Mated to One, Wanted by Two

CHAPTER 4

I stood there, my heart racing as I stared at my mother, utterly dumbfounded and engulfed in confusion. A torrent of questions swirled in my mind, overwhelming me to the point that I blurted them all out in a chaotic stream of words.

“What do you mean it’s our house? How the hell do you even know this place? Why would we have a house here? How do you know your way around? What the hell is going on?” I practically shouted, my voice echoing in the forest that surrounded us.

“I met Alpha Asher a while ago. A long while ago,” she began.“He’s known about our situation since we moved to Shreveport. I haven’t just been working at the hospital in Shreveport. They don’t have a doctor here, so I’ve been coming here once a week to see patients.”

“What?” My voice rose an octave, disbelief washing over me.

“I’m sorry. I know I should have told you. But after what happened at Jackson’s pack, I knew you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near another pack. So, I kept it a secret. But Alpha Asher offered me a full-time position and a brand-new house if we moved here permanently. I had planned to make that move as soon as you finished your junior year of school. But with those assholes showing up, we had to accelerate our plans,” she explained, anxiety evident in her eyes.

With a reluctant sigh, I pivoted away from her, my gaze sweeping across the scene around us. The house sat quietly amidst the night, its neighbors mere shadowy outlines against the silvery glow of the moonlight. They lingered at a distance, like ghostly figures watching over us. Enveloping the property, the forest loomed with an almost protective presence, its dense canopy casting intricate patterns of shadow on the ground. The rich, earthy fragrance of moss and foliage filled the air, wrapping us in a lush green embrace that secluded us from the outside world.

“I told the Alpha that your wolf loves coming out for runs. That’s why he built the house here, surrounded by trees and open space,” she continued, her enthusiasm barely masking my inner turmoil.

As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the sight of a brand-new house, luxury mingling with comfort—the top-of-the-line furniture and a fully stocked kitchen creating an inviting yet foreign atmosphere.

I wandered through the lower floor, captivated and overwhelmed by the various rooms, including a cozy mini theater and a small library, filled with books waiting to be explored. I guess my mother told the Alpha more about me than she let on.

Upstairs, I stumbled upon my new room, initially mistaking it for the master suite due to its expansive dimensions and airy feel. The space engulfed me, but soon I realized that my mother’s room was even more impressive—an unexpected revelation that left me momentarily speechless.

My room featured a walk-in closet that felt like a small dressing sanctuary, its shelves brimming with clothes that still bore their tags, as if they were eagerly waiting for me to claim them. The ensuite bathroom gleamed with polished surfaces, and the plush Queen-sized bed beckoned as I sank down onto its soft comfort, absorbing the overwhelming sense of newness that enveloped me.

“It’s a really nice house,” Mom remarked, her voice a gentle attempt to connect amid the tension hanging in the air.

“Yeah, looks like the Alpha knew exactly what I wanted,” I shot back.

“He just called me. He wants to see me,” she said, and I could hear the anxious tremor in her voice, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her otherwise confident demeanor.

“Well, you better go running then,” I retorted, rising from the comfort of the bed and shutting the door firmly in her face, creating a solid barrier between us that felt necessary.

I listened as her footsteps faded away, echoing against the walls of the house that still felt foreign to me. A heavy silence enveloped the room, and I lingered in my thoughts, wondering about the implications of our new life here. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I had skipped dinner, and I reluctantly decided to venture downstairs.

As I stepped into the kitchen, the warm light flooded over me, illuminating the room in a soft glow. Suddenly, I froze—there, at the sink, stood a man casually holding a beer, the sight sending a jolt of panic through me. My heart plummeted, disbelief cascading over me like a wave.

“What the f**k?” I yelled, the words bursting forth with a mix of shock and anger. Not this. Not again!