Chapter 8 Confronting the Alpha
Nevea
The silence of the office was my only companion as the clock ticked to 7:00 PM. Most of my colleagues had already gone home, and it was a great distraction from the chaos of my personal life. Endless emails, articles to write, and meetings kept me from thinking of Kai. Work had been my refuge.
I glanced at my phone and saw Kai had sent me a message from a social media app that he hadn’t blocked yet. I just
downloaded Instagram for work purposes, and I didn’t know how he managed to find me. For a moment, I considered
answering, but what would be the point? We’d been through this, and it was always his Alpha responsibility to take care of Claire. And I had to come second, second to her.
I sighed and ignored his message. I didn’t
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even bother reading it. Maybe we could talk someday when we’re both okay, but not now. I continued writing my two pending articles to be submitted today.
An hour later, the door to my office creaked open. The smell of earthy pine captured my nose. I didn’t have to look to know who
it was.
“Busy night?” Kai said with a soft voice, careful not to irritate me.
I kept my eyes on the screen, pretending to be engrossed in editing the articles I just finished writing.
“Isn’t it obvious?” I replied.
He moved closer to my desk, and because of his scent, his presence was impossible to ignore. Even if I tried to shut him out, hist Alpha aura was so strong and attractive that it drew my attention.
“Damn, being mates!” my mind yelled out of anger.
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“You didn’t reply to my messages,” he said calmly, but I could sense frustration.
“Can’t you see how busy I am?” I muttered, my fingers tightening around the mouse as I tried to focus on anything but him.
“We need to talk.”
There he was. Kai needed to remind me again of how an Alpha works, and I had to ignore my feelings every time. But I wasn’t in the mood to hear that again. It was becoming irritating.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I replied, pushing back my chair, and walking toward the window.
But Kai, as usual, was a persistent jerk. He wouldn’t rest until he got what he wanted. He followed me and spoke in a little commanding voice.
“Don’t do that, Nevea. Don’t shut me
out.”
I turned to face him with my pent–up.
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frustration.
“I’m not shutting you out, Kai. After all, you are still the Alpha of our pack. But I’m dealing with things the only way I know how.”
“By drowning yourself in work? That’s not dealing with anything,” he scoffed and ran a hand through his hair.
My patience snapped.
“What would you have me do? Pretend everything’s fine? Pretend that seeing you with Claire doesn‘ t bother me? God, Kai! I had been doing that for how long now!”
Kai‘ s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with anger.
“Claire and I… it’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it?” I shot back, my voice rising.
“Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you‘ re always with her. And I’m always left standing on the
sidelines.”
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“Nevea, you have always been my choice. Everyone thinks I was still the teenage kid who had a crush on Claire. But I had outgrown it now.”
He moved close, but I stepped back, keeping the distance between us.
“Then, why does it feel like I am second best? Or you still have feelings for her?” my
voice cracked, and I hated myself for showing him how much it hurt.
He let out a frustrated sigh.
“Claire is part of the pack. She‘ s important to the pack. You know that.”
“And I know you have responsibilities, but it still doesn’t make sense.”
My voice softened, the anger draining out of me, leaving me exhausted.
“I can’t keep pretending that everything’s okay.”
Neither of us spoke. The silence was heavy, filled with everything we weren’t saying. I
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didn’t know how to fix this, and I wasn’t sure Kai did either.
Before I could say anything more, a flash of headlights illuminated the window. I
turned and saw Mr. Smith’s car about to leave the parking lot. Mr. Smith, my boss, waved at me from behind the wheel. I just remembered he offered me a ride home after his virtual meeting.
“I’ll be right out,” I told him and
stepped away from the window.
“Who’s that?” Kai’s voice was sharp, a mix of confusion and suspicion.
I didn’t turn to look at him.
“My boss.”
“Your boss? Since when does your boss give you rides home?”
I let out an exasperated sigh and grabbed my bag.
“Since he noticed I’ve been working
late.”
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Kai moved closer, and jealousy was all over his face.
“You‘ re working late a lot these days. Are you sure that’s all it is? You don’t call me
for a ride.”
“What exactly are you accusing me of?”
His eyes narrowed, but his voice remained.
calm.
“I don’t know, Nevea. You won’t talk to me, you‘ re always avoiding me, and now you‘ re getting rides from another man. What am I supposed to think?”
I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
“Are you serious right now? You think I cheated on you?”
“You tell me,” Kai snapped.
“Because it seemed to look that way.”
I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice steady.
“We broke up, Kai. I told you that when
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you canceled our mating ceremony. We‘ re done. So, I don’t owe you an
explanation.”
Kai’s eyes darkened, and his hands. clenched into fists.
“We didn’t break up. You decided that not me. And I don’t agree.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“I don‘ t need your approval, Kai. This isn’t about you being Alpha. You don’t get to decide my life.”
I didn’t wait for him to answer and went to Mr. Smith.
