Chapter Four.

“Why not? The both of you are not mated and you were too close to him for comfort. It is inappropriate and as your Alpha, my job is to stop inappropriate situations.”

I frowned at him. “What inappropriate situations? Conan is my fiancé and we can hug whenever we want to.”

“Mind the way you talk to your Alpha.” Conan looked alarmed and shocked at the same time. Shocked at how I was talking to Kade. Alarmed at the fact that he might have just stepped on the toes of one of the biggest Alphas in the world. I rolled my eyes.

“You’re an Alpha too and he just disrespected our relationship. I can’t stand by and watch–”

“Lyra, it’s enough. You just got home,” my father chipped in and I decided to let it go.

“I’m actually surprised to see that Alpha Kade has said nothing about this brat’s behavior. If it were someone else, it would have been off with their head,” Timren pointed out and I glared at him. The time I had spent from him had changed nothing apparently. He still viewed me as a kid.

“Are you trying to challenge my actions?” Alpha Kade asked coldly and Tim raised his hands in surrender.

“That exactly is what I am talking about,” Tim added and Kade gave him a hard glare. It made me wonder how they had managed to maintain their relationship throughout the years. I knew they had rules that even Kade despite being Alpha was compelled to obey to maintain a similar level of respect in their friendship.

Now that I thought of it, Kade’s relationship with Tim actually had an impact on my relationship with Kade back then. Kade chose Tim over me numerous time. My throat dried up. I used to get jealous whenever he did so. It was hurtful because if I were ever asked to choose, I would have chosen him over my brother. I prioritized him, but the same could not be said for him.

“Thank goodness I left,” I said under my breath as we made her way into the house.

Immediately we got in, I was greeted by Vivian, the daughter of the Delta of the pack. I was happy to see her, but I was not expecting to see her here. I looked around and from the look on everyone’s face, Vivian’s presence was a normal thing. Tim on the other hand had a frown on his face immediately she came into sight and things began to make sense. Tim had told me about our parents' plan to get him a mate since he refused to get himself one. Vivian must have been their pick. She was a good pick, but that was the problem. An asshole like Tim did not deserve her.

“Oh! We should introduce you to Vivian,” my mother began. She had a big smile on her face and Tim rolled his eyes, visibly disapproving of what she was about to do. “You know Vivian, don’t you? She is your brother’s future mate.”

“No, she isn’t,” my brother grunted.

“He just does not know yet,” my mom added, earning her another look of disapproval from Tim.

“If you’re not marrying Vivian, then you are not taking over from me as the Beta of this pack.” My father’s words made me realize how serious the situation was. I felt bad for Timren a little and for Vivian greatly, because she did not deserve to be treated like shit by Timren. Back at the pack’s high school, Timren was a Casanova. Agreeing to be the bride of a high school p…s must have been a hard decision.

“I don’t want Vivian for Tim though,” I said not minding the weird looks from my parents. “Vivian deserves better. Tim on the other hand deserves to be alone.”

“Let’s take you to your room so you can change into something better,” my mother said, dragging me away from the living room.

My mom took me up to my room and my heart warmed up. It was exactly how I left it. How I liked it. My things were brought up and I quickly changed up so I could join the welcome dinner my family had prepared for me.

I was at the door ready to open it, but it opened itself. Scratch that, Conan opened it.

“What are you doing h–” I arched an eyebrow. “This is my parents house. We can’t –”

“That’s not why I am here.”

The way he looked stuck up gave it away. This was not the Conan I knew. The Conan I knew would have continued with the hug a certain grumpy Alpha had stopped and he would have done more.

“Is there something wrong? Do you think I have done anything wrong?”

“You just came home after eight years and you’re showing up in a blanket, you talked back at your Alpha and almost got me on his wrong side and now you’re against your brother’s arranged marriage.”

And you’re scolding me when you’re supposed to give me a hug, I wanted to say, but I did not.

“My brother does not like Vivian and Vivian deserves better. My parents have no right to decide their fate. They should do so themselves. Will you choose someone your parents pick for you over me?”

Conan opened his mouth, then he closed it back, combing his fingers through his hair.

I raised an eyebrow. “Will you?”

“If you had asked me this question few days ago, I would have said no.”

I raised an eyebrow. What was Conan on about? “What are you saying?”

“That if gaining one more pack will be the end result, I will get married to who my parents choose. When I get the pack and merge it with the one I am currently with, I will make you mine.”

“Wait, what?” My eyes flung open in disbelief. “Why does it sound like it is happening?”

Conan heaved a sigh, before he continued. “Because it is. I am an Alpha, alright but my uncle has no child, so my brothers and I have a chance of taking over his pack. If I can get my uncle’s pack and merge it with mine, my rank as an Alpha will go all the way up.”

“Conan, what are you saying?” I could not believe my ears. Was I being a second option again?

“My parents want me to get an Alpha’s daughter as a Luna. I told them about you, but they refused to settle for less.”

I gave a short laugh. Less? Did Conan just refer to me as less?

“Your elder brother got married to your pack’s healer daughter, didn’t he?”

“Yes and that is why I am Alpha not him. I need my uncle’s pack. Afterwards, I will come back for you. I promise. Will you wait for me?”