Chapter 9

Chad.

I am 36 years old, and I haven't found my fated mate. At first, I thought, because of me being a Lycan, I was destined to die alone. The Goddess might not want to pair me with a she-wolf. As of now, I just think the Goddess hasn't been doing a good job. How could she have paired Bella with Alpha Jasper of all people? The Holloways have always been power-hungry, hypocrites, and without morals. I glanced at the beautiful woman sitting on the chair, and I crouched to her level.

I stared intently into her beautiful baby-blue eyes. They were stained with tears. I felt another wave of rage. "No, Bella. If I had a mate, I would do everything in my power to never make her cry. I would give her the moon and make sure to always look at her with stars in my eyes. She would always be my priority and the source of my adoration." Cobalt agreed with me. Bella stopped crying. It was so easy to get lost in her eyes.

I stood up and sat across her again. My blood boiled with rage and jealousy. I don't know what was worse, her having a fated mate or that her mate was someone like Jasper. They both hurt. Jasper was her fated mate. She was made for him. I clenched my jaw. How could I compete with a bond like that? I was also enraged just thinking about how Jasper hurt her and took her for granted. My rage and Cobalt's were reverberating in my blood, oozing for release.

"Chad, your aura." Shit, my aura was all out emanating in waves. I reigned it in, and she instantly relaxed. "I'm deeply sorry." She nodded. "The bruise is going away. The doctors have created a faster healing serum. You would have healed instantly with that, but you're pregnant." Goddess, the word sounded odd in my mouth. "That's why they ran all tests on you before they used it. So how did you end up in the forest and so far away from your pack?" Her eyes turned sad again.

"My father and my brothers fought in the war. You might have met them. Alpha Maxwell Lockwood of White Claw Pack and My twin brothers, Braxten and Brent." Fuck! They were the Alphas I was with before the ambush. "Jasper told me they were dead, but I don't want to believe it. How could I have lost everything in one day? They were all I had! So I came looking for them." She was heaving. I grabbed her denty hand, relishing in its softness. "What do you mean you came looking for them. What happened to their bodies?" I asked, already suspecting one of Jasper's foul plays.

"Jasper said they couldn't find their bodies. He said there was so much snow, and the conditions were far too dangerous to risk the lives of more people looking for them. But I'm here, and it doesn't look anything like he described to Uncle Conner, my dad's Beta. I had to see it for myself. I'm starting to believe Jasper lied deliberately. Now he wants to take over White Claw pack, and he's looking for me to facilitate the process." A low growl escaped me. If I had that asshole in front of me, I would pulverize him with my fists. She was shivering. "I was looking for them, Chad, in the forest. But I only found trouble. Well, and I found you. I'm glad I found you." I was fucking glad as well.

"I will help you look for your family. Don't worry about that. You don't have to be risking yourself outside anymore. Just focus on getting better. Now, let's finish eating. I'd like to see you eat. Dr. Sarah says you're underweight for your gestational period." her cheeks tainted pink, making her look adorable. 'She is adorable.' Cobalt said. He had been quiet since he heard she had a fated mate. 'I will kill him. He didn't appreciate her. She doesn't need him. She has us now.' As much as I would love that, I'm the King. I can not go out and about killing my subjects just because I dislike them. I'm sure that's something Jasper would do, but behind their backs like a coward.

"I'm sorry, Chad, I'm usually not this hormonal. My father taught me to be resilient and strong. I just had bottled up everything for so long, and you're the first person I have ever felt comfortable with, besides my family." That made Cobalt's chest expand.

"Really? What about Jasper? Didn't you feel understood and protected by your mate?" I grunted inwardly, I hated to refer to Jasper as her mate. Cobalt huffed. 'He seems to have lost that right already.' Damn right!

"Jasper has always kept a cold front around everyone. He hated public shows of affection, and the same rules were pretty much extended to the privacy of our home as well. He rarely let me go to public events and galas with him. He would take me sometimes just to appease my brothers. But he would send me back home early. He used to say that having me by his side made him lose focus."

I was wondering why I had never seen her at those events. I've always arrived late, and the woman I sometimes saw on Jasper’s arm wasn't her. "I'm sorry he never saw your value. With your background and beauty, as well as your enchanting personality, you would have been the center of attention at any social gathering. He should have been proud." A beautiful smile appeared on her face.

"You always find the right thing to say, Chad." I love how my name sounds on her lips. "Only when the person deserves it." After that, I managed to keep her mind off her troubles for a bit. I made her laugh quite a lot, and it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. I reluctantly bid her goodnight after a while, much to Cobalt's spite. I didn't think it was appropriate if I asked her if I could spend the night on her sofa.

Dane pulled me aside as soon as she closed her door. "Chad!" he hissed. "You left the council waiting all night for you!" He chided. "Shit, I completely forgot about them."

"No! Really?!" He mocked. You need to go back to the Royal City. You haven't been back in a while. She is safe here now. Go sort everything with the council, and the fiancée Alpha Terrence keeps nagging about." I was definitely not going to marry Alpha Terrence's daughter. I shuddered, but not in a good way.

"Send them a link to a conference video call in 5, I will make a brief appearance just to appease them. Going back to the city is not possible for now. I don't want to leave Bella. She has not fully recovered yet." Dane exhaled, I know the pressure the council puts on him is too much because Dane was our link of communication.

"Chad, I see you're harboring feelings for her, and I would have loved that for you, but she is mated... and pregnant." My eyes flashed.

"Don't I know that! But do you know who's her poor excuse of a mate? Jasper Holloway!" I grunted. His eyes rounded. "That's right, him of all people. I also have the suspicion that he had something to do with her father and brother's disappearance as well as my ambush. She is the daughter of Alpha Maxwell Lockwood."

"The hidden Princess of White Claw pack?" Dane exclaimed. Bella didn't know she was widely referred to in that monicker. She was far from pampered, though. I could tell by her toned body that she was well-trained. Jasper's books and pack management have been impeccable for the last five years, and my guess is, it was because of her. It baffles me as to why her father and Jasper would hide her from the rest of the world.

"There is no way I will throw Bella back to his greedy claws. As soon as the Dr. deems it safe she is coming back with me to the Royal City.