Page 17 of Alpha’s Fake Marriage

He stirred beside me, his movements slow and hesitant as he shook off the remnants of his nightmare. “I’m fine,” he murmured, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “It was just a bad dream.”

But even as he spoke, I could see the pain that lingered in his eyes, a silent reminder of the trauma that still haunted him. And in that moment, I knew that I couldn’t simply stand by and watch him suffer in silence.

With a gentle touch, I reached out to him, my hand coming to rest upon his shoulder as I offered him what little comfort I could. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” I whispered, my voice soft and soothing. “I’m here for you. Tell me what’s troubling you.”

“Something happened when I was younger,” he said thickly. “Something bad that still haunts me now.” I touched his armreassuringly. I was there for him no matter what. “I lost my family to hunters when I was just a child. It’s been a trauma that’s haunted me ever since.”

“Oh, Octavio, I’m so sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for you.”

I wished I had more things to say because I could only imagine how horrible that was for him. But I had nothing, so I simply embraced him instead.

“It was... It changed everything for me. I’ve carried that pain with me for so long. That’s why I hate to hear what you and your mother are going through. It’s why the nightmares are coming back so strong because it’s awful.”

“You don’t have to carry that pain alone, Octavio. I’m here for you, just like you’re here for me.”

“Thank you, Irina. It means a lot to me to have someone I can trust, someone I can talk to. I’ve never had that before. I’ll be honest with you. This is something that I have always kept inside.”

I understood that. I thought I would keep my secrets forever, too, but in one another, we had found something perfect. I was starting to think that Octavio was my soul mate, and we were meant to be brought into one another’s lives, one way or another.

“Anytime,” I said with a smile. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll face whatever comes our way together.”

With a shared understanding and a newfound sense of connection, we leaned into each other’s embrace, finding solace and strength in each other’s presence. Despite the darkness of our pasts and the uncertainty of our futures, in that moment, we found a glimmer of hope and a flicker of light to guide us forward.

TEN

OCTAVIO

As I gathered my pack mates around me yet again, a sense of nervous anticipation fluttered in the pit of my stomach. I had something important to share with them, something that had been weighing heavily on my mind for days.

“Listen, everyone,” I began, my voice steady yet tinged with uncertainty. “I need to tell you something.”

Their eyes were fixed on me, filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern, as they waited for me to continue.

“Irina,” I said, the name leaving my lips like a whispered prayer. “Irina, the woman I’ve been seeing... I think I’m falling for her. I think I may have found my mate.”

The words hung in the air between us, a silent acknowledgment of the depth of my feelings for her. I could feel the weight of their gaze on me, their expressions a mixture of surprise and joy at the revelation. Finding my mate meanteverything. As Alpha of the pack, she would become important to all of us.

There was silence as my pack mates processed the news for a moment, their thoughts racing as they considered the implications of what I had just shared. And then, suddenly, thetension broke, and they erupted into cheers and applause, their excitement palpable in the air.

“That’s amazing, Octavio!” Ratty exclaimed, her eyes shining with genuine happiness. “We’re so happy for you!”

The rest of the pack echoed her sentiment, their voices filled with genuine warmth and affection as they congratulated me on finding my mate. It was a moment of pure joy, a shared celebration of the bond that bound us together as a pack.

As I looked around at my pack mates, their faces beaming with happiness, I felt a swell of gratitude wash over me. They had been there for me through thick and thin, supporting me through the darkest times, and now they were cheering me on as I embarked on this new chapter of my life.

As the cheers and congratulations died down, a sobering silence settled over us, casting a shadow over the jubilant mood that had moments before filled the room. It was clear that while my pack mates were happy for me, they were also concerned about the potential risks that came with my new found relationship with Irina.

“Octavio, mate, I hate to rain on your parade,” Mike spoke up, his voice filled with genuine concern, “but what about Irina’s father and the whole mess with the Russian mob? We already have enough problems with Brian and his ties to the Bratva. I know we’re going to protect her and everything, but the closer she is to us, especially with Russian royal blood, the more we put ourselves in the firing line.”

I nodded in agreement, acknowledging the validity of their concerns even as a sense of unease settled over me. The last thing I wanted was to put my pack mates in harm’s way, to drag them into a conflict that was not of their making.

“I know,” I replied, my voice heavy with resignation. “Irina’s situation is... complicated, to say the least. But I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to any of you. We’ll handle thistogether, as a pack. The plan is going to work… they won’t find her here.”

There was a palpable sense of tension in the air as my pack mates exchanged uneasy glances, their thoughts racing as they considered the implications of what I had just said. It was clear that they were worried about the potential risks that came with my relationship with Irina, and I couldn’t blame them.

But even amidst the uncertainty and fear that threatened to engulf us, there was also a sense of solidarity, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that bound us together as a pack. No matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, as equals, as partners, as one united pack.

“Listen,” I began, my voice firm and resolute as I put an end to this once and for all. “I understand your concerns, but I want to assure you that we are more than capable of handling any trouble that comes our way. We have done it before, and we’ll do it again.”

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