The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Alpha Blaze POV
Finally, the sun was breaking out as I made it to the Blood Moon Pack, parking my car haphazardly. I was stuffed, my eyes slightly bleary-eyed, anticipation running through my veins. It was early, barely past sunrise and I hastened to the door, banging on it loudly, desperate for the information that I sought. Silence. I scowled. I knew that the early hour meant that most would still be abed, but surely someone could hear my knocking. My Aunt Mary was an early riser, was she not?
The door was yanked open and there stood my cousin Grant, a grumpy look on his face. He looked a little stunned to see me. “What are you doing here?” he snapped.
“Nice to see you too Cousin” I drawled, not put off by his mood in the slightest. He’d always been a brat. “I thought I’d come for an impromptu visit and I really need to speak to Aunt Mary,” I said.
I heard her voice from behind Grant, warm as always “Blaze, what a pleasant surprise” she exclaimed, beaming, clad in a dressing gown and pajamas, her hair piled high in a messy bun, “Please come in. I was just getting some coffee before I made myself suitable so forgive me for my appearance” she apologized.
I just laughed and swept past a disgruntled Grant, kissing her on the cheek. “You look fine Aunt Mary,” I said sincerely. After all, I had been the one to interrupt her at an ungodly time in the morning. She motioned for me to follow her into the kitchen, raising a brow and glancing over her shoulder at Grant.
“Grant, do you want to join us? It’s been a long time since you have gotten to catch up with your cousin” she said pointedly. It was her not-so-subtle way of ordering her son to join us, Grant scowling as he reluctantly made his way into the kitchen, sitting himself at the dining table as omegas fetched us coffee and food.
I gulped the coffee down gratefully. Aunt Mary viewed me. “Did you drive all night?” she asked concerned “You have such dark circles under your eyes” she said putting her hand under her chin, c*****g her head at me.
“I might have done, but it’s fine, I can get some rest later,” I told her shiftily.
“You should get some sleep now,” she said dismayed “Honestly you look terrible” she added.
“Gee thanks, Aunt Mary,” I said wryly “I appreciate your honesty,” I said making her look apologetic.
Her husband, Alpha John wandered into the kitchen, dressed in work clothes, a bright smile on his face. He kissed Aunt Mary on the lips and then extended his hand to me. “Blaze, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he said chirpily, shaking my hand firmly and seating himself beside my aunt “Judging by the early hour I can only surmise that there is some sort of urgency or an emergency of some kind” he added, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Oh dear” gasped Aunt Mary “I didn’t even think…” she trailed off guiltily.
Grant just snorted. “If it was an emergency, he would have said something by now. He probably just wants something” he sneered.
I glowered at him. Alpha John gave his son a scorching look. “There’s no need to be so rude to your cousin. He’s a guest in our home and you will treat him as such” he admonished Grant who merely blinked and then looked away.
“Grant, I know you’ve had a rough couple of days but that’s no excuse. Please, just try to be polite” Aunt Mary said quietly, looking at Grant sympathetically.
Grant just sighed. Aunt Mary looked resigned. Alpha John looked sheepish. I wondered what she was alluding to and what constituted a rough couple of days.
“Is there anything I can help with?” I asked with sincerity, trying to extend an olive branch.
Grant tightened his jaw and shook his head. “Nothing I can’t handle, but thanks,” he said shortly.
Alright then, at least I’d tried. I devoured my food and leaned back in the chair, feeling satiated. My stomach was pleasantly full. My aunt gave me a beaming smile. “So Blaze, what brings you to our pack?” she asked teasingly “As much as I’d like to think you came for a friendly visit, I know you too well to know it’s not that.”
I grinned. “Ah Aunt Mary, there’s no pulling the wool over your eyes,” I said as she winked at me “Actually I came to get some information from you. That is if you’re willing to provide it.”
She looked intrigued now, as did my Uncle and Cousin. “What kind of information?” asked my Aunt slowly.
She was right to be wary of my motives. I would have been shocked if she wasn’t. I gave her my most winning smile. “Do you remember the night of the ball?” I asked her as her eyes began to shine.
“Of course, it was only a few weeks ago,” she said with fondness “Such a lovely night, well at least for most of us,” she said, shooting a quick glance at Grant who was looking at me darkly.
Whoa. There was a story there, but I wasn’t about to pry. I cleared my throat. “Well the night of the ball, I did go up to my room, the one you specifically reserved for me” I continued, trying to phrase this in the most delicate way possible, without giving out too much information “And I came across my mate.”
