around. 

“I can’t find anything to drink,” Wilder complained to Lauren who only shook her head. “I think you already had enough. I heard you lost the beer pong.” Wilder only rolled his eyes. “it’s not my fault, River was cheating.” Lauren tugged Wilder out of the kitchen and towards the fresh air. They leaned on her car and looked at the stars. “You know, your pack ain’t that bad,” Lauren said to which Wilder chuckled. “Not bad at all.” He repeated and yawned. Lauren looked at him with a smile. “I should get going. I have a meeting early in the morning.” Wilder moved away from her car and gave her a kiss. “Be careful,” He whispered as Lauren got in to the car. 

Okay, back to alcohol. Wilder thought and made his way to the kitchen. He gave up on his search and walked out towards the backyard in search of his friends, but most were gone by now. Party was slowly dissolving and not having found anything to drink, Wilder made his way out as well. He groaned when he realized that he would have to walk back to Pack House to find his car. 

As he took a turn towards the Pack House he saw another lone figure walking in the same direction, a bottle of wine shining in their hands. Wilder jogged towards them to catch up. “hey, care to share the drink?” The figure stopped and turned around. It was Robin. “Sometimes, I feel like you have an alcohol problem.” She said and handed him the bottle. Wilder chuckled and took it. “Only sometimes?” Robin rolled her eyes and took the bottle back from him. “You lose drinking privileges for sarcasm.” Wilder only raised his middle finger at her and she laughed. 

“So, a little birdie told me, you are leaving tomorrow,” Wilder said as Robin drank from the bottle. “River doesn’t look like a little birdie, but yes. Early tomorrow.” Robin confirmed and Wilder chuckled. River has become a source of news and gossip, a tie between Robin’s and Wilder’s friend groups. 

“The blondie professor better beware your anger then. I assume you can easily overpower him.” Wilder said and took the bottle. “I am not that violent all the time,” Robin said and pushed Wilder away from the sidewalk. Wilder raised his brows as if to say ‘case in point’. Robin only rolled her eyes. The silence continued until the Pack House came into view, its distant lights only visible thing.

“A little birdie told me, that you are serious with Lauren,” Robin said, with a teasing smile on her face. The wine was done and Robin didn’t even feel drunk. f*****g River. Wilder thought and nodded. “Well, we are testing the waters but it seems like it’s going good.” Robin nodded knowingly. “She is pretty, so, don’t f**k it up.” She warned and Wilder shrugged. “How can I even f**k up?” Robin rolled her eyes. “Sometimes by just being yourself, not everyone enjoys the company of a narcissist.” Wilder waved her off. “The point of being a narcissist is enjoying my own company above all else.” 

Robin rolled her eyes once again, she noticed how she keeps doing this in Wilder’s company. They parted ways in front of the Pak House. “Don’t beat up anyone,” Wilder said to which Robin replied, “f**k off, Wilder.”