Page 1 of Unknowingly Adopting the Alpha
Chapter One
Jeremy
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that I’d been chosen as Alpha, but I couldn’t get Milo’s disappointed expression out of my mind. Yes, my little brother had always wanted to be chosen as Alpha. It wasn’t automatically the eldest child who was chosen, rather whoever our father thought would be best suited for the job.
Being Alpha was something I’d wanted, too, but it wasn’t as if my life would’ve ended if I hadn’t been picked. Seeing how Milo reacted yesterday at the news, I could safely say that he felt differently. His hopeful eyes had turned dull, followed by a mask of indifference, but not before I’d seen the hurt flash through them.
If I’d even considered rejecting the title, which I wouldn’t, it would show father that I disagreed with his choice, and that would bring shame to his name as former Alpha. I couldn’t let my father down, not ever. I would become the best Alpha this pack had ever seen. I just hoped Milo could forgive me for taking this from him, even if the title was never really his.
Milo had run off as soon as the ceremony was over, and even though I itched to fix things between us, I had to leave with Dad. It was tradition that the old Alpha and the new one spent the night in their wolf forms, hunting together.
I’d just gotten back this morning, and now I was looking for another man. Darius was my best friend, but he was so much more than that, too. I’d been crazy in love with him since we were thirteen and Kamille had kissed him at one of the bonfire parties. It was the first time we’d ever fought. To this day Darius believed my anger was because I’d wanted Kamille for myself. Thirteen-year-old me had thought the same thing at first. Why else would I get so upset over seeing them kiss? It wasn’t until he told me that Nick had held his hand six months later, and I’d once again been consumed with jealousy, that I knew it was Darius that I wanted.
I’d waited to tell Darius how I felt until I knew for certain whether or not I would be Alpha. He should know what being with me entailed, so as patiently as I could manage, I’d waited,and waited. Had Darius shown me any sign that he was into me, too, I would’ve told him sooner. I hoped he was thinking the same as me and just wanted to wait. It was a good thing Dad was eager to retire and hand the title over, otherwise I likely would’ve had to wait for much longer.
Dad was the town vet and according to him, his time was better spent there than as pack Alpha. I couldn’t fault him on that, considering the previous vet had retired. I followed Darius’s scent until I knew where he had gone. The waterfall. Our spot. I smiled to myself. What a fitting place to admit my feelings and ask him to be my mate. I couldn’t have planned it better. It was like he knew I would seek him out.
We lived in a secluded area and had several houses scattered around the edge of town. Each wolf shifter was close by,something us wolves needed to feel at ease. We were pack shifters, and pack meant we needed each other.
Moving between the trees, admiring the beautiful reddish yellow colors they held, a true sign that fall was here, I kept going until the waterfall was visible. I quickly spotted the stone in front of the water and froze mid-step.
Darius wasn’t alone.
On the stone next to Darius was my little brother, Milo, and they were kissing!
They broke apart and stared at each other, their smiles blinding as if they were in love.
Swallowing what felt like my heart down my throat, I backed away, glad they were too engrossed in each other to notice me. My clothes ripped apart as I shifted, unable to stop myself, and I ran towards the woods.
The need to escape took over. I had no destination in mind. I just let my wolf take over and ran until my legs would eventually stop working.
Maybe then my heart would stop bleeding, too.
Chapter Two
Cassian
Closing the trunk of my car, I sighed in relief. It was done. My apartment had been emptied out. My father had been informed of my resignation. Now the house I’d inherited from Granddad waited for me in a new town. A brand new life was just around the corner, and I couldn’t fucking wait to start living it.
I didn’t know if it was amething, or not, but big tall buildings gave me the creeps, and that was all my future here held; massive grey buildings filled with people in suits who all looked to have their shit together but probably hated life and needed lots of hugs. I didn’t want to be around those people, but I had been, for way too many years. I was in my mid-thirties but felt like I was going through a midlife crisis. Hell, I’d even cut my long hair. I wasthisclose to coloring it, too, but fortunately my hairdresser could sniff out a crisis so she stopped me from making that mistake. Not that I couldn’t rock the pink look, she’d said so herself, but did I trulywantto rock it?
Now, with my resignation email sent—because telling my father in person was a nightmare I had no plan on everexperiencing in real life—I was good to go! My new house was in a small town by the cute name of Groove Vale, and I could already feel the cozy vibes just from the name alone. And Ineededcoziness.
Into my car I went; the radio up loud, and my mind already in the future. I just had a seven-hour drive and then I’d be home. Did I have to make my escape in the middle of the night? No, but with traffic and my father checking his email like his life depended on it, it seemed three A.M. was the perfect time to make my great escape.
I wondered if I would have a big backyard? I really should’ve asked more questions when I got the call, but I had simply been too ecstatic to ask important questions. How did other people deal with the news of suddenly inheriting a house and all of a person’s possessions? I guess I’d never know.
The drive out of the city took forever even with less traffic, another thing I couldn’t wait to get rid of for good. Since everything was so last minute and not at all planned, I had no idea what I would be doing for a living. I’d fantasized about adopting some cats, but not really how I would afford living in my own home… Being an adult sucked sometimes.
After thinking about what kinds of positions might be open for newcomers in town, I figured maybe waiting tables or working in a shop would be my best bet. At least until I figured out what I truly wanted to do, and if Icouldactually do it.
I decided my future cats would be called Diamond and Daisy after a song on the radio mentioned both. It was like destiny,uuuh, maybe one should be called Destiny! I would have to get three cats then, what a tragedy! I never got to keep any of the strays I’d found as a child and one of my biggest wishes was to redo that and pour all my love into animals that needed it, and a forever home.
Feeling all giddy with excitement of soon having a homeandcats, I let my good mood take over as I continued driving. It was easier to imagine my future the further away from the city I got. With trees and nature taking over the scenery, I could almost smell my morning coffee with a hint of pine tree. I would have to sit outside each morning and just take in the fresh air. Damn, I couldn’t wait!
The fall weather made everything better too. I loved fall and how beautiful everything was. The reddish leaves that crunched on the ground. The cinnamon scentedeverything. That was it, I had to bake cinnamon muffins, and maybe add some nuts to them… I could make cupcakes; I made a mean frosting. My whole house would smell so delicious!
The rest of the drive went to plan, with one stop so I could relieve my bladder and fuel my stomach. The breakfast burrito I’d bought helped my mood even more. It was as if I truly felt more alive the further I got from the towering buildings and suffocating noise. My phone had been on silent the whole way, and I may have blocked my father’s number and those I knew from the company, too. Afraid of conflict,who me?
