All Chapters of The Alpha's Orphaned Mate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

*Estelle*I was so happy to attend the craft fair. This was going to be my chance to get to know people in the pack and for them to get to know the real me. The rumors had spread so quickly, and I really didn't blame the pack for that. If they didn't know me, how could they trust me? This was going to be the best way to fight back against the rumors Isolde was spreading. After all, she wanted to be Luna, and she had already laid the groundwork for that. She had a head start, so the best option for me was getting out there and being with the people of the pack.I was a stranger. It was clear why people would choose her over me. I needed to change that. "Hello, miss," said the woman who had invited me. She looked much calmer than the last time I'd seen her. "Oh, please call me Estelle," I said. "Estelle," she repeated. "I'm Farah. I don't think I told you that before. Thank you for coming.""I'm happy to be here," I said. "This all looks fantastic." I motioned around us

*Estelle* I didn't intend to fall asleep. The physical exhaustion and emotional turmoil were just too much for me. After Charles left, I cried until my eyes stung. I must have cried myself to sleep. I sat up on the cheap motel bed and stretched. My back ached and my head felt foggy. I rolled to my feet and went to the bathroom to clean myself up. I was a mess, but there wasn't much I could do about it. There were bags under my eyes and my face was red. My hair was a disaster, and no amount of water was resolving the problem. I had to get moving. I wasn't sure how much time had passed. I needed to figure out how I could get to the airport. I left the motel room and headed for the front desk. I'd had a bizarre dream and I couldn't quite shake it. In it, I was in wolf form running through a forest. It wasn't the forest around Gabe's village. The trees were closer together and barren of leaves. It was late autumn and the chill in the air was bitter. I could smell distant fires. I

*Estelle*It was nearly 3:00 a.m. when we finally made it back to the village. I was tired and I could tell that Gabe was too. We'd barely reached the cobblestone walkway before Val was running to greet us. The look of relief on his face made me feel guilty. "Thank the Goddess you found her," he said excitedly. "She was on her way back, actually," Gabe said. I might have imagined it, but he sounded pleased. Val smiled at me. "That's good to hear." "You can go home, Val. Get some rest. Tell Lucky I'm sorry for keeping you out all night again." Gabe reached his hand out and he and Val clasped arms. "She'll say the same thing she always does," Val said with a laugh. "She gets the bed to herself when I work late." Val nodded gratefully and smiled at me. "Welcome back, Estelle." I waved as he turned and hurried toward home. "Lucky is his mate?" I asked. "You haven't met her yet, have you?" Gabe asked. I shook my head. I hadn't met most of the pack yet. "I'll mak

*Gabe* The relief of having Estelle back was short-lived. I was no closer to finding the person responsible for the rumors about her, and seeing the livid bruise on her side was at the forefront of my mind. It must've been painful. I didn't understand why she insisted that it wasn't. I didn't really understand Estelle at all. For someone who'd fought so hard to leave, she changed her mind so easily. Then again, if the pull she felt was anywhere near as strong as mine, I was impressed she'd resisted it at all. From the moment I caught her scent, I knew that I had to have her. The desire I felt to possess her was a weakness, and if I could overcome it, I would. It would be too easy for an enemy to use her against me. I knew that I was being irrational and that my rage would cause concerns in the pack. But, I still couldn't contain it. There was no going back now, not after last night. I understood now how irrational Val could be about Lucky. I wanted to find the boy that h

*Estelle*I was right. He had called for me after, what I could only assume was, a very tense meeting with Charles, only he didn't look angry. He didn't look much of anything, truthfully."Explain to me why you hit Isolde yesterday," Gabe said, rubbing his temples like I was a child he was scolding for the hundredth time. "She said I couldn't be the Luna because I don't know what it means to be part of a family," I said bitterly. I was sitting in the parlor with Gabe. I couldn't look him in the eye. "You broke her nose." "I know," I said. I did not feel bad about hitting her, but I still shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have let her get under my skin and I certainly shouldn't have done it the day before the feast. Gabe and Val had put a lot of work into planning this party to introduce me to the pack and I ruined it by punching Isolde. "Charles is furious," he said. His expression was stony as he stared at me. I stood up and threw my hands in the air. "Then he sho