Alpha Hunter

Chapter 20

Reyna Cruz:

“Turner! I said no,” I shook my head at him once again. He kept suggesting coming to the office with me ever since he overheard me and Polline talking about who would stay with him in the morning. I was already running late, and he wouldn’t stop bothering me

He hadn’t been like this before. It was only recently that he started acting so strangely.

“Turner! Don’t trouble your mother, dear,” Polline chimed in as she put on a movie on the TV.

“Tin just saying, Mom. You don’t have to change your plans until Monday. I’ll be okay with you. It’s not like there will be many people at the office today. I can wait in the lobby without bothering anyone,” he continued, and I frowned at him for paying such close attention to our conversation, even knowing that the office wouldn’t have many employees working today. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Listen, I can’t take care of you in the office today. I have a deadline to meet, and I need to fully focus on my work. Besides, Polline has already canceled her plans. So, stay at home, watch movies, or play games,” I gently patted his shoulder, leaning over to plant a kiss on his cheek as a farewell.

“Alright, but I won’t accept rejection every time, he muttered, looking visibly upset as he walked back to be with Polline. I grabbed my stuff and hurried out of the house on my way to the office. I didn’t want to give Hunter any chance to hassle me. He was a real office bully, at least when it came to me. With others, though, he acted all friendly and laid–back.

Once I reached the office, I rushed to my desk and found Jeffrey and Hunter waiting for me.

“Sorry, I’m late,” I cleared my throat as I apologized and took my seat.

“It’s okay. We just got here too, Jeffery smiled, offering me some assistance with the files. The next few hours were spent discussing the project and various details.

This was the only time Hunter didn’t make any comments or tease me about anything. I had known from the start that he was very dedicated and focused on his work.

“Alright! How about we take a short break? I’ll go grab some coffee and snacks,” Jeffery got up and left the room, leaving me alone with Hunter.

Now that his focus had shifted away from work, I noticed him leaning back in his chair, tilting his body weight to one side. His elbow was bent over the chair’s handle, and his fingers rested under his chin. His eyes shamelessly stared at me.

I wasn’t looking directly at him, but I could sense his gaze on me. I tried to pretend I was focused on the files in my hands, but it was becoming uncomfortably awkward.

“What are you doing this Sunday?” His words hit my ears like a surprise. I was shocked that, for once, he wasn’t using a bitter. Jone with me.

“Me?” I asked, pointing a finger at myself.

“No! I was talking to the file in your hands, he joked, without a smile or a laugh.

“I’ll be at home,” I mumbled, typically avoiding bringing up my son. I believed that if I didn’t talk about him, he might forget I had a son, and he wouldn’t interfere in our lives.

“With your son?” he inquired, and my heart skipped a beat. I felt uneasy hearing him mention Turner.

“Yeah, I replied, keeping my eyes down.

“So, you’re available then,” he added, and I felt a shiver. I slowly closed the files and adjusted my posture to look at him. The moment our eyes met, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Why are you asking?” I inquired in a soft voice, showing my confusion. I hoped he wasn’t trying to invite us out for dinner.

“I have something planned. I was thinking if you and your son aren’t doing anything, you could come,” there it was, the invitation. Why did he want to spend time with us?

Could it be possible that he suspected Turner to be his son? I was suddenly reminded of what Polline had told me yesterday about him. She claimed that Hunter wasn’t happy in his relationship. Could it be his attempt to–no! But he hates me. He thinks I cheated on him, so why would he suddenly want to spend time with us!

“You seem unusually quiet,” he removed his hand from the chair and opened the drawer to retrieve a purple envelope. I silently watched him place it on the desk and slide it over to me.

I grabbed it, and after giving him a quizzical look, I opened the envelope. It was indeed an invitation. But the contents of the card brought me back to reality.

I had wanted him to regret for the longest time, but at this point, I was beginning to feel like a fool. It was a birthday invitation and not just any invitation, but Tara’s birthday

“It’s okay if you’re feeling a bit down…. his comment was cut off by a scoff from me.

“Why would I feel low?” I forced a confident smile on my lips, even though I was deeply hurt.

“I mean, it must not be easy for you to walk back into the mansion and attend such a big party without being the center of attention like you used to be,” he shrugged, his pride evident, making it clear that he wouldn’t rest until he made me uncomfortable every day.

“You used to be the Luna queen. I hope you’re not jealous of Tara… as he continued to irritate me. I let out a laugh and hit myself where it hurt the most.

In my heart!

“Of course, I’ll come,” I shrugged too. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t the same Reyna who would have been jealous, no longer the broken mate who had watched her mate dance with her best friend and went back to her room crying.

“Really? Well, then we’d love to have you and your son join us,” he added, and I began to realize what he was doing.

“My son!” I pointed at my chest while I searched for an excuse. “He can’t come.”

I didn’t know what else to say. It was as if saying even a little more even want Hunter to know his birthdate.

e about Tu

Turner would expose some facts about him. I didn’t

“So you’re leaving him home alone?” he inquired, and I vigorously shook my

head

“I have a nanny for him, I lied. I just didn’t want to tell him about Polline. Everything was making me suspicious of him. What if he starts researching Polline’s background and finds out she rents the

cheapest apartments for newly kicked–out members? He might investigate further and discover that I was pregnant when I was kicked out,

“Okay! No issues. We’ll await your arrival,” there was a smirk of satisfaction on his face as he watched me put the invitation. card in my purse. Even as I tried my best to look content, I could tell he saw right through me. The car would help me get back into the pack for the night.

Sometimes it was incredibly difficult to sit in front of him and act like we were strangers. There was a time when he would display jealousy whenever anyone tried to flirt with me. But now, he had changed so much. He loved Tara and hated me.

However, my focus was on the birthday party now. How on earth would I go back to the pack and face everyone?

We didn’t do anything wrong, so we shouldn’t be afraid of facing the others, Nera was right. I would return with my head held high and respond to anyone who tried to insult me.