The Alpha's Fated Mate Is an Outcast-Chapter 23

"What are you talking about?" A middle-aged man asked, turning with a glare in his green eyes.

"I think something is wrong," the lady seated in the office with him, Althea Sofor, spoke, rubbing her temple.

Next to her was seated another woman who looked just like her, with similar gray eyes, but rather with black wavy hair, nothing like her blonde hair. "Althea, what’s going on? Be a bit clearer to your father and me."

"I don’t know what it is, Mom," she said, looking helpless. "It’s just that something is changing with Fane."

"How do you mean ’changing?" Her father, Mr. Eliot, asked, seeming confused. "Tell us what exactly is going on."

Althea fidgeted with her fingers before lifting her eyes to meet their gazes.

"Dad, Mom, we’ve always known Fane isn’t exactly very keen about making an omega who isn’t his mate, his Luna, right?"

"Yes," both parents nodded in unison.

"And we agreed that perhaps with much time that I spend with him, all that will digress and he will eventually fully accept me?" she asked.

Mr. Eliot nodded confidently. "Naturally, of course."

"It’s been a year, and Dad, I don’t think that’s happening." Althea shook her head at them. "And lately it’s been getting worse."

"What do you mean?" they questioned.

"It’s as if he loathes the sight of me. It’s been like this for the entire week now. He doesn’t like seeing me and when he does, he gets this look on his face as if he’s annoyed by my presence. I love Fane, but I can also see it."

She continued, "He used to let me kiss him, let me touch him, but now, it just seems like my touch or my kiss is repulsive. He wouldn’t even touch me, even at times when it seemed like I had something on him, like he wants to. He isn’t willing to mark me and he isn’t willing to own me either. I don’t know what is going on and I’m scared."

Both parents glanced at each other. The mother proceeded to ask, "Althea, have you at least asked the alpha what the problem is? Maybe—"

"Mom!" she snapped at her. "Are you kidding me? Ask him? Do you know how frightening that man is, especially lately? The way he looks every second, the way he walks, it’s clear he doesn’t want anyone stepping into his space, and that doesn’t exclude me."

"But you’re on his good side," the father, Mr. Eliot, chimed in. "I mean, what the hell happened? We’re all looking forward to your Luna ceremony next month, everyone knows it’s going to happen."

"W-what if it doesn’t happen?" Althea stuttered, now starting to get extremely fidgety. "What if he dumps me? What if he chooses someone else and I’m—"

"That won’t happen!" He slammed his hands on the desk. "That will never happen! Have you looked at yourself, Althea? No omega has ever been seen to be more beautiful than you. You’re perfection, I mean, the Alpha clearly saw it himself too. There are so many wealthy families he could have chosen from, Ruderth’s daughter is there too, but he chose us, he chose you. Do you think he’s just going to discard you?"

"But...you haven’t seen him lately, Dad."

The man’s hands balled into fists and his expression grew darker as he screwed up his face. "Is there another woman?"

Althea and her mother shot him a look.

"What?"

"Men tend to change when another woman is involved," he clarified. "So is there another woman in this scenario?"

"That’s...impossible." Althea shook her head. "I don’t—"

"Think! Think Althea. There has to be something, some sort of clue that will explain all this," her father snapped at her.

She lowered her gaze to her lap and stared at her fingers.

Could there really be something? Someone she’s missing—

Her lashes fluttered.

The new staff...

"There is someone."

Mr. Eliot’s eyes lit up. "Who is she?"

"It’s not a she." Althea shook her head.

"What?"

"It’s a he," she clarified. "Earlier last week, Fane had brought in this beta that strangely looks like an omega, and he has been working as one of the staff. But there is something that is just weird."

"Like what?"

"The way he looks at him, Dad. I hate that I noticed, but the way he looks at him. It’s like there is something going on between them." She began nervously tapping the heel of her foot on the floor. "Every single time he is in the same space as him, there is this weird tension. He is always watching him, looking at him in a way he has never even looked at me once. I swear there is something, Dad. The way that fucking beta reacts too to him too... I..."

Mr. Eliot fluttered his eyes. "But that makes no sense. Since when was the Alpha into betas?"

"I don’t know, and I don’t think he is." She shook her head. "It’s just that there is something about that beta. It ticks me off too!"

The man began to pace back and forth in the room. "Whose son is this beta?"

"Ruderth. Mr. Ruderth, he’s his son."

He paused. "Since when did that bastard Ruderth have a son? I thought he had only one child, which is that damned omega."

Althea shook her head. "I-I don’t know."

His nose flared in annoyance. "There is nothing to worry about, anyway."

"What do you mean?" Her mother looked at him.

"Let’s say it’s true, what can a beta do for him? Give him pups? That’s not possible. He still needs an omega, and that means he will never be able to discard our daughter. And if the beta becomes a threat, we’ll get rid of him."

Althea’s eyes grew wide. "What?"

"If he poses a threat to you, Althea, we’ll get rid of him. He’s just a mere beta and an unimportant staff. Getting rid of him won’t be a big deal. So keep your eyes on him and if he poses a threat, let me know immediately."

"Will everything be okay?" Althea peered at him.

The man asked, "Do you not trust your father? Your place is right next to the Alpha and no one and nothing can change that, okay?"

She was silent but eventually nodded at him, agreeing.

"Okay, okay."

Her father’s face hardened. "You will be his luna. He already chose you, it can no longer be debated or changed. No one will threaten that spot. I won’t even allow the alpha himself to stop it. He can’t, not after he’s given you this opportunity."

"I would never be able to stand the shame among my peers if this doesn’t work out."