Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Alpha's Hated Mate

Camilla's POV

As a child, I adored flying, testing so many theories that would allow me to fly above the world, watching them live, but that was merely my second reason. My first and vital reason was because I wanted to see what the chaos I created looked like from a few feet high, that was also a stupid reason but at least Talitha shared my keen interest in the idea. No matter how stupid my reasons were, Talitha supported them like they were the best she'd ever heard.

Early this morning, I got on a plane back to Silverline, on the insistence of my grandmother, the woman that can barely stand me because I have a loud mouth on me. To be honest, I don't have a loud mouth, it's picking on Tee because she preferred Hades' old girlfriend to her. Aunt Amaya also asked me to return, she's been asking me to return for a while now but I couldn't go back.

Two years ago, I made the decision to find Karla the best doctor there was and I didn't have to look hard, Aunt Stella seemed to have one in her bed. She gave me his contact information and I booked us flights to Dihiko Lavate, somewhere a little over an eight hour flight from Silverline.

Mirabelle, Kingston, and I all went there. The doctor was on vacation when we arrived so King suggested we go back to Silverline. I didn't hear it, so I made us stay three months waiting for him because Karla's health was more important than me running a pack. Mirabelle started her four months residency program at a hospital in the city, during that time, Karla was seeing Dr Klein and true to Aunt Stella's word, he was the best.

Karla started walking, and per doctor's orders, she saw a child psychologist, the best I could find.

Yep, I had her meet with Tamina three times a week for two months. Kingston would go back and forth to Silverline and Dihiko Lavate, sometimes I would go with him. The plan was to go back home after Belle finished her first residency but nope, for some reason we stayed longer.

I enrolled Karla into school and that was my excuse to stay, convincing both Belle and King I didn't want to disturb her so we'd wait for the school year to be over. No one questioned my reason, it made enough sense but I knew that I didn't want to go home, I was stalling because a month after Karla began to walk again, without anyone's aid, everyone back home was pestering me.

They kept pestering me to go back home, to face my past. I wasn't ready for that, I'm still not ready, I don't think I'll ever be ready to face my past again, him to be specific. Mom called me one time, and she asked what everyone has been scared to ask me, "When are you telling Adrian about Arieya?" I told her never, it was an impulse response but I meant it, facing Adrian isn't on my to do list, and Arieya is fine.

She's happy, she has me, she has King, he's been there for her since before I could bring myself to it, he loved her when I was in denial and the last two years, he's made her the happiest little girl on the planet.

I know it's wrong, but I don't want to put Arieya in the middle of mine and Adrian's disdain for each other, she's my baby, my pure angel, Adrian and I so toxic we would scar the poor child for life, setting her up for seventeen years of therapy if we ever came together, even as parents.

But that's not what I'm scared of most, my biggest fear is losing Arieya. I've thought about telling him, I've dreamed about it and the outcome is always the same, it leaves me breathless and empty. I wake up from those dreams discomfit, flushed and sweaty, sometimes I cry, forgetting it's merely a dream.

I know Adrian, he's very possessive, vengeful, that's exactly what his reputation is built on, aside from his looks and wrath.

Over the years, it's become worse. I've come across an article or two about him and they all said the same thing, handsome and cold. I might have the title of the devil but surely, Adrian beats me to it in validity. If he knew I not only had his daughter, but kept her away from him, and gave her another father, he wouldn't spare me.

All sweetness he feigned when he was with me would turn to bitterness, he would take her from me, blaming me for not only killing his first child but denying him his second.

I've felt guilty about it, but that doesn't mean I should lose Arieya, she's everything to me.

Last year I had to not only pay off a jury, but fuck the judge. It's astonishing but yes, I fucked the Judge handling a case I had interest in four times so he would rule in favor of the Carter family against all other parties they had custody battles with. I don't regret it, I reckoned since I was keeping his daughter away from him, I could at least do something for him, and gaining custody of his nephews and nieces was the one thoughtful gesture I could fulfil.

Once the Judge ruled in their favor, I swept it under the carpet, knowing it wasn't enough but at least I did the right thing for those children, and for him.

Nonetheless, now that I'm going back to Silverline, I just know Aunt Sheryl will bring it up again, suggesting ways in which I can approach the subject of the matter with her favorite Alpha. Part of me hates that I'm not her favorite Alpha, but another part understands why she favors him, he's grown before her eyes and me, I was far from her, just like with Grandma and Hades, nobody will ever be better than him to her. I don't want to hear anything about it, I'll deal with it later, for now, I need to work on getting Karla and Arieya settled in.

I got Karla enrolled into her previous school, and as for Arieya, I'm sending her to a daycare close to Karla's school because I won't be getting much work done with her at home 24/7.

Something lands on my face, a warm towel. I take it away, turning to the seat next to me with a frown. “Karla?” I scowl but Karla shakes her head.

“Where's your head at?” King snarls, from opposite us. I frown harder, shaking my head.

“Arieya wants you to hold her,” he tells me.

