Chapter 37
RILEY.
Iwaved at my Gamma and turned my body around, heading for the packhouse. I was done with my part of today’s Elite training and I couldn’t wait to shower and see my female only to remember that she wasn’t home.
She told me earlier that she would go to Katya, and my Beta drove her to his mother’s house. It had been three hours, and I wondered if she was still there.
I was mindlinking her, trying my best to flirt with her even if I wasn’t good at it. And she kept blocking my attempts. Probably because I could make her wet with my words and she didn’t want others to smell her arousal.
‘That’s been fucking too long now. Can I pick you up already?’ I asked her as I turned the corner and saw Alba’s car parked in front of the packhouse.
My forehead creased as I sprang towards the house, my heart thudding loudly. I had no idea why she was here. She was allowed to enter my territory without any notice, but something was telling me this was not an ordinary visit.
‘No. I’m busy… Are you done with the Elites?’ Nadia answered.
And I was about to answer her back as I entered the packhouse when a familiar scent hit me immediately.
Andrea.
Fuck! What is she doing here?
“Alba!” I yelled for my cousin’s name as I walked to my office in big strides.
This couldn’t be true. Not now. Not yet.
I was about to push the door open when it suddenly opened and revealed Alba behind it.
“Miss me?” She smiled widely, her eyebrows arching up as she stared at me.
But my eyes darted behind her, and in the middle of my office was the female I was not ready to see yet.
“Hi!” Andrea greeted me with a smile, and beside her was Caspian, his one arm coiled around Andrea’s waist.
My mind went into chaos when it finally sank in that Andrea was here and Nadia might see her.
“Who the hell allowed you to enter here?”
“Hello! I’m here. You forgot I have…”
I turned around to face Alba, who was behind me.
My eyes dilated as I glared at her. “And you will lose that fucking privilege from now on!
“Who the fuck told you you could just barge in here and bring whoever the fuck you want in here?” I was growling, and I saw fear flashing through her eyes, but it was gone in seconds.
She opened her mouth to speak, but a voice from behind me cut her off.
“Riley we’re not here to argue or something…”
“I don’t fucking care!” I turned my body around and looked at Caspian. “Take your leave and bring all of these females with you! I want all of you gone now!”
“Fuck, Riley! We’re trying to fix this and you’re still being stubborn!”
“Caspian… Relax.” Andrea’s hand went to his chest, and the fucker’s breathing slowed down.
And I missed Nadia at this point. If she was here, she would be calming me down.
But she couldn’t be here. And they should all fuck off!
“Again, leave. Now!”
“Riley…” It was Andrea this time. “We just want to talk…”
‘Riley?’ Nadia sent a mindlink at the same time and I disconnected with everyone in the room. I didn’t hear the rest of Andrea’s words.
‘Nadia…’ I answered my female.
‘You just disappeared. Is everything okay?’
‘Yes.’
‘You can come here if you want. You can watch or join Katya and me in baking some pastries. Then we can head home together.’
‘Yes.’
‘Okay, are you coming soon?’
‘No.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes. Just stay there and I will pick you up. Don’t go anywhere.’
‘Okay…So you’re coming over? Now?’
‘No. Later. I’ll let you know when I’m coming.’
‘Okay.’
“Are you even listening or are you talking with someone?” Alba’s voice snapped me from linking with Nadia. She was standing beside me, her eyes glaring in annoyance.
“None of your fucking business.”
“You’re still fucking rude.”
“And you don’t have any fucking respect! The least you could do was let me know if you’re bringing someone in!”
‘Riley.’ It was Nadia again.
‘Yes?’
‘I love you.’
‘Me too.’ I replied and it was too late when I realized what kind of answer I gave to her.
“Can we at least sit down and talk like civil humans here?” My head snapped to Caspian. He was brushing his hair with his hand and I could see annoyance brewing on his face.
“No. Not today. I don’t have time.”
“Just thirty minutes, Riley, so we can just settle all of this once and for all and we can all move on.” It was Andrea.
“I said no!” I growled, and Andrea’s body jerked back, but Caspian was fast to hold her.
In seconds, Caspian was already in front of me, his hand coiling on my shirt. “We’re talking about respect here. Maybe it’s time you showed fucking respect for Andrea! Because I swear, if not for her, I wouldn’t be here!”
I swatted at his hand on my shirt. “Then fuck off!”
“Please, everyone, let’s calm down. Let’s give everybody five minutes to calm down!” Alba went between Caspian and me.
“I don’t have fucking time! Leave!” I moved and opened the office door, and all of them just looked at each other without saying anything, and my blood was already boiling.
‘Nadia?’ I tried to reach my mate’s head, but she didn’t answer.
Fuck!
‘Katya? Is Nadia with you?’ I tried to mindlink Katya, making sure that Nadia was still with her.
‘Yes, Alpha. I’m driving her back to the packhouse.’
Fuck!
I felt all the blood in my body rise to my head as my heart pounded hard in my chest.
Everything would go to hell if she saw Andrea.
Ten minutes and she would be here.
“Leave. We will talk some other time.”
“Riley, listen..” Alba sighed in desperation.
I snapped my head back to her. I was slowly losing my stance. I didn’t want to lose Nadia.
“What do you want me to do, Alba?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you fucking want me to kneel and bow down to all of you so you’ll fucking leave my territory now?” I asked.
A rumble was starting to form in my chest. This was exactly what Caspian asked me once, just so I could give up Andrea. And I would fucking do it in a heartbeat just for them to leave.
“Riley!” Alba snarled at me.
I turned my body to face Andrea and Caspian, bending my knees and ready to swallow my pride when Caspain growled.
“Don’t you fucking bow down to another Alpha!” He snapped at me, stopping me from falling to my knees.
I couldn’t think straight anymore. I would fucking do everything just to have them leave.
“We’re leaving.” Caspian’s hand was clasped in Andrea’s as he tugged her gently to follow him, and it was the only time I let out the breath I was holding.
“You’re crazy, Riley. I’m so disappointed in you.” Alba said, her eyes showing pain as she passed by me, and I just took it all in.
They need to leave. That was the only thing running through my head.
I followed after them until the front of the packhouse and watched as they walked to Alba’s car.
Andrea looked back and opened her mouth to say something, but instead of trying to understand what she was about to say, I dropped my head and stared at the ground.
They needed to go.
I didn’t hear anything. Instead, the sound of a car driving away made me tilt my head up.
I stayed standing on my spot, waiting for Nadia. I still didn’t know what my next move would be.
I was afraid of my own demons. I don’t want to lose her.
It didn’t take long before Katya’s car appeared in the driveway and stopped in front of me.
Nadia came out of the passenger’s seat and smiled at me before turning around to say goodbye to Katya. Katya waved at us before she drove off, leaving me alone with my mate.
I went down the steps and hugged Nadia behind her back, letting her scent calm my worried heart.
That was close. Too fucking close.