*Danika*
She can’t get pregnant for the Alpha.
She can’t get pregnant for the Alpha.
That was the only thing replaying in my head long after she later left the house, after receiving a link from Alonso. I had wanted to go with her. I swear I couldn’t bear it. To think she thought we could actually be friends!
Highly outrageous!
I shouldn’t blame her though, it’s all his fault.
Here I am prancing the length of the house from one end to another, telling myself that he won’t sleep with her.
I went to the room before, but the confinement of my space wasn’t even enough. It was making me go nuts. I felt like the more I stayed there the more I’m giving leverage to what is likely to happen.
I left the room, meaning to go to the Alpha’s house, but on getting down the stairs, I changed my mind.
I was now in the living room, cursing at whatever is still keeping Lance from coming back since morning.
Then I heard a sound from the lobby and paused in my movement, my ears perked up as I await whosoever it is to show.
Lance strutted in, his eyes widening at seeing me. I ran to him.
“Hey, are you okay?” he inquired, sleep lines creasing his forehead.
“I am not fine, Lance,” I went ahead to say, my face fully morphed into a worry line.
“What’s the problem?”
“She came here.”
“Who came here?”
“Her. The girl he wants to make his Luna.”
“Paisley?” he quizzed in disbelief.
I nodded vigorously. “She said she wanted us to be friends. We talked at length. Then she said she was planning to get the Alpha to make her pregnant.”
“Oh,” he said as he pushed passed me, making his way to the biggest couch to sit down, seemingly not moved by what I said.
I went to him, still in a frenzy. “Are you not bothered?”
He looked up at me. “Even though I am, there is nothing anyone can do about it. It’s left for the Alpha to decide if he wants to do that,”
“But you can stop it.”
“How?”
“By telling him. I would have, but you know he won’t believe me. He would probably think I’m going nuts or dubbing.”
He exhaled, his fingers brushing his hair back in concern. “Danika. Maybe you should focus on yourself and leave things you can’t handle to take care of themselves.”
“Why are you sounding like it’s normal for me to let my mate sleep with another woman? I… I… I can’t bear the very thought,” my voice was breaking.
He looked about him, before turning to me, “You know no one is supposed to know about this, keep it down,” he hushed.
I shook my head in defeat and shifted from him, my heart twisting into knots. I felt so dejected. Very stupid and inadequate.
I stood and began walking to the stairs meaning to go back to my room.
“Where are you going?” Lance asked, and I halted in my movement, somewhat feeling rebellious.
Slowly, I twisted to look at him and replied, “To my room.”
“Oh, can I speak to you for a moment, about something important?”
“Oh, okay.” I came to sit done on another couch, my hand neatly tucked on top of my lap as I looked everywhere but at him.
“Danika, I know you are hurting very much from what Alonso is doing but I need you to know that there is nothing I can do about it, if it wasn’t so, trust me I would have helped.”
“It’s okay,” I muttered, still not meeting his eyes not wanting him to see the extent of my pain. “How was your meeting last night?” I asked to divert the attention from the present topic.
He chuckled, earning my scrutiny. “I think it’s because of what I had told him about us having a busy night yesterday at the beach, that made him declare an all-night with me,”
“There was no meeting?”
“Uhm… we kind of had a little meeting but it wasn’t that significant. He kept bringing up topics of little consequence to keep us busy while drinking. By the time we were through, I was deep into the cups that I couldn’t come back. I had to have a sleepover. That was why I came in late.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, thinking of what he said. So my mate is indignant of me sleeping with another man while he could freely do that with other women?
Nice piece of knowledge. What an absurd man.
“So, what now?” I asked, already weary of my present location. I needed air, freedom, anything but to be here. I wish I have found my wolf so I can go to the forest and have a wide run. That way I will exert myself and puff off some bad energy.
He sat up from his couch his face turning awry. I knew he had something profound to tell me.
“The Alpha thinks you should be kept busy around the pack.”
“Busy?”
“Yea. He said I should engage you in some pack activities, one that you can fit into since you don’t have your wolf yet.”
