Chapter 7: An act to help him

The door swung open, and Catrina spun around, thinking she would see Carlo; however, to her surprise, it was Zeke. But that doesn't make her anger go away, because this man is the culprit who brought her to Carlo tonight!

Zeke smiled, Catrina's hands balled into fists, furious. "You dick!"

She swiftly walked to him, placing her hands on his chest, and forcefully pushed him backward. "What do you all want?!"

"Catrina, calm yourself, please." Zeke caught her hand and grasped it. ''I'm sorry. But I don't have any other option; I have to bring you to Carlo."

''Why though? Why do you have to take me back to the man who banished me from his pack?"

"He is the father of your daughter,'' Zeke responded.

''I don't care! Father or not, I won't let him hurt Lacie or take her away from me." she barks.

"Carlo would never hurt her," Zeke responded firmly. ''Nor does he intend to take her away from you. He will not separate you; it is your help that he needs. This is about our pack."

"Why should I care? I have no business with his pack; why should I help him?" Catrina asked.

After everything they put her through, they really expected her to lend a hand? Hilarious.

"Catrina, please listen." Zeke paused. "Carlo's mother is terminally ill, and our doctor says that she may not have much longer to live, and she has a last wish of wanting to see Carlo have a mate before she passes away."

Carlo's mother is Mathilda Donovan, and she was never vile toward her. Back when Catrina first came here, that woman was still healthy. And now her time in life is almost up?

Catrina realized that In four years, so many changes can occur.

But... should she risk her daughter to save someone else's life?

"I am not Carlo's mate. He has rejected me, and I will not accept him if he reclaims me. Don't you dare to involve my daughter in this, either." 

She just wanted to live a safe and peaceful life with Lacie—no more dealing with them.

"Catrina, please, this is just an act, like what actresses and actors do. Once it's over, you'll be let go with a huge reward."

"I don't need any kind of reward from him."

She stood up. The door was wide open; perhaps this was her opportunity to run.

"Carlo and his Pack are on the verge of collapse," Zeke said again, and Catrina halted. "Carlo will find no mate but you. And his wolf won't want anyone else who isn't his mate. If he doesn't have an heir, our pack will be destroyed."

"You know the Blackthorn pack is the one that plays the biggest role in protecting the whole Dakota from Rogue and so on. If we are destroyed, the safety of many people will be at stake. Please, this is just temporary. It won't last forever..."

Catrina turns back to Zeke.

'Destruction? Destruction for Carlo and his pack? Maybe it is worth staying to witness.'

*****

In Mathilda Donovan's room, the scent of medicine wafted through the timid air. Carlo sat next to the bed, clutching his mother's frail, weakening hand.

"Carlo, when are you going to marry Morea?" Mathilda asked in a weak voice.

She had been ill for the past three years, a deadly complication that threatened her life.

"Mom, I'm not going to marry her. She is not my mate," Carlo said softly, pressing his lips on the back of his mother's palm. "But don't worry, I've found my true mate, and she's here now."

A smile graced Mathilda's pale lips. "Really? When are you bringing her to me? Let me see your mate and your child before I die."

Her voice was so weak—no louder than a whisper.

Carlo held her hand even tighter; witnessing his mother in such a state was incredibly painful.

"Of course, Mom, I'll bring her to you as soon as possible."

*****

It was getting closer to twilight. Catrina had just finished bathing and was helped to dress by the servants at the Donovan mansion when her cell phone buzzed with a call from Theo.

"Catrina, where the hell are you?!"

Catrina nervously bit her lip. "Theo... I-I'm currently at my friend's place, and I have a photoshoot that's going to run late into the night. No worries; I'll be back right away when I'm done. How's Lacie doing?"

"Lacie is fine; Margaretha just put her to bed." Theo answered, "I have so many questions for you! How could you not tell me if you have a photoshoot today?"

"I'm sorry. My manager called me at an unexpected time yesterday. I couldn't take the time to explain everything to you."

Margaretha's voice could be heard coming from the opposite end of the call. Catrina breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Theo had made it back to her apartment and wasn't detained there.

"Where's your friend's house? Share the location. Let me pick you up."

"No! Please don't. I can take a taxi home myself."

"Catrina...? Are you hiding something from me?"

Theo was starting to get suspicious, and Catrina had to desperately find a reason to make him believe her. Before she could say anything, the door opened.

Fortunately, Catrina managed to hang up the call just in time before the heartless Alpha caught her on the phone.

With elegant steps, he walked into the room and approached her. Catrina stepped back automatically.

"Why are you trembling like a scared little mouse?" He asked.

Catrina narrowed her eyes at his question. Why did he ask that when it was clear that he was the cause of her fear?

"Did no one teach you the manners to knock on the door before entering someone's room?" She snarls at him.

"In my own house? No one." The Alpha responded with an arrogant attitude, which infuriated Catrina.

Eyeing her body up and down with a smoldering gaze, Carlo said. "Take off your clothes."