Claiming His Tempting Mate
Chapter 40

Savannah's POV

"Who is Delaney?"

Hardwick looked at me seriously. His face was cold and emotionless. I couldn't fathom what he isthinking right now. I wish I could invade his mind and know his thoughts.

"Who told you that?" He asked after some time.

I sighed "who do you think?"

"That bitch" Hardwick curled his fingers in a fist. His eyes darkened as anger flashed in his eyes "Ishould have killed her instead of sparing her life and sending her away. Looks like it was my biggestmistake"

Oh god, he is getting angry now. What can I do? Anger always ruins things and if he gets angrythen I can never get the answers I want. I have to do something to cool him down. I grabbed hishand which was slightly warm.

"Hardwick, you don't have to get angry now. Last time you backed away avoiding my question. I letit go because I thought it would be just a trivial matter so I didn't think about it much. But todaythings have gone overboard and I can't handle things if I don't know anything about it" I tried toexplain.

"Handle? You don't need to do anything. This time I won't let her have the next time at all" healmost roared and about to go but I held his arm in a tight grip, refusing to let him go. Because Iknow, with this anger he would definitely do something that might create trouble later. Even if Daisyis the pack member and Alpha's do have the right to punish but he couldn't punish her just like thisand especially when he is in anger.

"Where do you think you are going?" I asked widening my eyes "you can't go outside like this"

"You are stopping me? Why?are you forgiving her?" His eyes narrowed towards me.

"Of course not. How will I forgive someone who tried to harm me? But not forgiving doesn't mean Iwill just go and kill her. Hardwick this is unreasonable”

"Unreasonable? She tried to harm you and this reason is enough. No one, I tell you no one has theright to bully you in any way"

I looked at him seriously but inwardly I was too surprised. The way he is putting me in such aposition made my heart to form butterflies inside it.

"You can't make a decision on the basis of this Hardwick" I shake my head.

"I am their Alpha and I can” he hissed.

"No you can't. I won't let you do something like this" I went on insisting. "I will never allow others toaccuse my mate for being partial towards his pack because of his mate"

I can see his jaw clenched "who would dare to do that?"

"You are still not understanding? Daisy is accusing me of taking Delaney's place. Why is that? Who isDelaney that suddenly popped out of nowhere? Why is her matter raised that bound you and mealtogether?" I asked.

Hardwick gave me a hard look "Delaney is no one. You don't need to concern yourself with it. Justleave this matter to me"

I shook my head "you are trying to avoid this matter again? Trying to make me put in the dark? Howlong are you going to hide it from me?"

"Daisy is no good, so is Delaney. It's better if you don't think about them. They will only createproblems for me and for you. So it's better to put an end before this matter leads us somewhere wewill regret” Hardwick said and freed his arm from my clutch before walking towards the door.

I can't believe he is still reluctant to tell me. Why is he trying to hide it? If it was before I would nothave thought much but now there's another woman who might have some relation with my mate.Like Resse and Avan? Just thinking about them made me cringe in disgust. What if Hardwick andDelaney have the same situation? I watched him open the door and my heart jumped. No, I need toknow about this matter. I can't let the past repeat in my present again.

"You want me to stay in the dark so that they could accuse me more?" I yelled, making him stopabruptly.

"What did you say?" He turned around and frowned.

"Didn't you hear? You want me to stay unknown of the things that are poking me at the present?How long can you hide it from me?" I glared at him "fine, since you don't want to, then I will replace myown way" I said and walked towards him. Ignoring his presence I walked past him and about toopen the door he grabbed my wrist.

"Where are you going?”

"I am going to meet Daisy and I will ask her. I guess she will be more than willing to tell everythingyou don't want to" I spat angrily. Now I am tired of persuading him to tell me the truth. If he doesn'twant to tell me himself then I would replace a way to do it.

"You are not fucking leaving” Hardwick growled angrily and in a second hoist me up and threw onhis shoulder.

I squealed loudly "what are you doing Hardwick?"

"I am doing what I should do earlier"

"What-" before I could finish my words he threw me on the bed

I looked at him with wide eyes as he started to remove his shirt. Instantly his muscular abs camebefore my vision. I gulped hard as my eyes raked on his upper body. I wanted to smack myself toforce myself out of the thought.

