Chapter 6

*Replacement*

"You should calm down. Maybe a little training would lighten your mood," he suggested and informed me that the private training room was ready to be used. Jack accompanied me there.

I changed into my armor, picking my favorite sword and shield from the rack. After dressing, I threw a sword at Jack, inviting him to a sword match. He gladly accepted.

I moved back a bit, setting my sword in front of me, and then, in an instant, rushed at Jack to strike him with my sword. He blocked the attack with his shield.

"Cool down, man. Do you want to hurt me?" Jack asked, his face still showing shock from almost having his head severed a while ago.

"Hold your sword properly," I replied, more like a warning.

"You have to get a hold of yourself, Harden. As the Alpha of the pack, you're not supposed to be seen acting this way, do you want to kill your beta??"

I growled at him and then he knew I was more than serious. His grip on the sword tightened, ready to defend.

This time I moved with more force, striking him for the second time which he wasn't lucky enough to dodge. The edge of my sword sliced through his bicep, soaking his sleeve in blood. As the smell of blood wafted through my nostrils, it made my wolf more alive.

"Damn it, you're not joking!" Sword fighting till our hearts' content, I kicked Jack's sword away. My hands wiped off the sweat from my head, squeezing and draining my moist hair. I was exhausted.

"I'm leaving first, ask someone to clean the room," I said to Jack and then swiftly took off the armor, throwing it on the floor.

"Alpha, I forgot to inform you. We found something strange," he said, and I turned my attention to him.

"The case against Williams. It's rather odd that the person who did this provided all the evidence needed to let the man rot, including letters of their conversation." He paused for a while, crosschecking my mood before speaking. He always did that. Jack had a better understanding of me than anyone else; it's why our wolves connected like brothers.

"No one is so stupid to let their letters get in the wrong hands. As we all know, Gerald Williams has been bedridden for the last few years; his sickness would not let him come out. How is it possible that they met him of all people for information?"

"I already know," my curt response had his mouth open in awe. "You knew already? Why did you personally go to arrest him?"

"As you already know, there's a snitch in our pack and to catch that person, we have to make them feel safe. Catching the wrong person means the culprit will keep on doing whatever they're doing."

 Remembering Elara's rejection from a while ago, again, my face fell. "And secondly, I wanted to use it as leverage on Elara. That naive girl has chosen to leave instead."

"Caitlin is not as innocent as we think, Alpha. Ever since her appearance, strange things have been happening in the pack, from the maids eating poisonous food to someone snitching on our pack. I suggest you keep a close eye on her."

"Even if she's not, what can I do? I have to accept her anyway. My wolf will learn to stand them." With this, I left the training room.

On my way back to my wing, I found Caitlin. She was back from visiting her parents.

She had changed into something different from what she was wearing earlier. A pink silky thigh-length night robe that showed her figures all around, including her cleavage. The dress was see-through which indicated that there was nothing under. She seeped her wine so slowly and in a sexy manner, seeing me, she came to my side. "I was looking for you earlier and then I heard that you were training."

I hummed my response. She was all over me, from arranging my collar to straightening my shirt.

"I want to help you relax, Harden, I know you've had a tough day, having to deal with the traitor." How did she know that we caught a traitor, even my father was yet to find out. I ignored my thought when I saw a flash memory of Elara in Caitlin's appearance.

Her pale face and innocent doe-like eyes. My lips quickly captured hers before she could say another word. My eyes were shut as I munched on her lower lip, finding an opening and slipping my tongue in her warm mouth, tasting every inch of her and not giving her the chance to breathe properly. It's been so long since I wanted to do this with Elara, the feeling of having that woman in front of me felt heavenly, but my wolf disagreed with my action and still, gave me countless signs, but I didn't care.

I lifted her off the floor, holding her, and pressing her butt cheek in my palm, the moment I let her lips go, she heaved for air, exhaling deeply and I captured them again. I already felt hot and the burning sensation would only die down once my body got what it wanted.

I held Caitlin by her elbow and pulled with me to the room, ignoring her wincing as my fingers dug into her. Once we were in the room, I pushed her to the bed roughly and then took a few buttons off my shirt before hovering around her again. She wanted this as much as I did. Her body was heating up. Her hand slid up and down my chest, and then she reached out to my lower waist, unbuckling my belt quickly before holding my member in her hand. I fumbled with her molds, played with her clit for a while, and made her feel pleasures she had never experienced before getting down to business. While inside Caitlin, Elara was the only person I could think of. My longing for her caused me to move violently in and out of Caitlin. Her moan felt like a sweet rhythm to my ears. I felt proud to have her squirm in front of me. Ramming my member into her opening more with a mix of anger and longing rushing over me.

She was a substitute for Elara, I needed to use her to get over my rejection of Elara and she didn't seem to mind it at all.

Soon the night was getting overly heated, two sweaty bodies on the bed, making sounds of moaning and skin clasping against each other.

Both our bodies moved in ecstasy, "I still love you Elara." I whispered I had made a mistake in names.

Coming inside her felt wrong now. It wasn’t for her.

It all felt wrong.

*****

Morning time, I looked by the side of the bed to see Caitlin's face, she was still asleep and bile former in my throat. Last night's event came like a rush to me.

I was so indulged that I thought I spent the night with Elara after longing for her so much, but it was, Caitlin.  

Caitlin  kissing me sweetly. I ignored the growls coming from my wolf. Seeing their reaction told me I had made the exact right decision. Despite what the burning in my chest told me.

This was who I was supposed to be with. Not Elara.

"Thank you for last night," Caitlin said. We should thank Elara for unleashing my monster.

Elara's POV:

Throughout the rest of the day, I pivoted the room, eagerly waiting to see the blonde-haired man. The nurse had mentioned that he would return soon, but as the evening wore on and he hadn't arrived, apprehension crept in. I couldn't afford to wait longer; what if I found myself in trouble?

The moment the nurse entered, I called for her attention. "Please, ma'am, is he not coming back soon?" I asked, feeling impatient. She glanced around cautiously before responding with a pitying look, "Sorry dear, I'm not so sure, now." After a pause, she whispered, "I heard the Alpha, his beta, and Gamma are at the other building, in his office. He's caught up with work and will have dinner there."

"It's already late. Are you certain he's still there?"

"Yes, but you're only allowed there with an appointment, which I doubt you have," she tsked sympathetically. Then a thought struck her, "However, you can stay here tonight and wait. Perhaps he'll return later, and you can meet him in the morning. I'll prepare dinner if you're hungry."

"Morning?" I replied, feeling a sense of entitlement. After all, he brought me here; he should at least want to check on me. "Waiting until morning is too long. I have to leave tonight," I said, aware that I had nowhere to go and barely enough money for a lodge or a decent meal. My thoughts roamed for a while, the dangers of moving alone tonight without a place to stay and then I decided, "Okay, I'll stay here just for tonight."

"Great!" she exclaimed.

"How's your leg healing?" she inquired. I responded, claiming improvement, although, in reality, I wasn't healing as well as I'd hoped. I hadn't expected that being wolfless would be this challenging. When I was with Snow, healing was always swift.

Later, I heard he had returned, the servants bustling around, indicating his presence. I waited for the right moment, standing by the door of the room I'd seen him enter earlier, which I assumed was his. After a few knocks and no immediate answer, he finally responded, "Who's there?"

"It's me..." I winced.