Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Casper

“Ten years!” Raphael lashed out as he swung my door open, allowing harsh rays of sunlight to stab into my eyes. 

“Raphael?!” I winced, ignoring my Beta and burying myself more into the blanket.

After I might have covered myself and the only thing I could see was pitch black, I asked quietly, “How did you get the keys to my house?”

That sneaky bastard. I remembered changing the locks. 

“I…” he stuttered for a moment, selecting his choice of words before letting out a sigh. 

“You know what? That is not important, I can not let another year pass by and watch you drown here, all by yourself!”

“Leave…me…alone…” I mumbled, dragging each word.

I knew what he wanted, but I couldn't give in. 

My eyes pressed against each other, and I felt hot tears welled up in them.

“To rot in this hell, you call a home? No, I can't do that!”

“I don't care. The door behind you, close it when you decide to leave…” I gestured lazily before returning to bed, hoping that he would give up, but he didn’t. Instead, he continued to screech.

“It's been ten years since the pack saw their Alpha. Questions are being thrown to me. My ears are heavy with rumors. Some even thought you were dead." 

I felt his scent grew stronger around me as his weight dipped on my bed. 

"I can't keep up with the affairs of the pack anymore. It's your position, not mine. All I ask is to show yourself to the people so that they will know that the Alpha is alive and well." 

“I can’t!” I replied, almost choking on my tears. I drew in harsh breaths as my teary eyes were glued to the wall. 

“ I’m not asking! I’m ordering you as the Alpha of the pack and also as your best friend.” His voice was a blend of worry, concern, and command. 

In a twinkle of an eye, he yanked my blanket away from me, and my eyes met his, glaring and blazed with fury.

“Please Casper, you have to come!” His voice trembled as he spoke, but I couldn’t tell if it was anger or pity.

Finally, after ten years, Raphael had finally devised a plan to bring me out of my house, my prison, and my escape. 

“Fine!" I agreed, gritting my teeth in anger. "I would do it for you, but I will only stay for a while,” I said, blasting him with my condition. 

“Yes! But you are driving!” His words tumbled out in a rush as he hurled his keys at me. 

After a while, I was dressed, and we clutched to his umbrella tight, trying to shield ourselves from the rain as we ran to his car.

Jumping into the driver’s seat, I immediately shut the door and started my car with a quick flick of my wrist.

I froze for a second the moment the engine roared to life. 

It's been ten years since I rode a car. 

“What are you waiting for? Drive!” Raphael scoffed before buckling his seat belt. 

Driving down the busy street of Oakwood, my heart sank when I saw smoke wafting out of a building and people running while they screamed for help.

As I got nearer, the smoke grew thicker, and their cries got louder. There was so much fire that even the rain couldn’t stop it. The sound of sirens echoed, fire trucks rushing to the scene. 

“What the fuck is going on here?” Raphael whispered under his breath. 

Unable to tear my eyes away from the burning building, I began to take in deep breaths as my mind flashed back to that incident that triggered my phobia for fire, ten years ago. 

It all started when I couldn’t stop looking at myself through my large mirror that was well placed in my room that day, because I was living every man’s dream as a young self made billionaire at 18 who would soon be announcing his mate to his pack.

While I wallowed in self-admiration, Marina, my mate snapped me back to reality with her sudden question.

“Do you think that we can trust him?” She asked as the door to my room creaked open.

“Yes, we have settled our differences and agreed to live in peace as Alphas and friends too.”

An awkward silence lingered and as I turned to look at her, I could see the fear gather in her eyes. 

There is something about Alec that isn’t right! I cannot explain it but I can sense it!” She snarled, taking a step backwards.

“This is my decision and it must happen for the sake of the park. Don’t you understand, I am doing us a favor.” I paused and shook my head in disbelief. 

“I just wish we could take things slow.” She replied and I felt her heart sank in worry. 

I could taste her fears in the tip of my tongue. 

“ How?” I asked, rolling my eyes. All I wanted at that particular point in time was Marina to stop nagging and get ready to meet our guests but she was far from that. Infact she wasn’t even dressed yet and the ceremony was in a few minutes.

“Like today, I don’t want him to come to the ceremony.” 

   

I stared at her in disbelief for a few seconds and I left the room without saying a word to her. There was nothing I could do at that point because I had already invited him. I thought it was rude to call him and disinvite him for no clear reasons. 

Immediately, visitors started trooping in until there was no more space to contain more people. I was excited and I tried to ignore Marina’s signs of discontent. 

After a short while, the final doorbell rang and I rushed towards it hoping that It was Alec.

When I opened the door, I froze, my hand still on the doorknob as we stared at each other in silence. 

“Casper!” He called my name with a half smile playing on his lips.

Marina’s words seized the opportunity to float through my head. 

“Alec, welcome,” I replied, stepping aside for him to enter.

Just as he stepped inside, a group of men trailed behind him including my Beta, Raphael.

“I’ve been waiting for you! Where is the ring?” I whispered, gritting my teeth to avoid being heard. 

“ Oh!” He gasped in shock, dipping his hand into his pocket in search of it. I watched him as his face fell. That was not a good look and I knew it.

"It must have fallen in the car, just give me a few minutes. I’ll be right back," he said, hurrying towards the car. 

I spared no time sprinting behind him toward the car. 

 Fortunately, the search wasn't time consuming as we found it on his seat. 

As we hurried back to the hall, a warm smile played on my lips. 

Finally, I was going to propose to Marina, my mate and also introduce her to the pack as their Luna. 

I dreamt of this moment. 

A dazed look fell across my face when a heaby object hit the back of my head, sending me to the ground.

“If it isn't Casper Hunter, the son of a betrayer." An unknown voice boomed in the darkness, sending shivers down my spine. 

I tried peeking to see the face of the male figure that towered above me but my sight was blurry. 

"You think I would ever forgive what your father did to me?” 

Another heavy blow from the object sent me flat on the floor as I tasted my blood. 

"Alec?" I gasped in shock as his name fell from my lips. 

"In the flesh. He resoonded coldly, pouring gasoline on everyone.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see blurry images of men emptying gallons if gasoline on the hall. 

“Let’s settle this between me and you, you don’t have to involve these innocent people.” I negotiated weakly, spitting blood.

“Bring him along!” He ordered and I was roughly dragged to the front of the building. 

Tears slipped down my eyes as I heard the wails of guests trapped in the building. 

A deafening laughter erupted from Alec's lips as he slid his hand into pocket and brought out a lighter.

“No! Help! Stop!” I cried out, trying to fight my way through the plethora of guards that pressed me against the floor. 

"My mate is in there! My twins! My pack!" I screamed in agony, but a blow shut me up, making me feel lightheaded. 

"Now we are even." Alec said, laced in his voice as he spat at me. 

"Your father snatched my fiance, I took yours."

"He didn't snatch her, they were mates!" I tried to yell but my voice was barely above a whisper. 

"Now you can feel the way I felt when I lost my mate." 

With a quick press of his thumb, he hurled the lighter towards my house which instantly set it ablaze.

Suddenly, a woman’s scream startled back to the present.

“Casper!” Raphael screamed, gripping my hand tightly.

 I jerked my eyes back to the road only to see a woman in front of my car.

I came to a halt as he stood there in shock. Immediately, I left the car to speak me it.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I walked to her.

I heaved a sigh of relief as there was no injury on her body. 

She couldn’t speak, I could see the shock written in her eyes as she stood still, darting her eyes around herself.

In that moment a strange feeling engulfed my entire body, it became difficult for me to breathe or think properly as the hair on my skin bristled up.

“Mate?” I asked myself.