What the fuck I am thinking? I scolded myself inwardly. Pushing all erotic thoughts I glared at thehandsome specimen infront of me.

"What do you think you are doing? You won't tell me when I ask you and now that there's actuallysomeone who can answer me, you are stopping me from going to her too?"

Hardwick didn't even pay any heed to my words as he started to climb on bed. Oh god, I really needto stop him or I don’t know how long I can keep my calm posture. I pushed myself up in a sittingposition but I couldn't even sit properly as a large hand suddenly pushed me down again. And thistime I could not move at all because he was lying on top of me.

"There's no fucking way I will let you see her again. She has already damaged enough and I am notgoing to take any risk at all" he roared in my ear.

I closed my eyes. Why is he angry now? He really doesn't want me to know about Delaney? Butwhy? Why is the matter of Delaney so sensitive to him that he doesn't want to talk about her? Whatkind of relationship did they share before? The more he is refusing, the more my mind isdetermined to replace whoever Delaney is.

"Is it my fault? Your pack member wants my life because of this yet you are refusing to talk about it?Daisy has already included me in this mess so I have the right to know about it"

"Don't take that bitche's name,” he warned.

I gasped. Did he really curse again? Though I know he is not innocent, I never thought he wouldcurse his own pack member like this. Hardwick really hated Daisy. So much that he could not wait totear her apart.

"Did you just-"

"You are so beautiful” he cut me off in the middle.

"What?" I looked at him with confusion. What happened to him suddenly?

His dominating brown eyes pinned my conscience and I forgot to form any word. What's happeningto me? I felt him tracing his lips towards my neck. I shivered as his lips connected with my skin. I canfeel Hardwick smirked suddenly.

"After today you won't be able to leave my side”

"What-"

Before I could finish I felt a sharp pain in my neck. I felt his fangs piercing my skin forcefully. Thepain shot my body like a wave and I couldn't help but scream.

"Ahhh..."

Reese's POV

I looked at the steamy bowl and smiled. I heard Avan is busy and couldn't eat his meal properly so Itook the chance and made his favourite hot chicken soup. I have added extra flavours to it. Healways likes it this way. I need to persuade him again. My pregnancy has caused a great effect onour relationship and it made him more indifferent. But today I will win his heart again. I can't let himavoid me or our child. Once he accepts reality fully everything will be fine. Thinking about it Icouldn't help but smile. I can imagine Avan's happy face while walking with me and our son in hisarms. Yes, it should be a baby boy.

I walk towards Avan's study with a smile on my face. Today he will definitely be happy to see hisfavourite soup. It has been quite long since I made this soup. Even when Savannah used to cook forhim, he always tasted my soup first and praised it so much until Savannah's face turned pale. It wasquite a sight to see. All those memories always reminded me of how much he pampered me andloved me.

"Avan you have to give me back the old Avan" I mumbled and smiled when I saw the door of hisstudy. I took a deep breath and strengthened myself again. I raised my hand to knock on the hardsurface of the door. The voice inside the room stopped me abruptly.

"You will always be someone who is willing to help us. Just replace that certain someone” Avan said."It's hard to search for Alpha, especially when the opponent is too powerful. Besides, invading theDark Forest is not easy at all" Ben replied.

Dark Forest? I frowned. Why are they discussing Dark Forest?

"Nothing is impossible Ben. We need to get hold of it no matter what. The more secretive andpowerful it looks like, the more the story in it. Even if Dark Forest is powerful, there will always beweaknesses. Besides Savannah is also there, I heard that the Alpha took his mate a few days ago”Avan said again.

My eyes widened in shock. Savannah is in the Dark Forest? And she has a mate? I can't believe whatI am hearing at all. How come Savannah got a new mate? And that mate happened to be the Alphaof the Dark Forest? My jaw clenched and I gritted my teeth in irritation. How come all of thesethings happened and I never knew about it? Savannah got a mate means there's no chance for herto come here again. I guess she has already moved in with her mate. She really did leave Avan forgood and never planned to return here again. A wave of relief washed over me. Since this is thecase, I really don't need to worry about her now. Mine and Avan's road is clear without her middlingin. But I can't help but feel envious of her good fortune. She got a second chance mate yetfortunately that person happened to be the Alpha of the powerful pack like Dark Forest? I grittedmy teeth in anger. Why does she have to have all the luck when I am still struggling to secure myposition and also needed to use it in such a way?

