CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ALEX DAVALO
I got lucky!
I was fuming when Phil told me that my brother and Bethany had attacked Nadia during training. Phil sounded angry over the phone, and I could feel his frustration radiating through the line. It felt like he didn’t care anymore if I was going to punish him for speaking to me in that manner; he just wanted to vent his anger and frustrations on me.
“Because of what they did, we are going to lose a key player for the competition,” he said through gritted teeth. I could almost picture him pacing back and forth, his hands most likely balled into fists.
“What do you mean?” I shot back, trying to keep my anger in check, but it was no use. “Why would they do something like that?”
“Nadia didn’t show up for the last team meeting before we traveled to Oklahoma for the inter-college basketball competition. Do you even understand the stakes here?” He continued to blame me, and it felt like a weight was being placed on my chest.
“Enough!” I yelled, having taken too much of his rubbish. “I will deal with it myself.”
“Will that bring Nadia back to the team?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Without responding to him, I hung up the phone, feeling more frustrated than ever. How could Alex and Bethany do this? I was about to leave the room when my phone buzzed again. I quickly shoved it into my pocket, needing a moment to breathe.
Meanwhile, still raging about the whole situation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Bethany’s number. “Are you at home?” I asked when she picked up.
“Yes, I’m waiting for you in bed,” she replied, a teasing tone in her voice.
“I’m coming,” I said, trying to suppress the anger boiling inside me.
“Make it quick, please. Don’t keep me horny for too long,” she teased again, and I felt the anger inside me flare even more.
I jumped into my car and drove down to her place, my mind swirling with thoughts of Nadia and the chaos my girlfriend had caused. When I entered the house, I saw her underwear and bra strewn across the staircase leading to her room. My heart raced; I wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or turned on.
As I entered her bedroom, I found her lying naked under the sheets, beckoning me to come closer. But I paused, rooted to the spot. “Why did you attack Nadia?” I demanded, my voice low but firm.
“Just focus on me. Alex. I am naked and you’re not even touching me,” Bethany frowned, then moved closer to me. Immediately she touched me, her presence consumed me, and I lost my self-control.
My eyes burned into her, the intensity I usually kept buried surfacing in waves I couldn’t suppress.
“I want you to touch me, Alex. I want you fuck me hard. It’s been a while.” She pouted.
I cupped her chin up. “Do you really want me to?” I asked, my voice low and deliberate, testing her resolve.
“Yes,” Bethany whispered, her voice soft but steady. Bethany leaned in and pressed a kiss to my neck, “Whenever you don’t fuck me, I end up pleasing myself and it’s not satisfying.”
I chuckled, “Then, I will.”
I brought her face to mine and bent down to claim her lips. My lips moved against hers, demanding and unapologetic, matching the intensity I felt within.
Her response was immediate, her lips molding to mine with equal intensity. Heat coursed through me as we kissed, the chills spreading like wildfire through every inch of my body.
As my tongue sought hers, tangling in a heated dance, I felt the rush of something primal taking over. Bethany’s taste was intoxicating, and in that moment. My hands slid to her neck, holding her steady as I kissed her deeper.
She moaned into my mouth, the sound driving me further, her desperation fueling my own.
I pushed her to the bed and began to undo my belt when the statement that spoilt everything came.
“I almost began to think you were fucking Nadia,” Bethany’s voice was loud and I instantly frowned.
I was mad horny, and my dick stood strong but everything went flaccid and I suddenly lost interest.
“Why did you stop?”
I did not reply, frustrated at myself that I had gotten distracted from what I came for just because I couldn’t control myself.
“So I call her name and you don’t want to touch me anymore? What did she do to you?” She yelled.
“Enough Beth,” I bawled. “You can’t act like the innocent person here. Tell me, why did you attack Nadia?”
“Come on, Alex. She’s just some girl who’s good for nothing. You shouldn’t worry about her.”
“Really?” I spat, feeling the anger rise within me. “You call that nothing? She’s part of the school’s basketball team! I demand to know what happened, and why you attacked her”
She rolled her eyes. “I went to warn her to stay away from you, okay? I made sure she understood that I meant everything I said.”
“Bethany, listen! You can’t just lay a hand on her. I swear if you hurt her…” my voice trailed off as I fought the urge to shout. Why was I even standing up for that daughter of nobody!? I felt embarrassed, even though I didn’t show it.
She stood up, eyes blazing with anger. “You may be the son of the alpha, but I won’t let you treat me like a piece of trash,” she replied defiantly. “You need to choose between me and Nadia, right here, right now.”
That caught me off guard. “We’re not even mates, Bethany. I’m only with you because I wanted my father to think I had found my mate,” I said, frustration bubbling in my throat. I wanted to stop, but her words kept pushing me to speak even more.
Her expression twisted with hurt. “So that’s it? You’re using me? You’re choosing her over me?” she accused, her voice trembling with emotion.
