Chapter Two: A Part Of Me

ALPHA CUAN

“Are we going to attend Alpha Knight Riordon's awakening party for his daughter?” Chase, my Beta, asks me just as I relax into the sleek custom made leather seat of my car. 

“Yes. We should make haste” I commanded.

Chase, who has his head by the window nods curtly before going over to his own car to give out instructions.

We just returned from a month-long business trip. It was very hectic trying to sign a deal with Nickolas Alfredo. He was such a bastard too. But I like hard working bastards. So there. I am not complaining.

I swipe at the screen of my phone, stopping just for a moment to admire Raya's beautiful smile. 

I think I fell for her smile alone. She always cheered me up about my sister's death. She would never have thought she would die the same way.

The pain of loss rises up to shroud me in a cocoon of vengeful mess. But I would bide my time. I know that very soon, I will get my revenge. 

Alpha Daren does not deserve a quick death. He took two very dear people from me. and Most people think I am a coward for not approaching him head on to fight him to the death just to reclaim my honor as the protector of my pack.

But if I just killed him, someone else would rise to take his place. Another bully, another bloodthirsty experiment.

I will not be satisfied with his death alone. To me, he was a dead man the day my sister died. But I wasn't strong enough to remove the cancer from its roots. It cost Raya her life once more…

The car stops. Chase comes to my window once more and asks “Alpha, they resorted to the traditional awakening ritual. Neerah is in the forest. Should we still proceed?”

I frown. I don't know Alpha Knight all that well. But I know he is a conservative werewolf and so, resorting to this senseless tradition might appeal to him.

Yet, the girl Neerah only learnt about werewolves a couple of months ago. People said that she couldn't watch a werewolf shift without screaming her lungs out. Is she really in a state of mind to handle the traditional way? 

She should have been trained well for years to be able to participate. But maybe she is a strong werewolf and her father is confident in her abilities?

“Stay back for my orders” I state, waving for him to step back so I can get out of the car. When he did, I alighted from the car and checked the time. 

It is almost midnight. 

“where are you going?” Chase asks worriedly. This is not the first time that I left them to check something out on my own. Chase always worries that I would get hurt in the process. But I am always fine. 

“I just want to check something out” I explain, putting an affirming hand on his shoulder. “Wait for my orders,” I urged. 

Chase frowns. “My place is by your side Alpha. Take me along” he implores.

I shake my head subtly. “The elder council is watching the forest. If we go in there and something happens to Neerah, they would blame us” I reason.

Chase looks defeated. “Take care” he warns.

I merely nod in acknowledgment.

I start to remove my suit while I spoke to Chase by saying “get me a fresh set of clothing” 

”okay” Chase notes.

I shift immediately, destroying yet another set of designer clothing!

I don't think about it as I head straight into the dense forest. 

It didn't take me long to come upon the girl who was the center of such brutality.

It was the exact time that a lanky looking male had started to kiss her. There is blood in her back soaking her dress in its red glow. I can smell her fear from where I stand. I can smell much more than her fear though. 

I can smell the intoxicating part of her that brought out my wolf without a moment’s hesitation.

It is just one moment. But it felt like eternity. 

I fell into a haze of red rage as I tore through three werewolves that dares to fight over what is mine!

It was just a moment, but the moment I descended upon them, I kicked the one who kissed Neerah far away so that I could spare him my undivided attention. Then I clawed the other two without much fuss. They are pathetic weaklings that did not even fight back. 

And I jumped on the one whom I threw away earlier. The rage only cleared from my eyes when I saw the blood around us. 

My heart surged in my throat when I worried about Neerah. If she saw all the blood, she would feel wary around me.

It is such a relief when I saw that she had fainted already.

With a sigh of relief, I sent a message telepathically to Chase.

“We need to clean up,” I tell him.

I felt even more calm when I saw that Neerah was fully clothed. It doesn't look like they did any major harm physically. Emotionally is another conversation entirely.

I did not put her down until I had reached the edge of the forest where she could easily walk out when she awakes. 

At that time, I did not think much about her wounds. Werewolves heal fast. 

I hid from her view in case she awoke. 

It didn't take too long for her to wake. I saw the way she looked around her in confusion. The fear soon leaves her face. And she picks herself up to a sitting position. She groans in pain before getting on her feet. She is still scared.

