*Danika*
On getting to the mansion, everywhere was as dry as when we left, save for the Omegas that were running about doing their duties. Paisley was behind me so I didn’t show too much enthusiasm for wanting to see Alfred, and climbed the stairs, ignoring her pesky behavior. I wanted friends now I’ve got a fly for one.
“Can I come up with you, Danika? I have good news!” She clapped her hands together, hysterically. I was tempted to agree, to hear the news. I twisted about at the first landing and studied her with my left cheek in my teeth. I opened my mouth to tell her five minutes, but Alonso walked in, glowered at me, and pushed her towards his study direction. If not that I needed to go see Alfred urgently, I would have run after them. Why? Perhaps seeing them going there together-even though I know they won’t do anything, I still want to be present to be certain.
Call me absurd.
With a single glance at the deserted hallway, I took off to my room and locked my door, took in a steady breath to focus, and then tried to link Alfred. He wasn’t linking with me. It seems he was blocking it off.
I tried again and again and again, still not going through. I growled aloud and stomped my feet like a babe. I picked up my phone and started dialing his number, it rang for two minutes and then it went off. He didn’t pick it.
For moonsake, what is going on? I’m so eager to know he is back and wants to see him and here he was acting like a dickhead! That means he doesn’t miss me like I did him!
Urgh! I tossed my phone to the bed, and with a petulant huff, I went to the window to yank aside the curtain and draperies to peek out. I folded my hands on my chest and leaned on the wall, looking at nothing. Not feeling anything, I unlatched the window locks and pushed them open, letting in the fresh air into the room. It smacked on my face before spreading to the rest of my surroundings, to an extent, taming my unsettled inside.
“Son of a gun!” I inclined on the windowpane in my favorite style and looked outside. It was a sweet sight for a sour heart. What could he be doing? Is he okay? Maybe he is not okay and here I was angry with him. Before he left we never quarreled so there is no bad blood between us that would warrant him keeping me in the dark.
Getting bored of staring out into space, I stood and tried calling him once more. It was ringing when my nose caught a familiar scent. Him! I whirled about to look towards my door and at the same time, a mild knock sounded. I was halfway to it, my enthusiasm revealing too much. I should pretend to be mad at him at least so next time he won’t do that!
I put on my poker face and unlocked the door. I was still pulling it open when he pushed in and smacked the door behind him harshly. My pretense fell off my face when I saw him and the next thing I was hugging him.
“You are an idiot! Why weren’t you picking up your calls?” I lathered his shoulder with tough pelts which weren’t as though I was doing anything, anyway. He stood gallant and… I pulled away to take a good look at him. He looked too healthy and seemed to have acquired more flesh for one who has been away from home for say… One week or two weeks?
“I see you missed me!” he blurted out with that smirk I have missed so much. “It’s a good thing to know.”
“Really? It’s that what you have to say?” I chided him. “Where have you been?” I dragged him inside, pushing him to the couch and taking my position on the bed.
“I needed a little breathe of fresh air away from here,” he returned flatly.
“Breath of fresh air? Really?” I flipped a hair off my face, noting perspiration breaking through my pores at my plenty of exertion.
“Yeah, everything became too suffocating and then I decided to… disappear.” He looked around the room, his eyes halting on my mantelpiece. He looked somewhat distant as if something was troubling him. Is he okay? Someone doesn’t just disappear like that unless something was bothering him that he needed a little out to recover from, or, is it because of his fights with his brother?
“Are you sure you are okay?” I dared to ask. “You could talk to me you know…” I rasped. “I don’t know if you value our friendship the way I do, but when something happens to me, I always want to share with you. I will be honest with you, when you left without telling anyone including me, I felt bad. I was disappointed. I thought you trusted me.”
He was so focused on me like he was mastering every part of me. There was also something else in his eyes that I couldn’t specify. Something is definitely wrong somewhere. “You are certain you tell me everything that bothers you?” he asked me, in a strange manner.
I took my time to think about his words before replying, “Yes, I do. Have I not told you things in the past? I told you about my late transformation, I told you about seeking my other power, and many other things, including my worst fears. Didn’t I? I tell you everything, Alfred, including the fact that people didn’t want me to be around them before now…” My temper was surging. “I did because I saw you as my friend. You didn’t even call me or pick up my calls, not even my link! Why?” I didn’t mean to take it personal, but his questioning my honesty means he doesn’t trust me. The only thing I know I have hidden from him is my relationship with his brother. And it’s because it’s beyond my powers to tell him. He isn’t in the best relationship with his brother and so I can’t risk such!
“That’s the point, Danika.”
“Huh?” My ears flared, afraid he was referring to my thoughts.
“That’s the entire point! I-i don’t believe you are telling me everything. There must be something you are hiding from me.” He slid off his couch and came to kneel in front of me. “But let’s not fight about that. I’m sorry I left without telling you. I was just-just needing space away from you.”
“Away from me? Why?”
He spread his hand, his blue eyes dimming at me in an uncertain gesture. It took him time to talk to me and when he did I nearly fainted. “From being suffocated by you. I can’t stop thinking about you, Danika!”
“Well, we are friends. I think about you too,” I feigned being naive to what he meant.
He pfft and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not like that, Danika. I mean as-”
The door swung open and Alonso’s imposing body occupied the entrance. His face crumpled as they landed on Alfred kneeling close to me. His broad shoulders started heaving up and down with a tough breath. I stood quickly and inched away from Alfred.
The next minute he was bounding to us with his fingers pointed at Alfred. “Get away from her!” He reached him, grabbed him by his shirt collars, and flung him to the wall. I heard a crunching sound and snapped my neck to Alfred in fear. I made to run to him but Alonso’s booming voice stopped me.
“Don’t, Danika! Stay away from him!”
“What is wrong with you? You want to kill him?” I careened, still aghast.
“I don’t care! He deserved it!”
Alfred moved and I flicked my eyes to him to see him smirking ruefully. He let out a spree of coughs and stretched his neck and in a split move snapped it until it was back. I caught his wolf eyes before they turned normal and he slid to the floor and started laughing.
“You are sick, Alfred! You are-”
“Not as sick as you are brother!” Alfred retorted, still recovering from his sardonic laughter.
“You think you can leave the pack and come back when you like and then what? The next thing you are seeking out the mate of someone and touching her?” Alfred advanced at him and I quickly acted, standing in his way. I looked up at him with a warning. He was out of his mind and acting out of hand. He flashed me his red-rimmed wolf eyes, his fangs snarling at me. I might be powerful but I can’t stand up to him if he gets irate at me. Still, I stood my ground. There is a lot going on in the pack, where his brother went to being the least of our problems.
“Why are you so bothered when I’m with her, brother?” Alfred asked from the ground in that annoying calm voice that makes me want to smack him sometimes. I flipped around and flared at him.
“Alfred!” I warned.
“No, sweet bird. I need him to tell me why he is always going nuts when we are together. Or is there something you are not telling us?” He crooked his brow to the top of his head while my heart beat pitched. No, this cannot be happening. He knows?
“What’s going on here?” We all twisted to the entrance of the door where Theresa stood, with her hands holding unto her sapphire shimmering rock gown.
Holy, shit!
…