*Danika*
“I still can’t comprehend why both of you are always at each other’s throat, Alfred. You are brothers and are supposed to love yourselves. You hardly allow him to breathe, that’s not fair,” I charged at Alfred the instant the waiter left two glasses of margarita on our table.
He had told me he wanted me to check out the coolest place he just discovered in the pack, and this was the result. The place was as cool as he described-a beach bar with canopied tables. The chilly breeze blowing across the blue depth specially made it hypnotizing.
A nice environment, I agree with him.
“My brother is an arsehole who thinks the world should revolve around him. I don’t pity him one bit. He deserves everything he gets and more,” Alfred asserted in a vicious tone, for the first time since I met him, breaking through his calm exterior. Most times when we talked about his brother in the past, he usually gave me a bleak response.
“Wow. It’s that deep? If it’s because of him being the Alpha King, why don’t you talk it out with him? You can support him since there is nothing you can do about it now. Don’t you think so?” Very cold icy set of blues clashed on me, seemingly disappointed with my suggestion.
I lifted my hands-on air for peace. Alfred is my friend and even though I wanted him to mend ways with his brother, I can’t afford to be on his bad side.
He huffed, picked up his glass, and sipped from it. “I’m sorry how I reacted. I just hate it when someone takes his side over me. No one knows what it feels like to be overthrown in power by one’s own brother. Since we were pups my father always took his side over me. He thought Alonso was better than me. Rational than me. Could lead the Kingdom more than me. He even personally trained him, something I would have slain to get. It killed me inside.”
While he was speaking, I listened attentively, beginning to have mixed feelings. I feel bad that all this happened to him because I can relate to how it feels. Yet, the way Alfred talks, makes me think he might be harboring grave ill for Alonso. Alfred is my friend but no matter what, Alonso still remains my mate. Alfred talked about his father choosing Alonso over him as though his mother wasn’t choosing him over Alonso. Has he stopped to think how that makes Alonso feel?
My father loved Bianca more than he did me, and never hid it in any way. However, irrespective of how cold my father treated me, it never made me one day contemplate evil for them. So, sitting here and watching him say these things gave me chills.
Regardless, I didn’t express these things to him so he doesn’t think further that I wasn’t with him. Maybe I can pretend to take his side so he can be open with me.
“So what are you planning to do now? I mean, it’s apparent you detest him so much. Or is it just to continue fighting with him? Hating him?” I straightened my back on the lounge, picking up the glass of sunset yellow substance to gobble slightly.
He looked to the beach in thought for a split second, his wolf eyes flashing through-“For now, I will do my duties by the pack. It’s almost full moon and as mother said, shits are bound to go wrong if proper measures are not taken. I just hope he breaks out of that shell of a delusional belief that he has built so much forte over the packs that no one would dare go against him. That might be his greatest downfall.” He was still watching the beach while he made the statement but I reflected on them like a message.
Does he know something that he isn’t spilling?
Before I came to this pack, it was not news that no one dares to cross paths with the Alpha King, knowing how ruthless he is. He protects all the packs beneath his Kingdom with an iron fist, so how can Alfred say that, like he is certain something is bound to happen? This conversation was making me tenser. I just hope adverse to his word, nothing happens. Every time I hear about a bad omen befalling this pack, it takes my mind to my mother’s warning in my dream.
I shook my head, concentrating on the booze in my hand. I hope this one is not as intoxicating as the one I had in Alonso’s study last night.
“Are you okay?” Alfred asked me, and I blinked severally, nodding my head at him, followed with a slight smile. To distract him from our present conversation, I chose another line of discussion. “I just wish Lance would come back soon enough. I miss him so much.”
His stony look slowly melted away to be replaced by a soft one. “I know you miss him so much and he must miss you too. It’s not normal for him to go on this kind of mission and then it had to be when he met his mate,” he huffed, took my hands in his, and squeezed hard. “You will be alright. Mother said he will be back very soon. There is no way he won’t make it back before the full moon, the heat period will drive him crazy.”
I blushed crimson, retrieving my hands to look away to the beach. I tugged a fallen strand of my hair behind my ear, my cheeks scalding from his statement.
That didn’t stop him. “What? You make it look like he hasn’t touched you or you are not starting to feel the heat too.” When my eyes snapped to his in stupefaction, he winked at me with that evil smirk on his flawless face. My blush was still intact. I shook my head and averted my gaze once more, choosing to ignore his ridiculous assertion. Suddenly, I want to go home. I want to see someone so badly because Alfred’s statement has pooled heat underneath my legs and makes me want to do things highly unholy. If only he knows what his comment was doing to me, or the fact that my true mate was close by. Well, he is right on the part of me being on heat and truly needing my mate.
