Free Web NovelChapter 127: Chapter 127 The Alpha’s Struggle
Author’s POV
Caesar’s silver-blue eyes stared unseeing at the financial projections on his screen. His wolf paced restlessly inside him, agitated by his mate’s continued absence. Days had passed since Sylvia had retreated to the Frostfang Pack territory. When she wasn’t there, she’d been sleeping at the office, claiming the international projects needed her constant attention.
The bond between them was now stretched thin by silence and distance.
The more collected Sylvia appeared, the more Caesar found himself losing his legendary control.
His employees had noticed. The entire Vertex headquarters had become a minefield of tense silence. Staff members entered meetings with racing pulses, afraid to breathe wrong around their Alpha. Even Dylan kept his reports brief and factual.
"Alpha, the contracts from the European packs have been finalized," Dylan said, sliding the documents across Caesar’s desk before retreating a safe distance.
Caesar merely grunted, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.
Dylan knew better than to mention what everyone in the company whispered about: the Alpha’s mood swings had everything to do with his Luna’s absence. Pack business was pack business, but mate troubles were something even a Beta couldn’t fix.
Though Caesar appeared focused on work, his thoughts continually drifted to Sylvia. What was she doing now? Was she sitting in her mother’s territory, letting her wolf run free through the Frostfang forests? Or was she buried in paperwork at Frostline Enterprises, forgetting to eat again?
The mate was stubborn enough to let this cold war continue indefinitely. And what for? Because he’d refused to send Helena away? Because his childhood friend had asked one provocative question?
Caesar hadn’t even wanted to return home with Helena there alone. The thought made his skin crawl for reasons he couldn’t fully articulate. But now, after days of silence, his patience had worn thin.
He picked up his phone, thumb hovering over Sylvia’s name for what felt like an eternity before finally typing: "Sylvia, are you coming home tonight?"
He considered adding more, something about missing her scent in their bed, about the house feeling wrong without her presence...but deleted it all. His Alpha pride wouldn’t allow such naked vulnerability. Not yet.
Minutes stretched into hours with no reply, and Caesar’s wolf grew increasingly agitated. He’d never worried about Sylvia before, she was an Alpha female, perfectly capable of handling herself, but now the silence was maddening.
He made an impulsive decision. That night, he would go home and prepare something special. A peace offering of sorts.
Helena had been alone in their house for days, bored without anyone to provoke or manipulate. When she heard the front door open, her pulse quickened with anticipation.
"Cae! I knew it would be you," she called out, rising from the couch with practiced grace, her voice dripping honey.
Caesar barely glanced her way. "Good. Go back to whatever you were doing."
Without waiting for her response, he strode past her toward the kitchen, his mind already focused on preparing Sylvia’s favorite dish, tacos with that special salsa recipe.
Helena stood frozen, momentarily stunned by the dismissal. Then, regaining her composure, she followed him into the kitchen, her voice rising half an octave in that sickly-sweet tone that made his wolf’s hackles rise.
"Cae, is there anything I can help you with?" She leaned against the counter, deliberately positioning herself in his line of sight.
"No. I need you to leave the kitchen." His eyes remained fixed on the ingredients he was gathering, his tone leaving no room for argument.
But Helena wasn’t one to take hints, especially not when they contradicted what she wanted. She didn’t budge, instead tilting her head with calculated innocence.
"Oh Cae, it’s been so long since I’ve tasted your cooking," she purred, inching closer. "Are you making this for me?"
Caesar finally looked up, his silver-blue eyes cold enough to freeze hellfire. His wolf snarled beneath the surface, territorial instincts flaring at her presumption. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"You can have whatever’s left," he stated flatly. "This isn’t your concern. Go find something else to occupy yourself with."
He returned to kneading the dough for the taco shells, a process that required time and patience, something he was rapidly running short on. The tacos were Sylvia’s favorite comfort food, especially after long days of meetings and negotiations. If anything could coax his stubborn mate home, it would be this.
Helena remained rooted to the spot, seemingly immune to his dismissals. Her eyes traced the sharp lines of his profile—the proud jut of his nose, the sensual curve of his lips as he concentrated on his task. Even in domestic activity, Caesar radiated dominance and raw power.
But the knowledge that all this effort was for another woman made jealousy coil like a viper in her stomach. Why was Caesar lowering himself to prepare meals for a woman who couldn’t even appreciate him? Sylvia didn’t deserve this devotion. She’d barely been mated to him for any time at all, while Helena had stood by his side since childhood.
It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.
Yet Helena knew better than to voice these thoughts. Instead, she watched in silent fury as Caesar meticulously prepared each element of the meal with the same precision he applied to business acquisitions and territory negotiations.
Hours later, with the tacos perfectly assembled and kept warm, Caesar checked the time. Sylvia should be finishing up at the office soon. He sent another text: "Food’s ready if you’re hungry."
The minutes ticked by with no response. The light in Caesar’s eyes dimmed slightly, though he maintained his composure. He carefully wrapped the tacos to preserve their warmth and freshness, determined that Sylvia would taste them at their best, whenever she deigned to come home.
From her position at the dining table, Helena observed his careful ministrations with growing bitterness. The sight of Caesar Conrad tenderly wrapping tacos made her stomach turn.
If only he would look at her with a fraction of that devotion. If only he would realize who truly belonged at his side.