“Oh,” I gulp, running my tongue over my lips. “Come here baby,” I smile, reaching my hands out for her. Only then does she hop off his lap, shyly walking to my seat.

Mirabelle let her through, and I pick her up, placing her in my lap. “What's wrong?” I ask her, taking the pacifier out of her mouth.

Arieya pouts, her lip quivering so I set the pacifier in her hand, trying to avoid a scene. She grins at this, relaxing in my embrace, her head tilting back to where her sister sits. Karla sticks her tongue out and Arieya giggles, raising her hand to smack her sister but I catch it midway, slapping her little hand. “No fighting, do you want to go back over and sit with King?”

Arieya looks back at Kingston dosing in his chair and shakes her head, “Lo siento hermana.”

“No preocupelo,” Karla grins.

“Good, now behave yourself.” I tell her.

Mirabelle laughs beside me, “Just you wait until we're back on pack soil, little miss will have a ball playing hide and seek.

I sigh, Arieya thinks it's fun to give me a mini heart attack, she hides herself in the most unexpected places, most times she even falls asleep in those places while I look for her, nearly crying my eyes out as I do so. Silverline is ten if not fifteen times bigger than our house in Dihiko Lavate, and I can only imagine how much fun she'll have stressing me out with her personal hide and seek games.

Mirabelle looks down at Arieya and shakes her head, I follow her gaze and smile, propping my arms in a safer and better position to hold her.

She's already sleeping, her hand tightly squeezing her pacifier. I grin, grabbing the dangling arm and resting it on top of her chest, Arieya shifts, snuggling up against me with a lazy smile.

I love this little girl harder than I've ever loved anything in my life, I'm obsessed with her to say the very least, she's my little piece of heaven, my peace. Watching her and her sister grow has become my life purpose. Sometimes I feel like I just woke up one day and everything changed.

She was no longer that baby I held in my arms, refusing to let anyone else hold for longer than a minute. All milestones I've watched her conquer have left me guilty, knowing I stole that chance from someone else. I used to hope she'd become like Karla but she's not. Lauriana is strong willed, unlike Karla she doesn't settle for compromise unless she's getting the better percentage of it.

She is her father's daughter, absolutely chaotic but nonetheless, I love both my daughters. They're amazing in their own way, both are kind and there is nothing I adore more than their bond. Watching them interact from the very beginning of Arieya's life keeps giving me baby fever. I keep wanting to give them a sibling but then again I look at Arieya and her escapades and the thought of birthing another her scares me, I would need twice the energy with another one of her.

King and I tried for a baby last year, it was a short trial, a month and we talked ourselves out of the idea, seeing the drama we already have our hands full with.

After that, I got on birth control again and forgot I ever tried for another child.

*****

The plane had landed, I hadn't realised it until Mirabelle nudged my arm, alerting me of our arrival. The first thing I did was check the time on my wrist watch. It's late, too late to drive to Silverline packhouse so we're staying at a hotel, one close by. King is unloading all our luggage, with Mirabelle helping while I watch, cradling a sleeping Arieya in my arms, with Karla next to me, rumbling about how she missed our old house and wished she'd stayed longer during visits, if only I could share her enthusiasm about this, that would be great.

We have a few bags to take home with us since I had the initiative to send most of our luggage prior to this, making sure to leave only a few for when we visit. I listed the house as a rental home for tourists, and employed three people to keep it running, a chef, a cleaner and a gardener.

It's a good investment on my part, same goes for the Arieya Hearst mansion, it's bringing in good money and it's still in great shape, I've made sure of it. When I purchased it at the auction, they let me keep the staff, and I don't have to pay them, my inheritance covers it, according to Aunt Sheryl and uncle Xavier that is.

“Is that it?” I ask, my gaze settled on Belle. “I feel like we're forgetting something, did you double check?”

“Yes, I don't think I've forgotten anything.” Mirabelle retorts, beginning to count our items on her fingers.

“Mommy,” Karla call out. “You forgot Rissa.”

“Rissa.” Both Belle and I snorted in unison, relief in my laugh. Honestly, I don't know how I forgot about Rissa but perhaps it has to do with the fact that I am not used to traveling with a goddamn fucking tiger.

“Can I go get her?” Karla jumps excitedly.

“Don't worry, I'll go with her.” Mirabelle laughs.

Both she and Karla go to fetch Arieya's pet. I still can't believe I let the zoo keeper talk me into adopting a tiger that almost made my daughter lunch two days ago.

Arieya played a part in me adopting the tiger, she wouldn't stop crying for it until I gave out, agreeing to bring home the tiger, Kingston was an easy persuasion, he wanted to give her the tiger the moment she cried for it.

Mirabelle and Karla return, with Kingston holding the cage with the tiger in his hands. Only then do I get into the car, careful not to wake Arieya when I do. King travels with the tiger in a different car, seeing that she can't fit into the car we're all going in. Karla is a little scared of the tiger but seeing Arieya isn't in the least bit frightened by it, she too is sharing the enthusiasm of having a pet, like the pet goldfish I kept replacing wasn't enough for them.

