Chapter 173: Chapter 173

Alpha's Hated Mate

Camilla's POV

Chaos.

When Kingston convinced me to come here, I told him it would rain chaos, and this is only the beginning. Kingston and I talk about how I'm not going to fight in front of Arieya and Karla when his phone rings, cutting our conversation short.

He tells me he has to leave but will be back to accompany me to Adrian's club party tonight and then, he leaves. Arieya isn't too happy about him leaving without her and I can't blame her, I wish he took me with him too. To cheer her up, we look for Karla, the first place we look in the kitchen, seeing as she was with Belle when I went to see King.

Surely, I found Belle, but no Karla. “You're here, but where's my Karlita? I already promised King I won't kill anyone so please help me out.”

Mirabelle laughs, leaning forward on the counter. “Don't worry, she's with Rachael, and why is the little princess sad?”

“This little monkey,” I mumble, tickling Arieya. “King had an emergency and wanted to go with him.”

Belle shakes her head, but grins, opening her mouth to speak but she halts when Adrian walks in, heading for the fridge, with his nieces, and nephews following him, so much chatter happening among them.“Oh God,” Mirabelle groans, smacking her head. “Uncle Adrian, I want orange.” Ryker tells him.

“No, me.”Tyrone whines, making Stacey set him down from her arms.

“Hold on, everyone will get one but first, everyone has to drink some water, so sit.” Adrian tells them, gesturing to the table. The kids sit at the table, while Adrian works the fridge in his plain white Tee.

“I don't want tap water, I want sparkling water.” Stacey frowns, dramatically placing her face in her hand.

Her cousin Zuri snorts out a laugh, earning herself a glare for Stacey. Adrian seems oblivious to our presence on the other end of the kitchen, tossing waters to Ryker, who distributes them to his sister and cousins. “Everyone gets ice cream once they are done with their water,” Adrian announces, leaning back against the refrigerator door, that's when he sees Belle and I.

Both of us look away swiftly, pretending to have a conversation when Arieya whines, attaining a disapproving glare from Mirabelle that makes her stop.

“Beautiful,” Arieya whispers, tugging at my shirt. “Quiero agua.”

“Okay, mío amor,” I nod, veering my head towards Belle. “Tia Belle.”

Mirabelle shakes her head, “Nope, don't auntie me, go get it.”

“Come on, Belle, get your niece some water.”

“I think you can keep yourself from killing Adrian just get her water, I don't want to touch that fridge right after he touched it.” she snarls.

“So, you're going to let your niece die of thirst ?” I ask, trying to guilt-trip her into getting Arieya that water because I can't be around Adrian this sober. Mirabelle laughs, and Arieya cries.

“Camilla, she's crying now, get some water.”

I'm bouncing Arieya on my hip, trying to think of an excuse when someone clears their throat, startling me.

It's Adrian, he never makes a sound when he approaches, and that's fucking annoying if you ask me.Mirabelle rests a hand on the counter, “Can we help you with something?” she asks.

Adrian looks between us, his gaze resting on a sobbing Arieya, “I am actually wondering the same.”

“Nope,” I nod, rubbing Arieya's back.

“ We're all good.” Belle adds.

“Okay, and why is she crying?” he frowns, looking up to glare at me. I nearly flinch but my lips twitch with a grin, uttering a stupid answer. “Because she's a child, and children cry.” I tell him, to which my idiot bestie nods in agreement.

“Yes, it's what they do.”

Adrian rolls his eyes, his hand stretching to reach for Arieya, I twitch away, but he manages to touch her, gently wiping her tears. “What do you want darling?”

“Agua,” Arieya sobs.In response, Adrian's face furrows with confusion. “Water.” she sniffs, as if to translate for him.

Judging by his smile, Adrian doesn't miss that influence peppa pig has had in her voice. “So,” he eyes me. “ Because you don't want to talk to me, you'd let my daughter die of thirst?”

“Don't get on your high horse, the world doesn't revolve around you.” I sneer, almost too late because he walks away before I'm done with my sentence.

“Who knew clowns could be right? ” Mirabelle nudges my arm, nodding to Adrian by the refrigerator, carefully choosing the temperature of a water bottle before he walks back with it.

The moment he hands me the bottle, Arieya quiets, I secure her in one arm, using the other to twist the water bottle open. As expected, Arieya barely takes a sip before pressing her lips closed.

“This is the thirst that she could have died from?” I ask, glaring at Adrian in annoyance.

“Uncle, Alpha, Adrian.” Stacey calls out. Adrian, Belle and I all veer to them and they smile, shaking their empty water bottles.“Ice cream please,” she grins, turning back to her cousins.

“Everyone recycle or you're getting beat up.” Zuri murmurs.

Adrian walks away, yanking the fridge open, he turns to the kids, “Why don't you ask Aunt Belle? You never see her, this is your chance to extort her.”

Ryker smacks himself with the empty bottle, “She's pretty, I can't bother her and you're not pretty so you it is.”

Mirabelle laughs, blowing air kisses at Ryker. “Ryker, you're an angel.”

Adrian takes out the entire box of ice lollies and ice cream, placing it on the table for them to have their picks before returning to us. He doesn't speak, he simply stretches his arms, looking at Arieya with a smile. “Can I carry you?” he softly asks.

Arieya nods, not thinking twice before jumping into his arms.Adrian grins when I huff, “What's your name?” he asks her.

“Arieya.” she murmurs, slanging it so it sounds like "Are-ray-ae-yeah".

“Wow, that's a very, very beautiful name.” he tells him.

“And me?” She frowns, fishing for all the compliments she can get.

Adrian looks at Belle then smirks back at Arieya, “Of course, you're so beautiful.” he trails off, looking at Belle. “Aren't you an influence on her?”

