Chapter 3

Alaric’s POV

“Babe.” Ava purred, placing her hand on my shoulder. I sighed inwardly, because I had told her that I needed my space and it was something she didn’t know the meaning of.

Ava and I were childhood best friends. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I had feelings for her and they were mutual. I didn’t know why I thought it was a good idea to explore a romantic relationship with my best friend but I did, and it was good at first. We convinced ourselves that it could be something bigger even though the both of us hadn’t had our mates yet and we thought that the mate bond was going to come sometime soon.

But after a while, I realized that it was wrong. We were not going to get a mate bond because we were not soul mates. I could feel it in me that we were not, but Ava was not going to allow me to break up with her. She was still in love with me but sometimes, I doubted if she was or if she just wanted to be the future queen of the pack because I was set to inherit the throne. My coronation was in a few months and she was more excited and ready than I was, even though I have been preparing for this ever since I was a child.

I had always wanted to be a doctor. Something about taking care of people, performing surgeries, and reading about anatomy made me feel at peace. It has always been that way for me but deep down I knew that it wasn’t going to happen. I was to be the alpha of the pack and I couldn’t renounce it because my father wasn’t going to allow the pack to slip out of our bloodline. He always told me that I wasn’t regular and I had a duty to the pack and over the course of my life, I had grown accustomed to his words. I didn’t have time for that. I needed to be a leader.

I mustered a fake smile as I turned to face my fiancée, “Ava. What are doing in my room?” I asked her.

She raised a brow like she was surprised I would ask her that question. Even though we were engaged, which my father had to force me to do, we slept in different rooms. I knew she noticed that I was no longer interested in her, but she wouldn’t allow the relationship to fall apart.

“Is it a crime to visit my fiancé?” She raised a brow as she placed another hand on me, but I politely shifted away from her.

She rolled her eyes before she got up and headed to my closet. I had just finished bathing and needed to go to the dining room to have dinner with my father. He requested that I would be the only one to join him because he wanted to introduce me to someone. It was probably one of his alpha allies that he wanted me to inherit.

Ava brought out a suit for me, and I shook my head. “I am having dinner, not going out,” I told her.

“You are probably having a dinner with someone of a high status. Why won’t you wear this?” She asked with a raise of her brow.

I shook my head as I brought out a shirt and sweatpants. I didn’t care to wear anything other than what I wanted to wear when I was in the confines of my home. I wasn’t going to be pretentious now or when I was alpha. It was something my father always reprimanded me for but I didn’t care, so he relented. I hastily put on my clothes before I left the room, leaving Ava whining about how I never allowed her to pick out my clothes.

I was putting on my watch when I came across someone in the hallway. A pretty lady stood in front of me, her features innocent and dainty, but I didn’t have time to stare at women when I had a duty I was to attend to. We had a brief moment of conversation before she left, and I followed right behind her with Ava who joined us halfway into the conversation. When I got downstairs, I realized that she was the one my father wanted to introduce me to because she was the only one apart from him seated at the dining table.

Our eyes locked as I headed to the table and sat on my usual seat. Ava did too. Father introduced the both of us, and I found out that her name was Alana, which was a pretty name, for a pretty lady.

“Father, I thought you were going to introduce us to someone important. I tried to convince him to wear a suit but he didn’t, and thank God he didn’t.” Ava laughed as she placed her hand on my arm.

“She is important, Ava. And as I said, she is now like my daughter. She is part of the family and you are going to treat her with the respect that she deserves. Do you understand me?” He said with a strict tone.

He was truly the only one who put her in her place when she was being rude to people that she perceived she was better than, which was one of the attitudes that I deeply disliked about her.

“I understand, father.” She muttered under her breath.

The maids started to bring in dinner. They served everyone, and I noticed Alana had her plate almost empty. I assumed she was shy or Alana’s words made her feel bad, and it only made my mood go sour. I didn’t know how I was going to tolerate her forever when we were married. I had to be married to be the alpha and so far, she was the best option. I couldn’t get another woman and fall in love with her in such a short period of time.

Not that I was in love with Ava, but she was still my best friend.

“So, Alana. What are you studying in college?” Father asked her.

Her mood lightened almost immediately as she swallowed, “I haven’t started yet. I was going to, but the dean of my orphanage said he didn’t have money for that so instead, he sold me.” She muttered.

Her tone was sad, and I didn’t know why that made me angry. Those freaking omega auctions. I hated them with my life, but they were still legal. I hated how the alphas of surrounding packs wouldn’t put a stop to it, but then I remembered that it was they that it was benefitting. They wanted fresh adults to serve them for the rest of their lives in their packs, and it was so freaking disgusting. Of course, they wouldn’t want to stop it.

It was one of the things I was going to do initially when I was the alpha of this pack. It was relatively big and influential. I was going to do my best to eradicate it, or at least stop it from happening in my pack.

“Oh, that is sad, my dear. What would you like to study?” He asked her.

“I have always wanted to be a pack doctor. I studied hard for it and I have already gotten admission for it in Moon Academy.” She told him.

I felt my liking build up towards her when I heard her say that. It reminded me of myself. A few years back when I was done with my secondary education. Even though I knew that I couldn’t go to college, I secretly applied to the college and I got in. I was so excited until realization came crashing in, knowing that I was never going to be a doctor. I guess that was the situation she found herself in. I knew how badly it must have hurt and for that, I wanted to give her a big hug, not literally of course.

“Well, Alana. I am sorry that things didn’t work out for you back there, but know that you are always welcome to be a doctor here. Moon Academy partly belongs to this family, so you wouldn’t have a problem getting in.” Alana’s eyes widened. It was obvious she didn’t think she would ever get a shot at this.

“Really?”

“Yes.” He gave her a smile.

“Thank you so much, Sir.” She dropped her cutlery and it made a loud sound, but the dimple that appeared on her cheeks was all I could focus on. I quickly looked away when I remembered that I was engaged and the said fiancée was seated right next to me. She could be dangerous when she sensed my attention on any other female but her.

“Please, call me Father.” He said, and she nodded excitedly.

“Also, I know how overwhelming it could be writing the exams before you get into school for assessment,” Father said. “But there is someone that could help you with that. Alaric, do you think you can juggle up your training with this?” He asked me.

I nearly choked on my own saliva, “Me?”

“Yes. It could give you some time to know each other.” He explained.

I felt Ava stiffen beside me. Alana’s eyes were on me. I doubted if she even registered what he had just said because she still looked excited about the news.

“Sure, father,” I said. “I guess I could mentor her. After all, she is like my sister.” I said, more to myself.

Because if I wanted this to work, I needed to put away any of the improper feelings brewing in my mind at the thought of being in one place with a pretty woman who shared the same life goals as me.