THE ALPHA'S FORGOTTEN MATE

CHAPTER 5

KADE

“Are you really going there again? Didn’t you guys just have a discussion yesterday? You’re supposed to give it a little more gap before heading back there. You know how these things work.”

Lucien kept going on and on about how we should wait for their feedback before I returned back to Silver Pack, but I knew I couldn’t. Not when a pair of violet eyes invaded my dreams.

“This would make the decision faster, don’t you think?” I smiled, trying to convince him, but he looked at me like I was an open book.

“You’re going there for that girl, aren’t you?” he accused me, and it surprised me how fast he was able to grip on it.

I tried denying it. “I’m going there for the alliance and nothing more. You can think whatever, but this girl has nothing to do with it.”

He sighed and nodded, resting his head on the window. “You do know that you’ve agreed to marry Luna Vale. And according to our pack rules, once you’ve made a promise, then there’s no going back. Especially not from someone like you, Alpha.”

His words were starting to infuriate me, but I only acted like I didn’t care. “Who are you to lecture me and tell me what to do? Did I tell you I was not aware of my duties and promises?”

He immediately bowed his head down. “Sorry about that, Alpha. It was my mistake, and I should’ve known better. Please, pardon me.”

I forgave him. He’s lucky he’s my best friend too; otherwise, I would never have let this go. I wasn’t usually upset with how he talked to me, but today he just pressed all buttons.

We arrived at the Silver Pack mansion and got out of the car. The guards rushed to welcome us, like we were expected visitors.

One of the guards bowed slightly, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “Alpha Kade, Alpha Rowan is expecting you in the council room.”

I nodded, brushing invisible dust off my jacket as I walked inside. The familiar scent of pine and smoke filled the air—Rowan’s signature. Everything about this place screamed dominance.

Lucien trailed behind me, his footsteps echoing softly. “You know, you don’t have to act like you’re not nervous,” he muttered under his breath, trying to lighten the air.

I shot him a sideways glance. “I’m not nervous.”

He raised a brow. “You sure? ’Cause you’ve been adjusting that collar for the past five minutes.”

I looked down at my hand. Damn it—he was right. I dropped it immediately and ignored his smirk. “Just shut up and walk.”

We entered the large council room, and my eyes instantly landed on him—Alpha Rowan. He stood near the long wooden table, tall and unreadable. For a second, his gaze flicked past me, landing somewhere behind, and I followed it.

That girl.

She stood by the window, dressed in a soft cream blouse and black pants, her hair tied loosely. She looked… different. More confident and stronger. Yet there was still that faint sadness in her eyes that made something twist inside me.

She turned slightly when she noticed me, her lips curving into a polite smile. I felt that familiar pull in my chest again—the one I kept pretending didn’t exist.

“Alpha Kade,” Rowan’s deep voice cut through my thoughts. “Glad you could make it.”

I nodded. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

He gestured for me to sit. “We have much to discuss about the alliance terms.”

Lucien slid into the seat beside me, while she quietly poured tea into small cups, her hands steady but her expression distant. Every move she made drew my attention against my will.

When her fingers brushed against mine while handing me a cup, a faint spark zipped through my skin. I froze for half a heartbeat, and she quickly pulled back as if burned. I tried to ignore the reaction, but I saw it—the quick glance from Rowan, the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly.

Interesting.

The meeting dragged on for almost an hour, full of strategies, agreements, and subtle power plays. But every time she moved, I felt Rowan’s gaze sharpen. He wasn’t just an Alpha in control—he was a man losing grip over something he couldn’t explain.

When the discussion ended, he excused everyone except me. Lucien gave me a look but left quietly, closing the heavy door behind him. The air instantly grew heavier.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been visiting quite often lately,” Rowan said, crossing his arms. His tone was calm, but there was a warning buried deep in it. “Almost too often.”

I leaned back in my seat, smirking. “You make it sound like I’m unwelcome.”

“Not unwelcome,” he replied smoothly. “Just curious about your… motivations.” His eyes flickered briefly toward the door the girl had just exited.

Ah. So that’s what this was about.

I let out a quiet chuckle. “You think I came here for her?”

He didn’t answer, but the silence spoke louder than words.

“Relax, Alpha,” I said, standing up and straightening my jacket. “My interest lies in this alliance, not in your people. Whatever you’re assuming is your own paranoia.”

Rowan’s wolf flared in his gaze, golden light flickering behind his irises. “Good. Because I don’t like anyone getting close to what’s mine.”

I smiled faintly, meeting his stare. “Careful, Rowan. Sometimes, what we think is ours… never truly was.”

The tension between us was suffocating. I turned to leave, my heart hammering, but I could feel his burning stare follow me all the way out the door.

And somewhere down the hall, I caught a glimpse of her again—standing by the staircase, one hand pressed to her shoulder as if in pain. Her expression was pale, strained. For a fleeting second, our eyes met, and she looked at me like she wanted to ask something… or maybe she didn’t even know what she was feeling.

I wanted to go to her, to ask if she was okay. But before I could take a single step, Rowan appeared at her side, his hand brushing her arm protectively.

The sight made something inside me ache—something I wasn’t ready to name. Maybe Lucien was right after all. Maybe this wasn’t about the alliance anymore.