Chapter 8
As I walked into my father's study, the murmurs inside ceased immediately. My parents, Alexander and Lucy, were seated, their expressions tight. Aunt Amara stood by the window, her arms crossed. They all turned to look at me as I entered, their eyes filled with a mix of concern and anticipation. My stomach churned; I knew something was wrong.
My father, Alexander, the formidable Alpha of our pack, was the first to speak. His voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying tension. "Astrid, there's something you need to know. Alpha Jeremiah is in our territory."
My heart sank. The rumors I’d hoped were just that—rumors—were true. "Why?" I managed to ask, though I already knew the answer.
"As you already know, Astrid, he claims you're his mate," my father continued. "And he won't leave without you. It's werewolf law, our custom."
Just then, the door swung open again. Alpha Jeremiah strolled in, led by my father's beta. A small smirk played on his lips as he looked at me, dimples appearing on his cheeks. His presence made my father growl softly, a warning that Jeremiah ignored with ease.
"Hello, mate," Jeremiah greeted me, his deep British accent grating on my nerves. The smugness in his eyes was infuriating.
I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. "I am not your mate," I snapped. "Stop wasting everyone's time and leave."
Jeremiah's smirk grew wider. "I will only leave this territory with you by my side."
The audacity! I glared at him, wishing I could wipe that grin off his face. But before I could respond, my father intervened, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Jeremiah, you can stay until Astrid's wolf emerges. If she is your mate, we will discuss the matter further. If not, you will be executed for wasting my time and whatever plot this is."
The room fell silent. My father's words were final, his tone leaving no room for argument. Jeremiah’s carefree demeanor didn't falter, but I saw a flicker of something—perhaps realization—that my father wasn’t one to be trifled with.
"Very well," Jeremiah said, still smirking. "I look forward to the outcome."
As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and dread. This Alpha Jeremiah, with his notorious charm and arrogance, was playing a dangerous game. But my father, with his unyielding strength and authority, was not one to be underestimated. The clash between them was just beginning, and I was caught in the middle.
I knew one thing for sure: I had to find a way to deal with Jeremiah before things got even more out of hand. Whatever game he was playing, he had to have some kind of dangerous plan, which wasn't good.
Alpha Jeremiah had been given a room at the far end of the hallway on the ground level where the guest wing was. He and his men were staying there, but I could still feel his presence, which was odd—it made my skin shiver. My aunt entered the room to help me prepare for dinner.
"Don't think too much about it, my little princess. You will be alright," she said with a smile as she helped zip up my silver silk long dress. It shimmered in the dark, bringing out the color of my hair. My aunt thought it made me look like the queen of mercury.
I sighed as I faced her. "I am scared...this is happening too soon. What if he really turns out to be my mate!" Honestly, there was nothing worse than my mate turning out to be that one person my parents dislike—a troublemaker. I have always lived to make my parents proud, especially my father, so this was a nightmare.
Amara laughed, which made me groan as she sat me down to braid my hair in two. "You know, if he does turn out to be your mate, he isn't bad looking at all. Everyone is talking about those dimples, not to mention the crystal blue eyes that resemble the sacred ocean."
I blushed as I thought about his dimples. He is the only man I have ever seen with dimples, and it was adorable...no! I shook my head. What was I thinking? "Aunt! Stop. He is not a good man, and his father despises him."
"Is that your worry...that your father is not fond of Jeremiah?" Amara asked, this time with a straight face; her smile had dropped.
"I trust my father's judgment, and if he feels like Jeremiah is up to no good, then that man is definitely up to no good."
Aunt Amara finished braiding my hair, and she helped me up. "It is good to trust your parents' judgment. Your father is usually always right, but you should also trust your heart, little princess. What your heart tells you is very important. Never push that aside, okay?"
I nodded my head and smiled. My aunt was like my only friend around here. She was the only one I could actually talk to because, well, I didn't have actual friends, which sucked big time. Luckily, I was an introvert, so my books helped me out a lot, especially when I was bored or lonely. However, there were times when I needed someone to talk to other than my mother, and Aunt Amara was really cool. She was fun and always had the best advice.
When we arrived in the dining hall, I unconsciously rolled my eyes as I spotted Alpha Jeremiah. He saw it but kept a straight face, which was a little surprising since he always had a smirk plastered on his face. The hall was filled with more chatter than usual. I could literally hear young women gushing over Jeremiah's presence; it annoyed me to the core. Nobody said a word at our table, and I knew why.
My father would never discuss important matters with this imposter in our home. It made me feel even worse that it was my fault he was here, whether he was my mate or not. If I hadn't snuck out, he wouldn't be here. I barely ate. As soon as dinner was over, I made my way back to my room. On my way, I felt his presence in the corridor. He was following me, but I had amazing senses thanks to my father.
In a second, I was in front of him, and he didn't seem surprised or shocked. "Just leave while you still can," I warned him.
He licked his lips and smirked. That one little move was so distracting I found myself staring at his dimples and his deep pink lips. I had never felt such emotions before, which was embarrassing because it was almost impossible to control them.
"Careful with those eyes,princess. I bite," he said, revealing his sharp canines. I blushed, and before I could respond, my guards walked towards me, and with a blink of an eye, Jeremiah was gone. I was beyond embarrassed. I have been so locked up in my own world I didn't know how to control myself.
"Are you okay, Princess Astrid?" one of my guards asked. I probably looked flushed and tomato red. I nodded as I walked back to my room fast. Damn it ,did he have to be exactly how they describe them in my books-hot!
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