A Tinder Date With The Alpha

Love Bite

OLIVIA

I search the closet for something warm to wear and land on a grey winter coat, a moldy smell piercing my nose when I pull it out. I should be used to that smell by now because all the clothes I've picked from the closet have it. It's as if the clothes haven't been worn in a very long time. I wear the coat over a turtleneck sweater and walk out of the bedroom.

"Breakfast is almost ready," Rissa, the maid assigned to me calls as I open the door to leave the house. "You should eat before you leave."

"I'll have my breakfast later when I get back," I say and she nods, getting back to work.

I pull the hood of the winter coat over my head and rub my hands together as I take my morning stroll. The weather here is colder than most parts of New Zealand but when I look around, it's as if I'm the only one feeling the impact of the cold. Everyone else is moving around in clothing not warm enough.

The morning seems busier than usual, even Mariah didn't stop to greet and talk to me like she does when she bumps into me every other morning. With everyone moving up and down, I can't seem to focus on my thoughts so I turn onto a path leading into the forest. The serenity that the forest possesses keeps me going deep into it even when I know I should head back to the cottage before I get lost. As I walk, I think about Isabella and how she's coping with my disappearance. Is she still trying to find me or has she, like Dillon said, given up and arranged my funeral assuming I was murdered and dumped in some place no one will ever find me?

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of running water and curiously, I follow it hoping to find the source.

I freeze in my tracks when I see Dillon naked under a cascade, his back to me. As if sensing my presence, he turns to face me and I immediately look away. He doesn't frown or try to cover his body up and that makes me uncomfortable.

"Have you had enough of the view?" he asks when I turn to leave.

I squeeze my hands into fists and then release them, turning back to face him. "Only enough to get my revenge."

He smiles, "Your revenge? So this is about revenge."

He has such a beautiful smile for one who keeps a serious face all the time.

"You've been watching me strip and get into my nightwear every night," I say, my eyes raking his body. "I think we're equal now."

He arcs a brow, "I don't think so. I had never considered running away after seeing your naked silhouette. You were going to leave when you found me naked here."

Ignoring the cold, I peel my clothes off my body one by one and walk a few steps toward him.

"You want to join me?" he asks.

I shake my head, getting out of the matching underwear Rissa brought me a few days ago, "I want us to be equal."

My cheeks burn as I watch his d**k rise. Without a word, he walks to me and slides his hand through my hair, kissing me with so much intent. With my attempt at resisting failing, I join in the kiss. When we break from it, he holds my neck, balancing the base of my chin with his thumb, and begins to kiss my neck.

"Dillon," I moan his name when he bites down at my neck and somehow, that makes him pause, his teeth into my skin. I want him to stay there, to keep on kissing and biting at my neck but he lets go of me. He walks to the rock behind me, where his clothes are and I follow him, picking my clothes on the way. In silence, we get into our clothes.

"I need to go," he says, "I guess the celebration is about to begin."

"What celebration?" I ask, remembering just how busy everyone was earlier this morning.

"I turn thirty today," he says, leaving me behind as he strides away.

"Happy birthday!" I shout but he doesn't turn to acknowledge the wish.

People whisper things I'm unable to make out as I make my way to the cottage.

Is something wrong with me?

I wonder, looking down at myself when I realize that people are staring at me in a strange way wherever I pass.

The first thing I do when I get to the cottage is stand in front of the mirror to examine myself.

The love bite. I didn't realize it was so visible, perhaps that's what everyone was looking at. I hold my hand to the area on my neck where Dillon bit and brush around it, a flashback of the kiss coming to my mind and leaving me stimulated.

I should be scared of Dillon, I should hate him even, but I'm too attracted to him to fear or hate him.

I walk to the bedroom door and lock it, sliding down against it until I'm on the floor, and then I touch myself to the memories of the kiss Dillon and I shared until a light knock at the door interrupts me.

"Hold on a minute," I say, standing up from the floor and wiping my fingers on the winter coat.

"The alpha's secretary brought this," Rissa says, holding some clothes in her hand when I open the door. "She said you should wear them to the party."

"Thank you," I say, opening the door further for her to get in, "Put them on the bed."

"Your breakfast is cold, should I make you something else to eat?" she asks on her way out.

"No, thank you. Use this time to get yourself ready for the event," I say.

She laughs, "I'm not allowed to be in attendance, I'm an omega."

I frown.

"It's the lowest rank in the pack...so we omegas can't attend the alpha's birthday party unless we're lucky enough to be waiters and waitresses there," she adds, noticing the frown on my face.

"I'm sorry," I say and she smiles.

"Don't feel sorry for me. Congratulations by the way."

"On what?" I ask but she walks away, not responding to my question.