Sense My Silent Alpha's Heart

Chapter 6

Kael’s half spoken sentence still ate at me hours later. I was alone in a bed thrice as big as what I was used to, turning and groaning, unable to sleep.

What about a mate was so unappealing to him? I mean, everyone wanted to find their mates. I’ve dreamt about finding mine a couple of times, if only to take me out from the misery of staying at the Moonfall pack. And now that it's finally happened, I don’t feel too happy.

I can’t stop thinking about the violent rejection I’d felt from Gideon earlier. It still stunned me that he felt that way… that he pities me.

Finally, sleep came soon and I succumbed to its clutches.

….

The next morning, I woke up quite early and planned to head to the kitchen. I’ve never been educated on the Luna duties so I almost have no idea what I’m doing but if there’s one thing I remember from the Moonfall pack is cooking for the Alpha the morning after the wedding. It’s tradition.

I went downstairs and was surprised to find both Gideon and Kael engaged in a conversation in hush tones. Gideon communicated with the notepad on his phone.

They noticed me instantly and both brothers instantly c****d their heads to look at me.

Kael’s lips pulled up into a smile. “Good morning, Luna.”

“Good morning, Kael.” I said, walking towards them. “I really think you should call me Evelyn more, though.”

“Luna Evelyn.” He chimed, obviously trying to get a reaction out of me but I just rolled my eyes and stilled when my eyes settled on Gideon.

I knew he was handsome but dammit, he was even more gorgeous in the morning.

His hair was a beautiful mess, dark strands sticking out at odd angles. It gave him an unruly look, softening his features and stripping away whatever sharpness he usually wore. My heart starts to race as I continue to stare at him, lost to this new side of his looks and my wolf stirred, urging me to move closer, to shift the strands of hair falling over his right eye.

Kael cleared his throat and I blinked, curling my itching fingers.

“Good morning, Gideon.” I whisper and he gives me a nod before he opened his notepad on his phone and starts to type.

‘Good morning, Evelyn. Did you have a good sleep?’

“Yeah, sure.” I lied and his eyes ran over me, slowly, penetratingly, taking in my appearance. I was wearing a lacy white gown that was long enough to cover my knees but the way he was looking at me made it feel as though I was completely naked, bare to him. I caught a hint of desire flickering through his eyes but he brushed it off as quickly as it came then he stood, typing out something again.

“I’ll go freshen up.”

I watched him leave and only Kael and I were left there.

“We didn’t think you’d be up so early.” Kael told me.

“According to the rules, I’m expected to cook for him today.”

“Oh, right.” Kael said, as if he’d completely forgotten about that. “Wait, that’s actually perfect. He’s been having a lot of trouble finding tasty foods lately.”

“Really?” I ask. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged and gave me a sheepish grin. “Perhaps he’s just been craving for a different kind of taste with his mate’s charm on it.”

I shake my head as I move to the kitchen with Kael following behind me. I opened ithe fridge, stocked with different kinds of raw foods then I paused, realizing I know next to nothing about Gideon.

Thankfully, Kael was right here so I turned to him.

“What are his favorite foods?” I asked and Kael grinned in return.

“There are lots of dishes he particularly enjoys but that information…” his eyes narrowed at me. “… is not so easy to give out.”

“Out of everything I’ve heard about you, being a sly little thing wasn’t one of them.”

“You’ll see that I’m more than that.” He laughed. “And you’ll owe me one favor in the future.”

“Deal.” I answered without thinking and Kael was happy to list all the kinds of foods his brother enjoyed eating.

He helped me cook and was not a nuisance in the kitchen like I thought he would be. And when we were done, he went upstairs to drag his brother down.

Gideon looked surpised when he saw the spread on the table. He looked from me to the dishes and I could swear his mouth watered hungrily, but he said nothing.

He just took a seat at the head of the table as I let him pick the dishes he wanted.

I was going to sit at the other end of the table but Kael plopped me down right next to Gideon and I couldn’t help but remain there, sitting so close to him. Like… like we were a family. But I guess we were now.

Gideon quietly placed a piece of fried egg in my plate and our eyes locked. His was brimming with something that looked like an apology. I haven’t touched him since we arrived at the pack yesterday so I wasn’t sure what he was feeling.

I bit my lips, looking away from him as I picked the egg to my mouth. I noticed Kael, watching us keenly, quietly, with obvious amusement.

And just when I opened my mouth to say something, we heard footsteps.

Gideon frowned, staring at the entrance where two people appeared. A middle aged man that looked like he was in his fifties and a young, beautiful girl following behind him. She seemed like his daughter.

Kael groaned in displeasure and even Gideon’s frown deepened as the two walked towards us. I wondered who they were.

“Uncle Soren.” Kael called, forcing a smile to his face but not standing up. “What are you doing here?”

Uncle? I wondered. If this was Gideon’s uncle then I should greet him properly. The moment I tried to stand though, Gideon grabbed my hand, stopping me.

The moment our skin made contact, I felt the heavy tension rolling out of his body. His obvious discomfort towards the people that had just walked in raised alarm bells in my head so I remained in my seat, biting my lips.

