Chapter 3 ~ Slow Regret…

{Cayden’s POV}

“Did she just…” I knowingly stopped my attempt at continuing that sentence as I already completed it in my head. 

It was the plan all along— for her to take the compensation and quietly leave my life, but I didn’t expect her to reject me so suddenly and seriously.

I was to do that! 

In fact, the whole episode was still very shocking to me as I had never known Isla to be so… so wild. She had shown me her confidence and a feisty spirit that I had never seen before in all our years as mates.

I had been really provoked with how she talked to me but at the same time I had been too puzzled to react, and she had walked off leaving me that way.

I could still hear my mum cursing and protesting in the background, and for some odd reason, I wasn’t really comfortable with her volume anymore.

“She has no right to reject my son! A low-born Omega like her rejecting an Alpha? She should be killed!” She bewailed while Ivanka supported her claim.

“Mum!” I bawled as I spindled myself to face her, my voice resounding through the entire room. “That’s enough!” 

“But Son.” Her tone grew calmer at once. “You shouldn’t have allowed that wretch to just scurry away after talking to you like that! She…” 

“What should I have done, mum! Bind her in chains and lock her up? She’s gone for goodness’ sake! Isn’t that what we all wanted!” I queried her, and also queried myself. 

Wasn’t this what I wanted too? Why was I suddenly so unsettled then?

I knew I never actually loved Isla. She was always too… too demanding, and I never truly stopped loving Ivanka even after I had been mated. So this made it difficult for me to focus my affection on Isla, coupled with the fact that she was just an ordinary Omega Werewolf. Hence, when Ivanka somehow made her way back into my life, I didn’t doubt the flow. It just seemed right, especially since she was of an Alpha blood just like me. But now everything is just jumbled up and I don’t know how to feel.

“Cayden.” My mother called again, but I was in no mood to listen to anything she had to say.

“Mum, I don’t want to hear it. You should go rest in your room. Lucil, take Mother to her room.” I voiced with a firm resolve and they both quietly did as I had instructed. They knew better than to spill my anger any further.

“My love.” I felt a gentle rub over my shoulder after some quiet seconds, and I circled around to meet Ivanka who was now making herself comfortable in our proximity.

“I think what mother is trying to say is,” She started with a smutty tone. “Don’t stress yourself over that Isla chick.” She placed her palm gingerly on my cheeks. “I’m here now, so forget about that Rotter.” She concluded softly and I felt Kiba, my wolf, growl at the instance of her cursing Isla. Even her words were disconcerting me. 

“Ivanka.” I mouthed, loosening myself from her clinch. “Maybe you should go wait for me in the room. I need to attend to something urgent.” I lied, not, In Fact, knowing what my next motive was. But I knew I needed to be away from anyone that would remind me of the situation.

“Uhm… Are you sure?” She asked, carefully studying my phizog.

“Yeah, I’m sure, Sweetheart.” I forced a good smile and fortunately, she bought it.

“Okay, love. I’ll be waiting for you and your…” She willfully trailed off and smiled naughtily as she retreated, while I beamed in return and maintained it until she was out of sight.

Once I was alone, I began studying the room, searching for something— anything, that I could use to distract myself and busy my mind. Luckily for me, Daniel, my Beta, walked in.

He was wearing a dull look and I knew it was due to the heated drama from some minutes ago. 

Daniel, from the very start, was a huge fan of I and Isla’s relationship, as bumpy as it was. Hence he was never in support of me divorcing Isla, even though I had explained myself to him a thousand times.

“Good day, Alpha.” He greeted me with unusual respect, and I understood why. He habitually did this anytime he was displeased with something I had done. 

“Daniel.” I mouthed, my tone revealing that I was happy to see him. “I noticed you abruptly left earlier,” I stated with a questioning tone rather than an emphatic one.

“Yes, I had to make sure the Pack runnings were orderly since you were occupied with...” He briefed me with a slight twitch, and I knew he was lying. He most likely left because he wasn’t comfortable with the wrangle between Isla and everyone. However, I didn’t mind his lie. His being here was distracting me from ruminating on that same occurrence.

“Okay.” I smiled briefly as we strolled out towards the Sunroom but then, I suddenly thought of something I could busy my mind with.

“Daniel, the entries and records for the Pack’s new Residential Estate,” I started to say, turning to face him. “I’d love to fill them myself so I can fully understand the contract settlement.”

“You mean, so you can keep yourself from thinking about her.” He said with a sullen look and I shot him a murderous glare in return.

“Okay okay. I shouldn’t be talking like this.” He immediately acknowledged, understanding my glower. 

“But as for the Estate fillings.” He continued. “Luna Isla had done that a few days ago. She even filled the asset outlays too— the ones we’ve been postponing for months.” He added and “Right!” was all I managed to mutter.

“Oh and...” He voiced again with a slight urgency. “I saw Ivanka on my way here.” He paused and studied the air for some seconds. “No no. I saw the new Luna— Luna Ivanka on my way here, “He continued, clearly mockingly. “and she said to remind you that she’s waiting.” He concluded with a brief but willful smirk while I grew a frown, but I immediately dissolved it so he wouldn’t notice.

“Of course.” I forced another smile while our dialogue grew quiet. I clearly knew what Daniel was trying to do and the fact that he was beginning to succeed and I couldn’t stop him was starting to annoy me.

The silence continued for a bit while my brain jumbled up some new thoughts that were somewhat unclear to me.

“Do you think you have any idea where Isla might be? I need to talk to her.” I suddenly heard myself say. 

Daniel had succeeded!

“How would I know?” He scoffed and dug his concentration into the files he was holding, and my urge to get an answer rose to the maximum.

“She couldn’t have gone far. She should still be around.” I mouthed as my eyeballs vainly tried to prove my claim right.

“As a matter of fact. I don’t think she’s around anymore, Alpha. I tried looking for her and even asked some menial workers but they all said they hadn’t seen her around. Nobody has. But I guess that’s a good thing, right?” Daniel smiled and continued scrutinizing the files. He was torturing me!

“Yeah… No problem then. I just wanted to tell her a few things, that's all.” I said in defeat and my uneasiness rose.

Kiba was really growling within and I couldn’t clearly understand why, but I knew I now needed to be alone.

“Uhm, Daniel. I’ll see you later. I need to go to make some, some calls.” I promptly said as I turned to take my leave, knowing that he knew I was trying to escape from his ridicule. Being my childhood friend bought him that much familiarity and understanding, and some days, it was favorable while some days, it was not. Today was one of those days. 

“You have a meeting with the Subordinates from RockyHill Pack.” He called but I didn’t bother replying— I couldn’t.

Suddenly, all I could think of was the night I had spent with Isla. It had been my first with her but it had been the best— the most sensational! And now, it was all my clogged mind could feed me. 

Her flawless skin, her misleading chest, her sylphlike waist, her soft thighs, her champaca scent! God, I was losing it, and it was making me more and more restless.

I knew I didn’t have feelings for her, so why did I lose control over myself that night! Why wasn’t I able to restrain my will? Why did I desperately crave for her?

I had bedded Ivanka afterwards but it wasn’t the same. 

Why!

A million other thoughts brimmed my mind and I could only grow more and more confused.

“You’re not wrong. You didn’t love her, so you sent her away. It’s not your fault she's not your class. She’s just an Omega— a lowly Omega compared to you, a superior Alpha Werewolf. The moon goddess mismatched you. Yes! She mismatched you!” I assured myself as I scurried off to goddess-knows-where. I was losing my mind!