Puppy Love
Chapter 37

~Charlotte~

My heart skipped a beat the moment I stepped into Alpha Justin’s office, and my eyes met Caspian’s.

Caspian of Cain Island stood there, exuding a commanding and magnetic aura. His dark hair framed his rugged face perfectly, contrasting with his piercing green eyes that seemed to hold secrets untold. The way he carried himself, tall and brawny, was a sight to behold – not overly muscular, but possessing the perfect amount of strength and bulkiness.

As my gaze lingered on him, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my chest.

His presence. was like that of a confident executive who knew how to command attention without even trying. His smile, oh, that smile, was nothing short of enchanting. It had a way of lighting up his face, making my heart race even faster.

Time seemed to stand still as our eyes remained locked, the world around us fading into insignificance. I could feel the attraction growing stronger with each passing second, a magnetic pull that I couldn’t deny. It was as if we were in our own world, oblivious to everything else.

At that moment, I found myself drawn to Caspian in a way I had never experienced before. His presence was intoxicating, and the intensity of our gaze held a promise of something unspoken, something powerful. My heart raced, my palms grew sweaty, and I felt a rush of emotions that I. couldn’t quite put into words.

As we stood there, our eyes locked, I realised that this was more than just a chance encounter. It was a connection that went beyond the surface, a meeting of souls that defied logic. And as the world continued to fade away around us, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held.

My heart refused to calm down, its rhythm irregular as I gazed at Alpha Caspian. At that moment, it felt as though the entire world had come to a halt, leaving just him and me. It was an inexplicable sensation that had taken over me, leaving me bewildered. The room’s noise faded into the background, leaving behind a strange. silence that amplified the intensity of our connection.

The scent of forests and hazelwood wrapped around me, and I could sense the restlessness of Ria, my wolf, within me. She was eager, almost desperate, to burst forth and react to the powerful presence before us. I grappled with these impulses, fighting to maintain control over myself.

I attempted to hold my composure, but deep down, I knew the truth. I knew exactly what was happening to me.

Why now? Why did it have to be him? Caspian, the Alpha of Cain Island, stood before me, a force to be reckoned with. Beside me, Marvin stood oblivious to the turmoil brewing within me. Words escaped me, my mind caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

And his appearance didn’t make things any easier.

Caspian was undeniably handsome, a striking figure that defied reality. It almost felt unfair for a man to possess such devastating looks. But it wasn’t just his appearance; it was the aura he carried, the air of authority and power that surrounded him like a cloak. 2

His piercing green eyes locked onto mine, and I struggled to tear my gaze away from his magnetic pull. The battle within me raged on as I fought to regain my sense of self. I fought against the waves of attraction, against the magnetic force that seemed to draw me closer to him.

Finally, he looked away, breaking the intense connection that had held us captive for a moment.

The spell was broken, and the room began to regain its normalcy, its sounds returning as if waking from a deep slumber. As I exhaled a shaky breath, I realised that this encounter had stirred something deep within me – a mix of curiosity, trepidation, and an undeniable allure that I couldn’t deny.

“Alpha Caspian is here to join the investigation,”

Justin’s voice broke through, but my attention was divided as I wrestled with my wolf, attempting to rein in her unruly impulses.

“The council believes that Caspian’s case might be tied to Grizlo. They think that together we can uncover what’s been happening at the ports and docks,” Justin continued, and I shifted my focus to him, struggling to concentrate on his words while battling the insistent bond.

Summoning all my strength, I met Justin’s gaze, determined to remain composed despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “I want you all to include him in the proceedings and treat him with respect,” Justin instructed us, his words ringing in the air.

“Yes, Alpha,” came the chorus of agreement from most of us, but I stayed silent. I knew that if I uttered a word, the truth would spill out – the truth about the bond that had formed between me and Caspian. The word “mate” would inevitably escape my lips, and I couldn’t afford to crumble in front of my cousins.

As the unspoken bond surged within me, I grappled with my conflicted thoughts. Caspian was an enigma to me, a puzzle piece I couldn’t quite place. Did he already have someone in his life? Would he accept the bond, or would he reject it? The flood of questions drowned my mind, and an overwhelming sense of fear gripped me – the fear of rejection, the fear of longing, the fear of unrequited love that plagued so many fated pairs.

Such anxieties were common among those destined to be together, yet separated by circumstances or time. Our age gap only added to my worries. I was certain there was already someone who held his heart. I yearned to flee, to escape the confines of the office and replace a quiet corner to collect my thoughts, but I knew it wouldn’t be proper. So, I stayed put, summoning every ounce of strength to remain composed in the face of this tempest.

I stood there, locked in a battle between hope and apprehension, praying that my heart wouldn’t be shattered by the complexities of fate. The anticipation was suffocating, but I held on, determined to face whatever lay ahead, even as my heart threatened to splinter into a thousand pieces.

“Feel free to keep him updated,” Justin’s voice rang out as he dismissed us from the meeting. I wasted no time in leaving, stepping away swiftly, my gaze locked ahead. I had no intention of looking back; it was safer that way. My pace wasn’t hurried, a deliberate choice to avoid arousing any suspicion. Down the hallway, I made my way toward the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the corridors.

The weight of the situation hung heavy on my shoulders. I sought refuge in the Alpha’s wing, without second-guessing, headed straight to my room. As the door closed behind me, I found myself finally able to exhale, attempting to steady the rapid rise and fall of my chest.

“Coward,” Ria, my wolf, whispered within me. I remained silent, her words resonating with the fears that had settled within me. The fear of rejection was palpable, a chilling reality that had prevented my sister and I from actively searching for our destined mates. At the age of eighteen, my sisters and I had shifted our focus away from such discussions, avoiding the topic altogether.

Though I had spoken openly about the concept of fated bonds with my cousins and others, deep down, a heavy sense of dread lingered. The façade I projected belied a fragile heart, one that held the potential to shatter if placed in the wrong hands. It wasn’t just a matter of appearing tough; it was a-defence mechanism against the very real vulnerability that came with opening one’s heart to the unknown.

The room provided a temporary refuge as I stood there, grappling with the rush of emotions. The fear of what could be, of what lay ahead, consumed me.