Be Mine, Alpha

Five

Daphne's POV

I couldn't believe it. Honestly, I didn't know what to believe and it felt like my eyes were playing a trick on me. It wasn't possible, it just couldn't be.

The salty liquid that trickled down my cheeks seemed to think in contrast to my thoughts. I didn't know which hurt more; the fact that Nikolai had whizzed past me without sparing so much a second glance, or the fact that Harper was actually leaning into Nikolai's kiss, her hands gently massaging his scalp and brown hair. This was insane.

How could he? How could they? How could he lock lips with after just right after what had happened between us last night? Did it not mean-

"Daphne." My name brought me back to earth. I came face to face with Camilla. My view of her was blurry so I did the most logical thing I could think of, I swiped my palms over my cheeks, a bit too aggressively if you asked me.

I saw Camilla wince, but she covered it up almost immediately with a wide grin. "Are you-"

"I'm fine," I croaked, cutting her short. " I'm fine, I'm okay. You wanted to say something?"

"You know we've got work to do right?" It was a surprise how Camilla was smiling so hard. She continued, after noticing the puzzled look on my face. "That group project for Miss Strauss' class. Don't tell me you've forgotten about it?"

"Actually, I don't…"

"But I remember." Camilla didn't let me finish. In one swift motion, she grabbed a hold of both mine and Conan's wrists before pulling us out of the cafeteria. "So let's goooooo,"

"Camilla…" It was useless trying to resist. Camilla always had her way. Maybe that was the major reason Conan was quiet. Or maybe not, if him hardening his fist and his jaw clenching meant anything.

For some strange reason, I couldn't bring myself to look him in the face, not like he wanted to anyway.

"Please don't pull me like that, Camilla." I winced as I stumbled deeper into the class Camilla had brought us to.

Without further Ado, I pulled my wrist out from her grip and slumped into one of the empty seats in the classroom, the duo following behind. "Your grip is so f*****g strong, right Conan?"

"How dare he?" His voice was low, dangerously low I almost missed it. If he wasn't standing right in front of me, I'd have thought a wolf was growling nearby. "How dare he?"

"How dare who?" That was a stupid question. I knew that, we all knew that but somehow I prayed it would help diffuse the situation. "Camilla, do you know what he's talki-"

"Don't try to play dumb." Conan snapped and I snapped my mouth shut instantly. I met with his green orbs and all I could see in them were anger, fury, and hate, emotions I didn't think Conan was capable of having. "We all saw what happened. Camilla, you saw it didn't you?"

"Relax Conan." Camilla's soothing voice filled the air as she tried her hand in trying to pacify Conan. I looked everywhere but at my male best friend. The class was empty, it wasn't time for the next class yet and I was grateful for the privacy. Sort of. "You need to calm down…"

"No, I don't!" Conan huffed, his jaw ticking. "Who does he think he is to treat Daphne like that? Just because he's the alpha he thinks he can get away with everything? That's bullshit and I don't care if he's the Alpha or the moon goddess's son either. I'll-"

"You'll do what?" It was Camilla's turn to cut in now. "Tell me, Conan, what will you do ?"

"I'll make sure I crack at least two of his bones and give his teeth out as a sacrifice for the fertility of the land," Conan really wasn't having it. At all. "He's a pompous prick who deserves nothing less than that."

"I'm not opposing that idea." Camilla's voice turned soft as she turned to me. "But this isn't the time. How do you think Daphne's feeling?"

In that moment, I watched as Conan stared at me, his expression softening a little. He let out a huff before turning in the other direction. He wasn't completely calm, but he was less mad than he was a few moments ago.

"I'm fine, Camilla." My smile was weak, but that was the best I could muster. If my best friends were buying it, I had no idea but it should just have to do for now. "Really. And what are you going to do, Canon? Fight Nikolai? You can't even hurt a fly."

"Hey!" It was hard to tell which hurt Conan more. The slap I'd just planted on his arm or the huge damage I'd just done to his ego. "Take that back."

"No," I smirked, or tried to. "You wouldn't be able to lay a finger on him, even in your dreams. Right, Camilla?"

I got no response. Just a sad look from my friend that tugged at my heartstrings.

"Don't look at me like that." Or I might cry. I wanted to add. "I'm fine. Really."

I had no idea what she would have said because almost instantly, a group of students pushed open the door to the classroom and I couldn't be more glad for the interruption. I wasn't a fan of crowds, but right now, I didn't mind. It wasn't long after that Miss Strauss walked in. Even though she was droning on about the basis of my favorite subject, I found my focus and attention span dwindling really fast.