“No! I didn’t say that, Bethany! Listen, I don’t love Nadia, and I will never fall for her,” I refuted quickly. “But you need to stop creating a scene and expecting me to clean up your mess.”
With that, I turned and stormed out, the door slamming behind me echoing through the house. I got back home and immediately picked up my phone, calling Phil again.
Phil had hoped for some good news when he picked up, but all I asked for was Nadia’s number. Phil sent it immediately, and as I stared at the screen, I knew I had to do something different this time. I could no longer let my frustration dictate my actions.
When I finally dialed Nadia’s number, I adopted a different tone. “Hello?” she answered, sounding uncertain. “Who is this?”
“Uh, hey! My name is Charles, the one you’ve been meaning to speak with,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“I don’t know anyone with that name,” she replied cautiously, and I could almost hear her furrowing her brow.
“I’m the one who helped pay your tuition fee for the next college session,” I added, hopeful that this would pique her interest.
There was a noticeable pause. “Oh! You! I’ve been craving to speak with you! Thank you so much for paying my fees!” Her voice brightened, unmistakable excitement shining through.
“I’m glad to hear you’re okay with it. But I heard you weren’t going to be part of the basketball competition because someone attacked you,” I probed gently, feeling a mix of sympathy and determination.
“I don’t want to talk about it, sir,” Nadia replied, and I could sense her hurt and hesitance.
“I understand how hurt you are, but you can’t turn your back on your teammates, especially when they need you the most,” I urged her, my heart pounding as I tried to persuade her.
“If I come back, will you come to support me at my games?” she asked, and I could sense a flicker of hope in her voice.
“I promise to show up for you if you agree to return to your team,” I said, feeling a rush of determination.
Nadia paused, clearly still conflicted. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
“Thank you,” I replied, relief flooding through me.
“How will I find you if I change my mind?” she asked curiously.
“I will find you,” I assured her, and as I hung up, I felt a mixture of triumph and determination settle over me. I picked up my phone again and called Phil. “She will be with you,” I said, my voice steady as I hung up for the last time.
My father rarely called me into his private room. I had only been in there twice before, and neither of those times were particularly pleasant. He had asked me to come after dinner tonight. With the new moon just around the corner, I couldn’t help but think that this was going to be another conversation about marriage, and more specifically, about me getting married to Bethany.
As I walked down the hallway leading to his room, my anxiety grew. The house was eerily quiet, and each step seemed louder than the last. My father’s room was at the end of the hall, and I felt my heart race faster with each step I took. I stopped in front of the door and stared at it, my hand hovering over the brass knob. I didn’t want to knock, but I knew I had to.
Finally, I mustered the courage to knock. “Come in, the door’s open,” my father’s voice called from inside. His tone was as calm and composed as ever, but it did little to soothe my nerves. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
My father was standing with his back to me, looking out of the large window that framed the moonlit night sky. The room was lined with dark wood and rich, leather furniture. The scent of old books and cedar filled the air. For a moment, I just stood there, unsure of what to do next.
“Father, you sent for me,” I began, my voice wavering slightly.
“Sit,” he said without turning around.
I walked over to the leather chair opposite his desk and sat down. The room was filled with an awkward silence as I waited for him to speak. My father finally turned around, and to my surprise, his expression was relaxed. There was a faint, almost amused smile on his face.
“What were you thinking?” he asked, noticing my surprised look.
“Well…,” I said, at a loss for words. My mind raced as I tried to figure out how to respond. I had braced myself for a grilling about my future, but this was different.
He leaned back in his chair, studying me with a curious expression. “I overheard you arguing with Sandro the other day. I just wanted to know what it was about.”
My heart skipped a beat. I had thought he might have eavesdropped on our entire conversation, and the idea of him knowing the truth made me feel cold all over. But as far as I could tell, he hadn’t. Still, I needed to come up with something quickly before he could press further.
“Oh, that,” I said, trying to sound casual. “We were arguing about how he treated his girlfriend the other day. He left her at a party without any explanation.”
My father’s eyes widened slightly, and he nodded as if he was processing the information. “I see. Well, that’s quite a serious issue. It’s good that you’re looking out for him, playing the role of the elder brother.”
I exhaled quietly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. It seemed like my lie had been convincing enough. “I just didn’t want him to think it was okay to treat people that way.”
My father nodded approvingly. “It’s important to stand up for what’s right. You’ve done well.”
We talked for a few more minutes about how to handle family matters and the importance of responsibility. The conversation was surprisingly light and did not dwell on the marriage topic at all. I was grateful for that, though I knew it might not always be this easy.
As I left his room, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I had managed to navigate this conversation with a lie, but I knew that this might not always be the case. My father was perceptive, and sooner or later, he might catch on. But for tonight, at least, I had escaped with a smile and a bit of peace…
But not for long!