Page 24 of Unknowingly Adopting the Alpha
“Alpha Silas,” I growled, feeling angry all over again. He’d yet to apologize for taking my Cass.
“I just called to inform you of your mate’s whereabouts.”
My growl intensified. “If you touch as much as one single hair on his head—”
“Relax,” he drawled. “He’s with Greg.”
I relaxed a little hearing that. Cass was fond of Greg.
“I also called to apologize,” he continued.
“‘Bout time,” I snarled. It seemed when one’s mate was taken, resentment lingered.
He scoffed. “Listen, I ain’t got no trouble with you as Alpha, but one in your pack clearly does. He tipped us off that you’d found your fated.”
Damn, Marcus and his old ways! To think he’d stoop so low as to talk to another pack?
“It seems you’re in a rather desperate state then,” I hedged. He’d have to be, to pull something so risky and stupid as taking a mate,especiallyan Alpha’s mate.
He sighed. “Goodbye, Jeremy.” He hung up, but I’d gotten enough from that phone call to know he was struggling as their Alpha. Did I care? Not particularly, but it was good knowledge if they started fighting for our territory again. Silas’ father, their former alpha, had fought my dad for it. Not physically, but he’d tried lawyering up and bringing papers into it. Dad had won, obviously, but Silas’ father had been too proud to stay, leaving Silas as Alpha just when shit hit the fan. Silas had been eighteen and nowhere near ready to lead a pack. I felt somewhat sorry for him. Not enough to forgive him for taking Cass, even if Cass thought the kidnapping had been a fun time.
My chest ached at the thought of Cass. Not knowing what had made him sad enough to leave was driving me insane. I knew I’d paid less attention to him after Darius showed up. I hadn’t said anything bad, at least I didn’t think so?
Exhaling a deep breath, I walked into his mudroom. Ensuring he had some laundry detergent, I went in search of his dirtyclothes. After starting the first load of laundry, I headed to the kitchen, intent on washing the dishes.
I only managed two steps before I heard the sound of yet another car approaching. I wasn’t about to get my hopes up a second time. I squashed the fluttery sensation that threatened to bloom and went to peek outside the living room window, like the creep I apparently was now.
Relief like none other swept over me as I saw Cass’ car park in front of his house. He was talking to himself, almost cooing? He opened the passenger side door and picked up…a pet cage?
“I can’t wait to show you the house!” he gushed, approaching the front door. “This is your new home, Daisy!”
A second later, the key was placed inside the lock, but since the door was already unlocked, Cass fumbled a bit with it.
“Huh,” he said, this time talking to himself.
Not wanting to scare him, I moved back into the kitchen and started washing the dishes. I hoped that would make him like me more.
“Jeremy?” he called out, sounding wary.
“In here,” I called back, keeping my tone casual. In my head, we weren’t fighting, and he definitely wasn’t upset with me either. So, until he showed me as much, we were fine.
I hoped.
The scent of him reached me like a balm to my freaking core. It enveloped me like a hug. But there was another scent, too.
“You bought a cat?!” I was both appalled and terrified. Did he not know how cats usually reacted to us wolf shifters? Shit… was that why he’d gotten the damn thing?
“Yes,” he said, his tone lacking its usual warmth. “Her name is Daisy.”
Because my mind was stuck on the feeling of being replaced, I blurted, “Wasn’t I good enough for cuddling?”
Cass blinked, then sighed. “Look, Jeremy.”
“Oh, no,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “It sounds like you’re breaking up with me.”
My smile died when his sad eyes reached mine. “We were only friends, so I can’t really break up with you, can I? But Iamasking for a break.”
I stumbled back. “What?”