The hotel receptionist is quick, and fast, the staff helping us being very accommodating, making the entire process easier for us. There's two rooms, both connected by a door, one room with two king size beds and the other with a single queen size bed.

Arieya and Karla seem to have their heart set on the single room, and me, being as tired as I am, I don't bother to argue with them, I simply schedule them for punishment tomorrow morning. Mirabelle agrees to sleep with them, while I sleep in the next one with King.

Absolute torture on my part because keen on giving me a bit of little torture, I drunkly bet I could go six months without sex, so far I've done miserably but two months to go and I can prove I'm that able.

I'm in the room I'm to share with King.

Mirabelle beside me while we peek into the other room, watching Karla and Arieya bounce on the bed, hoping it tires them out and puts them to bed easily.

“You are going to see your mom tomorrow,” I turned to Mirabelle.

“No,” she snorts. “I'm resting.”

“Belle, I'm not joking, your mother has been calling you nonstop, you can't keep ignoring her.”

Mirabelle shrugs, a smile on lips, telling me she can ignore her mother a bit longer. I glare at her until she gives out, “Fine. I'll go and see her soon but not tomorrow.”

“Beautiful,” Arieya calls out. My gaze switches to her, nodding for her to go on. “I..” she begins, pausing but grins. “ Quiero un pastel.”

“No.” I tell her instantly.

“Okay, but puedo tener una chocolatina luego?” she bargains, making Karla laugh in the back.

I sigh, Arieya thinks she's so smart, which she is but not enough to negotiate sweets at night with me.

“I got this one,” Mirabelle whispers through laughter. Rising she claps her hands, approaching the other room. “Girls, let's get ready for bed, chop chop, bubble bath awaits.” she tells them, pausing at the threshold of the door connecting the two rooms. “Camilla, welcome home,” she giggles.

“Thanks.”

Belle nods, “Just remember, there's kids on the other end of this door.” she tells me, pulling the door to lock it.

I frown, the thought only clicking a little too late. I'm not that much of a screamer but Mirabelle continues to judge me based on my first time at battle in the sheets.

Truth be told, I used to be a screamer, but King has turned me into a beggar. He gets off my anguish, my constant pathetic pleas for an orgasm, pleas that he dismisses, edging me to his satisfaction.

Tossing myself on the bed I sigh, too tired to change into my pyjamas so I'm willing to ruin my dress by sleeping in it. The door connecting me to Belle and the kids opens, revealing Kingston who waves his card in my face. “Took you long enough,” I yawn.

Kingston smiles, closing the door behind him. “Yea? Well I had to make a last minute stop.” he tells me, waving a plastic in my face. “Get your pretty ass up, Beautiful.”

Really? Now?

Okay. I sit up, watching him silently as he makes his way to the table in the middle of the room, laying out food on the table. “He can't be serious,” I tell myself.

“Oh but I am, come over here.” he taps his lap. “You didn't think you'd get away with going to bed hungry did you? I watched you on that plane, the only thing you ate was a fucking mint chocolate biscuit.”

“I'm not hungry.” I shrug, making my way to him. His legs slide further apart, making space to accommodate me. “Aren't you the mouthy brat.”

I nod, settling into his lap, I am and for some reason I keep forgetting Kingston's desire to be my dom isn't only limited to the bedroom, it's everywhere the light touches. He keeps tabs on what I eat, as well as how much I overwork myself.

“Open your mouth,” he tells me, holding a burger in his hand.

I oblige, not making a single protesting comment as I eat. When I've had enough, he gives in, letting me off his lap. It would seem I needed the energy too, once I'm done eating, I have the energy to change into my pajamas. Kingston is showering when I go to check on Mirabelle and the kids, true to my assumption she's struggling to put them to bed. Well at least one of them is asleep, the difficult one that is. Karla is awake, watching a soundless movie with subtitles on the tv next to a sleeping Arieya while Mirabelle watches the tv too. I join them, unable to get into the movie they're watching, I leave.

Kingston is in bed when I return, sprawled up on the bed close to the door. I'm debating on which bed to sleep on when Kingston snorts, “Come here.”

I grin, a laugh escaping me as I crawl onto bed, straddling him. Kingston grins, opening his eyes. “Quitting are we?” he asks, referring to my drunken bet.

“No.” I laugh, “I made it this far, while not make a year? ” I grin, my smile falling shortly after.“I don't mean it, but I'm going all six months.”

“Okay.” he licks his lips, his hands reaching for my waist, pulling me a bit further up on him, settling me on his crotch. “Fuck yourself on my cock will you?” he grins, rhythmically raising his hips. I bite down on a moan watching him grin wider. “Go on, but everytime you're about to come, I want you to stop. I need to see you put that frustration towards your first day back on pack soil, now be a good girl and fuck yourself on me, I'm dying to see your O face.” he winks.