The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 19: Kaleb's Request

Then out of nowhere, Kaleb switched topics and asked, “Vivian, can you tell me about the twins?”

I was taken aback by the change of topic, “What about them?” I lifted my eyes to look at him. Please don’t tell me you want me to get rid of them, I pleaded in my mind.

“Lucky says you found them while you were on the run,” he said, looking at me.

“Yes, Valentina and Valentine are not the children of my mate or myself if that's what you thought," I replied sarcastically, thinking about my conversation with Sophia.

"I did not say that, nor did I assume."

"Their father was dead already when I got to the scene, and the rogue who was still alive snapped the mother's neck as soon as he saw me. He did not live much longer.” I huffed out.

“There was no one else?” Then he asked.

“I saw no one, and when I ran into the woods, no other wolves followed me. I sensed no more wolves until Sophia showed up at my hotel door,” I declared.

“So, you want to adopt them?” he asked.

I nodded, “I would like to, Sir, I can't bear to see them all alone like I was.”

A smile spread across his face. “Very well, I will make sure you get official papers for them as well.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” I replied.

“Please call me Kaleb,” he insisted.

“I'm not sure I can do that,” I laughed at him, “I even called my dad, Alpha.”

“Will you accept me as your Alpha, Vivian?” he questioned.

“Do you have a mate?” I have no idea why I decided to blurt that out or why that thought even popped into my head, but I looked at him expectantly.

“Why do you ask?” he laughed.

“Just curious, you have your own house outside the packhouse, yet no one mentioned a mate,” I teased.

“My mate rejected me for another Alpha who was more than happy to have her till he found his own mate. She tried to come back, but before I could forgive her, she died in an accident.” He relayed the information a little too calmly.

“An attack,” I asked.

“So full of questions,” he laughed, before he turned serious, “it was a car accident.”

“I'm sorry it must be painful to talk about,” I said sincerely.

“No, there's no need to be sorry. There was a time when it was tough to talk about, but that time has passed for a while. I wish I could say the loss affected me still, but the truth is she was never mine. I believe the mate bond is real, but I also believe a wolf can be happy without it.”

“I understand that. I spent my whole life knowing my mate was either Victor, Zander, or Max. Max and I grew up together and often ganged up on the others. I never had feelings for Max and had always hoped it wouldn't be him. When it comes to Victor or Zander, I could have been happy either way. I suppose, but I never put much stock in the mate bound. It was just another form of control over my life. I don’t know why I am telling you all this. You must think of me as some silly girl. The spoiled daughter of an Alpha who feels the pressure of becoming Luna is too complicated for her.” I rambled on, barely stopping for breath. Though looking at Kaleb’s face as I spoke, I don’t think he minded.

“I am relieved you are being so forthcoming.” He smiled as he spoke. “What is it you want now, Vivian?” he asked sincerely.

“I just want a place to call home.” I answered truthfully, “I don’t need any more than that right now.”

“Vivian, I hope you will come to think of the Black Wolf Pack as your home,” Alpha Kaleb said.

“I have felt welcomed by your sister and her family, that's for sure,” I declared with a smile on my face.

“And me?” he asked with his eyebrows raised.

“And you,” I laughed.

“Vivian, I do need to respond to Alpha Rex, but I would like to make a proposition for you,” he stated boldly.

“I'm listening,” I replied.

“I would like to tell Alpha Rex he cannot have you back because I have selected you to be the Luna of the Black Wolf Pack.”

My mind raced with thoughts, but all I could think of was why me, and something in my heart asked about Victor. He appeared quite serious.

When I did not respond, Kaleb continued, “Vivian, first, I will tell you the why, as I am sure you are already wondering. You are a strong, competent female from a good Alpha family. Your father, well, a little stuck in the old ways for me, was a very good man. He was worried that none of the males in your pack were worthy of you, but with your pack laws, he was unable to name you as Alpha without one of them at your side. Second, you have trained to be Luna for your entire life. No one is as qualified as you are. Third, neither of us has a mate and therefore are at liberty to choose one for ourselves.”

I chuckled in disbelief, “My father wanted to name me Alpha; surely you have him confused! We argued about my place in the pack every day.”

