My fated alpha by Natalie
Chapter 17

Madeleine

I returned to Garron's pack unwillingly and got back to work immediately. I didn't even dare venture into my cabin because I knew that Steve or Garron would come for me.

Clare was in the kitchen preparing for the afternoon meal and her face broke into a relieved smile to see me.

She immediately wiped her hands on the apron that was stained with oil and broth and rushed forward. "Where have you been?" She asked me with a concerned voice and pulled me into a hug.

Even I let her because she was the only one to welcome me back.

Holding my shoulders she looked at me and inspected my face and hands for any possible signs of injury.

"Nobody had any idea where you were. I was worried sick about you. I thought....something happened to you..."

I took her hands in mine and squeezed it, "I managed to run away before something would happen."

Clare's eyes grew wide, "Did Steve do something again?"

Her question was clear. No werewolf would ever lay hands on me because I was wolfless. But, the faint scratches on my arms told her what I didn't.

"I pray to the moon Goddess that one day he would meet his match, that one day somebody would show him what it means to be a real man."

I tried not to show any concerns about meeting him again. We got busy with kitchen duties and I told her animatedly of my time at Hayden's pack.

Of course, I filtered out the details of me seeing him shirtless and roaming around just in his shirt.

That detail and memory belonged to me and nobody else. A smile appeared on my lips at the way he had taken my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. Clare saw me smiling and apparently lost in thoughts and gently nudged me once or twice so that I won't cut my finger instead of the carrot in front of me.

Only that made me remember how he had sucked my finger.

A faint rosy blush crept up my face and I ducked my head to keep her from seeing it. But, Clare had seen it.

"I don't want you to get your hopes up, kiddo. Hayden is an alpha of the strongest pack. Every single she-wolf has been eyeing him since forever."

My smile faded a little at that. Of course, I knew how Freya and Trisha had been gushing about him non-stop at the garden. But those eyes...were they just concerned about my safety and well-being?

Did he not like me? Even a little?

Sigh

I couldn't just go on daydreaming about the alpha every she-wolf wanted. Thus, I got back to work again. Clare decided to prepare a special pie just for me as a small treat and my face brightened. For the next few hours, I busied myself in doing all the chores, trying to keep the memory of Hayden and his pack away.

There was so much pending work and chores that it took me almost the entire day to finish all of it.

By the time it was night, I finally decided to go to my room. I had both my meals in the kitchen itself because I didn't want to face the others.

But at night, I had to return to my room. I had to change Raine's clothes and wash them to return whenever I met her again.

It was a slim possibility that I would be able to stay with them again but I clung to it nonetheless.

Clare suggested that she would

sleep in my cabin but I told her that I would be fine. She had already done

a lot for me and I didn't want to

né

bother her. Garron and the others didn't try to get to her because she was old and had maybe raised them.

I didn't want them to take out my anger on her. Thus, I bid her goodnight and departed for my cabin.

But before I stepped out, I took a good look around. Steve wasn't around. Clare told me that he hadn't been there for dinner either.

Maybe, he had gone somewhere and would return after days. Looking around, I slowly stepped on the ground and then dashed to my cabin. Running inside, I closed all the doors and latches and took a deep breath.

My heartbeat was so erratic that I didn't even realize I was panting.

Taking a few minutes to calm down, I leaned on the door and closed my eyes.

It had grown dark but I didn't feel the need to switch on the lights. I was going to sleep anyway and I didn't want Steve to know I had returned.

Obviously, he would find out but I wanted to prevent it for as long as possible.

Moonlight was spilling in my cabin through the window and soft bluish light brightened the room. It was more than enough for me.

Now that I was here, I missed Hayden even more. I hadn't stayed back to see what Garron and Hayden were discussing because I knew Garron wouldn't like that.

I just wished I had taken one last

look at him. didn't know when I would see him again. Or if I would even get the chance to meet him missed the warmth of his embrace, and the affection, not just him but the other pack members had

showered over me.

While I was deep in my thoughts, I heard a creak on the floor a little ahead of me.

My heart almost skipped a beat thinking that Steve had been waiting for me here, all this time. But then Hayden's words rang in my ears.

He had told me to be strong and

face my fear, not run away from it. Swallowing hard, I took a step forward, Hooked around to see if could grab anything that could act as a weapon and I saw a stick lying

one

nearby.

Curling my fingers around it, I held it in front of myself defensively and asked in what I assumed to be a confident voice.

"What do you want, Steve?"

My voice sounded shrill to my own ears and I thought I heard a chuckle. But a voice answered me.

"Steve is not here."

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