Alpha Dante’s Obsession

CHAPTER 3

Kaia’s POV

“This is unbelievable!” Freya screeched as we walked up the stairs while she gave me a brief tour around the house. “After several years of fruitlessly searching, the poor boy has finally found his mate.”

“Um, I don’t think he shares that same level of excite…,” I tried to chip in while swallowed within my thoughts.

“It’s all fate! Coming to his mother’s hometown, traveling south to tour, meeting you and bringing you here…,” she abruptly spun around to me and cupped my hands in hers, “I was fated to find you, Kaia! And bless Selene that I did.”

I feigned a smile. We continued walking.

“But how possible is it for a lycan to be mated to a werewolf?” She stopped me in my tracks as memories of Seth's attack flooded my mind.

In any way, did this have anything to do with that? Was there any possibility that I was a lycan?

Oh, in my sweet dreams. There was no way in hell. I was completely born and bred by werewolves, by their Alpha and Luna for that matter. In addition, Lycans wouldn’t even cross werewolf territory to inhabit unless to tour or business but never to cohabitate.

Freya stopped in front of a door and gestured towards the inside. “Yours,” she said, “but only for the time being. This is Dante’s mother’s hometown. He’s only here to handle some important matters of the Kingdom.”

I nodded with understanding as I stepped into the beautifully lit room.

Velvet drapes cascaded from ceiling to floor, and a crystal chandelier glittered overhead. Gold accents gleamed from every surface, while the scent of fresh flowers mingled with the air and whiffed through my nostrils.

The feeling was so… serene.

“Settle down. Dinner would be served in the dining within an hour.” She informed before closing the door behind her with a broad smile.

I collapsed on the soft mattress and let out a deep breath as I allowed my feelings to overwhelm me. The last few hours had been a complete rollercoaster of emotions. I’d been betrayed, almost killed, shifted into a form I couldn’t wrap my head around and met my second chance mate in the most disastrous of situations.

Worse, he was a lycan. A rude one.

But Selene, was he gorgeous! A masterpiece indeed.

The enthralling thoughts of him which flooded my mind brought along that characteristic strong musk scent of his to my nostrils.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Intoxicating…

“Ma,am…?”

I immediately snapped out of my thoughts as I met my gaze with that of a little frail girl standing at the doorway.

“Sorry to disturb. I’m the Princess’s maid. She sent to tell that dinner is served.” She updated shyly. I nodded, embarrassed.

I got up at once and followed her downstairs and into a grand hall. Was this the dining room?

My brows furrowed.

“What’re you doing here?” My eyes quickly rose to find him seated at the head of the table, a bold scowl on his face.

I took a deep breath in and I walked to the other end of the table and took a seat, ignoring him.

My wolf began acting erratically again. Being in his presence alone had a wild effect on her.

“Am I talking to a mute?” He went on, his temper thinning out already.

“The Princess called on me,” I answered quietly, still focused on my meal while my lungs refused to let air out of it.

“I highly doubt it. She knows how much better I enjoy my dinner away from insufferable fellows.” He grunted. “And it is considerably more likely a part of your character to show up uninvited.”

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself. If I wanted to be somewhere less insufferable, trust me, I’d be anywhere but here.” I retorted, immediately shocked once the words had escaped my lips.

Silent gasps filled the room from the guards and servants dispersed around the hall. They shared my shock.

My gaze locked in with his and his cold glare bore a hole deep within my soul. I shuddered. My wolf whimpered with excitement.

I cleared my throat.

“Right. Because with that mouth full of rude remarks, It’s a wonder you still have any space left for dinner.” He retorted.

“Well I like to multitask.” I shrugged, pretending to be unfazed by his venom while my chest burned with rising rage. “Besides, you’re one to speak of rude remarks. Or, have you forgotten who cast the first stone this evening?”

His jaw tightened as he set his fork down with a clink. His eyes burned with irritation. “You wandered into my driveway like a clueless moron…!”

“Moron?!” I cut him off, appalled. “That’s rich coming from someone with a temper thinner than thread!”

My veins flooded with adrenaline, but not just that. Something else was stirring inside me. Something more intoxicating, wanting…

Dante leaned forward slightly, his voice low and controlled. “Maybe it’s this thin because you keep showing that intolerable face around me.”

“Oh please, we both know exactly why it is.”

He stared at me for a while before picking up his napkin and wiping the corners of his mouth. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

He got up to leave.

“You think I asked for any of this? For a mate who’s impossible to deal with?” I halted him in his steps abruptly. He turned to me with darkened eyes.

“Fate’s cruel alright.”

“I’m just wondering how long you’ll keep up with this little act before you admit it.” I rose up to my feet and he slowly, with deliberate steps, walked up to me, his gaze boring into mine the entire while.

“Admit what, exactly? That I’m dying to be with you?” He soon came before me as we stood about seven inches apart. “Please. My wolf might be stupid enough to fall for your broody charm, but I’ve got more sense than that.”

“You say that but the only reason you’re too afraid to admit it is because you cannot control it.” I confronted boldly.

“Ahh,” He leaned even closer. My breath caught in my lungs and the stirring inside me intensified, making me grow sick. “Are you much better at controlling it then?”

“I…,” My gaze fell against his lips. They appeared so… tasteable. His eyes lingered on mine as well.

My wolf was raging.

“The last thing I need in my life right now is an aggravating mate like yourself.” He whispered slowly as his lips moved towards mine.

