Gabriella’s POV
“Fine, do your cleaning, but don’t you say a word to me.” I tried to focus on the cleaning, but it was an impossible task. I always ended up looking at Alpha Nicklaus.
I heard him scream. I thought something must have happened to him, so I rushed to him immediately. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Nothing happened, just checking if I still have the keys to your heart.” My heartbeat became irregular again. I hit him hard. “You jerk.”
I left the place angrily. How dare he play such an expensive joke on me? Does he think I am his room door? Having the keys to my heart is the dumbest thing I have heard today. How silly of him.
Why did I even rush to him to see if he was hurt? Was my business with him getting hurt? I really don’t care about what happens to him. I think I need to find a way to avoid him all the time.
I decided to check on my daughter at the place she was playing with her friends, and then speak of the devil himself I saw Alpha Nicklaus there. Good gracious, can he just quit it already? I am not accepting him in my life no matter what he does.
I watched him play with Estella as they engaged in hide and seek. Estella looked so happy playing with her father. I guess children are innocent after all. The anger I have with her dad should not stop her from having the happiness she needs from her father.
“Mom, you are here.” She hugged me.
“Yes, my little pumpkin. I thought you would be with your friends?”
“They left already, but I didn’t get bored because father played hide and seek with me.” She said with a big smile.
“Wow, I see you are having fun.”
“Hi Gabby, didn’t know you would be here. Will you join us to play hide and seek?” Hearing his voice triggered my anger.
“No, thank you. I don’t need you to join me when playing with my daughter.”
“Mummy, let’s play together. It’s going to be fun, you know.”
No Estella, don’t do this, don’t side with your father. I really can’t stand him.
“Little pumpkin, next time we will play together, but right now we need to have lunch, okay?”
“Okay mum, Daddy, let’s go for lunch.”
Is he going to eat with us? No way. I walked up to him, saying, “Don’t eat with us. I am tired of seeing your face.”
“Are you sure you are tired of seeing my face?” He asked, moving closer to me.
“Yes, and stop coming closer.”
“I will if you tell me why your cheeks are red. You are blushing hard, right?”
“Oh gosh, why is it so hot this afternoon? Estella, let’s go already.” I can’t believe the nerve he has to say that. And why the hell did my cheek turn red?
We sat at the table for lunch with Margret. Estella sat beside me, while annoying Nicklaus sat facing me. Now I am going to be seeing his face while eating. This is annoying.
The maids served the meal, and I got excited seeing Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery, Jambalaya, Linguine with Bacon, Peaches and Gorgonzola, Zoodles with Avocado and Mango Sauce, and more.
“Margret, are we having a feast or something? So many dishes on the table.”
“Yes, tonight is going to be a special night for all of us. There will be a bonfire tonight as well,” Margret said, her face filled with excess joy.
Now I finally understood the level of happiness on the witches’ faces today. It’s because it’s a special day for them.
The beta of Alpha Nicklaus’s pack also joined the table for lunch. “I am sorry I am late, just had to help the guys get more wood,” he said before taking his seat.
“That’s not a problem. So, everyone, let’s enjoy our lunch as we get ready for tonight’s celebration,” Margret said, her voice brimming with excess happiness.
While eating, Alpha Nicklaus took some Jambalaya and added it to my plate. “You need to eat more so you won’t be skinny.”
“I don’t need your recommendations, okay?”
“I know, but just eat more.” We were about to start an argument when my daughter interrupted us, saying, “Mom, you once told me to have table manners while eating, but why are you breaking the rules?”
“Oh sweetie, I totally forgot myself for a few minutes. Let’s enjoy our meal.”
“Your daughter is really smart, you know,” Margret said, and I noticed the smile on Alpha Nicklaus’s lips.
We finished eating, and Margret left with Estella to get ready for tonight and for what she will be doing as well, since she will be with the kids all through the night.
The beta got engrossed in an assignment, leaving just Alpha Nicklaus and me together.
We took the plates to the kitchen and washed them together. “You can join your beta with his assignment. I can finish up here.”
“I am not complaining at all. I just don’t want you around.”
“I am sorry, Gabriella. How else can I express the truth that I am sorry to you and that I want us to make amends as well?”
“It will never happen,” I muttered angrily. I left in a huff, and just as luck would have it, someone accidentally spilled dirty water on me. My hair and dress were instantly soaked, leaving me in a state of dismay.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you when you passed. Please punish me,” the person stammered in apology. She was already on her knees, and I found it hard to stay upset with her. After all, it had been an accident.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. No one is above making mistakes like this,” I reassured her.
“Thank you so much,” she said before taking her leave.
Out of nowhere, Alpha Nicklaus appeared and grabbed my hands. “Hey, let go of me,” I protested.
“Your hair is ruined, so come with me,” he insisted.
“And do what?” I questioned.
“So I can wash and dry it for you,” he replied, his eyes full of concern. Without really understanding why, I found myself following him.
He grabbed shampoo and positioned me comfortably as he poured water over my hair, making sure to work in the shampoo. He washed my hair gently, and I unexpectedly savored each moment. He was the first guy to ever wash my hair, and a part of me wished he could do it more often I could keep coming back to him for that.
After washing my hair, he dried my long locks and said, “You can change your outfit now. I’ll take my leave.”
“Sure,” I agreed. He helped me to my feet, and as I gazed into his eyes, time seemed to stand still. We inched closer, our lips about to meet, when suddenly the door swung open, revealing the maids. We immediately pulled away.
“I was just about to leave,” he stammered, hastily exiting. I found myself smiling at the situation, touched by his sweetness. But as reality set in, I realized I was growing emotionally vulnerable to him.