Chapter 4: YOU REEK OF ALPHA

KADE’S POV

I hadn't slept this well in a long time since my parents passed away.

I had slept with many beauties but none of them could compare to Andrea. My mate was perfect. Her plump body, her tight pussy, and even her naughty claws that had scraped my back were perfect. I would never get tired of making love to her.

Was that the power of the bond? If so, I couldn't wait to do it all over again. And again, and again.

I stretched like a big cat reaching out for my mate’s warm body, already yearning to make love to her again.

However, I felt nothing. My eyes flew open and took in her side of the bed—empty. The only evidence she had ever been there were the rumpled sheets and her scent clinging to me and the air in the cabin.

“Andrea?” I called out as I climbed out of bed.

“Andrea!” The bathroom door was ajar, and there was no one inside.

My heart rate quickened as I did a three-sixty turn like a fool.

She was…gone. After sex with me?

How dare her? This little Omega!

'Is that a big deal? You always did the same to other women before.' Jaxon deadpanned.

"I am the Alpha! She should never do this to me!" I gritted.

'Go find her, maybe she's on the deck.'

I rushed out of my cabin onto the main deck of the ship. Servants were clearing up after the festival, and wolves that had spent the night were leaving. I searched the ship from top to bottom—and nothing.

Andrea left me, without a single word of goodbye.

Just like that, the blissful feeling dissipated, replaced with anger and betrayal that ached so much, I felt it with every breath.

No one had ever dared to do that to me. Everyone in this city feared the cost of my wrath. Was she different? Had she used me?

The thought sent spikes of anger shooting up and down my spine. Alpha Nightshade didn’t take lightly to being used.

'Calm down,' Jaxon’s voice crooned within me. 'Maybe our mate had her reasons.'

“Then she should leave at least a note,” I muttered darkly.

'Let’s go find her,' he urged.

“Find her?” I scoffed, feeling stupid pride rise in me. "Why should I go chasing her through the streets of New York like a love-struck puppy when she left us first?"

“I’ll do no such thing,” I hissed. "She'd better come back and apologize first, or she'd deserve some discipline."

Before my wolf could protest, my phone rang and it was from my grandfather. I was in no mood to deal with it but I knew he wouldn't stop trying.

"Good morning, grandfather. What is it?" I greeted, not exactly in a very kind tone.

"Come to the revolving restaurant, Kade. I've found you a perfect Luna!"

***

ANDREA’S POV

I got halfway before I realized that I should have left a note for Kade. I hoped dealing with Beck wouldn't take long. I was already missing Kade even though it was only an hour since we separated. I sped up to the apartment.

I arrived to see my suitcases lined up outside. The door was ajar, and I could hear Beck rummaging inside the apartment.

Growling in anger, I grabbed the largest suitcase and hurled it back into the apartment. Beck was in the living room, throwing my books into a cardboard box.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I shrieked, startling him.

After he regained his composure, he turned to me. “What does it look like? I’ve upgraded, and now I’m getting rid of the old.”

I stalked towards him and yanked the book out of his hand, resisting the urge to thump him on the head with it.

“Need I remind you, you piece of shit, that I pay rent and all the bills. You don’t get to kick me out, I get to kick you out.”

Beck chuckled dryly, standing to his feet. “And whose name is on the lease? How do you think you were able to get such a nice apartment?” he asked with a smirk.

He poked me tauntingly. “You think anyone would rent their shit out to a weak, insignificant thing like you?”

Anger roared through me at his words. It didn’t matter that they were words I’d heard all my life; this time felt different.

I bared my teeth at him, getting all up in his face.

“What?” he said in a mocking tone. “You’re going to tap—sorry, slap—me again?”

I raised my hand to do just that, knowing that this time, I would actually do some damage.

“What the hell is that?” Beck asked, stopping me in my tracks. He was glaring at my neck, and I covered the spot instinctively, remembering how Kade had marked me the night before.

Kade was a bit wild last night but I didn't hate it. He was fierce but sexy when he rushed inside me from behind. I wouldn’t mind spending more hot nights with him like that.

Beck leaned forward, sniffing the air around me.

“No fucking way,” he laughed. “You skank.”

My eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“You reek of Alpha, you know that?”

“Get the fuck away from me.” I shoved his chest, and he staggered back. He looked surprised at the force at which I’d exuded, but the expression was quickly replaced by a sneer. “I guess even Alphas have a shitty taste once in a while.”

He folded his arms. “So tell me, how does it feel to be an Alpha’s slut?”

I scoffed incredulously. “Are you fucking serious? I caught you with your tongue down some random bitch’s throat, and you have the nerve to call me a slut?”

His eyes darkened. “She’s my mate, not some random bitch.”

I rolled my eyes. “You wouldn’t know what a mate was if she—”

Something on the TV caught my eye, and I turned.

Right in front of me was a picture of the person I most wanted to see right then—Kade Nightshade. Next to his image was that of a woman I vaguely recognized.

Then I read the words at the bottom of the screen, and my blood ran cold.

“Remote,” I whispered.

“What?”

I stretched my hand out, waving maniacally. “Give me the fucking remote!”

A moment later, I felt the remote pressed into my hand and quickly unmuted the TV.

The clear female voice that came through was repeating the same words at the bottom of the screen:

Kade Nightshade, CEO of Nightshade Enterprises, announces engagement to the heir of Vale Corporations, Natasha Vale, in what is being dubbed the wedding of the century.

I stared and stared and stared at those words, ignoring how much it made my eyes ache. The mark Kade left on my mark started to hurt like a vicious sting.

What the hell was Kade Nightshade doing? Was he betraying me just an hour after we separated?!