My Aunt looked excited for me, clasping her hands together. “Oh my goodness” she exclaimed “How wonderful. I’m so happy for you” she enthused “What’s her name? What pack is she from? Where is she? Did she not come with you?” she asked confused.
“Let him speak,” My uncle said indulgently.
Grant looked bored.
“The thing is” I hesitated and then sighed “I don’t know her name. All I know is what she looks like. I had to leave that night, due to a rogue attack and I’ve been in a coma, healing for the last few weeks” I explained grimly.
“My poor boy” Aunt Mary wailed, putting a hand to her mouth “Why weren’t we informed? We could have helped with your pack,” she said almost hysterically “or visited you at the hospital.”
I wisely didn’t tell her that I had yet to fill out my emergency contact details. Something that I probably shouldn’t overlook. My uncle looked at me disapprovingly but gave a small nod of exasperation, probably sensing or at least understanding that there was a good reason for it.
“About this girl?” My uncle said, prompting me to focus again “Can you describe her? I don’t know how helpful we’ll be considering that there were several packs attending that night.”
“Her eyes were like pools of chocolate,” I said, thinking back and remembering, a small smile on my face as I gazed off into the distance, “she had long brown hair that cascaded down her back in waves. Her skin was porcelain and smooth, and she had the palest pink lips.”
My aunt’s eyes were shining. “So romantic” she sighed dreamily.
“Anything else that might you know, makes her stand out or helps us to identify her?” My uncle said with an arched brow” That could easily be several girls just in our pack.”
“She didn’t have a wolf,” I said tightly, not phased by that in the slightest “and she had curves to die for. She was bigger than an average werewolf but that only made her more beautiful in my eyes. She was also short” I mused.
Silence. Grant slammed his fist down on the table, startling everyone. “Son of a b***h❞ he yelled, spittle flying everywhere as I stared at him bewildered “You slept with my mate” he roared, getting to his feet.
“She was my mate” I growled, getting to my feet and staring him down “I felt the mate bond, there was no denying it. There is no way she was yours” I shot back, my eyes narrowing.
If he thought he was going to try and lay claim to my mate, then he had another thing coming.
Aunt Mary looked at her son nervously. She licked her lips as I stared Grant down, daring him to make a move against me. “Grant,” she said quietly “she rejected you remember, so it’s possible that Blaze did feel the mate bond against her sweetheart.”
“I’m sorry son, but your mother is right. If Blaze felt the mate bond, then she’s accepted the rejection on her side and there’s no getting it back” my uncle said remorsefully.
Aunt Mary looked at me. “Do you know who she is?” I demanded, “Tell me?”
She sighed. “Both of you sit back down” she hissed, glaring “Act like civilized adults. Grant, I’m sorry, it sucks, but you might be lucky enough to find your second chance mate,” she said optimistically.
“I don’t want a second chance mate, I want her,” he said glumly.
Too bad. She was mine, I thought viciously. If she’d rejected Grant she must have had a good reason for it. I mean let’s face it, how often did a woman reject an Alpha? It was his own bloody fault that he’d been rejected in the first place.
“I know who she is, or at least I’m reasonably certain that I know who she is,” Aunt Mary said shrewdly.
“Great,” I said exhaling. “How do I find her?”
Aunt Mary looked grim. Uncle John looked apprehensive. “The thing is that she recently claimed sanctuary at another pack, which prohibits us from giving out her location without her express permission,” she said in a rush as I gaped “She was being abused by her own father and we failed to protect her. We can’t further traumatize her by handing out her personal information to a stranger, even if you are her mate. We would have to contact her on your behalf and go from there” she explained.
f**k. I swore violently under my breath. Grant looked pissed. “That night, when you met her,” he said slowly, his eyes darkening “You slept with her you bastard, didn’t you” he hissed “That’s why I felt the pain of her being with another.”
“Get over it” I snarled at him, clenching my hands into fists “She didn’t want you but she very much wanted me” I taunted him as he gritted his teeth.
“Boys” Aunt Mary exclaimed before there was a knock on the door.
She looked frustrated as she got up and opened the door. I stiffened as the most delicious scent wafted towards my nostrils.
“Jordan” I heard my Aunt exclaim “What are you doing here?” before a small group of shifters, including my gorgeous mate came wandering into the kitchen, My mate bit her lip, her eyes widening in sheer panic as she spotted me standing, her body tensing as though she was about to flee.
“Mate” I growled, as the two males with her each grabbed her hand, jealousy spiking through me “Get your hands off her” I roared and she blanched with fear, her face draining of color as my eyes darkened to almost black in anger.