I thought that she would rush out of the forest in happiness or something. 

The girl takes a step towards freedom and stops. She steps back, wincing at the pain on her back. She suddenly knelt there and sobbed. She was crying so hard that my heart broke into a million little pieces.

She made me taste heartbreak when I didn't even love her yet. I feel like she is a part of me. If she hurts, I hurt. Nothing complicated about it.

She finished crying and stood up on her legs once more. She wipes the tears, making me wonder just how many times she was forced to hide and weep.

I wish I could raise those wolves and kill them again! Once just isn't nearly enough!

To my surprise, she let it all go, masking her feelings with a coldness that settles in her eyes. It must hurt to keep her back erect, but she did it anyway. 

She walks back to the clearing looking like a battered queen!

I respect her strength of will.

Chase brought a change of cloth and I quickly washed the blood off my body before changing into a new set of suit that looks exactly like the last one.

“What happened?” Chase asks with concern.

“They touched Neerah” I replied curtly.

There is a moment of silence as we walk back to the car. 

“Is she going to be our Luna?” Chase states with a raised brow, a small smirk making its way to the corners of his lips. This crazy guy isn't even going to waste his breath asking me why I was so brutal. Like, I can picture him saying something like “where is your head for reason Alpha?” But damn him already, his eyes freaking said them on his behalf!

“Shut up!” I warn.

Chase's smirk is in full view now. “Tell me how it feels?” His irritating self is shining brightly and I couldn't smile even though I should.

The thought of her pain stops my elation though. I cannot be calm unless I know who bred such pain within her…

“Is it that intense?” He questions with a confused frown. But there is a teasing edge to his voice.

“Fuck off Chase!” I dismissed it, focusing on the teasing quality of his tone.

“You do know that whenever you act so aloof, it means you are unsure right? What bothers you?” Chase asks curiously.

“I don't think I am going to like Alpha Knight” I declare with a frown.

Chase agrees silently. Something tells me that both of us wouldn't like him even a little bit.

“Dig a little deeper. Find out about Neerah. I want to know everything!” I ordered. 

“Okay. I'll get on it” Chase nods his accent.

That day, I changed my mind. I went home instead of the after party. There will be no celebrations. And I would be forced to watch her struggle to connect with people I suspect care nothing for her.

It is also a way to avoid having to face the reality that Raya wasn't my mate after all. I always hoped that she was. 

We have been inseparable since we were kids. And we grew up. Raya confessed to me first. I always thought she was beautiful. I liked her too and for a time, we were going strong. 

My mother kept warning me to slow things down. That I might break her heart if she is not my fated mate. 

At the time, I thought she was being a bit too dramatic. I was so sure it must be Raya. I mean, I cannot imagine anyone more perfect for me. I was happy with Raya.

But Raya ended up as a mangled heap just outside our borders. Although we tracked her attackers and took their lives in return, we all know the real culprit. 

In any case, It's too emotional for me. meeting Neerah today just tells me all I need to know about fated mates.

You can't think around them. You can't seem to control thoughts or emotions either. You feel so attached they are literally an extension of you. But more than you, they are more precious. I cannot imagine losing her and I saw her for the first time today. 

What is most alarming is the fact that she felt more familiar to me than Raya ever was. I don't even know much about her!

What will the emotional meter be if I fell in love with her? I tell myself that right now, it is still manageable. I would treat her like family. 

If she needs help, I will be there without exception. 

Well, that's what I thought I would do.

“should I come in?” My mom asks from the doorway. 

This is my home office and I usually just conduct pack businesses here. There are always tons of ledgers to review after I am away. But most importantly, too many requests and information to digest. 

“Yes mom” I replied with a smile. I love my mother a whole lot. It is always so nice to see her healthy and vibrant. 

So she comes in to sit down facing me across my giant oak desk. 

“Any reason why you cannot sleep?” She questions.

‘I am just restless’. The words flash in my mind, describing exactly how I feel.

I worry. For once, I cannot keep calm.

What if they hurt her more while I am away? What if there is something wrong and she cannot shift?

The questions are endless.

“I am waiting for Chase to return,” he tells her.

And just then, Chase shows up to present a thick manila folder.

“Alpha, this is everything” he assures.

I didn't mind that my mom was there when I opened it, trying not to look too excited. 

And there…too much information.