Chapter 7

• /His POV/
• At the mere age of eight, I crept down the hallway, avoiding the creaks in the flooring. Growing up in the packhouse, I knew every nook and corner like the back of my hand. The door was creaked open so I leaned against the nearest wall beside the room, eavesdropping on the conversation for a few minutes at first. 
• There was only the sound of my father and an unfamiliar man's voice conversing in a hushed voice which didn't really surprise me. After all, it's supposed to be a business meeting. My father asked me to stay in my room until they were done with the meeting. 
• I tried my best to be discrete, peeking around the corner, my eyes searching out for my father's familiar face. That other man was sitting at the table with his back towards the doorway, only his shoulders and the back of his head visible to my eyes. I took in the brown of his short-cropped haircut and the width of his shoulders that made him seem more significant than he was.
• "We should tell him, Alexander!"
• Someone called out to my father, the voice raising to several octaves. Why was he yelling at my father—the Pack Alpha? I furrowed my brows. 
• "No!" My father covered his face, his shoulders slightly shaking. Was he crying? I wondered while standing in the same place. "He w-won't love me anymore." 
• With the haste to hear out more of their conversation, I accidentally kicked something. They both stilled on the spot and yelled out. "Who's there?"
• I slapped a hand over my mouth. Within a blink of my eye, I turned around and sprinted back to my room. 
• Hazy. My vision blurred as I slowly came to, eyelids heavy I could only open them to a sliver of light. Every inch of my body ached, unable to move anywhere. The air was cold against my skin, goosebumps prickling along my arm. 
• It was another daily occurrence. Those dreams from my childhood haunted me every single night. Why did I keep having them? A frustrated sound escaped my lips.
• Before, I used to have dreams like this but never had a dream where I had been paralysed. The sheer panic it instilled sent my heart into a pattern, thumping the rhythm of fear through my veins. My head felt too heavy to lift, a light throbbing causing me to lay stiff.
• I screwed my eyes shut and tried to fall asleep once again.
• The next time I woke up, it was to the birds chirping. A weak smile curled around my lips, thankful to finally be out of my nightmare. I blinked my eyes open to the sun, relief slowly sinking in, as the warmth streamed through my bedroom windows. 
• Looking around, I briefly thought on how I may have fallen asleep longer than intended. I tried to sit up, my body protesting painfully to each movement. Finally upright, I rubbed at my eyes, pupils aching with the bright light surrounding me.  
• Time to get with my pack duties. I thought and stood on my feet. 
• ***
• "Good morning, Alpha Aiden."
• "Morning Alpha"
• I nodded along, walking through the stalls and straight to the packhouse. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Anika approach me. A scowl settled over my features at the sight of her. 
• "Alpha Aiden!" She purred at me.
• My eyes raked over her body. She was wearing a tight fitted dress, ending over her mid-thigh, drawing attention from the crowd. The only reason they weren't leering at her was my presence in front of the beta.
• "Why are you here?" I practically snapped, my voice cold. 
• Her expression was unreadable, even as she slyly licked her lips, probably pondering over her answer. And she better give a good one because I was two seconds away from exploding. 
• "To see you, of course" She inched closer to me, those long nails flicking loose strands away from her face. 
• Her speech was slow, like it's always been only more sultry. She kept fluttering her eyelashes at me, like that would make me drop everything for her. I closed my fingers in fists, gazing at the beta I used to sleep with, and I couldn't help myself. A bitter laugh spilt out of my lips, conveying just how ridiculous I found the answer.
• "You shouldn't be here," I yelled at her, hating how vulnerable my voice sounded. The pack members were discreetly watching us, under the pretence of working, whispering amongst each other. My face reddened at that kind of attention directed towards me. 
• All this time, I've been striving hard to keep my secrets under wraps, affairs with betas in hiding to gain their appreciation. But Anika ruined everything within a minute. 
• "I want to be with you, Alpha", She whispered lowly, licking her lips. 
• "But I am done with you" That's all I said before storming out of there without ever once glancing back.
• I couldn't take it anymore—the suspense. My people won't stop asking me, and the past flings would keep throwing themselves at me until I find a decent Luna. Then again, I was tired of meeting new girls every day, keeping up with their stories and ways to impress me.
• Summoning my beta, I relaxed on the nearest chair, folding my legs together. After careful
• consideration, I landed on a decision about my future Luna. 
• "Yes, Alpha?" He raised his brow; his hands folded together behind his back.
• "I think I have decided."
• "Decided what my lord?"
• "About my Luna" I swallowed the lump in my throat. 
• I was aware that I have to stay committed to the Luna and rule over the pack. Only one of them so far stood out amongst the number of betas I met. 
• His face brightened, a different glow to them as he met my eyes. "Oh, that's brilliant, Alpha! I'm sure the Pack will be elated to learn about this news."
• I hummed softly. It's true. They have been waiting for a long time for the news. Mostly because my father was getting weak and old for making decisions. Which reminded me that I have to tell him about my pick. "Yes, but first call the beta I chose."
• "Who is it?"
• "Cara Williams"
• ***