The Alpha’s Forced Mate
Chapter 13

Blake

Breakfast occurred on the rear porch on a cloudy morning. Mamaw must have disappeared somewhere in the mansion to prepare for the next trial with Jermaine. As suspected, one of the contenders hadn’t made it.

It didn’t take a math degree to figure out who.

Mom sat nestled between Carrie and Veronica. The smile on her face couldn’t be described as anything but undeniably satisfied. Which was odd and a bit alarming at the same time.

But it was refreshing to see too.

I peered at her over my coffee, and she gave me a curious glare. Nothing to be discerned from the other two women except for the fact that they were perfectly content. That was weird too. What had my mother done last night and how were there only two contenders left?

“More biscuits?” Mom offered Veronica.

Veronica smiled. “Please. Thanks, Shelly.”

Mom held the plate out to Carrie who grabbed two biscuits. “Thank you.”

“Alright, this is weird,” I blurted. “How are you all getting along so well?”

Mom feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you mean, champ.”

Champ.

Veronica blushed and bit her lower l!p. While she gazed out at the immaculate gardens, I set my coffee mug down and arched my right brow. That was my universally recognized expression to figure out what the hell was going on at any given moment. Everyone around here understood it.

Mom shrugged and gestured toward the house. “Your grandmother is making a list of all the cousins who are coming today.”

“And the caterer?”

“Arrived just this morning. They’re setting up as we speak.”

Veronica perked up. “Cousins? Caterer?”

I smiled handsomely. “She didn’t explain the next trial, did she?”

“What do you mean?” Veronica asked while blinking rapidly. “I thought we were going to have another test of our skills.”

“It is a skill,” I explained. “A specific type of skill.”

She slumped in her seat. “Please, tell me I’m not babysitting today.”

“Not exactly.”

Mom tittered. “Most of Blake’s cousins are between six and ten years old.”

“You’re kidding,” Veronica huffed.

I bit my tongue. As much as I wanted to retort with our shared jab, I didn’t want to interrupt her interaction with my mother. It was interesting to see the two of them talk. In such a civil manner too.

Mom raised her trim eyebrows. “Not even close to kidding, dear. You’ll love them. I promise.”

“I don’t like kids.”

Carrie chuckled nervously. “I don’t mind kids, but—”

“They’re rotten,” Veronica cut in. “Spoiled, irritating, demanding.”

I gripped my mug. “They’re not demanding. They just need guidance.”

“Why? So they can grow up to be as rude as you?”

Mom practically spat out her tea while I shot up from my seat.

“Alright,” I growled, “you’ve been rotten enough for one morning, Veronica. If you’re going to be rude, you can take the rest of your breakfast upstairs. Understand?”

Veronica’s mouth dropped to the floor. Carrie paled whiter than a bleached seashell. Mom swallowed so hard that her throat clenched with the motion. It was rare for me to have an outburst of anger, but I’d had enough of Veronica and her bullsh!t opinions.

No one needed that kind of negativity so early in the morning.

Veronica stared at me with glossy eyes.

“Do you understand?” I repeated. “Or do I need to say it in another language? Would you prefer French?”

She clamped her jaw shut and frowned angrily. “You don’t speak—”

I spoke the sentence as effortlessly in French as I had in English. This time, Mom looked pleased. She sipped her tea and turned toward Carrie, who was still utterly horrified by the whole event. And I didn’t blame her. It was rare that I showed my frustration like this.

But Veronica brought it out of me.

“I’m not stupid, Nica,” I spat. “I have an entire library at my disposal upstairs. I’ve traveled and I’ve trained. Or did you think I was some kind of idiot just because I collect bikes and have a ton of money?”

She slammed her mug down, spilling coffee everywhere. “You know what? Fine—I will take my breakfast upstairs if this is how you’re going to treat your guests.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

While Veronica whirled like a hurricane away from us, Mom pierced me with a judgmental scowl. “Was that really necessary?”

“I need a mate who wants to have kids,” I reasoned.

“You didn’t even want kids a few days ago. What makes you want them now?”

My throat dried up while I scrambled for an answer. Poor Carrie appeared lost between worlds. Friend or mate? Which was she going to choose?

She stood up suddenly, drawing all of my attention.

I bowed my head. “Apologies, Carrie.”

“No, it’s alright. I know how things can get tense in a house. I grew up with like five siblings, remember?”

I sighed. “I remember your presentation, yes.”

“Everybody fights. People who care about each other often fight the most.”

Mom appeared impressed but quelled her reaction with another sip of tea. I scrubbed the back of my neck while Carrie walked to the door.

“I look forward to meeting your cousins,” she said. “Have a good morning.”

Then, she retreated inside.

Mom sniffed twice and then raised her hands to clap.

I pointed a stern finger in her direction. “Don’t.”

“You really know how to make a mess, Blake.”

“Mom, this isn’t the time to—”

She threw her napkin down. “It’s the perfect time to point out how much you don’t want to fall in love. With anyone, Blake. Not even yourself.”

Like the others, she walked away from me.

I sank into my chair and dropped my head into my hands. What was I supposed to do now? The next trial was set to start in just a few hours. My cousins would be arriving any moment. My emotions were all over the place.

I had no idea what I was looking for. I was just following a script set out by my mother. Kids weren’t exactly in my dreams for the future, but I didn’t want to deny the possibility either. It was hard to picture when all I could think about was that rotten, bratty, adorable, s3xy wolf who wouldn’t let go of me.

And yet how could I not picture that with her?

With my head spinning and my heart stammering in my che*st, I couldn’t sort out which way was up. Or logical. Or fair. I just felt like I was flailing instead. When Jermaine and my grandmother collected me for the luncheon, I was so numb from thinking that I didn’t anticipate the clutter of noise echoing from the driveway in front of the mansion.

