Page 36 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“Fine,” she blows out through puckered lips, rolling her eyes. “But what just happened is proof of what I’ve been saying tonight.”

“You’re wrong, D.,” I sigh, staring at the empty woods and wondering if he’s made it home in one piece. I’m almost too reluctant to go inside but drag my feet along when I grab Dakota’s arm.

Dakota smiles feebly. “Are you defending him?”

“What? No, of course not!” I huff as I throw myself on the sofa. “The Alpha’s just under a lot of… pressure. That’s all. That’s why he’s acting the way he is.”

“That’s not what I was referring to, Cassie. He visited you in the dead of night, piss-drunk, accusing you of being with another man,” Dakota snickers, crossing her arms over her chest. “Clearly, he has the hots for you.”

I roll my eyes, throwing my head back and staring at the ceiling. “He hates me, okay? Just as much as I hate him.”

The reminder echoes in my mind, knocking around against the confines of my skull until it clatters to a stop. All that’s left is the silence that stretches when Dakota finally gives up and doesn’t try to persuade me that something is going on between the Alpha and me.

It’s a deafening silence that leaves me wondering why he’d behave that way. He’s made it clear in the past that there’s nothing between us. On those rare occasions when we’d find ourselves alone, he’d flip a switch the moment anyone came by and proved that he felt nothing but hatred for the way I looked or for the things I did.

Then why does my heart beat so quickly every time I see those emerald eyes sparkling at me behind my eyelids?

Gosh! I hate Cyrus Rudolph! I hate his hot and cold behavior! Most of all, I hate what he does to throw me off the rails and have me wondering what his lips would feel like against mine.

Chapter 10 - Cyrus

Staring at my reflection in the elevator’s mirror, I stroke my cheek absentmindedly as I recall the slap from the other night.

I’m not as angry as I should be. I’ve done a complete three-sixty and cowered behind the excuse of being too occupied to fulfill patrol duties for the past two nights.

I’m steering clear of Cassandra, hiding from her as if I’m not the revered leader of the Moon Shine Pack.

What has she done to me?

Even with Jarrod out of the picture, the obstacle of confusion cleared up because of my drunken stupor, and I’m reluctant to act upon those intrusive thoughts that keep me up at night. Thoughts about Cassandra and what her lips might feel on mine.

It’s a thought that’s been lingering in my mind ever since I stared at her face on the porch outside her cottage. For the first time in my life, I allowed my mind to wander further than my denial, counting her freckles like stars in the night sky before permitting my gaze to drift to her lips and imagine what it would be like to kiss her.

I blame the alcohol I consumed in a bar, laced with enough wolfsbane to render me insane.

That’s what all of this is. It’s insanity, and it can’t continue lest I lose my mind and the innate power bestowed on me as a birthright.

Cassandra Chikara doesn’t have a hold on me, and I’m about to prove that to myself.

As soon as the elevator doors slide open, Jarrod is in the lobby, ready to greet me. Too ashamed to admit that I’d wrongfully internalized my accusations, I haven’t told him about the whole ordeal or how I suspected he had something going on with Cassandra.

“Hey, Cyrus,” he greets, smiling obliviously at the grudge I’d misconstrued. “How did the meeting go?”

“I need you to prep the contract,” I tell him, going on to give him an update on the meeting. He congratulates me on our latest addition to the group of investors with a pat on the back.

“I’m glad things in the company are running smoothly.”

I raise a brow at him when we reach the cafeteria. “Something tells me you have bad news…”

“No news, actually,” he sighs despondently. “Asuka’s assistant is still dragging me on for more time. I’m not sure if the Alpha Council is willing to wait any longer.”

“Have you heard from them?” I ask, grabbing a mug in desperate need of the most potent dose of caffeine in the building. I’ve been using work as an excuse to distract myself from pack concerns ever since that night on Cassandra’s porch. With back-to-back meetings and sealing deals as if my life depended on it, I’m exhausted.

“Flynn Lycoan called this morning. He wanted to find out if we’ve made any progress.”

“Fuck…” I murmur, fingers tightening around the mug as it fills with boiling water. “... They’re gonna think I’m an imbecile.”

It doesn’t help that Ifeellike one. All these treacherous feelings of unworthiness are self-inflicted. I know that. I’d never felt this way until I allowed Cassandra to get to me.

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