Chapter 49


    Alessia’s POV


    I woke up the next morning feeling more tired than usual. It dawns on me that myte-night activity with Caden is


    probably the cost of this tiredness. Thankfully the pain in my shoulder is gone and I can move it without feeling like the


    bone is being ripped out of its socket.


    Looking over at the wall clock mounted on the wall, I see that I’m treading on the brink ofteness. Jumping out of my


    bed, 1 fly into the bathroom and quickly wash up the scent of wood, sand, and dirt from my body.


    1 step


    ep out and get dressed into some workout clothes, my body working on autopilot like it has been doing for close to a


    month now. I can’t believe that I’ve been staying here for more than a month. It’s seems like yesterday that my whole life


    erupted into mes.


    Once I’m done dressing. I drag myself out of the room and down the stairs. At the end of thending, I find Julianna


    standing there will a hand on her hip and her foot tapping the ground impatiently. She res at me as I draw closer to


    her.


    I pause when I get to the end of the,staircase because unless I n on walking through her then I’ve nowhere else to go


    to.


    “I saw you with Caden early this morning.” Her gaze sharpens. “What were you doing with him throughout. the night?”


    And there it is. The reason for this ambushment. Caden.


    I roll


    my eyes and lean on the handle of the staircase. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Deny.


    Deny. Deny. That’s my strategy here. “I didn’te in with Cadentest night.”


    I don’t know why I’m even giving her the time of my day but Julianna is the sort of person to


    hold onto something like a dog with a bone. The only way to get rid of her is to just deal with


    her.


    “Stop lying. I f u c k i n g saw you with him!” She’s yelling now and drawing a crowd to us.


    People are whispering and ncing our way, probably wondering what was up with this crazy


    bi t c h.


    I grit my teeth in frustration. I don’t need this attention on me when the previous rumors about


    me and Caden still haven’t died down yet. This will just create more tension.


    “You’re mistake, dear.” I make sure to infuse enough sweetness in my voice to make her sick. “I


    went straight to my room after dinner. Maybe you saw Caden with someone else and mistook


    them for me.” I shrug like it was an obvious and easy mistake that could happen to anyone.


    “It was you I saw.” She moves closer to me. “And I know you and him were together in the week


    that you were both missing.”


    Right in the bull’s eyes. It’s not like I didn’t know that person would eventually piece two and


    two together and figure this out for themselves. I just never thought that any of them would


    have the balls to say it to


    1.99


    Chapter 49


    my face.


    I nce around the room to see that both the crowd and whispers have increased. A lot of


    people are now ncing our way with curious expressions on their faces, wanting to know if


    Julianna’s words hold any


    truth.


    I turn my attention back to Julianna to find the color in her face draining away. My brows furrow


    together as 1 try to figure out what caused this sudden change but a change in the air around


    us tells me exactly what I need to know,


    Julianna, Ca


    says from behind me in a deadly tone and I silently thank my lucky stars that the tone isn’t


    directed my way.


    I press my body to the side to allow Caden to pass through. The air around the three of us


    electrifies as Caden takes the space in between us acting as the stufling between a sandwich.


    Julianna shivers on where she stands and I take sick pleasure in seeing her tremble in the


    presence of Caden. Take that bitc h. I wonder where her tongue went to. Why isn’t she saying


    anything anymore?


    By this time, basically everyone living in the pack house is surrounding us but just one re


    from Caden and they all disperse around the room. Some of them even almost tripping over


    their foot. It’s aical sight.


    Then Caden’s gaze goes back to Julianna again and I feel the heat and anger radiating off him.


    “Julianna, I thought I told you that I didn’t appreciate you harassing my guest neither do I like


    being the subject of a conversation.” He climbs down thest staircase so he’s standing


    directly in front of Julianna. “So then tell me why you’re stirring up rumors that have no bases


    and bothering Alessia.”


    My wolf pumps out her chest as he defends us but I quiet her down. He’s only doing this


    because he doesn’t want the truth about our rtionship to get out into the open.


    “I-I’m very sorry Alpha Caden, Julianna stuttered, tripping over her words with her gaze on the


    ground and I almost feel bad for her. Keyword, Almost.


    “I don’t need your apology. You were warned but chose to go against my order.” A pause that


    has an almost cinematic effect. “For that, you’re going to be punished.”


    Julianna drops to her knees and clenches the front of Caden’s sweatpants, making my wolf


    bare her teeth in jealousy.


    Caden shakes her hand off his person. “Two weeks without you stepping out of this pack house


    and two months of kitchen duty.


    I whine, feeling a bit sorry for her. She’s a mean bitc h but two weeks of Istion in this house


    almost seem too harsh. I can’t imagine what it will feel like to be locked in here without shifting


    into my wolf for two whole weeks.


    Julianna cries out with tears streaming down her face. “Please, I’m very sorry. I won’t go


    against your


    orders again.”


    M


    “You should have thought of that before you did. Just make sure that there won’t be a next time.”