Falling in love with my Ex's Alpha Chapter 22

***Katherine***

The icy wind heralding the end of winter touched my face as I waited for Jake in front of the hospital. It's been a week since I accepted Chad's stupid contract. During this time, I assimilated to the idea, especially after reading the contract after it was ready.

I thought Jake was going to be against this madness, but he not only agreed but encouraged me. He said he knows some of the competitors and is worried about what might happen if one of them wins, just like Chad said.

When I saw Jake's car, I took a deep breath. I hope I have the strength to do my part. As soon as Jake parked, I got in the car, and we headed towards the packhouse. That's where we'll have the meeting to sign the contract.

It took a while to get to the packhouse. I didn't realize how far it was until we got there. I've never been there either, so I have no idea what it's like there. On the way, Jake tried to calm me down by changing the subject every time I talked about the terms of the contract. We had arrived at the pack house by the time I was relaxed. After he parked in front of the packhouse, I took a deep breath and got out of the car.

I thought Diamond Claw's packhouse was something more maintained, but the mansion looked in ruins and in need of repairs. I thought there would be more people moving back and forth, just like in my pack, but I didn't see anyone besides Chad, he was at the door waiting for us.

We went to him, he hugged me, and I kissed his cheek, he widened his eyes in surprise and smiled at me very happily. Despite my nervousness, I figured he needed reassurance in a situation like this, not just anyone agrees to lend their girlfriend. I was right because he relaxed his shoulders.

"I missed you, gorgeous," he held my hand as we walked into the packhouse.

"I missed you too," Jake teased, and I grinned. Chad rolled his eyes but chuckled.

The inside of the packhouse looked as abandoned as the entrance, and to my surprise, there was no one in the packhouse. The lights were mostly off, except for the ones in the hallway, just to light our way to what I assume is Alpha's office. What happened here? Are they out of money for hydro?

It wasn't just me who thought it was strange that the packhouse was like that because when I looked at Jake, he had the same expression on his face as he scanned the inside of the packhouse from one side to the other. Chad noticed our stares and was a little uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything.

"Where is everybody?" Jake broke the silence.

"There are usually few people here during the day and nobody at night," he replied seriously and increased the speed of his steps. Jake and I realized that he didn't want to answer any more questions, so we continued to walk in silence until we arrived in a meeting room that didn't seem to be the Alpha's office.

Chad came in, then Jake, and finally me. Jason and Kaiden were already waiting for us. Kaiden was sitting in the main chair at a giant rectangular table. When I entered, he looked in my direction and then looked away again, completely ignoring me. Was that a look of disdain? My heart broke.

Jason got up from his chair and came running to Jake with a huge smile. I looked at Jake and saw that he was serious, but I knew that face of his. I know he's using all his strength not to smile back.

"I'm glad you came! I already missed both of you," Jason said, looking at Jake and then turning to hug me.

"Both of us? Huh, I'm going to pretend I believe you," I said, giggling. Jake smiled and then turned serious again.

"Let's start?" Chad said and led us to the table.

"Alpha," Jake greeted Alpha by lowering his head. I just looked at him and looked away, I didn't even know what to say, to be honest.

Chad sat on Kaiden's left side and opened the chair for me to sit next to him. I sat down, and Jake immediately sat next to me, Jason saw where Jake sat and sat next to him. That way Chad, me, Jake, and Jason were on one side, Kaiden in the main chair and on his right side completely empty. He looked at Jason with a face that looked like he was going to kill him, and then Jason reluctantly got up, apparently sad, and sat down on his right side.

In the center of the table were two folders, Chad handed me one, and I opened it so Jake and I could see it, and Kaiden took the other.

"Katie, I gave you the draft contract. Did you read it?" Chad asked, and all eyes turned to me.

"Yes," I stated.

"Are you aware that Kaiden won't mark you, he won't have any commitment with you, and that everything will be pretend?" Chad asked, still in a serious, professional tone. If I wasn't so nervous, I think I would be aroused.

"Yes," I said.

"Are you aware that you cannot reveal the contract to anyone except the people present here? And if that happens, will there be consequences?"

"Yes… Wait, what consequences?" I asked, scared.

"The clause says you will be expelled from the pack," he stated with a lump in his throat.

"What if someone finds out?" Jake asked.

"Well, if someone finds out and it's not because she told, then there will be no punishment. But actions will have to be taken, and you may have to step out of the pack for a while," Chad said.

The place was so silent that I could hear the wind moving through the trees outside. Everyone present seemed tense.

"Are you aware that the contract lasts until the end of the tournament?" Chad asked again.

"Yes," I replied.

"Well, that sucks," Jake replied.

"What did you say?" Kaiden asked, and I finally looked at him. This whole time, I had my head down while avoiding looking at him. I was also surprised by what Jake said, and I turned to him with a confused face.

"It's very funny how you're going to use Katie to get yourself assigned, you're not going to mark her, and once the tournament is over, you're going to dismiss her as if she doesn't matter. And worse, if you win the tournament, she'll still be known to have been rejected." Jake said with a death glare, looking at Kaiden, I didn't even recognize him at that moment. I've never seen him so serious.

I hadn't stopped to think about it, but now that the penny is sinking in, will my reputation always be "the one who was rejected"? What if Chad doesn't want anything to do with me after all this? At least I know I'll go back to my pack when my studies here are over.

"What did you say?" Kaiden screamed and slammed his hand on the table.

It was supposed to be a quiet and quick meeting. I think I was wrong.