CHAPTER FOUR
HAILEY
"I can be your mate for appearance until you get your inheritance" I offer. However, I didn't think he was taking the bait, I could feel his disinterest against my skin.
When he turned to leave, I panicked and used the last card on my sleeve.
"I know about your mate's disappearance and I can help you find her" I blurted, hoping it'd interest him.
To my relief-- and maybe horror, he turned around and held me in place, choking me. God, was he strong. The way he held my neck, if it wasn't for the moon goddess's grace, maybe I'd have died a second time.
"What do you know about Alanna?" He tightened his grip on my neck, forcing me to speak.
"There's no way you'll get an answer out of me when you keep choking me" I croaked but kept a straight face, it was quite difficult but I needed to impress him. Even with his hands wrapped tightly around my neck, I still had a sharp mouth. I was crazy but the wine made me brave and I knew it.
But my craziness had paid off as I saw a glint of recognition and respect pass through his eyes.
Thank goodness, he finally let me go and I struggled to catch my breath. Any second later, I'd have been dead meat. I try my best to regain composure as quickly as possible so he won't see me as weak. No Alpha would want to form an alliance with a weak wolf.
"Where's Alanna?" He asked again, clearly desperate for an answer.
I knew that his mate, Alanna, was missing in the woods and her disappearance was somewhat linked to Tristan but I didn't know where exactly she was.
"I don't know where she is," I replied truthfully, trying my best not to provoke him, "but I can help you find her."
"Don't fucking lie to me!" He roared and I put in my all to not flinch or scramble away. There was no denying that he was an Alpha.
"I swear that I'll help you find your mate only if you help me with my revenge. Let's join forces." I rambled, hoping he'd believe me. I didn't have the strength to be choked again. I then offered by hand for a shake.
"I don't care about your mate and his lover. I can find my mate on my own" he said, latching onto what I now identified as pride and arrogance.
"My mate is involved in your mate's disappearance" I divulged and as expected, I hit the target.
He stared at me for a while, studying me. His scrutinizing gaze was like a laser on my skin and I fought the urge to shield myself and wrap my arms around myself.
I opened my mouth to speak but because I was already tipsy from the wine, I swayed but he didn't make an attempt to hold me.
I look up and study his features. He's perfect. His dark hair is tousled just enough to be sexy without being bed head messy. His strong chiseled jaw is a perfect harmony to his cold, gray eyes. He looks fierce, and at the same time, gentle, confusing me all the more. I really can't get a read on him.
I raise my hand to caress his face but he grabbed my arm and pushed me away "Don't you dare touch me"
He stared at me condescendingly and with a final huff, he strode out.
The moment he was out of sight, I slumped on a chair nearby. I hadn't even begun my revenge and I was already a failure. How was I supposed to succeed when I wasn't able to convince Alpha Carter to work with me?
I sighed and put myself together. I was done being a failure. I'd re-strategize and come back stronger.
As I walked to my room, a door on the corridor opened and the two people I despise the most, emerged, both looking flushed with shallow breaths. They looked like children who had just been caught with their hands inside a cookie jar.
"Hailey..." Tristan called out, sounding nervous. He was clearly surprised to see me and he tried to look for an excuse to salvage the situation. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"Yes," Maya chimed in with her high pitched voice. "The doctor said you should stay in bed for at least three days. You shouldn't be on your feet. Are you okay?" She said and approached me in a bid to support me but moved away to avoid her touch. Annoyance flashed through her eyes but she quickly masked it.
I stared at the two people before me and let out a deep sigh. Not long ago, I'd have thought they genuinely cared about me and I wouldn't have hesitated to give it all for their happiness. But now as I looked at them, I felt nothing but pure unadulterated hatred.
"You didn't come to see me" I ask Tristan, looking directly at him so as to not miss even the tiniest reaction he'd let out.
"I was busy with work" it came out smoothly like he had rehearsed the like several times. No wonder I didn't suspect a thing, they were both very good actors.
"But you had the time to take Maya to the ball" I prompted and as expected, he was taken by surprise.
"It's not like that--" Maya began to speak but I cut her off harshly.
"I wasn't speaking to you." I eyed her. "Only speak when you're spoken to. Do you understand?"
"But--"
"Do. You. Understand?!" I enunciated every word for emphasis so it'd throw her thick skull into her empty head.
She frowned but answered nonetheless, "I understand"
"Hailey, don't talk to her like that." Tristan cautioned me like a big brother. If it were before I was reborn, I'd have apologized immediately and promised not to do it again but not anymore.
"Why won't I?" I questioned Tristan. "As much as I can remember, she's an omega and I'm the daughter of an Alpha so I can speak to her however I please. Isn't that how it is for us?"
"But she's your friend" He just wasn't giving up, was he?
"Is she?" I raised my brow in questioning and looked straight at Maya. She looked away, unable to meet my gaze. I didn't give them the chance to come up with some silly lie and I walked out.
"Don't let her get to you.." I heard Tristan say and Maya snickered. "Only for a short while till we get rid of her for good."
