6: Right punishment

Alpha Caden's POV

Storming into my ensuite, I briskly passed the dimly lit corridor that led to the bathroom. The ensuite I once shared with Flora remained untouched since the day she died. For obvious reasons, I had chosen to lock it up, intending to preserve the sanctity of her space and safeguard her belongings from any unwanted intrusion.

It wasn't that I feared being haunted by the memories; rather, I felt the need to close that chapter of my life, tucked away along with all the joyous moments we had shared. In the wake of Flora's recent passing, I couldn't deny the profound impact it had on me.

The man I used to be seemed to have undergone a metamorphosis, an evolution spurred by the stark reality of her absence. I should have seen it coming but I didn't want to. I liked living with Flora as my mate and mother of my children.

The version of me that existed before wouldn't have snapped at Aurora, let alone burden her with guilt for her actions. In the past, I would have extended apologies for my ignorance during the times I was drunk. However, I found myself embracing a different facet of my persona—one that eschewed the inclination to play the role of a benevolent man.

I had adopted that demeanor because of Flora, who, with her calm nature and nurturing smiles, had a way of drawing out the best in me. The comforting presence of her maturity, being older than me, had made life's challenges more bearable.

Yet, with her no longer by my side, I discovered an unexpected transformation within myself, prompting a departure from the man I once was. I am back to being the man I was in the woods before she saw me and chose me as her mate.

Entering the bathroom, I turn on the shower with my sweatpants still ok. Anger courses through my veins like a bunch of snakes slithering through my blood. Tension hardened my stomach like a rock. I have never been this hurt.

Yeah, I feel hurt and betrayed by what she did. How could she? I get our wolves called out that we were mates and all that shit but it means nothing! Absolutely fucking nothing. Why did she act like it means anything?

She is my children's best friend for goodness sake! She is even younger than Lucas and Lilian. How could she even do this to him? Didn't she think about the friends she left behind when she did? What was she thinking like that?

I grip the shower head with both my hands until the metal gave way a little and I removed both hands before I broke it. I haven't lost my cool in ages. Since I married Flora and became a family man.

Now I don't even know why I talked about her becoming my personal maid but there is no way I can watch her go back to the human world when she has my bite around her neck. My fucking bite that was so large and prominent!

Even Flora's mark wasn't as big and possessive as the one around Ro's neck. Like I was trying to prove to every fucking person whom she belongs to when deep down it isn't the truth. I had no idea what I was doing then. I was inebriated.

What can I say to my children now if they find out that I've bitten their best friend? One they haven't seen since she returned hours ago to mourn my dead mate? Their dead mother?

Aurora has caused this for herself and she is going to become a fucking maid in my mansion which I now live all alone with other maids. Lucas and Lilian moved out when they turned twenty about two years ago leaving me all alone with their mother who now decided it was the right time to die. I fucking hate life right now.

I hate the idea of living without Flora's stability in my life. I need her like I would fresh air because she makes things easier than they are. She makes everything perfect, flowery, natural and very very easy to deal with. Now she is gone.

The day I buried her six feet under, was the day I marked another female in the house we used to share alone. The house that housed so many happy and glorious memories of us together. This is so fucking absurd, truly.

Flora wanted me to find my real mate since the day she got ill with some unknown illness that killed both her parents. She told me she has loved long enough and knew about her mate. He died before they could become one in a war decades ago.

She wanted me to find the same happiness and connection with my fated mate but I didn't want that. Not when I have so much to do in this pack and children to continue monitoring even though they have their own lives.

Lucas is married to Anne and they seem very happy together, and will be graduating college in a few months. Lilian is now a model and hasn't found her mate yet which is something I worry about all the time. She isn't even searching for him for goodness sake.

Now I have to deal with Aurora. Two decades younger than I am. She is now my mate whether fated or not. I have marked her, sucked her blood and could even feel the mind-link building between us. The connection more than any I have had with Flora even though I've been with her for years.

This is truly pitiful.

"She is your fated mate, Caden, fucking believe it." Lucian, my wolf, said into my head or more like seethe like a fucking snake.

"I don't want no fated mate! I don't want another mate tied to me. I want to be alone for the rest of my life. Do you understand?" I scream into my head too needing someone to take my anger on.

"Scream all you want. It is not going to change a thing. Moon Goddess gave you a mate but you decide to become an asshole that very day. I won't let you ruin this for me, Caden. Not now or ever." He narrowed his eyes in my head.

"Don't think you can intimidate me, Lucian. I am not going to accept her as my mate and I will punish her for making me mark her in my stupor." I remarked angrily, punching the tiles wall and watching it fall to the floor few inches away from my feet.

"Punish her for what exactly? What did she do wrong? Making you mark her? Isn't that her freaking right as your mate?" He asked with more anger this time around. Barely restrained one.

"I don't fucking care. She shouldn't have stayed back when she knew I was drunk. None of that would have happened. Now I can't even remember a thing." I retorted heatedly.

"You are acting like a twenty year old bastard. You are forty two, don't forget that! Act like it."

"Fuck off." I blocked him from my mind and washed myself being careful not to match the debris on the floor.

I made my way inside the room to get dressed in a simple white cotton shirt and sweatpants. I don't have anything to do. I am not going to go mourn Flora in the pack house. I didn't plan to do that and now that I have this problem in my home, there is no other way out of it.

I sat on my desk and turned on my computer knowing I am going to stalk my new little mate. More like a forced fated mate I don't want to be with. This is a disaster and I wish I could tell Moon Goddess that I appreciate her generosity but I don't want it. I don't want Aurora or anyone as my mate.

Gosh, I keep forgetting about the fucking age difference between us now that she has aged like a fine wine. I blink to stop the thought from going haywire. She did fucking wrong and must be punished for what she has done. She is not going back to the human world or wherever the fuck it was she decided to go hide away from. She is mine to do as I please now. She wants me as a mate, she has found just the right person. She just won't like how she will be treated. Not like a real mate.

She definitely didn't see this coming when she made the whole plot of trapping my drunken self. But how could I have slept with her, a virgin no less, even drunk? I was more than that. I am more than that!

Mainly because I never get drunk. Yesterday, I just wanted companionship and someone's presence. Aurora's was the perfect one since I haven't seen her in ages and she understands what I was going through. Anyone that has met Flora understands.

Then why did she sleep with me? Her best friends father?!