“Your father was a complicated man, Vivian. He sent me updates on your training progress in combat and in tracking for the last two years. I must say I was surprised when he gave you your own training squad. Your leadership skills showed me that you would make a powerful Alpha.”

“I just don't understand. My father was always Alpha first and father second. I know he took pleasure when I bested the men, but he never verbalized it. Are you quite sure he meant to name me Alpha?” I asked in disbelief.

“Vivian, did your father give you a document before he told you to run?” he asked.

I nodded, thinking back to that last day, “He gave me an envelope to give to you, but I forgot it upstairs. It's in my grab bag.”

“No matter, you can bring that to me later, but I am more than sure you will find the answers to your questions in that. You can read it yourself before handing it over.”

“So, you want to make me your Luna. I can see you put a lot of thought into this,” I hesitated, my cheeks blushed as I thought of how he had been waiting for me.

“Well, no, not exactly,” he replied.

“You don't want me,” taking a deep breath to stop myself from exploding and held it. “But I thought you'd just,”

“Vivian, please hear me out before you decide anything.”

I drew my hand back, which he had been holding on to this whole time. I was getting a little annoyed now by this back and forth. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, drumming my fingers against my arms.

“Vivian, I would like to call you the Luna of the Black Wolf Pack, but not mate with you. Although I do believe we would both enjoy it, I can see your heart lies with Victor, even if your mind is more logical. I would like you to perform the duties of Luna without being tied to this pack. I do believe Victor is not worthy of you, as he said he can't keep you safe. He said he was letting you go. If he had been worthy of you, he would have run with you. I would have protected you both out of respect for your father. I can promise to give you the space and freedom you need to feel at home and safe, and should you ever accept me, I would claim you as my mate immediately.”

My face reddened at his forwardness, and I shyly responded, “You expect nothing from me?”

“I didn't say that,” he smiled at me.

I was afraid to ask, and only a soft, “What?” escaped my lips.

“I expect you to act the part of a Luna in front of the pack. I expect you to live in the Alpha mansion, and I expect you to give me a chance to prove myself to you, should you decide you want me,” He spoke fearlessly, looking deep into my eyes, almost like he was daring me to reject it.

“Without pressure!” I questioned hesitantly.

“Oh, I expect to make myself as irresistible as possible,” he winked at me seductively.

“What about your pack?” I asked. “Won’t they object to this plan?”

“My pack knows my intentions for you. It is no secret. They also know that there could be a mate I may have to contend with. If you believe Victor is that mate, but given everything I know about your pack, it may be just a ploy,” he stated.

“I can't believe Victor would lie to me,” I defended him.

“Yet he didn't write to you. He wrote to me. So, if he's lying, Vivian, it is me he is lying to.” He spoke boldly as if he were certain Victor was lying.

“Can I think about this?” I asked.

“No!” He states authoritatively in his Alpha voice.

“Kaleb!” I shouted angrily.

He laughed, and I rolled my eyes. Alpha attitude. “Knew I would get you to say my name,” He laughed a little too arrogantly.

I stood, shaking my head, “Alpha Kaleb, I have been running for my life for three weeks. I have barely slept or eaten. Then I found out that you had been planning all of this with my father behind my back, no less. I didn't even know you existed. I may or may not have a mate who didn't want me, and you do, but I won’t force myself to accept, but my mind, Kaleb, can't focus anymore. I need to rest, and I need you to allow me to breathe.” I exhaled deeply when I finished.

“Viviana, I understand what you have gone through, and while I have been preparing for you. You have been running on adrenaline and fear.” He stood and walked over to me, pulling me into a hug that seemed my body desperately needed. As I leaned into him, I just rested my head on his chest. Without meaning to, my tears began to fall, and I cried every tear I had been holding back. He just held me, and I felt safe. I felt secure. I felt at home. When I finally released him, his shirt was noticeably wet, causing it to cling to his firm chest muscles. I looked away; an amused smile played across his face, but he did not comment. Instead, he reluctantly took a few steps back, pulled out a paper from the folder, and slid it across to me. “Read this and find me if you accept.” Then he exited the room as if we had not just had a moment.