“Okay.” I flipped away a strand of hair that was on my face, fighting back tears from slipping down my face. I won’t cry. Not in front of Lance.
You are strong, Danika. I chanted, while I wait for him to finish.
“So which activity did he suggest?” I held my head high to ask when he didn’t continue.
Lance shuffled in his seat, looking out of place.
“He said you are to start working at the pack infirmary, and should be in charge of the pups there.”
“Pups? I hate pups!” I didn’t know when it flew out of my mouth. But I’m serious. I don’t feel comfortable around those littluns. Anytime I’m around them I feel suffocated, heady overwhelmed, name them.
“Wow. Why?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, moving back on my couch, still maintaining a sober face. “I… I just feel suffocated around them. That’s all.”
“He specifically said you have to work there, Danika, I don’t know-”
“You have to beg him on my behalf. He can make me do anything, just anything, but that. I can’t be around them.” I deadpanned, the very thought sounding irritating to me.
“Danika-”
“Please!” I clamored, setting my palms together.
His eyes twitched in discomfort hence he sighed, flopped back on the couch his fingers finding the bridge of his nose and pinching them, “Fine… I will see what I can do. But for now, I have to go to the border. This evening we would be having dinner with them, says Theresa.”
“Again?”
“Yea, she seems to have taken a particular liking to you,”
*
That evening, just like the last time, I was prepped up for the dinner by Mary and came down to meet with Lance who had a bouquet and a card written ‘smile’ on it.
I had smiled to appease him not that it was in any way from my heart.
During the dinner, at first everywhere was as quiet as a graveyard save for the clattering of spoons on plates.
Then, Alfred in his infinite notoriety for being a pest decided to make me the center of his attention.
“So, Lance, why do you hide your mate inside all the time?” he asked.
Lance being caught unaware, looked between me and him, apparently lacking words.
Theresa chuckled coquettishly. “Why won’t he? I mean look at her,” she nodded to me making me wish at that moment to disappear. I knew my cheeks would be the color of tomatoes and simply looked down at my plate. “Isn’t she worth hiding? Such a great beauty.”
I choked and was rescued by Lance who quickly rushed to pop a bottle of water for me.
“Well, you are right, mother. If I had her as mate, I will handcuff her to me and never allow another eye to behold her002C” what he said seemed to strike a particular chord in them, leading to unified laughter.
“I like her too,” Paisley spoke up for the first time. “We became friends today and she let me do all the talking, can you imagine that baby?” She batted her faux lashes at the scowling Alonso. If he heard her he didn’t make a sound.
“Maybe you should consider learning to be a proper Luna than running around looking for friendship, just friendly advice,” Alfred shot at her, making her give him the bird’s eye.
“I am a perfect Luna, isn’t it Theresa?” She fluttered her lashes to Theresa who responded by making a noncommittal sound down her throat.
To be frank, I was relieved to a great extent.
“Can we please have a civil dinner, free of unnecessary chatters? For crying out loud!” sizzled the dominant voice of Alonso abruptly effecting a silent atmosphere.
For once, I was relieved until we finished our dinner, and inside I was jubilating for our exit but Alfred the busybody had other plans.
“So Lance, since you will be going to the border tomorrow morning, why don’t I take your mate to the new commissioned recreation park?” My eyes snapped to him from my glass and saw a very arrogant smirk hovering on his face, as he waited.
Lance was quiet, and I knew why. He didn’t know how to respond to the demand and how the Alpha would feel about it.
“That won’t be possible, brother,” remarked Alonso calmly, his prominent dark grimace on as he appraised Alfred.
“Why not, brother?” Alfred drawled dryly, swirling his finger on the edge of his reflector.
“Because henceforth, she would be working in the pack infirmary as the pup’s nursemaid,” this time his feral regard was at me while he said that.
My throat went dry and the back of my eyes stung with tears. Yet, I was helpless and just sat there looking, my inside hastily crumbling down.
And somehow from the fierce look in his eyes, I knew he was resolute about his declaration.
The tears almost spilling, I hastily stood and without a thought to my action, I…
…