Wayne and Olive were at Valor House andthey had just successfully made it to the stairs through the horde of people wanting to congratulate them on they upcoming mating ritual. As they reached the top floor and walked beside the railing towards the doorway leading to Wayne’s personal section, Wayne exhaled.
“Everything all right?” Olive asked.
“Yes. Just thinking,” he answered.
“What business does Ren do?”
Ren was one of the people who had congratulated them and had a private talk with the Alpha for a few minutes.
“He is the CEO of a tech company. They deal with software formation and computer programming,” he answered.
“Hmmm.”
“I hate the way he was looking at you.”
“So you noticed that, huh. Your friend is weird.”
“He kissed your hand.” Wayne said and held that particular hand and squeezed it tightly, as if to remove any poison he must have infiltrated her with.
“That one is totally normal, Wayne. It’s formal,” Olive replied with an eye roll.
“Don’t let anyone do that to you. I won’t take it likely,” he warned strictly and exhaled. Olive chuckled softly and nodded.
“Aye aye captain!”
He seemed to finally relax and they walked ahead together until they reached the door with guards in front. He swiped his card over it and turned it open. Immediately they stepped in, shouts and cheers ushered them inside and Dolly and Vanessa even began to clap. Olive laughed and spread out her arms as the two girls ran to hug her.
“Congratulations!” they both squealed loudly and jumped up and down.
“Thank you, girls,” Olive replied and they kissed her cheek, Dolly kissed the right one and Vanessa kissed the left one.
“Enough with the public display of affection already!” Shem drawled and waved his hand against them. Everyone laughed and Wayne just chuckled softly.
“Sorry we are late, guys,” Olive apologized as she and the girls began to walk towards the sofa were everyone else was seated. Wayne had gone to the bar with Jake and they were selecting series of drinks and dropping them on the counter.
“We are not complaining baby girl,” Shem stated and made Olive sit beside him.
“You look spectacularly beautiful tonight. I know you dressed up for me, right baby?” he held her chin up and smiled at her.
“Gosh! You just never grow up do you?! Stop that irritating act of yours!” Vanessa nagged him and banged her purse over his head repeatedly.
“Hey! Get away from me, you cannibal!” Shem yelled at her and tried to shove her away with his arm. Everyone else watching them laughed. Dolly took the opportunity to pull Olive up from beside Shem and took her to an empty space on another sofa.
“Congratulations, Olive. You don’t know how happy I am for you,” Dolly said to her and rubbed her cheek.
“Thank you, Dolly. I also can’t believe we scaled through that threat. I’m so happy,” Olive stated and chuckled.
“And guess what, no one is going to stand in the way of you and Wayne anymore. I have a feeling that any more threats would not be welcomed with the simplicity Wayne portrayed during the course of this one.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Hahaha, come on. Don’t think too far. Now, did you get any presents for Wayne? I mean, for your Mating Ritual?”
Olive nodded and looked back at Wayne who seemed to be whispering something to Jake. The room was noisy because everyone else was in a discussion and Vanessa with her brother Shem were making a hell of a noise, shouting and throwing cushions at each other.
“I got a few things at Lumpusberg. I just hope he would like them,” she answered and looked over at Wayne again. Their eyes met and she instantly looked away from him.
“It is a must for mates to exchange gifts under the moon light during their Mating Ritual. I’m sure Wayne already has yours ready. What would you be giving him during the exchange of gifts?” Dolly asked in a lowered tone of voice.
“Are charm bracelets enough?” Olive asked in a terribly low whisper.
“Yeah. Very nice idea. Just make sure they are not colorful so he can wear them everyday,” Dolly replied and Olive laughed.
“I did not make that mistake,” she whispered back and they laughed.
“Talking about me?” they heard Wayne’s deep baritone voice vibrating over their heads, behind their sofa. They both looked up slowly and met hers with him.
“Did you hear anything?” Olive asked.
Wayne stared at them for a minute.
“No,” he answered and they both inadvertently sighed in relief.
“Were you gossiping about me?” he asked with eyes peering at them.
“What if we were? Stop being such a teenager,” Dolly teased and got on her feet.
“Your mate is yours,” she added and walked away towards the guys. Wayne scoffed and walked round to sit beside Olive. Olive held his hand and squeezed it.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes, of course,” she answered.
“Hey, Dolly, come over let’s make the drinks go round,” Jake yelled over at her.
“All right!” she bounced on her feet and hurried towards the bar. While she was doing so, her arm brushed Terry’s face.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized immediately and went over to the bar.
Terry slowly lifted his arm and placed it over his face were Dolly accidentally touched. That place had grown warm and it was like her hand was still brushing against him there. Instantly, his heart beat increased by double and he felt hot.
‘You are making it too obvious,’ Crusoe’s voice slipped into his mind. Terry looked over at his friend that was sitting just beside him but Crusoe was looking straight ahead.
‘Too obvious that what?’ Terry asked him back.
‘That you like her, you fool,’ came Crusoe’s answer.
‘I don’t like Dolly,’ Terry replied with a frown.
‘Stop lying to yourself more, Terry. What is stopping you from just talking to her? Are you scared she does not like you back?’
Terry was silent as they both stared blankly at the television. A music station was one and it was making loud music that no one really listened to.
‘She is our Alpha’s sister. I can’t stoop so low as to be seeing my boss’s little sister. I have my ego to protect,’ Terry finally answered.