Chapter 124: Chapter 124
Alpha's Hated Mate
Camilla's POV
I've been trying to think of what I would say to my dad when I go home to greet him. I love my father, but seeing him also means reviving the story of Adrian, more so now that Arielle saw me and my big mouth that blurted out to her. It was an impulse reaction, somehow I loathe Adrian and everything there is about him, it all pisses me off and Arielle caught me on a bad day, my head was practically spinning from listening to this one asshole talk about himself all throughout the meeting. I do plan on going home and talking to everyone, perhaps next week but for now, I'm stressed.
Everyday, I take a run, in the morning at four and then I take another in the evening at ten. Though today, I went earlier because I have to attend to a party I've invited to. I usually don't take these invites seriously but something about this one has me itching to be there.
This particular host didn't address me as the 'phoenix Alpha,' like most people do, they indicated 'thumbelina' in the invite.
The only one who called me thumbelina was my biological mother, and that ship had long sailed but still, I'm curious to see who it is.
Arriving back at the pack grounds, I see some children playing. Kids are cute but not everyone should have them, like me for example. I don't want children anymore, not after what happened. After all, it's the same as keeping cum as a pet, a souvenir that says, "hi, look, I had sex" in big neon green colors in the night sky. I smile at my own joke, shaking my head as I swipe my forehead, walking past the water fountain.
I pause, Karla is sitting by the large waterfall, watching the kids playing in the grass. She is so attentive to the other surroundings that she could easily fall and drown, that's how big the fountain is. I've told Kingston to watch his daughter so many times but he doesn't listen to a word I say to him, she can't swim but adores the water, one day she might take a leap of faith and think she can.
Walking closer to her, I halt. “Hey, KK. Why aren't you playing with your friends?” I ask, finally grabbing her attention.
Karla simply looks at me then back to the kids, not saying a word but reading herself on the fountain. I don't know how but I've grown attached to the kid, nothing makes me smile as much as she does these days, I have thrived to love her and her bubbly personality.
“Okay, if you don't want to talk I'll simply go inside.” I tell her, stepping away from her. Sometimes you need to let kids work it out on their own, I did and look at me, I didn't turn out that bad.
“They don't want to play with me, I don't want to anymore either.” Karla sighs, grabbing my attention from the first word she spoke.
I turned around, crouching in front of her, “Did they bully you again?” I ask. My hand cupping her little face to which she shakes her head no, I know she's easy to pick on, Karla is a gentle and kind child. She doesn't know how to argue or fight back, she says one word in an argument and freezes up the next second.
“They're all making arts and crafts presents.” she tells me, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Really, whose birthday is it?” I ask, ready to nag a parent if she's sad she didn't get invited to the party.
“It's no one's birthday, we have a school assignment to make one special present but they said I can't make one.” she frowns, her face falling.
“Why not?”
“Because they're making it for their mother's and it's not rocket science but I don't have a mother and they all do.” she shrugs.
Kids can be so mean sometimes because they don't know better. Karla's mother isn't dead, she simply chose to abandon her but that's not Karla's fault, she's an amazing little girl and that woman doesn't know what she's missing out on. Her daughter is the nicest kid I've ever met. I've babysat my fair share of kids, enough to know what a remarkable upbringing looks like.
“See why I don't want to talk to them or play with them, Alpha no one would want to be my mother even aunt Brit said so one time. I'm such an annoying brat, that's why I don't have a mom.” she sniffs, tears rolling down her face. I shake my head, bummed out that she feels this way, Karla is incredible, not having a mother doesn't make her any less amazing.
“Yes, it is true I know daddy doesn't say it because he doesn't want me to be sad.” she cries out, my hand reaches for her cheek. Wiping the tears from her face.
“Listen to me, you're not a brat, you're a very good girl.”
“But all good girls have moms so then, why don't I have a mom?” she sobs, more tears wetting the dry spots I just wiped a second ago.
“Look here baby, I want you to go inside and do your homework assignment but first, you are going to walk over there." I tell her, pointing to where the kids stay playing. “And, you will tell those mean kids that you have a mom too and she loves you very much.”
“Huh? I don't have one,” her face furrows, sniffing.
“Karla, sometimes parents meet their kids later, some people have kids for other people who get to love and cherish them forever. And I love you Karla, I'd love to be your mom, it's the best thing I could ever hope for, an amazing kid like you.” I tell her, stroking her hair.
“Really?” she asks, her eyes glimmering with more than tears. The sight fills me with a warmth like no other, I nod and Karla leaps onto me, squeezing me tightly.
I too hugged her, giggling at her contagious happiness. “I will take that as a yes, you want to be my daughter as much as I want to be your mom.”
“Thank you,” she whispers. Kissing my cheek before she runs back to the kids she was watching earlier. One of the kids pushes her and she pushes her back and dances around her swiftly. I did not expect her to do that, so I shake my head and went inside the house smiling.
“Alpha Camilla, I'm glad you're here there's a problem with the–”
I raise my finger, making Kendall halt in her trail. “Whatever it is, you screwed up, don't tell me I'm happy right now and I won't let anything ruin it.”
“But Alpha,” she argues.
