*Danika*
“I told you we are just friends! Why can’t you believe me?” Why can’t I just grow stone-hearted like every other person and learn to mind my business?
While I had left with Alfred for my run, I felt relaxed, but deep inside still had this hollow feeling that Alonso wasn’t alright. I tried to ignore it but it won’t just go away.
Now, after the competitive run-which to my uttermost chagrin joke apart-I was still wondering how Alfred bested me, he had declared I was going to carry out my pushups punishment in our next training, and I had after arguing with him that he cheated, eventually accepted my fate. We had done other wolf training including heightening my senses to grasp any lurking enemy, and how to break through barriers in case I find myself in a territory and they try to cage me with their barriers.
He also taught me to properly hide my scent from spreading out and how I can fetch out a scent that is hidden-an ability that is peculiar to only Hybrids. I had learned quite a lot that I was at-the-doormat exhausted and had to beg Alfred to take me back home. It was already very dark by now.
Alfred wasn’t pleased, according to him we could train till midnight if we wanted and it won’t be a big deal. Normally, I wouldn’t have worried, as far as I keep learning new things. However, I know my position and knew the effect of any action I take and the impact it would have on my dear mate. Call me stupid. I still put him into consideration even though he is an asshat.
Getting home, I went to my bedroom after biding Alfred good night and took my bath, wore the nightie stretched on the bed by Nadia, and was about to retire when my mind went to Alonso. Out of curiosity, I decided to go and check if by chance he would be at the study so I could try talking to him again. I figured it wasn’t the right thing considering how it often ended up- me being ravished and daubed with insults. Still, I couldn’t ignore him. The best measure I had to take was to change back into a cover-all-something I know can’t attract any man to me, instead would repulse them.
Just as I had presumed it, that was how it turned out. Not long have my feet set inside the study-seeing his drunk self-sprawled on his chair in the room- did he look me thoroughly over and flung the whore word at me. I was getting used to this.
“You think me a fool right? You must think I’m very stupid. You leave the house to the forest to have him touch you and now you bring chaff to me?” He was still accusing me, his blue eyes now glinting off a green depth, a sign that he was struggling with his wolf.
“I am innocent,” I bit out, a few feet away- “… I only came here because I couldn’t bear sleeping, knowing you were out here by yourself, not to give you my chaffed self as you think,” I sneered.
“I am now the pathetic one, huh?” he clipped, dropped the bottle in his hand, and clapped them together in a quarrelsome gesture. “I thought I would never see this day when a woman shall take pity on me. But here we go!” he finished off, laughing sardonically.
“I don’t pity you. Just because you are cold doesn’t mean we should all be like you. You are my mate and I suffer when you are hurting. Tell me what to do to help you, Alonso. I beg you.” I sounded like I was begging now.
He pointed his index finger at me, narrowing his eyes in a forbidden stance. “It is Alpha to you, Danika. How many times will I have to say that? And if you want to help me, then stay the fuck away from me!”
“You are a prickhead! I will only call you Alpha when you act like one!”
Two seconds he was beside me, caging me into his arms, his hot breath fanning my face. I cringed in disgust at the extent of the stench of the alcohol in his breath making me want to puke. I pushed at his hard chest which was immovable, not wanting my body to start reacting to his presence before I would have achieve why I came here.
“You think he is better than me? He is a snake. You know nothing about him until he stings you,” he said calmly, yet I didn’t miss the sharp edge to his voice.
“At least he is able to mask his shell long enough. Something you can’t pull off, no matter how much you cannot keep your hands off me.” I felt him go still and took the chance to push him away, releasing myself from his grasp.
I stood far off, eyeing him. My body was heated, the little contact already causing heat to begin pooling on my panties. I know the mate bond makes mates easily grow horny when they are together but these days mine has increased to the maximum and I know why. It’s almost full moon. A period when our pull to the moon becomes more powerful. During this period, there would be side effects, one of which is the maximum attraction to our better half, not to mention we are both Hybrids, and he is an Alpha King.
“You have to leave now,” he muttered lowly that I had only heard it because I had a sharp hearing.
