Secret of An Alpha: Repercussions

Chapter forty-five

"Why am I hearing of this project now, Peter? So you did everything to hide my affiliation with Rolus? You even went this far?"

"It was for your own good, Alpha."

"You all know what's best for me, right? That's what you keep on telling yourself?"

"I'm sorry to say this, but you were unbearable, Luke. You were obsessed with bringing Alpha Rolus down. Everything you did revolved around Alpha Rolus. You were not seeing reason even when we tried to stop you!" Peter yelled, his voice reverberating within the office. He had sweat on his forehead, an indication of his frustration.

"But you didn't tell me that he was my mate," Luke said, voice filled with so much hurt that it rendered Peter speechless.

"I-I... I know. I'm sorry," Peter said, guilt laden on his face.

"What happened with the project? What's the progress?"

"It's mostly completed. It seems Creek Pack have continued with it. It was on a standstill for a while after the collapse, but they have managed to get the project up and running."

Luke sighed, nodding. "I know you all meant good, but you all don't know how I would have reacted." Peter gave him a disbelieving look. Luke dismissed it. "You had no right to make that decision for me."

"I apologise. I assure you we did that with your best interests at heart. It wasn't our intention to hurt you."

"I'm not hurt," Luke argued, but his voice came out as a whisper.

Peter didn't say anything. There was nothing to say because Luke's hurt was written all over his face. He knew that his emotions these last few weeks bled everywhere.

He wore his emotions on his face every single time since the knowledge about being mates with Rolus. He wore his hurt and pain on his face every single time.

He had immersed himself in work to avoid thinking about Rolus and the hurt he saw on his face when he told him that he needed time.

For a moment, he sympathized, but just like the feeling came, it was gone and replaced with anger.

He was still not ready to face Rolus. He was not ready to face the truth. He didn't think he was going to be ready.

So, another month went by. His Pack was in disarray because of his mood swings. His work was divided amongst his Council because he couldn't do anything. He was holed up in his room, with the occasional run outside. Most of the times, he would torment himself with endless thoughts. He knew it would have been so much better if he just went to his mate- to Rolus and they talked things out.

Just the thought of having found his mate brought him immense joy even if that mate was Rolus, but he always brought himself down by thinking of how they all kept quiet and didn't say anything. Deep down, he knew that if they had told him then, he wouldn't receive the news well, but maybe they would have worked something out.

He knew by not reaching out to his mate- Rolus, then he was proving everyone right. It's just that he was not ready. He couldn't face Rolus. He just couldn't.

The days bled into each other. Luke had lost weight. He was not sick, but he felt like he was. He didn't have any appetite, and always snapped at the concern Peter expressed.

It was a struggle to eat. He had to eat for the sake of eating. Tamera once tried to coerce him out of his room. She tried that at the wrong time.

If he remembered correctly, he spat the vile words that she should go to Rolus since she's tried to be his replacement mate.

He was not proud of his outburst. He felt bad, but he couldn't care too much because his mind was filled with Rolus and their supposed mate bond.

To put it plainly, he was jealous.

He burst with embarrassment just to admit that. But now that he's admitted it, he didn't want to see or even hear Tamera. His jealousy burned, and it suffocated him.

On one of his runs, he promptly decided to do a detour to the other Pack. It was a last minute decision mostly influenced by his animal side.

It was around six, so it was a bit dark outside. He ran to the other Pack, his emotions enhanced with the shift. When he got to the border, they didn't give him problems. He figured that the Pack was expecting him anytime.

He didn't overthink much when he was shifted, so, when he saw Rolus outside, pacing, running his hand through his hair multiple times, Luke just watched from a distance. It was only Rolus outside, and he seemed to be stressing.

Luke felt an indescribable need to assure him that he was here, and willing to work on something. Anything.

He didn't plan on shifting back to his human form. He was content being a wolf, and that way, he wouldn't have to make conversation.

When he saw that Rolus was starting to look around the forest, Luke figured that he knew he was there.

Luke walked out of the forest, and went to Rolus, who looked at him, hand going through his hair anxiously.

Luke stood a distance away, looking at Rolus. Rolus tried to smile, saying, "Hi." His smile wobbled.

Luke sat down on the pavement, gaze locked with Rolus.

"You can change back, you know. Then maybe we can talk," Rolus suggested.

If he could, Luke would roll his eyes. Rolus talked too much.

"Or we can go inside-"

Luke growled, interrupting Rolus.

Rolus held up his hands, a small smile playing on his lips when he said, "Or not. We can just stay here, if you prefer."

Rolus sat down on the ground. He kept on running his hand through his hair. It annoyed Luke too much.

Luke stood up, shaked his fur, then went to Rolus. He liked that he didn't overthink too much when he was in wolf form. He sat down beside Rolus. He put his head on his paws, then looked towards the forest.

He was startled when he felt Rolus run his hand through his fur. Luke raised his head, looking at Rolus.

"Hope it's okay? I really need the contact," Rolus said, stopping.

Luke responded by placing his head on Rolus' lap.

So when Luke finally went back to his Pack, it was early in the morning. He fell asleep on the porch with Rolus.

He didn't want to think about what all that meant. So, he ignored every implication. Like when he was in wolf form, he didn't feel the deep hatred towards Rolus.

So, the coming days, he kept on going back every day in wolf form. They slept in Rolus' room, with Luke sleeping on the floor om the mat. When he awoke, he would find that Rolus put a blanket on him.

It would kill him to admit it was sweet of Rolus to do that.