“Can we leave now? I feel a little feverish, please,” I said as I started gathering my stuff in my bag. I stole a glimpse around to the others in the bar, but everyone was submerged in themselves, not caring who was nearby. I think this place is my favorite place henceforth.
“Is it because of what I said? C’mon, I’m just kidding,” Alfred hissed, plainly not ready to leave.
“No! I am just tired. You know we came from the training site, I need to rest before dinner tonight. It has nothing to do with you.” I waved away his comment and rose from the chair when he nodded dejectedly, rising from his seat. He took my hand and dragged me on, even though I tried to snatch it back. Alfred is just too much.
On our way home, there was absolute silence, making me feel guilty that I had cut short our outing just to satiate my horny self. That’s very selfish of me.
Suddenly, the car came to a stop by the side of the road and Alfred went on a tirade, his fist hitting the steering repeatedly like he just lost his senses. I was alarmed, filled with apprehension, and didn’t know what to do.
“Talk to me, Alfred! What’s the problem?” We were cool back there, what is wrong with him? I noticed his mood change the minute I told him we had to leave. “I’m sorry if it’s because… I… I just need to rest, okay? We can always co-” Air was knocked out of me.
His body lunged at me, grabbed me, and crushed me to him. I went still, gobsmacked. This is inappropriate and would create a big mess if someone saw us, and my body was reacting to it-wrongly.
Which makes it worst.
I started struggling, pushing at his arms to untangle from me. Eventually, he loosened his arms, tore away from me but didn’t leave me. Instead, he cupped my face in his big hands and looked me deeply in the eyes. Fuck! Those beautiful eyes were smeared with tears. Tears? What’s happening? And the problem is at this point looking at him, all I see is Alonso.
“I’m so sorry, Danika, I just can’t help myself,” he mumbled, and just before I would relate to what he was saying, he slowly leaned in and took my lips in a slow kiss. I was shocked at first, my heartbeat thudding in my ears so loud I thought I was gonna die.
This cannot be happening again. My friend, kissing me. Again! What the heck? Do something, Danika! I can’t breathe, his scent is spellbinding like that of my mate. Everything is foggy as if I am under a dark spell.
My lips moved, producing a gasp and the next thing I felt his tongue slide down my throat, my breath becoming laborious.
“Danika!” Muse coursed, for the first time in a long while.
With force I didn’t know I had, I pushed him away, recovering from the panic of his assault. Tears pooled in my eyes in disappointment. What is wrong with men?! Why would Alfred do this to me? Is he taking advantage of our closeness to want to make me do this? He knew I was on my heat and with Lance not around, he chose to entice me with it.
Fuck!
I shook my head, furiously wiping away the tears from my eyes and twisting about to open the car door. I felt his rough hand grab my wrist, and turned aggressively, delivering a hot slap across his face. That didn’t deter him. “Danika, I am sorry!”
“Stay the fuck away from me!” I screamed and kicked the door open to alight. I know my way from here and would rather walk home than allow him touch me ever again.
His car door opened and he jumped out, running to my side. I held my bag tightly, telling myself I will shout if he tries to do shit with me. Alfred! I just couldn’t believe he’d do this.
“Stay away from me, Alfred, or I swear I will do something crazy!”
“Just come into the car, I swear I won’t try anything stupid. I am sorry!”
“No! You tried to… Alfred! You were supposed to be my friend!”
“I know! I couldn’t resist you! I’m sorry, Danika.”
More tears fell down my face, but I shook them away and began walking away. I can’t bear seeing his face right now. I just want to be alone. He kept calling me long after I have gone far from him and thankfully he didn’t come after me.
Tears were still gushing from my eyes as I walked the lonely road, cars driving past me from time to time. I didn’t see Alfred’s car drive by which means he was still back there or might have driven to somewhere else.
Then, I saw a black Chevrolet driving my way, and knew I was either going to die today or be buried alive. How could I have forgotten the bond I shared with my mate was a very potent one.
I hurriedly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and stood waiting for him to get to me, a fake smile plastered on my face as though I was the happiest person waiting for my beloved to pick me up.
He stopped, winds down the car window, and observed me, his dark eyes trying to dissect the truth of my appearance. My heartbeat was thunderous, wondering what I was going to say when he questions me. I can’t lie, he would sniff it.
“Come in,” he ordered in a calm voice I refuse to believe belonged to Alonso. Nonetheless, I didn’t let him repeat his order before jumping in. I just committed an offense, being rebellious should be the last thing on my mind.
He didn’t turn on the ignition to leave as I envisaged, instead he went on appraising me. As much as I kept smiling at him, I already knew he might have figured it out from my body movement. Alpha’s sensibility skills are often very profound.
“Who was he?” he asked, my panicked eyes snapping to him with a sharp, “Mmm?”
“Who was the man that touched you, Danika? Don’t fucken test me!”
…