"Why are you hiding here?" Cayden asked.
Instinctively, Selena stood up from her chair. The book she was absorbed in fell heavily to the ground in the silence that followed.
Cayden was expecting a more violent reaction, so he was relieved to find her still in her room.
"What exactly do you want?" Selena inquired.
"I noticed you leaving the cafe without having eaten anything. I intended to keep you company." He responded by taking a few steps in. Selena then noticed the scent of bacon and eggs emanating from the package in his hand.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine." Selena answered shakily.
The large easy chair still separated their bodies, providing her with a physical barrier against his appeal.
"Are you sure?" Cayden's voice dropped an octave. "Your stomach is rumbling."
Selena took a step back, shaking her head slowly.
"Look, I know you are upset and angry, but why take it out on the food?"
Selena let out a huff. "Like you don't know?"
Cayden took a step closer and placed the package on the table in response. "No. I've waited long enough. If you don't want to be punished, eat now."
Selena fought the urge to scream and claw at him, but she needed the energy to do so. And the bacon sandwich sounded delectable. She took a deep breath and walked over to the table, concentrating on the sandwich and savouring each bite as she planned her next move. Perhaps she could persuade him?
"Better?" he asked as she finished the last morsel.
She wiped her lips with the napkin and nodded.
"The pack will no longer trouble you. I had been so preoccupied with other matters that I did not know you were being treated this way. They will face consequences."
"I can't be your mate, Cayden." Selena spoke gently.
"Yeah, I know." He said this simply, opening the bottle of water and passing it on to her.
"So why did you announce I was your mate?"
Cayden took a breather before responding, "I said that to protect you. I can't always be with you. Although I wish it were possible. So I declared you my mate in order for the pack members to trust you."
"What happens after that?" "I don't want you to lose your pack position because I rejected you."
"Wait. Where did you get the idea that I would lose my position if you rejected me?" Cayden interjected.
"A good alpha means that you have the respect of your pack, but if they don't think you can keep your mate, they will doubt your ability to lead and protect your pack, and you will lose their respect."
Cayden's laugh shook Selena's body. "You seem to think I will let you go," Cayden said. He kissed her on the top of her head and said, "You cannot leave. My pack does not hold you responsible for being Hawk's daughter."
Selena snorted and wiped her tear-filled eyes. "Perfect. Now I can be the source of conflict between the alpha and his pack." She sighed.
"Selena, look at me." Cayden gave a gentle command. He continued when she did. "While I appreciate you are concerned about me, you're referring to an unknown future. Nobody knows what will happen if we go to war. I'm just trying to keep you safe. So that they don't hold it against you when I'm not there."
"What does that mean? Where are you going?" She inquired directly.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to attack Alpha Fred. I might not return."
Her wolf trembled in fear.
"But wasn't that supposed to happen the following week?"
"Hush, it's a secret. Alpha Fred may have gotten wind of it, so it will come as a surprise."
As she sat face-to-face with him, she knew that her decision would have grave consequences. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made her choice.
"Be safe, Cayden," she whispered. He looked at her, surprised, as a teardrop sparkled in her eyes.
"I will."
Selena fell silent, her bottom lip quivering.
"You can't do that and expect me not to kiss it," Cayden grumbled.
"Kiss what?" She asked innocently.
"That lip." He replied briefly before swooping down and nipping her lower lip between his teeth, lightly nipping it and pulling it to take the rest of her mouth. Selena's only response when they parted, panting heavily, was a dreamy sigh.
He chuckled and tucked her unkempt hair behind her ears. "Don't go," she whispered. "Don't leave me alone for a second."
"I have no intention of leaving."
His hands trailed down, tugging her sweatshirt off from the bottom and trapping her arms in the sleeves above her head. As she wiggled to untangle herself from her sweatshirt, he took advantage of her distraction to caress the line of her blush along her collarbone and down towards her cleavage.
"Cayden." she hissed as she blushed further, causing it to spread under her tank top. With childlike glee, his fingertips followed underneath her tank to pass along her breasts; her nipples reacted instantaneously. His tongue stroked across the top of her breasts. He took her nipple into his mouth through her tank top, then pulled back to blow cold air on the wet fabric. The sensation caused her to shiver deliciously, her hips moving against him, causing his cock to react to her proximity and her scent.
With a mournful groan, he wrapped his arms around her hips and lifted her into his arms. He stood up with her draped over his shoulder, causing her to squeal. "Put me down."
"I can't do this on a chair." He grumbled as he headed towards the bed.
***************
"Woah! I'd always suspected Selena was Alpha's mate. Did you notice how he always looked at her?" Millie exclaimed after the commotion had subsided. The other two girls just nodded.
"Will Selena eventually become your Luna?" Kylie asked a question. That Selena was not a competitor brought her relief.
"Yes! Isn't that amazing?" Millie exclaimed. "Perhaps we should have a joint mating ceremony with the Alpha. Me and Sam, and you and Beta Max."
"Mating? " Kylie inquired with suspicion.
Maya leant to Kylie and whispered conspiratorially. "Millie is newly mated; don't mind her. Newly mated pairs can't keep their hands off each other." She giggled.
"Tell me about it." Kylie mumbled.
"I don't know when I will find my mate," Annie sighed.
"You change boyfriends every month, Annie." Maya said, rolling her eyes.
"I enjoy their attention; it's just..." She rolled her eyes and murmured even louder. "I like it rough, and I prefer a dominant man. Those boys are just puppies."
Kylie couldn't stop herself from laughing. Her mind couldn't connect the petite, innocent-looking woman besides her to what she had just heard. Annie had a very slender build, enormous eyes that seemed to scream innocence, and barely reached her shoulder.
"So you want an Alpha?" She said it still, with laughter in her voice.
"What? No? How can I even think of dating Alpha Cayden?" Annie said incredulously.
"I'm talking about a strong, muscular man. Not necessarily an alpha wolf." Kylie clarified.
"Sam is very sweet; he is just the way I like my men, sweet and cute." Millie said shyly.
"Do you people talk about people's sex lives?" Kylie groaned.
"Nooo... but we are not prudes like humans. We are more open and accepting," Maya explained.
The girls were a pleasant company, and Kylie got the impression that they got along with pretty much everyone. She pointed people out to her, introduced her to those worthy of introduction, and talked nonstop. Kylie was grateful for it, since she didn't feel like being social.
"Did my sisters bother you?" Max asked when he joined their table.
"No, they are very sweet," Kylie said.
Annie and Maya glared at Max.
"I am very disappointed, Max, that you think we'll tease you, mate." Maya said, huffing.
"Is that something you both ever do?" He snorted.
"Max is acting all weird now that he has a pesky girlfriend, right, Annie?" Annie grinned at her sister.
"Maya, I swear to Luna if you don't shut up," Max began.
"Are you going to give me little nieces and nephews?" Annie said in a singing voice.
Max stood up, grabbing Kylie.
"That's why I am leaving."
"Hey!" Maya said.
"You two just better hope that, if your mate sniffs around you, they're losing a limb—and not the one with fingers or toes."
"Those two are so annoying," Max grumbled as Kylie walked alongside him, amused.
"They are sweet, and they both love you."
"Yes, they do. And they will love you too. I am glad you are getting along with the girls." He smiled.
Kylie bit her lips. She was drawn to Max and understood the idea of mating, but everything was happening too soon. She did not know who Max was, and she wondered if he would ever accept her after learning about her past.