"It's true, Alpha of the Dark Forest has taken his mate back in the pack. There is no one who doesn'tknow about this" I heard Ben say again.

"What a show off" Avan mocked with an annoyed tone. I stood on the doorstep listening to theirconversation. I wanted to know more about it. What Avan is planning by asking about that womanagain. She already left him and moved in with her mate yet he is still here gathering informationabout that bitch.

"Try harder. I want you to replace any weakness that can help us. I want Dark Forest to the point ofruin” Avan said through gritted teeth.

I clenched my fist. I still couldn't believe it. He is still after her. Even after all this happening he is stilltrying to bring her back. Looks like that bitch won't leave me in peace unless she dies.

"I will try” Ben's words are heard again followed by some noises. I moved to the side and after a fewseconds the door opened and Ben left without looking back in hurry. I looked at Ben's disappearingfigure then calmed myself down before knocking.

"Come in" Avan's voice came instantly.

I put a smile then pushed the door open and entered inside.

"Why are you here?" Avan asked as soon as he saw me.

"I made your favourite soup” I answered smiling. I walked towards him and stood before him. Hewas sitting on the chair and the only thing separating us was his study desk.

"Soup?" He gazed at the steamy bowl before looking at me "you shouldn't have tired yourself in thiscondition. You need to take care of yourself"

I smiled more "I am not tired but worried"

"About what?" He frowned.

"Avan, I heard you have been stuck in this study because of heavy work. Although I understand yourposition and work, working too much will affect your health. So I thought to make your favouritesoup to relax your body" I said with concern.

"I am not tired. It's just some works, you don't have to worry about it"

"How can't I get worried? You are working hard and I can't see you exhausting yourself like this. So Imade this soup for you" I said, opening the lid of the bowl.

"I am not in the mood to eat anything now. Just keep it here and I will eat it later” Avan said withoutglancing and turning his head towards the bunch of files on the desk and started to search forsomething.

I looked at him then to the bowl "you never rejected it before why are you refusing?”

"Reese, don't make trouble. I am not in the mood for an argument right now. I told you I will eat itlater and you should relax your body and not need to cook for me. There are maids to do that work"Avan said, still searching for something.

My eyes blurred with tears as I looked at him. Did he just compare me with a maid? How could hedo that?

"In your eyes now I am just a maid?"

He looked at me, narrowing his eyes, “what are you talking about now?"

"I am saying what you just referred to? Tell me Avan, is this the only value left in your eyes for me?"Avan took a deep breath "You should leave and rest. Your mind is not good right now"

"I am totally fine. It's you trying to avoid this matter” I gritted my teeth. I knew it. He is still after thatbitch.

Avan got up from his chair suddenly. "I said go and take a rest. Don't make me force you Reese"

I shivered at his tone but I didn't back away "no, I won't leave until you give me proper explanation.You are trying to avoid me even when I am carrying your child. Instead of caring for me, you aremore interested in that bitch who left you alone. I was there to hold you, to share your burden butnow that I am carrying your child you are not interested in me but to that slut? You are evenplanning to bring her back even though she already has a mate? Why? Is she became morebeautiful in your eyes or you are tired of me after fucking me all these years and now my body isuseless because I am pregnant?” I shouted at my top lung.

Avan's eyes darkened and he walked towards me with heavy steps. My heart jumped in fear but Iboldly looked at him holding my tears. Today I need to know the answers and I won't leave until Iget it.

"What did you say?" He asked through gritted teeth. His jaw clenched which was the clear sign ofhis anger. But today I won't give in just because of fear. I need to secure the position of mine andmy child in his heart.

"Didn't you hear?" I hissed "I said you are trying to persuade a slut to satisfy your ego rather thancaring for me who is carrying your heir. If I was not here you would have stayed mateless andchildless for your entire-"

I couldn't complete my words as I felt a sharp pain on my cheeks. My eyes widened in shock as Iheld my cheek. Immediately tears started to fall from my eyes and vision became blurry. My cheekwas burning with pain and hotness because of the tight slap. I guess it would definitely leave printmarks on my skin. But the most shocking thing was He never raised his hands on me. But today hewent beyond his personality and showed me something that almost changed my thoughts abouthim.

He really did hit me and it's all because of that bitch.