Her Alpha's Greatest Secret

Chapter 8- The Air

My mom’s interrogations of Fritz and Bowen saved me from having to explain anything that night which was a relief because I didn’t know what was happening with me enough to explain any of it to anyone. My father joined us for dinner and later that night Henric and Lilia joined us for cards and dessert. It was a wonderful night, and I was happy to see my brothers both so happy with their mates. Bowen seemed like a perfect match for my shy sweet brother- drawing him out and making him bolder and more buoyant in a way that shattered my heart with gratitude, but later that night I felt the pieces grinding into me with the hot shame of envy. I was in no place to claim Saela would be jealous as if I were any better. I rolled fitfully- my bed creaking beneath me and snatched my phone to finally text Ariel back. I invited her to come along tomorrow night to go to a party in the capital Fritz had invited me to. Lilia had encouraged me to go, assuring me she could hang out with my mom while the guys were at work. I would stay the night at Fritz’s apartment. She texted back her agreement right away and I felt a worm of guilt threading through my gut when I considered that this might mean something different for her, but I ignored the feeling and reached for sleep.

I was on the cliff path again pulling myself up a boulder that seemed to grow bigger beneath me. Every time I thought I was about to crest the top I was another hand hold away- my arms trembled with the effort, and I was afraid to look behind me sensing that I was far from the ground below. Panic bloomed in my chest as I tried to swallow it down and remain focused on my grip. I began to realize that none of this made sense and it was obviously a dream. If it was a dream, I should just let go and allow myself to fall. That was logical, but my body rebelled against the notion- icy fear stabbing through me when one of my feet slipped. I fought for purchase against the sheer cliff face that had been a mild boulder moments ago. I allowed my claws to come out grinding them painfully into the hard rock as I scrambled up the never-ending expanse. Suddenly one of my feet slipped as I lost hold with a hand and for one heart stopping moment I thought I would plunge all the way down to my death, but a strong hand closed around my flailing hand steadying me. my head snapped back to look up to my savior and I saw Evander- golden hair and eyes glowing in the moonlight stretched over the ledge gripping me. He grunted as he hefted me up toward him and safety.

I was so in shock and trembling from the adrenaline that I didn’t release his hand even as I was deposited on the firm ground beside him. I knew my eyes were wide with the residual panic, but I couldn’t compose my face. He drew me against his chest as if he were as relived as I was while my hammering heart slowed. I leaned into him recognizing that although this had to be a dream, he felt so real and solid, and his undeniable delectable scent drenched his skin. I took a long shuddering breath drinking it in. He spoke breaking the silence and the spell, “We have to stop meeting like this,” he smirked.

Remembering my hurt and fury I dug a claw into the hand still wrapped around mine and he dropped it in shock blood welling from the deep mark I left on the back of his hand.

“Ouch, what the hell,” he glared down at me his eyes molten, but I glared back defiantly fighting the angry tears itching the backs of my eyes.

“If you don’t want anything to do with me, I don’t know why you bothered. Didn’t learn your lesson the last time you saved me?”

His eyes glittered with amusement, “I think you just admitted I saved you before.”

I stomped my foot pacing away from him blindly. He was the most infuriating…

“Emilia,” he called, but I ignored him entering a stretch of woods.

He slipped in front of me blocking my way and I raised hand threateningly with claws out.

He ignored the threat “Hounds of Hell, would you please give me one moment to explain myself?”

I was curious despite myself, so I crossed my arms firmly across my chest, “This had better be good,” I commanded. I felt myself waking up and I fought to linger in the dream, hoping I would finally get answers.

“Things aren’t always as they seem.” He was saying, but he was fading away before my eyes.

“What do you mean?” I begged.

“Dragon Testes,” I hissed as pressing an aggravated hand hard over my eyes. Just a dream, I reminded myself feeling ridiculous as I got up to start my day. The warm water stung my fingers when I went to wash my face and I stared at them blankly, several of my nails were broken and bloodied and I couldn’t help but remember the painful scrambling against the rock in my dream. I winced at the sting as I scrubbed them clean trying to remember if this could have happened at some point yesterday and I hadn’t noticed. I frowned when I remembered showering right before bed and how I certainly would have noticed then. I got dressed in a distracted haze and went to check on my mom.

She complained of a headache and was opting for a day in bed. I forced her to eat and made her some tea with a generous scoop of her special honey. Then I got the laundry done while I focused on the party tonight. I was going to head out in a couple hours to make the drive up to the capital. Ariel would be driving up separately when she got off work and I was relieved to not have to worry about the long drive alone with her in my little car. To keep busy between the loads, I tried different outfits on and spent an inordinate amount of time on a more complicated makeup look with shimmering eyeshadow and dramatic eyeliner.

I checked in on my mom to find her fighting her embroidery project in bed. I brought her lunch, and she shooed me off to have my fun. My excitement built steadily as I drove up the mountain range out of the valley. I was looking forward to some immature mindless fun and I couldn’t think of a better way to get it than partying with college kids.

I blasted music to get in the mood sacrificing the perfection of my hair for the feeling of the wind through my open windows. I relished the battery of it on my skin and how it pressed into me as if it could siphon off all thoughts on its way though me. I felt like it was cleaning me out so that I could simply flap and spin freely according to its whims.

The sun was setting when I arrived at the student apartment building and the atmosphere was thrilling with the electric excitement that came along with the students’ temporary freedom. I surrendered to that energy letting it raise the hair on my arms and quicken my blood. I finally shed my jacket in the car revealing the flimsy gold sequence dress I had hidden from my mother’s quick eyes. I did my best to fix my hair and then added some dark lipstick- red as the blood I had drawn from my mate’s hand in my dream last night. Discarding the memory, I grabbed my bag and headed up to find my brother’s apartment.