THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

“Emma is your mate?” Clem asked, not pleased at all at the turn of events since he would have to let go of his silly need for the redhead, but still bewildered at the information he was just getting.

“Oh God.” He muttered.

“Does your father know?” He asked Derek, knowing how bent the Alpha was, on making his twin, Derek’s mate.

“Not yet.” Derek replied. “This should be between us for now.” He added, rubbing his forehead tiredly. He still didn’t know where his little witch was, and it was totally frustrating him.

But he needed to set things right now.

“I still don’t understand why you let a betrayer in to the secret, before us. Who knows? She might have told her father already.? Clem stated, looking at Maya with strong contempt. Later on, he would wonder if his contempt had risen because of her betrayal and disappearance from his pack or because Leo was her mate; not him.

“Clem, quit it. If Derek let her in, he must have trusted her then.” Shane said, trying to placate the hurt his friend’s words were enforcing on his date for the party. Even though he already knew that she wasn’t his mate, he couldn’t help but want to protect her; and he couldn’t place a finger on why he was so intent on caring for her.

“Or maybe she succeeded in deceiving him again.” Clem answered, his voice filled with obvious disgust for the blondie who looked unaffected by his words. It seemed to enrage him further. He wanted to shake her. He wanted her to be angry. He wanted to feel and see her emotions again.

“That will be all Clem. You are a good beta, trying to seek for my good and protection first, but Maya is changed, and she’s family.” Derek stated, totally putting a shut down button on Clem’s vile thoughts which were about to be voiced out.

“She is working with us now, and I won’t tolerate any nonsense talk about her.” He added, looking from his beta to his gamma, hoping they got his message.

When he was satisfied that they did, he turned to walk away from them; seeking time and chance to find his little witch.

“Where are you going to?” Maya who had been trying much to hold in her emotions, asked; turning to face him.

“I’m going out to find her.” He replied, still walking steadily towards the entrance.

“There is no need for that.” Clem said, causing Derek to swerve in a second.

“And what do you mean by that?” He asked, gritting his teeth. He didn’t understand his beta’s problem.

“She is with Ava.” Clem replied, raising up his two hands as he spoke, already sensing that his soon to be alpha had misunderstood his intentions earlier.

“Ava?” Derek asked, trying to connect the duo together, trying to find and understand the relationship between his little with and Agrip’s grand-daughter. He was in good terms with girl who took after her grandfather’s wisdom, but he couldn’t place her relationship with his mate. When had they met? They hadn’t spoken before; well to his knowledge.

“Yes. Ava took her home. I think.” Clem replied, with a shrug.

“And you know because…?” Derek asked, wanting to get his facts right. He wasn’t taking chances with his mate. He had just found her.

“I saw Ava letting her into her car.” Clem said.

“You could check it out though.” He added, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Okay… thank you.” Derek said, as be sighed in relief; totally ignoring the baffled looks on the faces of his friends. He rarely says ‘thank you.’

Well, anything for his mate. He thought, walking off.

“I’m going to Ava’s place.” He said, as he got to the entrance.

” I’m coming with you. Just give me a few minutes.” Maya mentioned, turning around to face Clem. It was time for the talk.

“Okay. I will be waiting outside. Don’t keep me waiting.” Derek said, motioning Shane with his eyes to follow him; already knowing what was about to go down.

“Me too.” Shane said, having gotten Derek’s message, and left the duo, walking away with him.

“I’ll be leaving then. Claire must be waiting.” Clem stated, feeling weird all of a sudden. He had understood the eye contact that Derek had given Shane, but for the live of him he couldn’t understand why the duo had left him with Maya. He had nothing to say to her, not after her betrayal.

“Do you hate me that much?”

He heard Maya ask, and scoffed.

” Yes, I do. And nothing is going to change it.” He replied. ” Even if Derek and Shane let you in, I won’t.” He added, before turning to walk away.

“I’m sorry Clem.” Maya sincerely said.

But Clem hissed.

“I’m sorry too for ever thinking you as a friend.” He retorted, still facing the other way; slightly ticked off and slightly curious to hear what next she would say. And that’s why he stood there still, waiting.

“I miss our friendship, Clem. I want us back, if you will.” Maya said, still keeping up the strong facade, whilst pretending that his words weren’t piercing her like needles. She knew she had caused the breach. It made her wonder how Anthony would react when he came back. They had all been close knit friends; inseparable. She had been the only girl in their midst; Claire had been too supercilious.

“Well, I don’t want to.” He stated sardonically, still standing there, still waiting. He missed her too, more than she could imagine, but he hated her too.

“Okay then. See you when I see you.” Maya said sullenly, before walking past him, out of the room.

“Damn!” Clem shouted, kicking his right foot on the wall.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

” I miss you too.” He muttered, biting his lips.

But her betrayal flashed across his mind, and his heart hardened again. He thought of their good moments after, and smiled unknowingly to him. They had been a force to reckon with within the pack. They were a pack within the pack, when the pack was big and united.

“What went wrong?” “How did it happen?”

He wondered aloud, a question that has never been absent from his thoughts since seven years ago. He still grasp nor understand why Derek’s uncle had to break the pack into two, and why Derek’s father had let it happen.

Something had propelled it.

And something had also propelled the merging of the packs again.

He was sure of it, but he didn’t know what the unknown was. He had to find out. He couldn’t bare to lose another friend.

“To hell with Maya and family.” He muttered, before walking out of the dimly lighted area, totally unaware of the lone figure watching him.