My cousins had arrived. Everyone would be curious about Carrie and Veronica. The spotlight would ultimately be on them while I stood on the sidelines.

Grandma took my hand. “Alright, kiddo. Spill.”

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re worried.”

I shook my head. “Just tired.”

“Which means you’re worried.”

Irritated, but touched by her persistence, I squeezed her hand. “I’ll tell you about it later. Let’s just get through this trial.”

The gardens expanded in every direction. To the left, the area that had been used for the weapons test now hosted a grand white tent, torches, and a series of picnic blankets spread out on the ground. Inside the tent was the buffet. Outside the tent was the area where the kids would play. Everyone had a space here, including my mother and grandmother.

Veronica and Carrie were already waiting inside. Aside from their tense posture, they seemed mostly unbothered by the fact that dark clouds were rolling in. Kids screamed and laughed from the porch as sneakers beat the wooden beams. Another round of laughter escalated when thunder cracked the sky.

Mamaw patted my upper back. “Looks like we need to move to the greenhouse, champ.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Why?”

I shook my head. “No reason.” I turned to Jermaine. “Could you have Tanner—?”

Lightning split the horizon. The flash was so bright that it stunned me, freezing me in place between Jermaine and Mamaw. Thunder rolled through the earth and shook me to my very c0re. Something struck me then, as hard as lightning striking a tree.

A scream cut through my haze and put me on high alert. When the flash cleared from my vision, I saw a man standing in front of me with a dagger raised high over his head. The stranger shouted while his features twisted with anger. As he aimed the dagger at my che*st, the setting took on a dreamlike quality.

Everything slowed. Thunder vibrated the ground. My ears popped with the distinct awareness of the temperature dropping. Even my sinuses bvrst with the sudden release of pressure.

But nothing seemed as wildly frightening as that blade.

Memories of the attack in my suite came to mind. Rose and powder struck my nostrils. A series of grunts and shouts erupted next, catching me off guard as I raised my arms to protect myself. Better to catch the blade on my forearm than in my heart. Whatever had frozen me in place no longer had a hold on me. It didn’t give me much time, I had to act as fast as possible.

“Leave him alone!”

Another flash. This time, I was horizontal and Jermaine was on top of me. He barked into an earpiece while gesturing for security to take the perimeter. Kids kept screaming in the background while a high-pitched wail bellowed from the porch.

Who was screaming like that?

I shoved Jermaine off me and scrambled to my feet. Just inches away, Veronica lay on the ground with a dagger sticking out of her shoulder. Her eyes rolled around wildly as she heaved for air, her hand shaking as she reached for the handle of the weapon. Carrie bowed over her, speaking quickly but not loud enough for me to hear.

My vision tunneled.

Someone had harmed Veronica.

And they were going to pay for it.

Jermaine grabbed my arm. “We have him secured.”

“What?”

“The man who tried to kill you—my men just grabbed him.”

I glanced around. In the distance, the security team had already marched my attacker well away from the garden. They would probably take him to the other security outpost. And from there, he would be handled.

While pushing Jermaine aside offended him, he allowed it to happen. “Orders?”

“Kill the assassin,” I sneered.

I fell to my knees and pushed Veronica’s hair out of her face. She stared up at me with a confused look. The spark in her eyes was fading. Her breathing was labored.

She didn’t look good.

I turned and barked, “And get Dr. Windsor!”

It wasn’t until Carrie touched my shoulder that I realized I was heaving air into my lungs. I swatted her hand away and bent over Veronica, checking the rest of her for wounds. She was losing a lot of b***d. The blade had pierced her shoulder socket and sank deep—it might have severed some tendons. It was hard to say whether she would use that arm again, even with her healing abilities.

Tears crowded my eyes. “Nica? Speak to me.”

“I…I just…” Her mouth opened and closed on a croak. “Sorry…”

“No, don’t be sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

Carrie stood on shaky legs. “The doctor is here, Veronica. She’s going to help.”

Despite her strength and rigidity, she looked like she was about to lose it.

I was feeling the same way.

Dr. Windsor dropped to the ground and examined the wound. “Pedro, could you get the clotting potion? This dagger has been spelled.”

“With what?” I growled.

“The more she struggles, the more it tears her open.”

I wrapped my hand around the handle. “Then it needs to come out!”

Dr. Windsor snatched my hand away. “You risk ripping her open if you do that!”

While all my rage was directed at the doctor, I didn’t notice my mother wrapping an arm under my shoulder. I didn’t sense her lifting me from the ground. I couldn’t comprehend how she was holding me up.

“Son, breathe,” she urged. “Dr. Windsor will help. Veronica will be okay.”

My che*st swelled. “She’s the winner.”

Mom patted my che*st. “Whatever you say, Blake.”

“That’s it. The trials are over. Just save her f*****g life.”

I slithered out of my mother’s grip and joined Dr. Windsor’s side, giving her enough room to help Veronica. After bandaging the wound enough to pause some of the bleeding, she had two shifters put Veronica on a stretcher. I knew where they were taking her.

And I had to go with them.

Nobody stopped me. No one even asked what I wanted to be done next. They let me pass with the doctor and nurses, my hand tightly wound in Veronica’s hand. Though she was unconscious, her grip never ceased, persisting well into the medical building at the end of the driveway.

And when I did feel brave enough to release her hand, I noticed the shift in her expression. What once held peace now looked uncertain.

Like she couldn’t be away from me for more than a split second.

Was that where this was heading? Was I just high on adrenaline?

Or was she truly my mate?