The Alpha’s Little Rogue (Alessia)

Chapter 147

Raphael's POV It was just a hook up.

Just a hook up.

That sentence keep swirling around my head, whispering words of doubt and nipping away at my flesh with its sharp edges.

Just a hook up.

Funny enough, I don't even think she was trying to be mean about it or saw an opportunity to drive me away. She sincerely thought of that night as simply a way to sate our lust.

While I was envisioning a white picket fence with two-point-five babies, she just saw me as a fuck buddy.

Tipping my bottle, I down half of the brown liquid in it, wishing not for the first time that werewolves could get drunk. It would be a momentary escape but anything is better than this twisted and sick knot in my stomach.

I can't even recognize myself. I'm usually the cheerful and fun one, not the dejected despondent sullen one. I thought having a mate was supposed to make you feel an unimaginable and inexplicable joy. Why is it the opposite for me?

"What's up with you? Why the long face?" Comes a deep voice and I lift my head, and nearly let out a groan as Caden makes his way What is he doing here? Isn't Alessia like five minutes away from pushing out a baby? He should be by her side and not pestering me. "What are you doing here?" I question, ignoring his earlier question and leveling him with a dry look.

He rolls his eyes and comes to a stop before me. "I can't visit my pack house anymore?" He snidely asks.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Not when you haven't visited said pack for about a month now," I reply, giving him a 'don't bullshit me' look.

Getting him away from Alessia's side was never possible. It was like the two were joined at the hip. He seriously expects me to believe that I a me ass excuse.

He shrugs his shoulders and lets out a defeated sigh. "Fine." He lowers himself onto the last stair, sitting beside me and turning his body a bit to the side so that he's facing me. "I came to check up on you. You weren't yourself at the border check."

Fuck. I should have gone into the woods instead of thinking that outside the pack house would be a good place to unwind. I'm never making that mistake again.

I'm the one rolling my eyes now. "I'm good."

He nods but doesn't look like he believes me. Not that I care about what he chooses to believe.

"How is your plan coming along?" He nugs my shoulder with his.

"Are you any closer to making her fall in love with you?"

I know he means well but I really wish he would just go back to his sweet little home with his sweet little pregnant mate and leave me be.

God, even my thoughts are sounding bitter. What has Daphne turned me into?

Caden gives me another nudge again while looking at me

expectantly. Since when did my best friend turn into this version of a gossip housewife? Good Lord, is this the way I look when I nag them nonstop? No wonder they're always gritting their teeth a round me.

Another nudge from him has me letting out a light growl. "Keep your paws off me," I groan out. I shuffle over to the other end of the stair, trying to put as much space as I can between us.

"I'm guessing that it isn't going all that well," he deadpans. Nosy bastard.

Where did the aloof and closed-off Caden go to? The Caden I once knew would never sniff around and bug the hell out of me. What are these women turning us into?

I have to give him something or else he's going to fix himself to my side like a leech. "I stayed over at her place last night," I murmur, waiting for the response.

First, his brows arch together in confusion. "You said that you stayed in a room at the pack house because the rain wouldn't go down."

"I lied," I deadpan.

The confusion stays on his face. "Why would you lie? Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a good thing that you spent the night with her?"

I really really wish werewolves could get drunk, I think as I take another gulp from my bottle. "It didn't go the way that I hoped."

"She turned you down?" He asks, a look of understanding appearing on his face.

I scoff. "It would have been better if

that's what she did." I wouldn't be battling with these conflicting emotions If she had simply said 'no' when I asked her. I'm used to her е rejections and I've learnt to take them in strides. But her belittling what we did into a mere hookup is something I haven't yet learnt how to accept. "We...had a moment." A moment is putting it lightly but Caden doesn't need to know all th e details.

"And?" He urges, his brows nearly disappearing into his hairline from how high they are lifted. Again, I wonder when this new version of Caden showed up. "She said it meant nothing to her." Those weren't her exact words but potato potato. I just translated the meaning behind her words.

Caden whines. "Damn. That's harsh." He sighs. "Have you thought about just telling her that you're her fated mate?"

A cold shiver goes down my spine at his question. I can just imagine Daphne's brows crunching up in disgust and her lips parting to spew out her rejection.

I won't be able to handle it.

"I can't tell her. Not yet." She isn't ready to know about us yet. She needs to be able to at least tolerate my presence before I throw out that surprise at her.

Caden looks like he has something

to say about my response but he keeps shut, earning my gratitude. Finally, he lifts a hand to my shoulder and squeezes tight. "Don't give up on her. I know it might be difficult to keep trying and fighting but believe me when I say that the reward is going to bring unimaginable joy in your life." His eyes are basically sparkling as he speaks. I don't need to be a genius to know that Alessia is the reason for that look in his eyes.

That familiar bitch called Envy takes her place in the center of my chest.

I'm so tired of fighting and pulling Daphne towards me when all she does is pull away and send me five feet back. I thought I had made some progress with her but I'm back to square one.