HAILEYEPILOGUECarter has been the best father to our daughter, Amelia. From the day he found out about my pregnancy, he had been nothing but caring.Every weekend, we always went shopping for baby items, even without knowing the gender of our baby.And when our baby was finally born, Carter's joy knew no bounds. Whenever Amelia cried at night, he'd ask me to rest while he fed her the milk and rocked her to sleep.He even abandoned the company for Xavier in order to be with me and Amelia. He was ever present and I didn't have any complain whatsoever. My only fear was that she'd grow up to be a daddy's girl and forget me.Carter treated our daughter exactly how I wished to be treated by my father. Everyday, when I thought I'd seen the end, Carter would come up with new ways of loving Amelia. I wouldn't be surprised if her first word was his name.After my rebirth, I had never thought I'd find love again. I had given up on it and planned that after carrying out my revenge, I'd start a
CARTER"She's really grumpy and demanding but I love every second of it," I said, knotting my tie."I'm sure you do." Xavier replied, "I'd even mistake you for the carrying the child because of how happy and healthy you look," Xavier's comment made me laugh. He was right as I had heard the comment several times. A lot of people said I was enjoying the process of fatherhood way to much and my reply was always the same,"Becoming a father to Hailey's and my child was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my entire years of existence." Though the pregnancy made Hailey act up and become easily irritated with everything including me, I didn't mind. I loved every single moment of it and because of that, I now had a journal where I document each day of her pregnancy. Her food cravings, her likes and dislikes and so much more.Another thing about Hailey was that the pregnancy made her conscious of her body. She'd stand in front of a mirror and comment on how fat and out of shape sh
CARTERHailey's behaviour left me worried as this was the first time I had seen her this way. After she threw up, I couldn't help but notice how deathly pale she looked and the fact that she didn't touch her food made me scared.I found it difficult to concentrate as my mind thought of several reasons as to why she looked pale. Perhaps was she sick with a deadly, incurable disease? Due to how deep in thought I was, I didn't notice when Xavier walked in, until he placed a document on my table and muttered, "Earth to Carter.""Oh" I looked at him, "When did you come in?""Not long ago," He replied, taking a seat, "What's on your mind?""Hailey," I replied."What about her?" He asked curiously."I think she's sick.""Why do you have that thought?""Because for the first time ever, she threw up and she looks pale," I sighed, "and when I asked her, she said it's that time of the month. I think she's trying to hide something from me," I placed my elbow on the table and rested my head on it
HAILEYMy relationship with Carter had improved considerable after the honeymoon proposal. We barely argued and we did everything together. He was the sweetest and the most perfect man for me. I had gotten used to his sweet side which he only used for me alone.Carter and I stood in the kitchen, which had become a regular witness to our intimate sessions. But that wasn't the point. We were baking a bread together for breakfast and we were waiting for it to be ready."Do you think it'll come out great?" I asked even though I already knew the answer. Carter was a great good and I envied him for that quality."Of course," He smiled, "Whatever I whisk up must come out delicious. Chefs kiss" He folded his fingers, brought it to his lips and kissed loudly.I rolled my eyes at him with a smile on his face, "Narcissist," I muttered."It'd be a waste to be this good and not show it off, you know that right?"I threw an ugly face at him and he laughed. "Don't tell me you're jealous?" He wrapped
CARTERI stood and stared at the vast expanse of greeny before me.Xavier had told me before hand about Temmy asking me to lead her pack.I knew what she was worried about.Temmy was capable of ruling, but the fear of the Innocent people having to suffer if any mischief came up was the issue.I'd been thinking about it for a while and I decided to finally say it to Xavier.A combined honeymoon, Carter and Hailey, Temmy and I.However we'd have to leave that pack and although the peace was all settled, it'd still take a lot of arrangements to make for a trip like that. "Xavier,"I called from behind as he walked towards me."What are you doing here," I asked and shook my hands." Thank you for accepting Temmy's offer," he thanked and he gave a stoic response."I've something to suggest Xavier," I began and he turned to look at me Interestedly." What is it that you've in stock," he asked as I kept mute."A combined honeymoon," I said and he stood shocked before finally getting a grasp
TEMMYI lay down on my bed, reminiscing about the relationship between Xavier and me.I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts to no avail, they consumed me whole.I'd been thinking about it the whole day, our relationship, my relationship with him.It felt even more different after the incident that happened last.When he told me that he loved me, I felt my heart thump rapidly but it thumped harder when I saw him losing consciousness in my arms.A Small part of me wanted to stop but I couldn't, I struggled harder to stop the rampage Inside of me.But despite all this, he didn't stop holding, despite the chances that it could be his last chance of survival.A thought clicked in my mind, I'd marked Xavier and he had as well, but I had no memories of doing so.Love was sweet and I ran my hands through the mate mark on my body, smiling like a Cheshire cat to myself.The small date, little Jabments of PDA when we both hadn't confessed our feelings to each other, the thrill that came wit