The Other Part of Me
Chapter 35

Elsbeth

As soon as she saw Caspian's frame emerge from the woods, Elsbeth knew her rejection had not affected his feelings for her. He approached her slowly, consuming her with his eyes despite knowing his chosen mate was standing next to her. Elsbeth fanned her hair and smoothed it slowly, seductively. Her hand continuing its movement down her large breasts and her narrow waist.

His eyes followed the trail on her body without blinking. "Caspian, the years have been good to you." She said breathlessly, making sure to eye-fuck every inch of him in return once his gaze returned to her eyes.

"Out with it!" Orphea barked. "What the hell do you want? I know you're not here on a friendly visit! You reek of desperation."

Elsbeth maintained her smile, glancing sideways at Orphea, "Ah, yes. I had forgotten your wolf-gift of enhanced sense of smell." She turned back to Caspian, "My gift was more..." she winked and licked her lips at him, "oral." Orphea growled, the sound making Caspian shake himself out of the Elsbeth's spell.

"Um, yes," he cleared his throat. "Orphea is right. You're here for a reason. Social calls were never your custom."

Elsbeth mentally cursed Orphea. Things would be easier if she wasn't here right now.

"Caspian, can I please have a moment alone with you?" She looked at Orphea pleadingly. "A moment is all I need."

"No," Orphea responded. "If you have something to say, say it now. I don't need you snaring MY mate into something," she looked Elsbeth up and down, "undesirable."

Elsbeth was not swayed. "That's cute," she said, unfazed. She turned to Caspian. "Let me assure you, that's never been a complaint."

To Elsbeth's relief, Caspian gulped. She batted her eyelashes at the big, strong brute. "Please, Caspian. Just a moment of your time."

Orphea looked expectantly at Caspian.

Caspian addressed Orphea, "Give us ten minutes."

Mouth agape, she stared at her mate.

That was all Elsbeth needed. She walked towards Caspian confidently. "I'll see you later, Orphea."

When Elsbeth reached him, she turned to see Orphea staring at Caspian with eyes as big as saucers. She turned in a huff. "Don't you dare fornicate with her. You are mine and I will smell it on you if you do!" With that said, she retreated into the woods with an angry stomp.

Now that Elsbeth had all of Caspian's attention, she reached for his hands, smiling as she looked up at his tall frame. "It's good to see you."

Although he tried to give her a hard stare, Elsbeth could hear his heart beating rapidly, and if she paid enough attention, she could feel the matching pulse where they were skin-to-skin.

"What can I do for you?" He said curtly. "If you don't want an audience, you better say it quickly. I know Orphea, and I can guarantee she's counting down the seconds until the ten-minute mark."

Elsbeth sighed and released his hold, sighing forlornly in the process. She turned towards Lake Reva, staring out at the glimmering liquid waiting, just waiting until she baited him on her hook. It didn't hurt that she had a well-rounded backside. As he had crudely remarked to her once before she rejected him, he wanted to bite down and mark her on her juicy ass' instead of on her neck.

"Elsbeth?" He asked her. "What is it?"

She made the motion of wiping a non-existent tear from her eye. "I'm not sure if you've heard, but Alpha Thaddeus's daughter has come home. Not only that, but she's also Braden's mate."

She heard Caspian move closer to her. "What does that have to do with you?"

She covered her face dramatically and started to fake-cry, seeking comfort from him. "Oh, Caspian! Braden has kicked me out of the pack! He said he doesn't want me to stir up things from the past because he will not have his mate upset!" He was physically near-but not quite near where she wanted him yet. She forced tears to spill out before she allowed herself to make eye contact with him. "Do you remember when you claimed me as your mate and I rejected you?" He flinched a little.

"Well I only did it because I thought Alpha Thaddeus had been my mate and I was still consumed with sadness over his death." She placed her hand on his muscular arms. "The pain I was feeling wouldn't allow me to see the gift from our beloved Moon Goddess." She reached up to stroke his bearded cheek. "By the time I realized that what I had felt for you was the mate-bond, rumors were spreading that Orphea was with you and I had already broken our bond." "Do you mean that?" He asked. "You didn't reject me because I was nothing more than a rogue?"

Elsbeth shook he head vehemently. "No, Caspian! Truth is, you intrigued me, but I wasn't ready to let go of Thaddeus. I was so stupid, I wish I hadn't been."

Caspian's gaze softened. "I was left a broken man after you rejected me," he looked towards the trees. "But Orphea put me back together. She's been very good for me." He stepped away from Elsbeth. "What do you want?" "Braden asked me to leave the pack." She whispered. "I could have gone to the Spearhead Pack but something inside my heart compelled me to be near you, my first mate." She walked closer to him, resting her palms on his chest. "After all this time, Caspian. After our broken bond-I've never forgotten you."

Caspian looked into her eyes. "Orphea won't like this."

"Please," Elsbeth pleaded. "I just need to be near you. I won't create friction between you and Orphea, you have my word."

His mouth opened to speak but the sound of a vehicle approaching interfered with whatever he was going to say. Both turned towards the vehicle.

A Jeep- and it was coming their way.

Elsbeth felt her body stiffen. "What is she doing here?"

"I'm not sure," Caspian responded. "I think she's means to be a friend of the rogues."

Cassie pulled up next to Elsbeth's vehicle. She had a look of surprise when she saw her. "Good morning to you both," she looked at Elsbeth. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Elsbeth gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Caspian and I have history. What are you doing here?"

Cassie exited her vehicle walking towards the back of her Jeep. Both she and Caspian followed behind her. When she opened the hatch, Elsbeth saw baskets full of supplies.

"I filled your last order," the interloper said to the brute as she patted the notebook in her hands.

While those two idiots chatted away, Elsbeth moved closer to the goods. Her eyes landed on a box that was filled with pharmaceuticals, in particular one very specific package that was very specific to the half-breed's current state, as Braden had confirmed.

That was when Elsbeth knew exactly how she would hurt Braden.