My heart raced like crazy that I was certain he could hear the loud thumping.

I leaned forward to meet his lips. The thing stirring inside me had now spiraled out of control. I felt incredibly hot.

I gulped as I awaited the incoming moment. My lips parted for his.

“Leave at once,” he calmly muttered, trying to control his primal instincts.

My breath quickened. My body was calling to his. “No. I won’t leave,” I resisted adamantly, “Not until you give me your answer.”

I was unsure about how reasonable this bold step was especially because of the shocked darting eyes of the servant who stood by the side.

Dante opened his mouth to say something then changed his mind. “Fine. I’ll leave.” He pulled away completely and walked away.

I felt something pull out away from me along with him as he walked out.

Freya stumbled into him on his way out. “Oh good, you’re all here!” She beamed with delight.

“I’ve lost my appetite.” He said coldly before leaving the room. I felt a loud pang in my chest and I heaved in disappointment. In both the unsatisfied moment and in myself for letting my guard down.

Freya’s face fell. “What happened?”

I didn’t have the right words and the ones I had refused to come out. I only shook my head and she immediately understood. “I’ve lost my appetite as well. I’m going to go back upstairs.”

She nodded.

I lay silently on my bed and spent the rest of my night wondering what was wrong with me, what I really wanted.

I didn’t want such an arrogant schmuck, but my insides yearned for him and my heart raced uncontrollably around him, so was I only deceiving myself because I was too afraid to fall for another after what I’ve been through in the past?

I restlessly waited for the dawn. I had to talk to Freya about it, about everything, my past and my identity. I had a feeling that only she could help me understand what I was feeling and what I wanted.

As soon my eyes opened, I stumbled out of bed and headed straight to her bedroom. It was empty, but I walked in anyway. It was gorgeous.

My eyes darted restlessly around the room at the various lavish designs and portraits. Then I stumbled upon her desk. Her drawer was open and through it I could see what looked like a photo album. I smiled cheekily.

Out of curiosity, I pulled the drawer open and took it out. My face fell and my mouth gaped open and with every page I turned, my mouth stretched wider.

Pictures of Jaxon were riddled all over the pages with disturbing captions. Disturbing drawings of him were taped to the pages of the album. Heavily unsettled, my brain raked vigorously for an idea of whatever the heck was going on.

“What in Selene’s name do you think you're doing here?!” Freya yelled at the top of her voice in the most sinister tone I'd ever heard. She rushed towards me, roughly snatching the album from my hands.

She was fuming at me.

“You draw?” Was the only thing I could utter at that moment. My heart palpitated heavily.

“Get-out,” she said and I immediately left.

I wandered down the hallway, deep in thought.

Those pictures were nothing around ordinary for a sister to have of her brother, rather it was what a lover would have of another. My brain raked endlessly at the disturbing possibility and I found myself in a large hall with several distinguished men seated around a table.

It seemed like a very important meeting and Dante sat at the head.

The men turned around to me and began exchanging hushed words amongst themselves.

Dante paused mid-sentence as his eyes locked onto me. My heart stopped and for a brief moment, his expression was unreadable, but then a sharp annoyance flickered across his face.

“Gentlemen, excuse me for a moment.” He said and without another word, he strode furiously toward me, taking me by the arm and pulling me out into the corridor.

He slammed my hand against the wall and pressed me against it.

“Do you ever stop causing problems?”

“I’m sorry, I… I had no idea, I just walked…,”

“Just walked into the most important room in the mansion without thinking, huh.” He leaned in slightly, his frustration clear as he spoke through gritted teeth. “It’s either you just have a knack for ignoring anything sensible or you’re simply trying to get under my skin.”

“Ignoring sensible things, that sure sounds like the most irritable person I know,” I responded calmly before raising my voice at the end.

His eyes darken, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he stepped even closer, invading my space. He knew what I meant.

“You seem to be the biggest mistake I never even made.”

The insignificant distance between us brought back memories of last night and immediately my body reacted in turn.

I swallowed hard, knowing I was either about to make a huge mistake or finally take a step in the right direction.

“The only mistake you seem to have made is to rejecting me, so go ahead. Just stop this, stop feigning oblivion.”

Dante’s breath hitches as the tension between us simmers, the air grew thick with the heat of the unresolved tension.

“Go ahead. Do it.” I encouraged while praying deep down that he wouldn’t.

His gaze briefly dropped to my lips, and I caught him clenching his fists, forcing himself to stay in control. I leaned forward even closer. Our bodies were touching now and I could feel like heart rate pick up.

“Kaia, don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”

“Oh, don’t hold back on my account. What’s one more regret to add to your list of mistakes?” I prompted, unsure whether he was referring to the tension between us or his rejection.

My body was growing everly eager, my n*****s responding to the feel of his chest against mine. He could feel it, I was certain.

He flickered his eyes away from my lips and our gazes locked. I caught his eyes flash with something fierce, desire, barely restrained.

“I…,” he started as his lips leaned towards mine.

“I…, Lycan King Dante BloodBane of DarkMoon…,”. I felt our lips touch and an electrifying bolt shot through my spine.

Something growled under his breath and I was growing worried now. I pressed my body against his to distract him but he did not stop…

“… reject you, Kaia of Vormount of Darthmount…,” he pulled back as his words took a more affirmative tone. I eyes shot open and I stood locking my gaze with the most determined of his I’d ever seen.

“Oh no…,”