Mated To Alpha Kessler

“This is becoming so annoying. Like, what the fuck is wrong with everyone? Can’t you guys just leave me in peace? I’ve left your Alpha and your pack, and what do you still want with me? I’m sick and tired of people just walking into my life like they own all the shit about me.”

Zach moves closer to me, holding my shoulder, and says, “Please, shh. Take a deep breath and be calm.”

I yank his hand off me as if it’s burning me. “I’m tired of this. Stay the fuck away from me. I snap, I know Kessler sent you.”

He opens his mouth to protest, but I cut him off sharply. My tone is firm, leaving no room for argument. “Don’t you dare say otherwise, because I know you two damn well. One can’t do things without the other knowing.”

I can feel the anger radiating off me, my expression twisted into a fierce scowl. Damn, he didn’t expect me to lash out at him like that, but I couldn’t care less. Despite his attempt to speak, I wasn’t ready to hear anything he had to say.

“No, you listen to me. Stay the fuck away from me,” Jabbing a finger toward his chest for emphasis.

“Cara sent me, oh gosh, and damn me for being a pussy,” he scolds himself.

“She threatened not to have anything to do with me again if I don’t find you. I was grateful when Conor called Kessler yesterday, and it was my cue for me to come. Please, I’m at the breaking point. Please.”

I let out a small laugh, unable to suppress the irony of the situation. “Cara sure does know how to use her mate card, right? And you aren’t ready to lose her,” I say sarcastically. “Very funny, hahaha.”

I notice a smile tug at the corner of his lips, but he hurriedly covers it up. “So, Cara, huh?”

“Yes, Cara, so many good things have happened to Cara that she wants to see you and share with you, Lyra.”

That piques my interest and sends me into a frenzy of emotions. “What happened to Cara? I hope she’s fine.”

“Relax, Lyra. Cara is fine. She just wants to have a video call with you so she can be sure I found you, or else I won’t be allowed in the room today.”

I burst out laughing, unable to contain my amusement. “Zach, come on, please stop making me laugh so hard,” I manage to say between laughs.

But Zach’s expression remains serious. “I’m serious, Lyra, I’ve been without a mate for so long that I won’t let her slip away from me. You of all people know what I went through.”

I raise my hand in surrender. “I know nothing about what you went through, Kessler. Only Julie knows.”

“Whatever, Lyra,” he says with a smile.

He brings out his phone and makes a call to Cara. Her face instantly appears on the screen.

“Oh my God, Lyra, look at you!” Cara exclaims, stretching her hand toward the screen as if she wants to break through to feel the emotional connection.

“Oh, Cara, you look beautiful,” I exclaim, unable to hide my genuine admiration. “Zach, your mate has been taking good care of you. Your red hair is shining so bright now. I’m sure you are giving Zach a run for his money.”

Cara blushes crimson red and laughs out loud. “Oh, Lyra, stop it,” she insists, clearly flattered by the compliment.

I sit down with the phone in hand, a warm feeling spreading through me as I reconnect with my friend.

She starts tearing up. “Oh, Lyra, please come back,” she pleads, her voice trembling with emotion. “This pack is not the same since you left.”

I roll my eyes at that, skeptical of the impact my absence could have made. “What difference does my stay at the pack make?”

“You don’t get it, Lyra,” Cara insists, her voice earnest. “You don’t know it, but you are the light of the pack. You might not see it, but you are.”

“Alpha has…” Cara begins, but I cut her off immediately. “No, nothing about Kessler, please.”

Cara resigned to fate, her expression showing her understanding of my request. “How will I not talk about him, since I just found out that he is my half-brother.”

Her revelation piques my interest, and I look into her eyes, searching for any hint of deception. Turning to Zach, who has been observing the conversation, I see him nodding his head in confirmation.

“Yes, he is, Lyra,” Cara confirms. “His father came home and instantly recognized me as his mate’s child because I’m her spitting image. A DNA test was carried out, and it came out positive.”

“Wow!” I exclaim, taken aback by the revelation. “Who would have thought Kessler is your half-brother? Unbelievable.” The news leaves me speechless.

“Yes, Lyra and I have you to thank. If you hadn’t insisted on bringing me with you, I wouldn’t have met my mate, and I would have wallowed in the Croftwood pack all my life.”

“Oh, Cara, stop this,” I protested, feeling touched by her words. “You are the closest thing I have to a sister, and you stood up for me to clear my name before Tristan. It’s the least I should do.”

“Oh, Lyra, I have missed you so much,” Cara admits, her voice filled with longing and affection.

“Are you sure, you a little traitor?” I tease Cara, a playful glint in her eyes. “You always stay locked up with Zach so I hardly see you.”

She blushes again before pleading, “Please come for my mating ceremony. It’s in the next full moon, Lyra.”

I shake my head, feeling torn. “No, I’m sorry to disappoint you. I can’t,” I reply regretfully. “I have my life planned out here in Northville.”

“Your life is here with us, Lyra,” Cara insists, her voice filled with longing. “We want our Luna back.”

I start laughing out loud, surprised by Cara’s attempt to persuade me. “Didn’t know I’d see the day when you, Cara, would try to deceive me with word of mouth. I’m not your Luna, Cara. You have Annie,” I remind her gently.

She rolls her eyes and says, “Oh, please, say something else.”

I sense there’s something she wants to tell me, but I decide not to ask in Zach’s presence.

“Cara, I will have to go,” I say, preparing to end the call. The conversation has left me with mixed emotions.

“Oh, Lyra, can you give me your number so we can talk more?”

I hesitate, knowing it could somehow get to Kessler, but Cara reassures me. “Lyra, please don’t think about it too much. I promise I won’t give it to the Alpha. Of course, you know he can get it anyhow he wants.”

Reluctantly, I agree. “Okay, Cara, how is Julie?”

“She’s fine, but she hasn’t been around of late, she enrolled in a fashion school.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” I responded before bidding Cara goodbye.

“Bye, Lyra,” she says, blowing kisses with her hand in the air.

As the call ends, I turn to Zach, a smile playing on my lips. “Happy now?”

“Thank you, Lyra, please consider everything she said to you.”

“Zach, I can’t promise you that, I’m hungry and need to eat something.” With that, I head off to satisfy my hunger, leaving Zach to ponder Cara’s words on his own.

Turning to find my way to the kitchen, I see a pissed Conor, ready to throw a punch at Zach’s face, but Zach dodges it.

Shocked by the sudden aggression, I exclaim, “What the fuck, Conor?”