Chapter 57

Cara’s POV

I pull away from Alaric, but his hand still grips my wrist.

“Let me go,” I say to him.

“Wait, Cara—,” Alaric starts to say, not letting go. His fingers are squeezing into my skin, and my arm starts to feel uncomfortable.

I look up at his face and see the firm stare in his eyes, but also something else… Almost like sadness… Could it be?

Is Alaric sad… because of me?

I pull away from him again, this time harder than before. Finally, his hold on me breaks and I grasp my own wrist, holding it against my chest protectively.

“I’m sorry,” Alaric’s deep voice rumbles.

Since when did Alaric, the famously stubborn and self-assured Alpha King Alaric, start apologizing so freely?

“...Why are you making that face?” I ask, completely confused.

“Are you sad because I have a husband? Do you love me?”

“No, I don’t love you at all,” he answered immediately.

“I just, want to say apologize...For the past and for now, I shouldn’t have held you so tightly…” his voice rasps. He’s staring at his own hand, like he isn’t sure that he’s the one who commanded it to hold onto me.

...Well, he's still the Alaric I know.

“I went to the Pack House this morning,” I say, wanting to change the subject to something less emotional.

“Yes, John tells me you made quite the impression,” Alaric replies.

I shrug, “People have had the wrong idea about me my whole life. Why should things be any different now?”

It’s true, too. They judged me for being an orphan, now they judge me for being a princess. Somehow, I’m never quite what people want me to be.

That’s alright, though. I stiffen my upper lip and square my shoulders, physically transforming myself into the picture of stability and professionalism, just as I always have.

I’ve practiced this part. I know the movements. I know what I’m capable of, and that’s all that really matters.

“When’s your next visit back here in DarkWood?” Alaric asks me.

“I’m not sure. Today is Mia’s last day for this round of treatment. The doctors will want to see how her body responds before starting the next round,” I reply.

That’s actually one of the things I want to discuss with the doctors, and I’m sure it’s why Ruby came to Mia’s appointment today. Hopefully we’ll have some answers about how to treat, and possibly cure, her illness soon, but it’s still too early to tell.

“Oh…” Alaric’s voice sounds smaller than usual, and he’s got a faraway look in his blue eyes. He clears his throat and tries to resume his normally deep and confident tone, “I wish her well, and hope this medicine can solve her problems…”

It’s such an odd thing to see Alaric this way. Awkward… sad…

It’s making me feel quite uneasy. I need to get moving.

“Thank you. But I really should be going now, so…” I trail off as I turn and head down the hallway.

I fully expect Alaric to continue following me, but I’m shocked to look behind me and see that he’s still where I left him. Still standing there in the hall, looking downcast.

---

I try to remove thoughts of Alaric from my mind as I head to Mia’s hospital room. Ruby is there waiting for me, but Mia’s bed is empty.

“She’s with the nurses in another room. They’ll be back soon,” Ruby says, reading the look of confusion at my daughter’s absence.

“That’s probably for the best. I need a moment to collect myself, anyway,” I say, letting my body plop into a chair next to Ruby’s. I suck in a breath of air and let my muscles relax.

“Uh oh. What is it?” Ruby asks me curiously.

“Oh, nothing I can’t handle. Just getting berated by low-borns thinking I’m too high-class and arrogant to care about orphaned children, and a very awkward run-in with Alaric Grant.” I look at my best friend and take another deep breath.

“You’re right, you can handle that, I’m sure of it.” Ruby shoots me a sweetly supportive smile. “But that sounds like a tough day. Do you want to tell me more?”

“I think I was able to show the Pack House my true intentions, and that I’m not just helping them to boost my ego or image. So that’s one problem solved.” I say, releasing more tension from my shoulders.

“And the Alpha King?” Ruby asks.

“That one’s not as simple… He thinks that I’m married to Aylon Auburn,” I look at her face, eager to see her reaction.

Ruby’s face first shows shock and surprise, which immediately morphs into amusement. Her laughter fills the room. “How on earth did he get that idea?”

“I’m not sure, but I didn’t correct him either. I’m getting tired of these secrets, but I think it’s the only way to ensure the children can stay hidden.” I bite my lip.

“What did he say about it? About your…” Ruby giggles again wiggling her eyebrows, “husband?”

“He seemed angry at first, but it was strange… like he was angry on my behalf? He thinks my ‘husband’ is using me,” I tell her.

Ruby snorts, “He should know. He uses people all the time!”

I glance at her, not exactly sure what she means by that. Alaric is a lot of things, but I’m not sure he’s a user.

“He’s using you right now, I bet. He’s just putting on a show so that you’ll come back to him and be his pet, available at his every call and command,” Ruby says, sounding angrier herself.

I always knew that Ruby resented everything that had happened with Lilia and Alaric, but I’m still surprised to hear her talk about Alaric like this.

“He thinks he can do whatever he wants, and it’s easy for him because he has no feelings! He’s basically a cold, emotionless machine who only sees people for what they can offer him. He’s an Alpha, Cara. An Alpha King! No one ever tells him ‘no’!”

I can understand why my best friend would feel angry at him, but to call him a cold emotionless robot?

That’s not the Alaric I know at all.

But then again, I realize that probably no one else knows Alaric like I do.

He doesn’t let anyone else get close enough to him to see. I’m probably the only person to get to see his true emotions… the only one he allowed inside his private little world…

But maybe Ruby is right. Maybe this is all just a game to him. Maybe he’s just toying with me, waiting for the chance to manipulate me.

It’s so much to consider that my head is spinning.

I discuss Mia’s treatment and condition with the doctors, but all the while in the back of my mind, thoughts of Alaric continue to spiral.

He’s still on my mind as I’m getting into the car to head back to BloodyMoon.

I need to pull myself together. I can’t keep spending so much time thinking about this man, about his emotions that he may or may not have, about his intentions that are so clouded, so unclear…

“Are you ready to go home?” I ask my daughter, as I turn the key in my car’s ignition.

“Yes, Mommy!” Mia says happily. She looks like she’s feeling better, finally. Relief washes through me anew, just glad that my daughter is okay for now.

Suddenly my phone buzzes with a text notification. It’s from an unknown number, but the message reveals the sender.

“Today is September 19 -Alaric.”

September 19?

Why would Alaric send me today’s date?

Is there supposed to be something special about that date?

Oh.

OH.

Of course.

It’s the six year anniversary of my car accident.

And of Alaric and Lilia’s wedding day.