9

Caspian's POV

Derek did not like her. I could tell from the way he scrunched up his nose from the minute she got out of the car, his eyes trailing over hers slowly like she was a bad piece of meat.

" Get her a room at the quarters and tell the servants to move her things in" i said to the servant that has come to collect my brief case.

Just like Derek, he scrunched up his nose but did not say a word, motioning at her to come as he picked up her luggage.

" Alpha Caspian..." She called just as I turned to leave.

" Yes?"

She swallowed.

" Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you"

I hummed.

Maybe it was not such a bad thing to do. That little vote of thanks was enough to mask all the troubles I felt in a few minutes, leaving me smiling from ear to ear.

" We will meet tomorrow to discuss further things, but for now, you should go stay in your room..the servants will get you something to eat and put you through if you need anything"

With that said, I pretended like I did not want to see her fully walk in and determine that she was fine before I turned around to leave, not sparing another glance at her.

As I walked towards my office, Derek followed, his steps quicker until I pulled the door open, walking into my office.

" What is that?" He asked.

I raised a brow.

" Don't refer to her like that."

He sighed.

" Tell me though, why is she here? She is not Amara..she is the daughter that no one likes in that pack..why did you bring her back?"

I shurgged.

" She is my mate"

He froze.

I froze too because I did not expect to say those words again especially after...that incident.

I sighed.

" You can't possibly be serious?"

" I am..she is my mate."

" So you what? Left Amara for her?"

" I'm still with Amara..she just needs somewhere to stay so I brought her to the pack"

Derek stared at me like I was mad.

After my mum, he was the second person that I could stand collecting a look like that from and not totally crashing out on him.

And perhaps he knew it too, allowing it to influence how he spoke to me.

" You can't do that. Amara will probably feel jealous and insecure and call it off"

I turned around to pick up a few files, still bearing my expressionless face.

" Then that is her problem and has nothing to do with me"

He shook his head quickly.

" What no. That has everything to do with you. How then will you be able to marry into the family and gain the alliance? You know what we have to fight against and they are the second strongest pack.

Imagine what kind of an army we will be able to pull together with our combined might"

The issue I have been trying to ignore all through my trip surfaced again, the main reason why I wanted to marry her in the first place.

" If she gets jealous and calls it off, that is on her. We don't need all that much from them anyways. Our army is capable enough. Hers is just a plus."

He placed a hand on his temple as though every conversation he had with me was stressful.

" I know it's because of Caitlyn...."

I growled, my wolf snapping control out of my hands as I glared at him.

" Don't you dare mention her name to me" I said slowly, my wolf at the tip of ripping his throat.

That fear that was rarely in his eyes when he talked to me slowly formed, his lips moving on their own before he gulped.

" I'm not trying to offend you...I'm just trying to show you that she is the reason why you feel you need to protect that woman"

That was it.

" Leave. I don't want to hear a word about it from you..make sure she is fine and that she has something to eat. Go."

He sighed but did not argue.

" Fine then. But know I did tell you."

As the door shut behind me, I felt all the emotions I have been trying to suppress slowly resurface again, my chest aching.

Caitlyn....

I have tried so hard to shove the thoughts down, to forget the woman that ruined my life but in moments like these, when I had to be reminded of her, the feeling of hate came coursing all over again. The betrayal that she caused, the fall that I had to pick myself up from, the naive man she killed to make me who I was today.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door, slow and deliberate.

That successfully snapped me out of my thoughts.

I pulled myself together, clearing my throat and putting back on my straight face,  directing my attention to the now bulging door.

"Come in"

She peeked in first, as though she was very unsure of what she was about to do and then slowly, she pushed her whole body in.

" I'm so sorry, did I interrupt something?"

I stared at the picture I had subconsciously picked up from my stash behind my desk, slamming it back into the table as I hummed.

" No you didn't. Did you need something?"

She scratched her head nervously.

" I just wanted to talk about my stay here. I know that it was out of plan and I don't know what I have to do here yet and...."

" We are not getting married." I said sharply.

Something squeezed in her eyes the minute I said it but she covered it with a smile.

" Yh, I know we would never do that." She said solemnly.

I could not get married to my mate ever again. It made me weak. Caitlyn was a living proof of that. I will never make that mistake again.

" And if you will be staying here,we will have to draft out rules and regulations that we both have to follow given our relationship".