The Alpha Forbidden Mate

Possible toy

Dali paused, unable to move from where she stood, nor could she even take her eyes off him. Everything about him was stimulating and intriguing. He captivated her in a poetic way. Under the moonlight, their eyes locked on each other’s, and Dali’s heart raced.

“Were you expecting me?” The corner of her lips curled into a smile.

He grunted softly before rising to his feet. His towering, imposing figure made her feel so small. He walked closer to her. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Then what are you doing here?” She bit her lower lip, her eyes lingering on his strong frame, the ridges and contours of his body. He was magnetic, fascinating.

“I knew you would come.” The space between them was less than ten inches. He stood so close to her, his presence filling the air around them. Everything about him was addictive, even down to how he smelled.

“Wasn’t that another word to describe ‘you were expecting me’?”

He shook his head. “I knew you would come because you’re reckless.”

Dali didn’t take offense at his words. Instead, she reached out and traced lightly from his collarbone down to his torso, stopping just above his belt. “So you wanted me to come?”

Chase looked away from her. “I didn’t. Why are you here?”

She shrugged, her eyes heavy with unspoken longing. The yearning was familiar—he was accustomed to it—but all of a sudden, he had forgotten how it felt. And now, looking at her, at the undisguised pull in her eyes, he saw what he had once been.

A glimpse of who he used to be.

“I can’t stay away from you.”

Her words flowed so easily, as if they had been rehearsed. But she wasn’t the type to rehearse such things. In truth, what he felt toward her was discomfort. For years, he had never met someone so expressive and open about how they felt. She was naive, simple-minded, and honest.

Exactly what he used to be before he sank into the dark embrace of grief.

“You talk too much.” He turned around and started to walk away.

“Oh…” Dali rushed to stand beside him. He was walking so fast, like he was too impatient to put distance between them.

“Why are you suddenly leaving me?”

He didn’t turn to look at her. Instead, he focused his eyes ahead as he moved through the path sandwiched between tall grasses. “Aren’t you following me?”

Dali paused at that. She shook her head. “I don’t know if following you is the right thing.”

“Why?” He turned around to stare at her.

What he met was the remarkable resemblance of uncertainty, distrust, and fear. He could see that she wanted to follow him, wanted to go with him anywhere, but something was holding her back.

“I don’t know,” she said meekly, “you might wake up one day and ask me to leave just because you’re tired of me.”

That was a good reason to be worried. Frankly, it was something that could happen. He could grow weary of her and tell her to leave at the break of dawn.

However, at the moment, he was sure he wouldn’t be sending her away anytime soon. “I thought you could not stay away from me?”

Dali quickly shook her head. “No, I actually cannot stay away from you. I want to be with you all the time…”

“Then why are you hesitating?” he asked, his voice cool but demanding. “Are you not supposed to seize this rare opportunity to be with me? Do you really want me as you say?”

Dali nodded her head vigorously, even reaching to take his hand so he could feel the depth of her truth.

However, before she could touch him, he jerked away, as if scalded by her touch.

Dali froze, watching him with wide eyes.

“Maybe he doesn’t like when people touch him,” she thought to herself before standing upright.

“I want to be with you,” she said. “Let’s go.” She walked past him but then stopped and turned around. “Where are we going?”

Chase studied her for a few minutes. She was just as foolish as he had expected. But somehow, he wasn’t as irritated as he assumed he would be. Rather, he stared at her, kept his lips sealed, and walked forward.

Dali followed behind him.

“You didn’t even ask me how I managed to come here so late. I could have gotten kidnapped, you know,” she said, filling the silence.

“I am not interested in knowing.” His reply was cold.

“It doesn’t matter,” she waved him off, “I’ll tell you anyway.” She giggled.

“You see, the world is really safe now. Because of you and the guards you have protecting the streets, crimes like robbery have reduced. Although a lot of people say the Rakmoon Pack is dangerous and filled with troublemakers, and is being led by an overbearing, cold piece of stone, I think you’re doi—”

She stopped talking.

Chase had turned around, his cold eyes fixated on her. His eyebrows furrowed in anger. “What did you just call me?”

She shook her head again. “It wasn’t me.” She pointed behind her. “People. People call you that. People say you’re an overbearing, insufferable, and annoying piece of stone.”

“You didn’t use insufferable and annoying the first time,” Chase pointed out.

“Does it matter?” She shrugged. “It’s the same thing.”

He could not bother himself with her anymore. He turned towards the path and continued on his way. Dali tailed behind him, running her mouth. The once quiet night had turned noisy just from her chatter alone.

When they finally reached the pack house, the lights were turned on, bright and incandescent, overpowering the shadows lingering around. It was utterly beautiful. She had come here a number of times, but each time, her breath caught in her throat.

Following behind Chase, he led her through the gates that were once locked against her. The guards glared at her, the servants eyed her as he led her through the hallways.

But more than their nasty glares, the words they muttered to themselves pricked at her.

“Poor girl.”

“She’s going to regret this.”

“No dignity whatsoever.”

“Who can blame her, this is the alpha.”

Those whispers floated into her ears, her once high chin slowly sank. They all knew what they thought she was about to do tonight. They seemed used to this scene of their alpha leading a meek girl down the hallway to his chambers.

How often did he do this?

How many girls had he brought in?

How long did they stay?

Did they like him as much as she did?

When they arrived in his room, he closed the door and clicked the lock before turning to face her. His shirt was already off his body; all he needed to do was settle whatever came next.

However, Dali had her fingers intertwined and pressed against her lip in skepticism.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding irritated.

“Are you really bringing me here to use me?”

Chase frowned slightly. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”