Jayce’S POV.
Reed and I even ended up eating dinner together. Alora called to ask where I was and I had to tell her about Reed’s injury. She then asked the servants to serve both Reed and I dinner in the living room and sent kind words to Reed through me. She didn’t have the courage to come down and see him.
She is terrified by him because of how he talks to her whenever they meet.
It wasn’t easy convincing Reed to stay and eat with me, but I won and we had an interesting meal. Right now, I feel like I want to do everything with him by my side.
Reed is cold and mean and aloof, but he’s got a pure soul. That’s what I’ve seen.
If he likes you, he’ll stay loyal to you even though he’s never going to tell you things you want to hear. He’s a good friend.
“See… you’re still alive after eating dinner with me.” I comment as we leave the dining section. I cannot even remember the last time I ate there.
“I might die when I go back to my quarters. You never know.” I scoff. I’m not surprised by his words at all.
“Spend the night here in my Chambers. It’s quite late for you to go out there alone and injured.” I offer. He stops walking, turns around, folds his arms over his chest and squints at me.
“You think this tiny bite is going to hinder me from killing anyone who tries to attack me on my way back to my quarters?” He asks calmly, but deadly. I chuckle at his attempt to scare me.
I’m a fucking Alpha.
“As a matter of fact, yes! I think so. This is not any kind of injury, Reed. You were beaten by an Alpha…”
“A lame as Alpha who bites like a girl!”
“That bite is going to make you weak.” I tell him even though there’s no sign of him getting weak anytime soon.
“It’s not. I’m not spending the night here.” He starts walking away.
Anytime I talk with Reed, it’s like I’m arguing with a younger sibling. He’s so stubborn.
“Reed.” I call, but he keeps walking towards the door. He’s leaving.
“Goodnight Alpha and thank you very much for your hospitality.” He’s not even looking at me when he says that. Before I can open my mouth to say anything, he’s out of the house and the door is closing behind him. I let out an exasperated sigh.
“What am I going to do with him?” I murmur under my breath as I take the stairs. My heart’s starts jumping when the smell of Alora’s pheromone hits my nostrils. I can’t wait to go into our bedroom and see her. I miss her so much.
In the bedroom, I meet her in the sitting area, watching a movie. The moment she feels my presence, she turns off the TV and rises up. There’s a beaming smile on my face that warms my heart. It’s so contagious.
“Baby.” I call as she walks into my outstretched arms. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her hair. It smells so nice. Like vanilla ice cream.
“You are here.” My heart melts at the sound of her voice.
“Yes I am and you have no idea how I feel right now with you in my arms.”
“How do you feel?” She backs away slightly and looks up at me. Her blue eyes are sparkling.
“I feel like a complete man.” She chuckles. She smiles so beautifully. I love her.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” She pulls away from the hug.
“I’m sorry about that, Love. I had to make sure Reed was fine before coming up.”
“I know, I understand. I’m just happy you are here now. How was your day at work?”
“It was hectic as always. I had a lot of stuff to do.”
“You must be tired.”
“I am.”
“You should take a shower and go to bed then.” I nod, still looking at her. She’s wearing one of my pyjamas and it’s so big on her, but I love it. I’m going to wear this pyjama tomorrow so I’ll have her scent all over me when I wake up in the morning
“I’ll be right back.” I say and go into the walk in closet.
It looks completely different now. All these brightly coloured dresses and shoes make it more lively. Now I understand what my father meant when he told me my life would change when I find my mate.
Alorais gradually changing everything about me.
Before, I could stay in my office till midnight, working. I used to spend nights there too. I didn’t bother about having regular meals. I wasn’t too wary of my brother and my step mum or any other enemy I might have, but now all of that has changed. Everyday, I want to come home early to see Aloraand talk with her. She makes sure I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, my closet has become something else, which I love and I’m more wary of my stepbrother than I have ever been because I have something to lose right now.
Everything has changed for the better.
It feels nice to have a woman again in my life who looks after me.
Thirty minutes later, I’m done showering and dressing up. I have on a pair of white sweatpants and a white singlet and on my feet, a pair of flip flops. I go into the bedroom and see Aloralying on the bed.
I guess this is where we have to separate for the night.
“I’m done.” I stand by the bed. I have to kiss her goodnight before leaving for my usual guest room. She mumbles softly and sits upright, looking up at me.
“Tomorrow is D-Day, right?” She asks calmly.
“Yes, it is.”
“I already picked my outfit. Cynthia said she’ll come over with the others to have me dressed up tomorrow.”
“As she should.”
“But I’m nervous.” Her voice breaks in half when she makes that statement. Worry fills my heart. I sit on the bed and take her hands in mine.
“You don’t have to be.”
“I know, but I can’t help it. There will be so many people there and everyone’s attention will be on me. What if I do something stupid? What if I make a fool of myself.” Now there’s tears glittering in her eyes. She’s indeed nervous and she has every right to be. “Alpha Jayce, I have never experienced anything like this. The last time I was at a party, I found my mate and he rejected me. He even ordered his guards to lock me up in the dungeon.”
“None of that is going to happen tomorrow.” I try to assure her. She nods her head.
“I know… I’m just… you know, trying to explain to you why I’m so nervous right now.”
“It’s okay for you to be nervous. It’s okay to be afraid, but I want you to know that you don’t have to be because I’ll be there with you the entire time tomorrow. I won’t let anything happen to you. I will protect you with my life. I swear.” I kiss her hands. She blinks and nods her head. I’m happy she trusts my words.
It is important that she trusts my words.
She lets out a heavy sigh and rubs her palms together. The nervousness hasn’t gone away. It’s not going to. I just have to keep assuring her that everything is going to be okay.
“You’ll be fine, I promise.” She nods with pursed lips. I place a gentle kiss on her forehead and rise to my feet.
“I have to go now. Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day for you.” She looks up at me.
“Please stay.” She whispers, looking straight in my eyes, meaning every word.
Just two words, but my heart is already racing. Time seems to have slowed down and is melting around me.
“Please.”
She doesn’t have to beg!
Goodness!
“You want me to stay?” I ask to be sure that I heard right.
“Yes please. That’s if you don’t mind.”
Am I stupid to mind?
“No… no… of course I don’t. I don’t mind at all.” I fall back on my butt and look at her in surprise. I did not see this coming. This girl perplexes me everyday.
I can’t stop staring at her. Marvelling at her, but when she turns to look at me, I drop my eyes and pretend heat isn’t fighting its way up in my face.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I get on the bed and she does the same. I stare up at the ceiling above.
One thing for sure is that I won’t be getting any sleep tonight.
Alora Asked me to spend the night here with her. This is tremendous progress!