Chapter 34

Aidan’s POV

“No!” Cara stares at my brother and eye. “I haven’t seen Alaric in six years, I promise!”

Ryan and I narrow our eyes at her, a little skeptical at first, then both of our faces relax when we realize Cara’s telling the truth.

“Now tell me more about this meeting you had with Pack DarkWood.” She says, very interested to hear what had happened.

“Are you sure you want to hear about it?” I ask her carefully. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but maybe she does need to hear this.

“You’re not supposed to have contact with him unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Ryan reminds her.

“As Pack BloodyMoon’s Beta, I need to know about the discussion with the neighboring pack.” Cara replies calmly. “And I’m not having any contact with him, I’m just going to listen to your story.”

I recall the conversation to Cara aloud, replaying the scene in my mind all the while.

“He looks like shit,” my twin Ryan had whispered to me, referring to Alaric.

The Alpha King, normally so polished and composed, looked utterly worn. His features were still striking, but the sharp lines of his face were softened by exhaustion, the faint stubble on his chin adding to his disheveled appearance.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes, making Alaric’s usual commanding gaze look hollow, almost haunted...And yet, despite the mess, there was nothing about him that deserved sympathy.

If anything, it only made me more furious, thinking of how my sister had once fallen for a man who couldn’t even take care of himself.

Alaric looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and he wasn’t in the mood for games.

So naturally, I dove straight into teasing him. I can’t resist an easy target.

“Don’t have time to wash up these days, huh Alaric? You know, I’m not sure what my sister ever saw in you anyway.” I saw the way Alaric’s jaw tightened, his breath caught in his chest the moment I mentioned my sister.

“I’m running my pack. I don’t have time for much of anything other than work. You should try it sometime.” Alaric fired back.

I snorted, as if Alaric knew anything about the work Ryan and I do for BloodyMoon.

“Cara’s too good for you anyway.” Ryan added.

“Way too good,” I chimed.

“You never deserved her. In fact, it was downright crazy that you would ever think that you, of all people, deserved her love!” Ryan says.

I’m not sure if Ryan is joking or seriously speaking from the heart. Either way, he’s right. Alaric never deserved Cara.

Alaric stared silently at the table in between us for a beat, like he was collecting his thoughts. It was a bit unsettling, the length of pause he was giving. My twin and I stared at him with narrowed eyes, certain that Alaric would have a snappy retort for us.

“Let’s get a few things straight,” Alaric said, his voice cold and businesslike, as though this was a matter of official protocol.

“Okay, what?” Ryan replied.

“I have a lot of regrets about how everything happened. I wish I would’ve done a lot of things differently, especially when it comes to your sister. There are so many things I’m sorry for…” Alaric drifted off, as if he was replaying his own memories.

“He really said that?” Cara exclaims, interrupting my story.

“Yeah, he did.” Ryan says.

“We only told Alaric that you’re way too good for him, and that he never deserved you. And we said that he was crazy for ever thinking that he deserved to love you,” Ryan replies.

“I can’t believe he would apologize… maybe the last six years have changed Alaric, like they changed me…” Cara wonders aloud. I can tell she wasn’t speaking to me or my twin, but to herself instead.

...My poor sister. Alaric doesn't deserve her.

“Not so fast. Let me finish the rest of what he said, okay?” I returned to my memory.

“It’s not us that you need to apologize to. But you won’t get the chance to speak to Cara again. Or have you forgotten?” I told Alaric after his apology.

Alaric said, “Of course I remember. But it doesn’t matter anyway. I’ve realized something…”

He trailed off again, looking into the distance.

Here’s the revised line with the added question:

“Well, spit it out then. Don’t leave us in suspense…” Ryan said with a sarcastic yawn. “What, did you only realize you loved Cara after she left?”

“...No.”

Alaric said firmly.

“I’ve realized that I was never in love with Cara, not really.” Alaric shook his head as he said this, as if coming to the realization all over again. “I feel deeply guilty about her, but that feeling was never love.”

“ I’ll keep my promise—I will never fall in love with her.”

---

Cara’s POV

I let out the breath I’d been holding with a disappointed sigh.

Alaric is still the same Alaric as before.He’s the same Alaric that I once knew. Cold and harsh. Only focused on working hard for his pack.

He is still the same man who never understood love. Nothing will ever change him.

What else is there to say?

That’s the only thought in my head as I say goodbye to my brothers and walk into the coffee shop to meet my assistant.

“I’ve found someone for your next blind date! This one looks like it will be a very good match! Take a look at his profile,” she says to me, moving her laptop towards me so I can see better.

I look over at her computer screen and see the picture of a very handsome man. I look at his list of hobbies, and it seems like he and I have similar interests.

“He lives at the edge of Pack BloodyMoon territory, very close to Pack DarkWood.” My assistant adds, noticing the home address listed on his profile.

My body stills for a moment at hearing this.

“Is the date still at that restaurant?” I ask.

"No," the assistant says. "He requested a café near his place. I heard he has a surprise prepared for you."

"Sounds good. Then tell him I'll see him tomorrow night." I say.

I thank my assistant for her help as I rise from the table.

That's actually good. Avoiding that restaurant means I won’t have to worry about running into Alaric anymore…

The next day, after work, I returned home and, for the first time, took my time getting ready.

I need a fresh start—Eathon and Mia need one too. A new boyfriend, a new dad.

“Why do you look so fancy, Mama?” Ethan asks me curiously as he watches me style my hair.

“Your red dress is so pretty! It matches your hair.” Mia says.

“I’m going out to meet a new friend tonight. Auntie Ruby will be here soon. You two are going to have a fun night with Auntie Ruby!” I tell them.

“YAY!!” The kids scream happily.

I’m really so grateful to Ruby. I don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s definitely my best friend.

I’m applying some makeup powder to my nose when I hear my phone beep with a text notification. I look down and see it’s a text from my assistant giving the time and location for my blind date tonight.

As expected, it wasn’t the previous restaurant. It was a café located near the border between Pack BloodyMoon and Pack DarkWood.

That café was one Alaric and I had gone to together before…

But today, I am sure I wouldn’t run into Alaric. He had already arrived at Pack BloodyMoon. According to the plan, he would be heading to the hotel, restaurant, and meeting rooms we had arranged for him…

I put my phone down.

"BEEP BEEP!" My phone buzzed again.

A new message appeared on the screen, making me widen my eyes in surprise.

"Today's Evening News: Alpha King Alaric Grant of DarkWood has met with King Eamon. They are set to travel to the outskirts of the territory to discuss political matters..."

....WHAT?!