Alora’S POV.
Blink.
Blink again.
My eyes snap open, but I quickly shut them close when sun rays peeking through the half-opened curtain almost shoot bullets into my eyes. I just got marked by mate and we are about to start our journey to “happily ever after” and the last thing I want to be right now is blind. I turn my head to the side and my eyes are greeted with sight of the handsome face I’ll be seeing from now till I die. It makes me smile. I lie on my side so I can watch him sleep. He looks so calm and peaceful in his sleep.
Unconsciously, my hand goes over to my neck and my fingers graze over the spot he marked last night. The way I felt after he marked me was completely out of this world. I had never felt anything like that before. I had trouble falling asleep last night because I kept thinking about it and the way he held me in his arms made matters worse. I thought I was going to die of excitement. My hand leaves my neck and stretches over to Alpha Jayce’s thick black hair. My blood bubbles as I calmly stroke it. It feels like warm, melted chocolate. So slick, I’m tempted to taste it with my tongue.
He suddenly stirs in his sleep and I quickly retract my hand from his hair. Air gets trapped in my lungs when his eyes snap open. I blink once, twice and he smiles.
“Why did you stop stroking my hair? It felt nice.” He speaks and his voice sounds like his throat has been coated with honey.
He knows I touched his hair.
Blood rushed to my face, making it red. All at once, I feel humiliated.
“I…” I open my mouth to speak, but words fail me. “I’m sorry I woke you up.” The cool, fluid tone of my voice makes him smile even wider. He turns to his side, places his elbow on the bed and supports his head with his palm. The way he’s looking at me right now makes me feel like I’ve been struck in the chest with a lighting bolt.
“There’s no need for you to be sorry. I’ve been awake for a while now.” My eyes pop open.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to leave the bed for fear of waking you up, plus, it was fun watching you sleep.”
“No, it wasn’t!”
“It was. I had to clean up your drools every now and then.” Mortification washes over me like ice cold water.
“I do not drool in my sleep!” I deny with all my might.
“There…” he says pointing to the side of my mouth. “There goes another one.” Rigid, raw shame spreads through my body like poison. I jump down from the bed and rush over to the mirror stand to check if there’s indeed a drool at the side of my mouth, but there’s nothing.
I’m supposed to feel relieved, but I don’t. I’m furious. He played me. With a frown plastered on my face, I turn to look at him and he immediately senses the calamity I’m about to reign on him, so he jumps down from the bed and rushes into the bathroom, locking himself in it.
“I’m still going to kill you when you come out.” I shout from outside and I hear him giggle.
He almost gave me a heart attack. That was a very expensive joke. I swear I’ll get back at him.
******************************************
Alpha Jayce accompanies me to the training centre even though I told him throughout breakfast that he didn’t have to. The man never listens to me.
He treats me like I’m some hopeless, fragile creature he earnestly wants to protect and I know I should be grateful about that, but it’s also annoying sometimes. I want to be left to do certain things on my own.
“We’ve arrived.” He announces as the car comes to a halt. I nod, but I don’t spare him a glance. I crane my neck and try to look at the surroundings, but that’s cut short when my seat door is opened by a guard. He immediately bows his head when our gazes meet.
Calmly, I step out of the car, my eyes doing a quick scan of the training facility. It’s huge. There’s a skyscraper in the premises and the field around it seems to have no end.
“This is huge.” I exclaim in shock when Alpha Jayce steps by my side. He flashes me a proud smile.
He should be proud.
He’s doing a great job developing this pack.
“Shall we go inside?” He asks politely and I calmly nod my head. Two guards lead the way into the lobby, while three others follow behind us. As we walk by, everyone stops what they are doing and bow to us. “This building is the pack training centre. There’s a section for pups between the ages of five to ten. Another section for those between ten to seventeen and then the adult section which is now divided into male and female. Every member of the pack must undergo this physical training till they turn eighteen. After that, they can decide to stop or continue.”
“That’s really cool. It makes everyone capable of defending themselves.”
“Yes. It is as compulsory as normal education.”
I’m impressed.
“Nice.” Is all I manage.
“This is the VIP section where all your training will be conducted. It’s on the ground floor because it has easy access to the grass field where I’m sure most of your training will take place. It has a tennis Court, basketball court and many other sporting fields you might want to try out. This entire section belongs to you and here…” I look ahead and see a young girl of about my age, walking towards us. “Here’s your personal trainer.”
The girl, who has a blank look, halts a few metres away from us and bows her head in respect.
“Good morning Alpha and Luna. It’s an honour for me to be in your presence this morning.”
“Good morning to you too. I’m glad to be your student. I hope we get along well.” I flash her a friendly smile and she simply nods her head and turns to look at Alpha Jayce.
“Thank you once more for this opportunity, Alpha Jayce.”
“You are welcome.” Alpha Jayce looks at me. “Do you want me to stay for…”
“No.” I quickly cut him off. “You can go now. Thank you for bringing me here. I’m sure Halle can take it from here.” I whisper harshly and he pouts his lips.
He fucking pouts like he’s a five year old.
“Alright then. If you say so.” He turns to Halle. “Take good care of her, alright. One strand goes missing from her head and I’m holding you accountable.”
“I’ll do my best to make sure she’s comfortable.”
“Good.” Turns to me. “I’ll get going now. See you tonight.”
“See y…” the last word is cut short as he presses his lips on mine, capturing them in a sweet passionate kiss that lasts two seconds.
“I love you.” He says and walks away, leaving me to die of embarrassment.
He just kissed me in the presence of more than seven other people. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me right now, or maybe I should go outside and run in front of a speeding truck so I’ll die and not have to deal with all this embarrassment.
“Luna Alora…or… can I just call you Alora?”
“No you cannot!” Tania flatly denies before I can speak. I flash her a surprised look. She’s glaring at Halle who doesn’t seem to be listening to her as she has her gaze fixed on me.
She has this very spooky vibe and it makes me think of someone.
“She is the Supreme Luna and that means you must address her with utmost respect…”
“Tania.” I call calmly. She stops talking and bows to me.
“Luna Alora.”
“There’s no need to get riled up.” I look at Halle who looks bored to be in our presence. “You can call me Alora.”
“Good.”
“So, if I may…”
“Your dressing room is over there.” She rudely cuts me off. I’m stunned, but I don’t say anything. “It already has everything you’ll be needing. Since this is your first day, we’ll do simple physical exercises to relax your joints. Go in and get changed right now. Don’t keep me waiting.” And with that, she walks away.
Tania and I exchange confused glances.
“She’s so arrogant.” Tania remarks and I calmly nod my head and beckon her to follow me into the dressing room.
Halle is giving me Reed vibes.
I wonder if they are siblings.