“I–” Belle begins but halts for some reason.

“Do you like ice cream Arieya?” he asks, but Arieya looks at me, displaying her best puppy eyes, only when I nod does does she quit.

“Yanille....ca-rmen?” she asks.

“Vanilla caramel,” I translated for Adrian.

Mirabelle squeezes my arm, guiding me to the kitchen counter, where we both sit, backs to Adrian and the kids as we stare at them through the reflection of a spoon Belle picks up.

That is until Karla shows up, and Belle takes her to choose ice cream for herself. Eventually, Annalise joins me, occupying Belle's seat and Belle guides the children outside, returning with Santiago on her arm.

“I never got that drink,” Belle frowns, taking a seat on the other side of Annalise.

Santiago whistles, “Adrian, get the glasses I'll get the vodka.”

I tense, pinching my thigh when Adrian walks over to the counter, carrying with him five glasses to rinse but he can't even do that right, he holds the cup to the sink upside down, causing water to splash all over him.

“Fuck,” he curses, turning around.

Fuck is right. His t-shirt is drenched, nothing about his improved physique is hidden underneath the wet shirt. A tiny whimper escapes me but I quickly mask it with a cough.

“Oh,” Belle taps my thigh.

“No,” I whisper to her. My eyes roaming the room, keeping my gaze anywhere but on Adrian.

My efforts go out the window when he sets the glasses on the counter, and slides the wet shirt off him, leaving nothing to the imagination. I bite on my tongue, so hard I see taste metallic tang, but it's with it. Adrian was invariably good looking but now, he's hotter, now. His abs speak for themselves. A language I'm dying to discover.

“No Camilla.” I tell myself, trying to pull my gaze away because if he catches me, he will think I'm attracted to him and get the wrong idea when this is only a natural reaction, any woman would be attracted to him, he looks perfect.

Saved by the bell, I sigh, grasping the glass Santiago pours and shooting it down in one gulp. “Mind if I have the whole bottle?” I ask him.

Santiago hesitates but hands it to me either way, I gulp down a few more sips before Mirabelle taps my thigh. “That's enough,” she tells me, and I place the bottle down. “If there was a custody battle, he'd have good evidence on you.” she whispers.

“I'll grab a dry shirt,” Adrian says, heading out.

“Hold on for me.” Santiago follows Adrian, leaving just us women.

To take the embarrassment Annalise witnessed a few seconds ago, I turn to her with a smile. “Annalise, you are very lucky you know that?”

“Sure she does, she is the mate of the best man this pack has to offer.” Belle interrupts.

Annalise rolls her eyes, “I am not interested in him, everyone is forcing us to be a thing, but I just don't like him.”

“Oh, Santiago is the sweetest person you will ever come across. I'm sure no one will love you like him, and girl, if I had a chance to choose my mate? Of course, I would prefer Santiago.”

“Same,” Belle nods. “I pray for his qualities, in a different body, everyday.”

“I'm not making him suffer, he should just let things be. I have a boyfriend, and I'm sure he has his concubines.” she shrugs.

“Oh, if you don't want him, can I have him?” I tease, putting my best casual face on for her.

“Camilla,” Adrian calls from the threshold, a dry shirt on his body now. “A word?”

I get up, not bothering to correct him and I follow him to one of the rooms downstairs. He opens the door and signals me in, to which I snort.

“I won't bite Alpha,” he grins.

I walk in, knowing if I dispute, he get an inkling of what he's making me feel. “What is that word you want to have with me Alpha Adrian?”

“I want to talk to you about that guy, a few minutes ago. I don't like him.”

“King?” I frown. “Well, I love him and you don't have to like him. If anything, he has to like you but by the looks of things he doesn't find you likeable either.”

“Well, I don't like that Arieya is so close to him.”

“He is her father," I snort. “Why wouldn't she be close to him? King is more of a parent to her than I am. Suck it up.” I tell him.

Adrian grabs my arm, but sets it free when I glare at him. “Umm, do not touch me, and don't get on my nerves. You're lucky I'm letting you close to my daughter after what you did to-”

“Our daughter Mia,” he interrupts. “And yes, I admit I was wrong for what happened between us, so why is it so hard to forgive me?”

“Oh,” I gasp. “You think you deserve to be forgiven?”

“I forgive you for not telling me about our daughter, but you can't let the past slide?” he shoots back.

“Because all that is happening now is due to what you did, and I'm sorry if you don't like Kingston. He will always be around for as long as Arieya needs him, and me.”

Adrian shakes his head, “So you just decided for me, decided I wasn't going to be a good father to our daughter?”

“I didn't decide for you, your actions at the time did. And this is exactly why I didn't bother telling you, she is better off without you. Just look at you, acting like a fucking child, talking about I don't like him,” I mimic him. “Come on, Adrian, shut the fuck up, Kingston was there when you weren't, he was there for her before I was.”

“Well, did you give me a chance to be there, to be a parent to our daughter? No, you let your hate for me get in the way. It's not me, it is your pride Camila, your pride that did this.” he argues. “You're not letting me into her life like I chose not to be a part of it. You wanted her to grow up thinking her father didn't want her, when I didn't even know she existed!”

“I wanted her to grow up happy and righteous, you didn't seem like the person who would raise a child, you were too busy chasing ladies without underwear. I did what was best for Arieya, she comes first above all things. Arieya is what is important, and I don't regret anything Alpha Adrian, have you seen my daughter?” I laugh. “She's the happiest baby I've ever seen, she wouldn't be that happy if we parented her together, this toxicity isn't something a mother dreams to expose her child to. I didn't want my daughter to be let down.”