Alexa’s Point Of View
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I could ask you the same question. Didn’t you say you were going to sleep?” He retorted.
I cleared my throat. “Well… I’m here to read bedtime stories to Isa.” I told him, pushing the books in my hand forward.
“Looks like we’re here for the same thing,” he said, showing me the book in his hand.
“Oh… um… let’s go in then.” I said and he nodded. We both went in. Isabella was sitting by the window, staring outside dazedly.
“Isa,” I called and she turned.
“Ah… are you not sleepy?” She asked when she saw us.
“I promised I’d read you bedtime stories every night,” I reminded her. “So that’s why I’m here. Although I don’t know why he’s here,” I said, referring to Akira.
“He also promised he’d read me stories,” she said and I turned to Akira in surprise.
“You did?”
He nodded and I smiled. “How sweet,” I said lowly. “Come lie on the bed.” I said and she nodded. She left the window to her bed. I tucked her well under the blanket and we took a seat beside her.
“How are we gonna do this?” I said under my breath as I glanced at Akira. Are we gonna read it together?
“What story do you wanna hear?” Akira asked. “I have ‘The vampire and the wolf princess’.”
“And I have ‘Sleeping Luna’.” I said and she hummed thoughtfully.
“I want the vampire and wolf princess!” She beamed and I smiled. Just as I expected.
“I see. Then I will read it to you.” Akira said as he adjusted in his seat. He cleared his throat and opened the book.
“Once upon a time,” he began reading in a cool, soothing voice. “There lived a gloomy vampire. He was so lonely dark clouds formed around his palace. He has no one to talk to. No one to play with. Until one day, a princess whose smile was as bright as the morning sun, passed by his palace.”
“What did she look like?” Isa asked.
“Her skin was white as snow, hair silky and velvety. Her lips were red as blood and roses. Her breath smelt like tulips and her smile could heal you of any sickness,”
“Wow,” Isa beamed. “Tell me more.”
“The vampire was captivated at first sight. His dead heart beat for the first time in so many years. This emotion was new to him so he was confused. He would sneak around her everyday just to catch a glimpse of her beautiful face. The princess was not oblivious of this. She found him amusing. He looked giant and cold, yet he smiled whenever he saw her. One day, he decided it was time to stop sneaking around and tell her how he felt.”
“Really? So what happened then?”
” He told her how he felt and the princess took his hand, saying, ‘You should have showed yourself earlier. I was getting tired of waiting,”
He paused and glanced at Isa. She was already asleep. “Look at her.” He said adoringly as he brushed her hair away from her face.
“One would think you’re her father,” I said and he chuckled.
“Really?”
I nodded. “Being a father would suit you.”
He turned to me. “it will only suit me if I have a caring wife by my side,” he said, gazing softly into my eyes.
“I… see…” I didn’t know what to say. What were his eyes implying? I looked away from him and stood up.
“Well… I’m quite sleepy. I guess bedtime stories doesn’t only work on children ha ha ha.” Gosh, it’s so awkward.
“Um… goodnight,” I said as I turned to leave but he held my hand.
“Wh.. what?”
“Stay with me tonight,” he said and I parted my lips to talk but I didn’t know what to say.
“Stay with you? What are you? A kid?”
He pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his head on my tummy. “Please,” he said desperately. “Just for tonight,”
Gosh, what kind of situation is this? He raised his eyes and looked at me with the most irresistible puppy eyes ever.
“Um… I guess I could sleep in your room tonight,” I said and his eyes twinkled in delight. We left Isabella’s room and went to Akira’s room.
My eyes skipped a beat when he suddenly began to undress. “Hey hey! What… what are you doing?” I asked in panic as I covered my eyes with my palm.
“You don’t expect me to sleep with funeral robes right?” He said, making me feel stupid. I parted my fingers to see if he was already clad but I quickly shut it back when I saw his shirtless self.
“Just.. just put on something quickly!”
He chuckled jestingly. “You know you’re weird, Alexa? You’ve never seen a man’s bear chest before?” He teased.
“Just be fast!”
The rustling of clothes followed and I waited for him to dress up. Thinking he was done, I slowly let my hand down but he was still shirtless, his back facing me. I wanted to shut my eyes but something caught my eyes.
His back was full of scars. A lot of scars.
“What…”
He turned to me, only for me to see more scars on his chest. “Akira…” I called. “What happened to you?” I asked as I stepped toward him. I stopped in front of him.
“Can I?” I asked and he nodded. I raised his hand toward his chest. My breath hitched when I touched one of his scars. It looked like a sword cut.
“It must have hurt,” I said and he shook his head. “no, it didn’t,”
“Don’t act tough!” I snapped. “I can’t… I can’t even imagine the pain of having so much scars on your body.” My voice was breaking. He tilted my head up with my chin and gazed lovingly into my eyes.
“Why do you cry for me?” He asked and I sniffled.
“I don’t even know. I feel bad for you, I guess.” I said and he smiled.
“You’re still the same,” he said, confusing me.
“What do you mean?”
He was about to say something when a knock came at the door. He glared at the door in anger, “who is it?”
“It’s me, alpha.” A deep voice replied. Akira sighed tiredly and went over to the bed. He picked up his robe and wore it before going to open the door.
“What is it?” He demanded impatiently.
“Riaz has disappeared.”