All Chapters of Her Unwelcome Mate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ran folded her arms across her chest. She examined Caph's appearance properly for the first time since her outburst.He was drenched from shifting and still panting hard, as though he had run across the continent at record speed. (She really guessed it randomly.)There was a frantic light in his eyes, a wild fear, a startling insecurity and uncertainty.What happened? Had she really been so preoccupied analysing Dingo's intentions all week that she missed some incident happening in her own pack?'Did something happen? Where have you been?'Caph took another step forward, lowering his head to rest it on her shoulder.He was really going to hug her. He wasn't joking.She let him.His sticky arms encircled her and she was enveloped in an uncomfortable heat.She let him because of the tired energy he exuded.The playful blue light she had gotten used to seeing had darkened, deepened into an abyss of despair. Ran could also feel frustration and anguish radiating from him in waves.Tentative

Caph was stunned.How did she reach that conclusion?'I'm not pandering,' Caph began. 'You said Acamar asked me—'Ran let out a burst of mocking laughter.'Ah, so you came because I said Acamar asked. If I had asked—'Caph interrupted. 'I would have come as well.'She glared at him, coal eyes hard. 'Even though you didn't sleep the night before? Even though you've never done menial tasks like this ever in your life? Yeah, right. Our arrangement was to go against Acamar, not to accept every request he gives you with your tail between your legs.'Ran strode up to the house and rang the doorbell. He had no choice but to follow with the corresponding box from the truck.'The arrangement was to fake our engagement,' Caph pointed out.The door opened and he had to stop talking. A pleasant expression had replaced the fury on her face.Ran greeted the pack member at the door, 'Good afternoon, Winnie. How are you?'Caph realised he was dealing with a fearsome person.When they returned to the t

Ran drove through the quiet outskirts of Punggol and onto the country road that curled around the unnamed mountain. Every now and then, she'd glance at Caph whose head lolled as the truck swayed.He slept with his lips slightly parted. His eyelashes were long.Her eyes flickered back to the dark road lit only by the flickering headlamps of the truck.His eyelashes had nothing to do with her.She thought about what Caph said about power.She was genuinely surprised that he understood what responsibility was—given his character and reputation.He was more mature than she gave him credit for.Ran had thought he would be like most other Alpha children, especially since he was raised in a purebred pack, where telling others what to do and being at the centre of attention was their everyday experience. She had been the same way until her parents died and she became powerless, subject to the Regent's whims.Caph would never understand, she thought.The fourth son of the ancient purebred Cassi

They found Vicky with Caph's fast and accurate way.She was barking frantically inside one of the cars on the car hauler parked next to the only building in the scrapyard. Still alive thanks to the misaligned car windows.As soon as Ran had the dog in her arms, Caph pulled her under the shelter of the garage eaves, out of the rain.Her flashlight was already useless. The light spluttered and dimed entirely.Caph fumbled along the metal front of the squat wooden building until he found an unlocked side door. 'In here,' he called and disappeared into the pitch blackness within.With a click, the antique light bulb flickered and blinked on.It was dim but dry, better than standing outside in the rain.The building was a messy garage office. Papers were strewn over an overladen table. Tools and mechanical equipment was scattered throughout the wide open space, but somehow there was still enough floor space inside for a whole car hauler to fit.Ran closed the door behind her and set Vicky d

When Caph opened his eyes, he found himself with his head in Ran's lap.Ran had her head tilted forward towards him, her eyes closed, lips parted slightly, breathing deep and steady.He thought he was dreaming, so he reached out with one finger to poke her on the nose.She opened her eyes and blinked at him.His eyes were blue again.Sunlight streamed through dusty glass panes, casting a surreal white glow over the dark garage office from the night before.'It's morning,' she remarked.Vicky was curled up on her other side, torchlight poking out from under her paws.'Why didn't you wake me up when the rain stopped?' Caph asked.The sunlight made her black eyes look grey and soft.She looked away, stirring the dust motes floating through the air.'You were tired.'He had refused to let her go even though she said no. She relented for a while—until she came to her senses—and then she elbowed him away.Only to find that he had fallen asleep leaning against her.Caph had run across half th