“No.” I counter, “Whatever it is make it wait until tomorrow morning, to fix whatever the fuck you've messed up or heads will roll is that clear sweetheart?”
“Yes Alpha.” she gulps, earning herself a pat on the shoulder from me.
I don't want my mood to get ruined tonight, “Good sweetie, now if you excuse me, I have to freshen up. But, do have the important files that need my attention on my desk, so I will look at them first thing in the morning.”
“Right away, and I almost forgot to tell you but, Beta was looking for you earlier, she seemed uneasy.”
“Okay, I'll see her just now.” I tell her, making my way up the stairs. I go straight to Belle's room, the door is open so I let myself in. She's on her dresser, putting on her face mask like she does whenever she's uneasy. “I heard Silverline's Beta was looking for me.”
Mirabelle shoots off her desk, probably because I don't make a sound when I approach these days. “Oh God,” she raps, clutching her chest. “Where were you?”
“Sorry mom, did I forget to tell you where I was?” I sarcastically ask, tossing myself on the chair a few feet away from where she stands. I reach for the water bottle, helping myself to it while Mirabelle glares at me.
“I am fucking serious, I got worried because you weren't here and your phone was just ringing and ringing.”
“I can take care of myself Belle, why do you get so worked up everytime, you'll get grey hairs.” I tease, toying with the now half full water bottle.
“Ugh, did you even hear what happened?”
I nod, taking another sip of water.“I told Jenna and Kendall to fix it before tomorrow, I'm not in the mood for disappointment.”
“Not that, this is important.” she begins, my interest picked as I watch her intensely. “Two Alpha's were fighting over you,” she tells me, earning herself a laugh from me.
“That's fucked up,” I snort.
“Ryan went to Midnight Saints and he fought Adrian.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of his name. I've strictly prohibited everyone from speaking of Midnight Saints and it's members unless otherwise. Playing it off, my hands bring the bottle to my mouth again, taking a long quenching sip before I give Belle my attention. “I don't see how that's any of my business,” I shrug.
“It is no, but I'd like you to be aware it happened and the outcome was not pretty. My mom let Ryan fling Adrian around like a rag doll and he never fought back so Ryan beat him pretty badly, I'm certain he saw the light.” She hisses, flinching at the end like she just pictured Adrian beat to his death.
Once again, I shrug in response.“Again, not my business but how do you know this?”
“Everybody knows but they never do speak of anything pertaining to that pack.”
“Okay, I'll go and freshen up.” I tell her, rising from my seat like I'm unphased by what she just said. I am, I think I am.
“Your dress got delivered, it's in your room.” she tells me, her hands patting the face mask on her face.
“You are not my assistant, so stop doing their job.” I groan.
“I know, but I did it to save your assistants' heads.”
“I see, but tell them kissing my ass isn't the job I hired them to do. Nonetheless, I am going to freshen up.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.” she says, returning to her seat.
“I don't feel like going can't you and King go together?” I whine, desperately waiting for him despite the desire and necessity for me to go.
“I could, but you look way better on his arm.” she retorts, her attention drifting to the nail filer on her dresser.
When she doesn't get a response, she turns around, giggling. “I am sorry, but it's the truth.”
“Your necklace looks great by the way.” I grin, gesturing to her neck with my hand.
Mirabelle grips the necklace, pendant. “Thank you, it's just a little thing that I got from my Alpha for kicking people's ass.” she grins.
I laugh, admiring the detail on the pendant. She is wearing a necklace that only the strongest members of this pack wear. I drafted the design and had the jewellers make me personalised items of it.
Every member has a Necklace or bracelet or ring embodied with a claw holding a rose, dripping with blood. It is the cutest thing ever and there's a crown right under the droplets of blood, I didn't encompass the crown but it's a mistake I took as fate when the jewellers made them. All these items can be worn by all but the necklace, and tattoos are according to rankings.
“Pretty sure you must have earned it because my bestie is an ass kicker.” I wink, heading out the door. As I close it, with it, I close my emotions. They are trying to make me weak once again but I won't allow it. I don't like the sharp pain in my chest right now, I don't like that my heart skipped a beat when she said Ryan beat Adrian, he deserved it and so much more.
I think a part of him loved me-
“No, Camilla. Shut up, stop it, stop.” I tell myself, hitting my head to knock out the insolent thought of him ever loving me, he proved to me I was nothing but a game he played with to add a little entertainment to his life.
Slamming into Kingston as I knock my thoughts out, I groan. “Fucking watch it Beta.”
“Me? You are the one whacking your head, instead of looking where you're going luna.”
“Oh,” I frown, at the realization that I'm to blame. “I am sorry.” I tell him, scratching my head.
“Are you feeling fine?” Kingston asks, his hand examining my face with a concerned expression.
In response, I slap his hand away. “What? Stop touching me, I'm fine.”
“You apologized to me,” he gasps.
“Cretino,” (fool) I murmur underneath my breath.
“There is the Alpha I know and love,” he grins.
“Why aren't you getting ready?” I ask, noticing the lack of preparation on him. He looks like he just came back from running an errand.
“We still have three hours,” he shrugs, smiling at me like the fool he is. I've noticed this man is never punctual, I wonder if it's one of the things he does to piss me off or he really can't keep time.