Wanted By Two Alphas

Chapter 2

Aria

Three days of locking myself up in my room. Three days of lying on the bed useless like a ragdoll. My long chestnut hair, a tangled mess. I had barely brushed it, barely moved, barely breathed.

A sharp knock disrupted the suffocating yet comforting silence.

“Go away,” I croaked, my voice drained from all the crying.

It had to be Beta Rafael; he was the only one who would check up on someone like me.

“I’ll break down the door if you haven’t come out on the count of three.” His voice came from the other end of the wooden door—a bit too calm for the threat he was laying. “And I’ll remove the expenses from your salary.”

Beta Raphael owned the apothecary that I worked in.

I let out the groan as my legs moved before I could think. My feet thudded against the door, and I yanked the door open.

A soft smile lined Beta Raphael’s lips; his eyes, which had begun to dim from old age, lingered on me. “You like a mess,” he said, “Come downstairs and eat.”

“I don’t want to.”

Beta Raphael didn’t reply; instead, he curled his arm around my wrist and pulled me.

“I’m not hungry.”

He dragged me down the stairs, through the hallway, and into the dining room. The scent of breakfast lingered in the air. Pancakes—my favourite.

I eyed the breakfast before glancing at him.

“If you want to die because you were rejected, feel free, but not in my house.” Beta Raphael placed a glass of milk beside the plate. “If he couldn’t see how beautiful and unique you are, then it is his loss.”

I should be angry at him, at his daughter. A part of me wanted to scream, to throw the breakfast. My eyes fell back on the pancake and milk, and my stomach tightened. How could I tell him what his daughter had done when he was so nice?

“Eat up,” he said, “I have an errand for you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Is that why you came to check up on me?”

Another smile snuck onto his lips. “You need fresh air.”

Walking up to the cupboard, he opened it, pulled out a bottle, and returned to the dining area. “Take this portion to Alpha Colt. He needs it.”

My breath hitched, and my entire body froze. “You want me to go to Talon’s house?” My voice broke. “Three days—.”

“Yes.” His expression didn’t change. “That's why you should hold your head high. Show him you don’t care.”

I cared. I cared so much it ached.

********

Two hours, and I stood before the Alpha Colt’s door. I had pressed the doorbell, my stomach rigid with tension, and my lungs had failed me.

I’ve prayed over and over again that Talon shouldn’t be at home. That I wouldn’t have to look into his eyes.

They swung open, and of course it had to be Talon. He stood, dominating the door frame. His hair was tousled, falling messily over his forehead. He was still in pyjamas, the shirt unbuttoned, giving a glimpse of his broad chest.

My chest ached at how he stood there looking all beautiful and fine, while I was barely holding myself together.

“What are you doing here?” His tone wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either.

The pain of that night slipped into my veins, but I remembered Beta Raphael's words, so I jutted my chin, belying the heat in my chest.

“I was told to deliver this to your father.” I handed him the brown package that held the potion.

I didn’t wait for a response; I turned around to leave. I barely made it far when I felt his warm hands wrapped around my wrist.

A gulp went down my throat.

Still hesitant, Talon’s lips parted. “About that night—”

“There’s no need to talk about that night.”

His jaw tightened. “Aria, listen. I apologise for how I said it, but you need to understand—”

“What’s there to understand? You picked Alicia over me.” My voice thin, breaking underneath the pain.

Talon’s hand tightened around mine. His gaze hardened as though weighing his words. “Can we hang out as we used to?”

My stomach churned, and the gnawing heat spread from my chest to all parts of my body.

“What do you take me for? A plaything,” I snapped. “Something you can discard and pick up when it’s convenient for you.”

Talon let out a sharp exhale. “It’s not like that.”

“It’s exactly like that,” I gritted, “You want Alicia, and you want to keep me waiting in the background. You can’t eat your cake and have it.” I tried to walk away.

Tugging me back, almost pulling me into his body, Talon’s thick brows furrowed. His voice now rough. “You don’t understand how hard this is.” His fingers twitched against my skin. “You are the daughter of a rogue. What do you expect me to do?”

The words hit my core.

“No one will approve of you. No one will love you. Do you think I can waltz in and tell my father that…”

The rest of his words blurred out, my thoughts filling my head. Was this the man who held me so warmly at night? The man whose kisses were beautiful against my lips?

A ruthless sting ripped through me, and my tears, which I had thought had dried up from three days of crying, gushed out.

I wiped them furiously. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

My eyes tore to him, narrowed, clearer—not from tears but realisation. “Since I’m a rogue’s daughter, I am worthy of being your mate. I am also unworthy of being in your life.” I yanked my hands off his grip.

“I don’t want to ever see you in my life. hear your name. As of today, I’ll forget you exist.” My breath shuddered.

Instantly I marched out and headed home.

The journey home passed in a blur; nothing registered in my mind, and when I opened the door, I just wanted to crawl back into my room and lock myself in for all eternity.

“You’re back home.” Beta Raphael's voice snapped me out of the chilling haze.

My gaze shifted to him; he was smiling. Too wide.

“Someone is here to see you.”

My brows drew together. “Who?” I questioned, breathless.

He gestured for me to follow him, and I did.

Standing under the yellow light of my living room was the strange man from my birthday—the one who had left after those words.

I turned to Beta Raphael. “What is he doing here?”

“He came to ask for your hand in marriage.”