Is It You

Adira POV 3

Two and half hours later, Beta Wildon pulled onto a rugged dirt path that stretched for at least a mile and shoved us out onto Shining Moon territory. I had heard many good things about the pack and the Alpha leading it but I wished it stayed that way.

I’d hear.

Now I was in the middle of it. Beta Wildon slowed down in front of the pack house, a five story blue and white house that was majestic to look at. I remained in my seat with unsurity settling in on just how I was supposed to handle all this. My mind had been set that I’d have no mate and yet here I was, with an Alpha at that.

Adair, I seriously wished you’d remained patient.

From the few stories I knew, Alpha Malachi Carson was a good man. I rarely heard his reputation being dragged through the mud and I assumed that worked in his favor. If he was anything but, I’d have run for the hills. I watched him now as he rounded the Jeep and stopped by the window.

“Wait here for a few minutes,” He gave me an apologetic smile. “I need to have a word with my Gamma”

He and Wildon proceeded into the packhouse and I sat in the Jeep as asked. I stared at the other surrounding buildings and noted a coffee house, a gym, a large auditorium and a wide field at the back. There were a few smaller buildings that caught my interest but I stopped browsing when the door to the packhouse opened.

Malachi was standing in the doorway, slightly facing me with a broad smile on his face. His eyes were focused on Wildon who stood behind him. The two exchanged a few more words and then he came down the steps and climbed in the driver seat.

“My house is a fifteen minute drive up the hill behind the pack house” He explained.

I nodded calmly but on the inside I was panicking. So we’d be totally alone? In his house? Together? Like...alone alone?

My palms were beginning to sweat at the new environment I was about to enter. Trying my best not to pass out I waited out the ride up the hill until we came to his house. It was just as beautifully crafted like the pack house but it held a hint of coldness. There wasn’t any sound currently flowing around, just solitude.

Wow, it's as if no one lives here at all.

“Welcome to my abode” Malachi playfully greeted.

I gave him a small smile. He seemed to pause for a second as if he was expecting a different reaction. He opened his mouth to say something but shut it. He stepped out of the Jeep and went off to pull out our suitcases. I came out and slowly walked up the front porch. It was plain oak, not concrete like most modern houses and I appreciated that. There were no blooming flowers present that could have brightened the place but the oak seemed freshly waxed. There was a strung up bench at the front painted in white and a long pillow present.

“I like to sit outside some nights” Malachi murmured behind me.

I sensed his words held a double meaning and I knew best what it meant. He's lonely.

Solitude affected everyone differently but the main emotions stayed the same. The quiet was too much to bear sometimes and I usually left the apartment to visit mom and dad. It was too quiet when Adair wasn’t present. He unlocked the door and I followed in after him.

As I expected, men are simple.

The living room was barely accented away from its red walls and complimentary black furniture. No paintings or plants or anything lined the tables. The kitchen was pretty much the same and the bathrooms.

How had this man managed to stay inside all this time?

Malachi had disappeared somewhere upstairs to put away my bags so I decided to take refuge on the bench swing outside. I knew it was going to be my favorite spot the moment I saw it and without question, it was far enough from the looming Alpha. I was still struggling with how I was going to tell him the disappointing truth. Or even when. There was no right time for these kinds of things.

Malachi appeared shortly after and glanced over at me taking in the comfort. “I see you’ve taken a liking to my favorite spot”

He came toward me in slow strides and I made space for him. He hunkered down beside me and I vividly could feel every muscle in his body pressed against my side. For someone to look devastatingly handsome with muscles had to be sin somewhere.

“I won’t steal your spot, as long as you share” I responded with another tight smile.

I expected him to be happy with the bare minimum I was giving but his face fell flat instead. His eyes hadn’t sparkled like how they did this morning when we met and he didn’t seem to push to be close to me. It was easier this way if he wasn’t invested but I couldn’t help not asking.

“Are you okay?”

The words felt all too familiar to my lips. I’d frequently asked this question to Adair whenever she was in one of her depression swings.

“You’ve been giving me that tight smile from the moment we met” He complained. “If I’m that awful, you can tell me. I’m not use to...this”

His honesty ripped me a new one. I hadn’t considered his feelings, only mine. I rested a hand on his thigh and looked into his eyes.

“I’m sorry, I’m not used to this either” I confessed. “I’ll try harder but please be patient with me.”

His face started to light up again and I couldn’t help but smile with him. And not a fake smile. My lips stretched wide and I felt my laugh lines retract. Malachi stared at me transfixed.

“Now that’s a real smile,” He breathed huskily. “I was beginning to think I’d never see one”

I blushed at his compliment and looked away. The only pressing question I had right now was about the house. Better to ask now than never.

“Do I have decorating rights?”

Malachi looked at me with a funny expression. “This is our house, as long as you’ll stay. Your free to do any redecorating you like”

I squealed in delight and clasped my hands together like a child.