***

"You're both going to come over tonight, right?" I asked the duo the moment we got to the parking lot. We were just a few feet from all of our bikes. Conan's was a deep shade of blue, Camilla obviously sprayed paint hers a glittery shade of pink and the black hue of mine stood out amongst both of them. "You know, for the sleepover."

"That's perfect." Camilla squealed and Conan covered his ears. " I was just about to suggest that."

"Of course you were." It didn't take long for Camilla's hand to come in contact with Conan's chest. He let out a loud yelp, one Camilla obviously enjoyed. "Hey, that hurt."

"I'll bring over movies and board games." Camilla turned to me, completely ignoring Conan. "Will that be alright?"

"And I'll bring the food. Sounds good?

"Please bring actual food this time." I pleaded and my best friend laughed. "I beg you,"

"Come on, it wasn't that bad,'' Trust me, it was worse. At our last sleepover, we'd left Conan in charge of the food and he brought in some sort of food combo. It was nothing like what we'd ever had and I almost landed in the hospital. "You'll get used to it."

"No." Camilla's hands found their way to Conan's collar. " If you try any of your shenanigans…"

"Fine, fine, I won't." Canon wiggled his way out of her grip. "I'll bring over some onion rings and ask my mum to make us some snacks, is that okay?"

"Perfect!" Immediately I let out that word, the world seemed to come to a standstill. Or maybe it was just me, staring at the person that had just suddenly appeared in my line of vision. " Nikolai, I…"

"Follow me." He put in and I paled immediately. It wasn't surprising, he had this aura around him. What surprised me was how my body reacted at just the mere thought of him when I knew better. "Now."

"Uh." It suddenly felt hard to form words. I felt my breath hitch as my gaze shifted from my friends to Nikolai.

After giving it no thought at all, I muttered to both Camilla and Conan. "I should go now. I'll see you both later."

I could see the shock written clearly on their faces, but before either of them could react, I spun on my heels and followed Nikolai who was already gone a good distance, but not without catching Conan's head shake in disapproval.

Like it would make any difference or make him feel better, I mouthed "It's okay, I'll be fine." before rounding the corner with Alpha Nikolai

I hoped.

The familiar scenery of the art room seemed to calm my nerves. But they were back to their jumbled mess at the sight of the man in front of me.

Striking blue eyes peeked from under the umbrella of brown hair that framed his face. He'd ditched his black leather jacket for a dark blue shirt that hugged him in all the right places and his pants, let's not go into that.

The room was dark, the only light streaming in from the round window way up on the wall. It was weird but it fit perfectly, bathing the art room in a dark academic vibe with paintings and sculptures scattered around.

The tap of his shoe on the wooden floor caused me to look at him. Like there was some sort of magnetic pull, I found myself drawn to the ocean blue of his eyes. I blinked, once, twice.

Don't let him get to you. Ask him why you're both here so you can leave.

"What are you doing here?" My voice was in no way confident as to how it played in my head. "Why are we in here?

Silence. Silence was all I got as he stared me down like a scientist examining his new lab rat.

"What do you want…"

How he did it, I had no idea. How he'd manage to cover the distance between us in one split second was something I couldn't fathom. But all that could wait, especially with his plump lips, pulling on mine.

I sighed, like I'd been waiting for it all along. It wasn't me. It couldn't be me, it was definitely my wolf but it didn't matter. I was in no position to think things through or act rationally. Strong hands gripped my waist and I moaned, a low grunt following after.

Nikolai's hand on me tightened and I yelped, my tone screaming pleasure with a sprinkle of pain.

"Daphne." Even the way he called my name threatened to make me go nuts. Like a lost puppy I followed him as he pushed me to the nearest wall.

A few paintings next to me rattled as my back collided with the stone layer standing as a bridge between us and the outside world.

Like he'd planned it, Nikolai's lips trailed down my jaw and to my neck, just stopping right under my ear to plant feverish kisses just at the right place. "You're going to be the death of me."

And just like that, I snapped out of it. What did he mean? Was he finally ready to reveal what he was doing? Was he finally ready to accept me as his mate?

"Nikolai, I need to ask you something," My voice was merely a whisper. "What are we? We can't keep going back and forth and-"

Just like I'd walked in here clueless, I found myself clutching Nikolai's hair as his lips found their way back to my lips.

Oh moon goddess, what was I going to do?