“Gideon wouldn’t bring his new wife to us so we came to have a look at her.” The old man’s gaze moved towards me and I gave a tight smile.

“Gideon was going to introduce her to all the elders today. But you were just too eager, Uncle.” Kael jokes and the old man laughed, easing the atmosphere a bit.

“Right. Join us.” Kael said while Gideon quietly gave him a glare.

“Brother Gideon.” The girl behind the old man called shyly, placing a box on the table as she sat on the other side of Gideon. “I brought you a gift to congratulate you on your wedding.”

Gideon gave a nod, his gaze expressionless, giving nothing away but he was still holding my hand so I could feel how he easily brushed away her gift.

A part of my wolf was clearly pleased about that.

“Uncle Soren, Lila.” Kael called then looked at me. “This is Evelyn, Gideon’s wife and the new Luna of the shadow pine pack. Gideon and I were waiting for her to settle in before we introduce her to the others.”

“Forgive my impatience, Alpha.” Soren said, looking towards Gideon, clearly noticing his displeasure.

Gideon said nothing, except for quietly placing another dish in my plate.

“Eat, Evelyn.” I hear his voice, his thoughts, with him still gripping my hand.

Uhmm… how was I supposed to eat?

“And Evelyn, this is our Uncle Soren and his daughter, Lila.” Kael continued, clearly taking charge of the situation. “Uncle Soren was our father’s Beta and now a loyal member of the pack.”

I feel the shift of emotions in Gideon at the mention of his father. Of course it would be uncomfortable. Rumors said that he murdered his father in cold blood and whether that was true or not, faced with his father’s Beta, it definitely was uncomfortable.

“Greetings, Uncle Soren, Lila.” I greet the two of them but they don’t answer. Lila looked at me like an enemy, intense hate pouring out of her eyes before she finally rolled her eyes, looking away.

I notice how none of them touched the food.

“Eh, I heard your bride was switched.”

“Which was not a problem.” Kael intervened. “Gideon is okay with it.”

“But have you asked if the rest of the elders are okay with it?” Soren said smoothly, smiling like a snake before pointing at me. “I heard she’s an adopted child. Her parents were criminals and the Moonfall Alpha only took her in out of pity. Marrying her defeats the whole purpose of this alliance.”

My hands were curled tightly in Gideon warm hands. Pity. I now officially hated that word and I was angry but Gideon’s own anger consumed mine.

I could feel it building up, thrumming through my veins and just waiting to explode. And being unable to speak, perhaps to put the man in his place, frustrated him and only fueled his anger more.

“If you had married your original bride, it would’ve been perfect. She’s the only heir of her family and you would have had a chance to merge both packs in the future if—“

Gideon was about to snap. I could feel it, yet before I could step in, he’d already banged the table so hard that I flinched.

Everyone instantly went quiet. Even Kael didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

Gideon frustratingly looks around and I know he’s searching for his notepad or his phone and yet none was close by.

When his eyes fell on me, I knew what he wanted immediately so I gave him a slow nod and looked at Soren after receiving Gideon’s message through the bond we now shared.

“Uncle Soren.” I called. “Gideon wants me to tell you that I am his mate and even if I had not been, he’d still have chosen me.”

The words left my lips even as they stirred something inside me. My heart.

Soren was clearly surprised. No one had known that during the wedding. And Kael was the only other person I’d told we were mates..

“You know nothing, child. You could’ve had both your mate and a proper Luna.”

“She’s my Luna. And also your Luna. That makes her above you so watch your tongue, Uncle.” I repeat Gideon’s own words, threateningly, just the way he wanted them to sound and Soren stared between me and Gideon as if only now noticing the connection we had.

Even Kael looked surprised.

Eventually, Uncle Soren gave up. The food had gone cold now and he finally stood, ready to leave.

“I was only giving you a piece of advice. Do not take it to heart Alpha.” He said the title like it was a joke and the tension in the air heightened before he left with his daughter after she huffed at me.

The moment they were completely out of sight, Kael released his tensed shoulders and collapsed in his seat. “That damn snake.” He hissed. “Now I’ve completely lost my appetite.”

The moment Kael said this, Gideon gave him a look and sent a message through the bond, putting my hand on his thigh as he still held it.

“Tell him to find back his appetite because none of this is going to waste.” Gideon said and when I relayed the message to Kael, he looked at his brother like he couldn’t believe him.

“Wait… so… you guys can hear each other? Is it a mate’s thing? How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged, staring at our linked hands. “I can hear and understand what he’s thinking but I’m not sure it goes both ways.”

I looked at Gideon for confirmation and he shakes his head.

“Now, Isn’t that perfect?” Kael’s eyes were shining with mischief and Gideon looked at him with a question in his eyes.

“You’ve been having difficulties communicating during meetings, haven’t you?” Kael said. “Since she understands you so well, how about making her your assistant?”

I was about to say something and Gideon also looked he wanted to say something but Kael easily cut us off.

“I’m not even going to hear a word of refusal on that. It is done. And Gideon.” He pinned his brother with a look. “You truly need this, you know you do.”

And just like that, coupled with my Luna duties, It was settled that I would assist Gideon.