Hate to Love

8

Julian

She was smiling at me and that meant the world to me. I drew her close and held her tight against my chest. That still felt a bit weird and she felt stiff but somehow, it was also the right thing to do. Jasper was smiling while looking at us. I was certain that he was truly happy for us even if a bit sad that he did not have the same thing. I wished him not to have such a complicated story with his mate but I had a feeling that we were a special case.

"I’m gonna let you to it." Jasper said. "I’ll see you tomorrow at work."

"See you, Jay." Alice said.

I nodded my head and our friend waved at us before leaving. Alice then turned to me.

"We should probably sleep early today because I’m sure he will work us to the bone tomorrow." She said, parting slightly from me.

I would not force her to stay in my embrace no matter how much I wanted her to. She would need time to come to terms with what I did to her, I respected that.

"There’s no doubt that he will. We’ve been working like crazy without you already." I sighed.

"Were you… annoying me on purpose so I wouldn’t work?" She asked, hesitant.

I looked away from her face because it was the truth and I did not know how she would react if I told her. She cupped my face in her hands and forced me to look at her. I could see that she was frowning but not in a bad way. She was trying to understand why I would do that but I could not tell her it was because I felt guilty.

Since I discovered that she was my mate, I had been trying to make her life easier. I knew that I made mistakes and it was the reason why we were not fully mated right now but I still hoped that we could get through it. If she could not forgive me then, I would accept her choice. I did this to us knowing fully what it would mean after all.

"That was… considerate of you Julian but you don’t have to do that anymore." She said.

I nodded slowly and she did something I would have not expected in a million years, she kissed me. It was just a small kiss on my lips and she soon released me, blushing furiously. I saw surprise painted on her face as if she had acted without realising it. I was too happy to say anything and she just stumbled to say that she was going to make dinner.

She escaped to the kitchen and I let her. I knew she acted purely on an impulse, probably because of her wolf that was pushing to her mate. Seeing her kiss me out of reflex was already good enough for me so I would not push it. I entered the kitchen a bit after and she had already finished a salad and was preparing some meat. She did not raise her head to look at me but she was still bright red, which made me chuckle.

"Don’t laugh at me." She said with a small voice.

"I’m not laughing at you… Alice. I just want you to know that there's no pressure. I know it will take some time for you to feel comfortable as my mate and I won’t touch you unless you want me to." I said, looking at her.

"Thank you." She breathed out, visibly relieved.

"Holding you is fine right?" I asked, excited that she might say yes. She said that she did not forgive me but today, she took a step towards me and I wanted to take the other one.

"Yes." She said thoughtful.

I went behind her slowly to give her time to say no and embraced her. She leaned into it and I sighed from content, baby steps but we would make it. I was a bit more confidant now that she kissed me. It showed that she was slowly letting me in.

We ate dinner in comfortable silence and then it was time to go to bed. I let her change first in the bathroom and she came out in two-pieces pyjamas composed of a shirt with a unicorn on it and a matching short. I did not expect her to wear something so girly and it must have shown because she looked at me quizzically. She was on the defensive again and I better had to say something that would not make her entirely angry.

"What is it?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I didn’t know you liked unicorns." I said careful.

"Well that’s something I had prevented Charles from revealing. I threatened him so he wouldn’t tell anyone. I’m glad to see he didn’t even tell you, if you breathe a word to anyone, you’re dead." She said sharply.

"Of course, I wouldn’t tell anyone." I chuckled. "I’m too happy to know something about you that no one else knows."

"You’re weird." She said with a small smile before sitting on the bed next to me.

I had changed into an old shirt and boxer shorts and that was it for me. I laid close next to her on the bed but without touching her. I was sure that she was not ready for that kind of couple thing yet and I did not want to push it too much. She did let me do things already that I never thought were possible in a million years.

"Good night, Julian." She said.

"Good night, Alice."

I felt her relax next to me and she fell asleep. Well, a lot happened today so I understood that she would fall asleep quickly but not that quick. I watched her a bit as her chest rose and fell, following her deep breathing. Damn, she was just too cute. Her long black hair were spread on the white cushion. She looked so ethereal in the moonrays that were escaping from the blinds.

I was happy that she trusted me enough to sleep like a log next to me, just like when we were kids. She would fall asleep whenever between Charles and me. Charles. I wondered if he knew. Probably. Nothing escaped the sharp blue eyes same as his sister's. I closed my eyes thinking about Alice's eyes today and let sleep take me.