No sooner had the alarm rang the next morning did I shoot off the bed to the bathroom to promptly commence my morning rituals and leave the room. I made it to the garage on time, skipping the jogs so I would be able to elude Alfred.
On getting to the training site, I went to the ground where I recognized some of the pack members from the infirmary and trained amongst them. All this I did in a bid to avoid Alfred.
Yesterday night, I went to sleep with a certain kind of happiness, and this morning, I equally woke up with the same exciting sensation. Well, it all boils down to Alonso’s declaration that Lance is coming home today. I guess I never knew I’d missed him this much until Alonso said it last night. I literally smoldered him with kisses and hugs when he said it, stood up, and twirled on my feet, only going back to the couch when I noticed his mood shift.
That was when my impression went back to the major reason why Lance left the pack in the first place. I wouldn’t for anything want to put him in that position ever again, nor would I want Alonso to bear the brunt of running a pack by himself without his Beta male.
So today, I feel like I’m floating on cloud nine. I have so much I will like to share with Lance and I know he would have adventures to share too. By now, I’m sure Alonso must have told him the present state of our relationship so I don’t think I will have any reason to feel awkward beside him again. I only pray he no longer harbors any passionate feelings for me.
After the training, I bypassed a group of black guards training beside Alfred, who was backing me deep in training and didn’t notice me pass him. I entered the car where Luther was standing imposingly with his black eye shade on and waited for him to enter and drive.
When he wasn’t entering, I snuck my head out. “Luther, let’s go…”
He looked at me, and when he was about to say something to me-actually for the first time since I met him, I caught a movement from my side and snapped to it.
Alfred? Loser!
“What are you doing?” I snarled at Luther, not realizing the fact that my voice went up a notch farther than I had expected.
“Apparently, Sweetface, I asked him to wait.” Alfred’s cocky voice came forth and smirked when I gave him the gory bird’s eye.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a hushed irritated tone when he slid in. He twisted to appraise me like I had asked why he had horns between his legs. I shrugged. “What about your car?”
He banged the door and Luther started the car and drove out of the training ground. “I decided to ditch it today to ride with you guys home. Is there anything wrong with that?” He gave me a questioning look.
“What! You ditched your car to ride with m-what is wrong with you, Alfred? You know very well that Alonso won’t be delighted seeing us together after yesterday.” That worried me so much.
He didn’t seem fazed one bit. He only uncorked his bottle and took a large gulp, ignoring me entirely.
My limbs were trembling with rage. Why does he take my fit for granted? What kind of person is he? And why must it be today that I woke up excited, in anticipation of Lancelot’s return? Ugh!
“You know you are not as hard as you are trying to seem now?” he asked, as mild as the wind, that I nearly didn’t hear him. “You and I both know we go through this phase all the time. We quarrel and we reconcile, it’s nothing new.” The cocky grin on his face was what upset me the most. Who the hell does he think he is to think that?
“I am not forgiving you this time and we are not going to be friends anymore!” I bit out strongly, working hard to avoid creating a scene in the car due to Luther’s presence.
What did the oaf do? He began chuckling like a lunatic, making me look like a plain-day idiot.
“You sound so ridiculous, Danika, I’m sorry. Why will you say that? Because I told you the truth? Or b-”
“Because I deem it fit, Alfred! Our friendship is not healthy so why should I tolerate it? You are very annoying, too cocky, untrustworthy, and-and unrepentant! I don’t need you sticking your nose in my business anymore or causing me more unease… Please!”
He didn’t reply for a while I was almost going to jump for joy, then he broke into another of that stupid laughter that unstable me. “Is this because Lancelot is coming back and now you think you no longer need me? Your first lover is coming back so you are trashing the ol-”
“We are not lovers, Alfred! What is wrong with you? How did you know Lance is returning, by the way?” I eyed him.
Another shoulder bob. “News travels…”
I looked away in disdain and clenched my fist and my lips so tightly it hurts. News travels he says. Once again. Is it that he is truly sneaking into my head to read my mind without my permission? I chose to ask him. I flipped my eyes back to him from watching the hazy greeneries flit by. “Have you been-been reading my mind without my permission?” I asked in a calm voice.
He took me in so closely, the specks of black dust in his blue eyes were obvious. “I’ve not. Fear not.”
“Then… You know what? Forget I asked. You are so strange most of the time.” I slicked my eyes back, thankful when the car entered the garage.
He grabbed my arm when I made to leave the car. “Alonso is a selfish bastard and doesn’t do anything that doesn’t favor him. Ask yourself what he stands to gain from you when he marries you and then you will know if truly he is the one you should be with, mate or not.”
I took my time taking him in, his facial crease and red tiny dots registering in my memory. I have never looked at him this way and don’t know why not. Perhaps, because I only saw him as my friend. A very close one at that. But now… Everything about him repulsed me. Yes, in a way the twins looked alike, but they weren’t identical, neither were their personalities. I feel really gross right now that I had for once admired Alfred’s personality over Alonso’s.
Alfred is a clown. His smile only deceives people into thinking him better and more open than his brother but in reality, they hide his true horrible nature.
With a fierce yank, I retrieved my hand from him, smiled, and said, “You know, you are right. Alonso is selfish, but he is my mate and mates stick with each other, especially in tough times, not reject them.” I spat in his stunned face and banged the door.
As I walked to Lance’s quarters to see Mary and confirm the arrangement of how their master’s return is going, I thought of Alfred and how much of a fool I have been all this while. I knew he thought I’m a fool too.
Does Theresa not see this? Or maybe she does and that is why she likes him more than Alonso. Because he is her replica. A bomb waiting to detonate.
Was their father like that? And why would he write that in his book in the library about secrets? Does it have to do with his family?
I recall Nadia had told me something about Theresa sometime ago, and now thinking about it I couldn’t help but wonder if it’s connected to what the former King had written in that book. Oh, Danika! If I had kept my hands to myself I wouldn’t have so much going on rampage in my head now.
I had to focus on the present mission, hoping whatever Alonso had in mind works. The more I thought about it, the more wits I lost.
“Ms. Danika!” Mary rushed down the stairs to meet me halfway when I crossed the threshold of the foyer, a wide smile on her face. She normally adds Ms. to my name when we are in the midst of others for formality’s sake, not that I care. “I was waiting till later to come by the infirmary and tell you! Well, I know by now you know, since you are here. The Beta is coming home!” she screeched delightfully.
“Yeah, Mary. Alonso told me,” I told her and ran my eyes about the hallway. “I’m excited about it too.”
She twirled on her feet as we made our way upstairs so I could check-in and make sure Lance’s mother’s flowers were arranged on the mantelpiece, and the room was in good shape for his return. I know how much it means to him.
“So how is it going to be now? The King would eventually have to break this suspense amongst the pack members,” she added in a hushed voice as we got close to the room. “The maids are starting to murmur. They say you are supposed to move back in now the Beta is coming back.”
I opened the door and walked in. “Don’t worry about that, Mary. I’m sorry I am placing you in a delicate position where they will look at you for answers knowing we are close. The King will surely sort everything out, I promise. For now, he said he is hiring a spy.”
“A spy?”
“Yeah, to investigate the lover of Paisley. That is all we should worry over for now.” I smiled broadly, satisfied with the room arrangement.
“Hmmn, let’s hope the spy doesn’t waste any time,” she said.
“Yeah, my exact prayers.”
…