“Do you still think about her?” The words were out before I could stop them. I gauged his reaction to my question and saw his shoulders that were backing me tense up before he pivoted to face me. I blinked in fear but didn’t break our eye contact.
“Who told you about her?”
I shrugged. “I hear rumors. I am in your territory and I’m bound to catch the gossip.”
“He did, didn’t he?”
“He didn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me.” He was coming back. I started backing away to the door.
“Don’t lie to me, Danika. I smell lies.”
“Then you should know I say the truth.”
He growled and stopped mid-room while I was halfway down the door.
I garnered he might be trying to distract me from the question which I wasn’t willing to allow him to, so I squared my shoulders and came back, not willing to let him off the hook that easily.
“Tell me about her, please. Just a little. I want to hear about her from you, not another. What was she like? What is it you liked so much about her that won’t make you loosen up? Please I j-”
“Get out, Danika!” He pointed behind me, steel in his voice.
I stood my ground. “I want to help you.”
“Get the fuck out!”
“I won’t. Do your worst.”
He stilled, the side of his mouth lifting in a snarl. I could sense his wolf surfacing, fear taking over me, but this new morale I am gathering won’t allow me to have sense. He was still appraising me darkly, possibly deciding what to do with me.
“Okay. If you won’t talk about her, let’s talk about… your Mom. Yes, your Mom.” I balled my fingers, released them, and boldly walked to the chair in front of his desk to sit down. He still hasn’t said a word or done anything. Was he that angry with my question? Did it trigger anything foul or bring back old forgotten memories?
Oh, Gad. Danika! We should go slow and steady. If I am going to win him over to trust me, I should learn to take it one step at a time. No rush.
“You still don’t want to talk about your Mom? Fine, then let’s… drink!” I eyed the bottle on the table, deciding to let him come to his desk by himself without any cajoling from me. Reaching my hand out, I picked up the mug and started pouring a drink into it. That caught his attention.
“What are you doing?” he asked me.
“Just want to taste it. Since I was little I see people, including my Dad take this but have never gotten the chance. Hope you don’t mind?” I was already tipping it in my mouth, the same time grabbing the edge of the desk as my eyes rolled back in aversion.
“Jeez! This tastes like shit! How come y’all take it comfortably like it’s some orange juice?” I dumped my mug on the table, nipping on my lips that now tasted sour. When I looked up at him, I caught his half-smile which rapidly wiped off to be replaced by a scowl, him eventually striding back to sit down.
“You shouldn’t drink this. Not your type.”
I snorted. “I see girls take it. My sister used to.”
“Your sister was wild. I saw it in her face that day -a she-wolf bold enough to use black magic,” he scoffed.
“I agree with you on that one. I’m sorry, I didn’t get to properly thank you for putting her in her place. She was the bane of my life. My worst nightmare,” I was rattling on, picking up the glass to take another round.
“Go slow on this, Danika, I can’t carry you to your room. Anyone could see us.”
I scrunched up my nose in the air. “I am not going to get drunk. I have a strong head.”
“I absolutely agree.” The way he said it sounded sarcastic.
*THIRTY MINUTES LATER*
“Is this you or that one?” I pointed to another version of Alonso that was sitting by his side, both of them having awkward facial expressions that looked like a smile. Why the fuck are they smiling? Am I a clown?
“That’s it! Let’s get you to bed, Munchkin!” They both rose and came to me, grabbing me out of the chair to his body in bridal style. I held him, sniffing into his PJ that scented so nice and masculine.
“You smell so nice, Al.” I created a sweet pet name for him.
“Don’t say another word,” he muttered as we began climbing the stairs.
“Okay,” I whispered, relaxing into him. My head was swirling, actually, everything is.
When he placed me on my bed, I missed his body and reached out to grab his hand to me when he started pulling out. “Please stay. I want to feel you. Just a little, please.”
They both had an uncertain look on their faces, alas, exhaling and joining me on the bed. I cuddled into him, the last thing I heard before sleep lured me in, being… “What do you do to me, Danika?”
…