The Alpha Who Hates Me

CHAPTER 6

When the next morning came, I tried to get over what happened last night or at least tried to pretend that last night never happened. I distracted myself the entire day with the new lessons I had with Narcia and it somehow worked.

Well, it also helped that Kaleb was out with Lowell patrolling at the borders the entire day.

Later in the afternoon, I decided to meet up with Lia. We talked about going to a bookstore just a few blocks from their neighbor.

We met at our favorite ice cream shop before going to the bookstore and, while on our way, Lia was ecstatic about finally meeting her mate. She wouldn’t stop rambling about how she enjoyed her time with him and how they clicked right away, even on their very first meeting.

I should be happy for her and I am happy for her. It’s just that, with everything that’s been going on between me and Kaleb, I couldn’t help but feel envious. I just wished we could be like any other mate shifters out there, but the fact that I’m a human just made things more complicated than they already were aside from the other obvious fact that Kaleb didn’t see me more than someone who he needed to protect with all his life.

“Ellie, your ice cream’s dripping.” Lia called out, her sudden outburst pulled me out of my reverie. I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that I didn’t realize we were already in front of the bookstore.

I quickly swiped my fingers on the end of the cone and licked the ice cream off. “Sorry!”

Lia shook her head while giggling at my silliness and then her face turned serious all of a sudden. “Are you sure you’re allowed to go out with me? I mean, after what happened last week, I’m not sure if Kaleb will be happy to know you’re out here with me.”

“I’m sorry about the way Kaleb acted. I was actually so embarrassed about it and I hope your parents didn’t take that personally.” I offered her a small smile. “ You know Kaleb, he’s so absorbed with this ‘protecting me at all times’ that sometimes, or if not most of the time, he doesn’t care about how he acts around others.”

“Well, it’s obvious that Kaleb loves you,” Lia stated firmly. I shook my head, not agreeing with her. She grabbed my hand and looked at me with affirmation. “I’m telling you, I know love when I see it. I know I’ve just met Renar but I can clearly tell that Kaleb loves you. You may not see now because he’s adamantly drawing a line between the two of you, but I know he’s doing that for a reason, but not because he hates you or that he’s not in love with you.”

I don’t know why people around me would always try to convince me that Kaleb’s feelings towards me were more than just someone who he was trying to protect, but Kaleb’s giving me a different sign.

I shrugged. “I’m really not so sure about that, Lia.”

“Trust me.” She spoke again in a firm voice. “I believe time will tell.”

I didn’t argue with her anymore after that, since it was just going to be a long debate. If she only knew how Kaleb walked out on me twice after kissing me and making me feel like he just made a mistake by kissing me, she'd be having second thoughts.

We were about to enter the bookstore when we heard a blaring sound coming from the town's alarm system. I saw the panic in Lia’s eyes as she grabbed my hand and started walking frantically. I followed behind her.

“What’s going on?” I asked her, but before she could answer, the familiar faces of Kaleb’s guards gathered around us.

Czar stepped forward. “We must get you home to safety, Ellie. There has been another breach in one of the borders.”

I turned to my best friend. “Are you coming with us, Lia?”

She shook her head. “No, I have to go home now. I’ll see you when it’s safe to come out.”

“Can you please have someone accompany Lia on her way home?” I said, asking Czar. He gave me a short nod and then motioned to one of the guards.

I barely had the time to process in my head what was happening, but I noticed on our way home that most of the shifters, except for the guards, had gone home. I can’t remember the last time the alarm system went off. There were alarms all over the town and they had been installed to alert everyone if there was a potential danger, but I could hardly remember if the alarm system had ever been off in the past years.

We reached home in no time. When we arrived, there were guards around the house. Narcia rushed towards me.

“Are you okay, Ellie?”

I nodded my head immediately. “I’m fine. What’s going on?”

Narcia wrapped her arms around me as she guided me inside. “Let’s get you to your room first.”

She gave Czar a few instructions before we went up to my room. In haste, she locked all the doors and windows and I just watched her pace in my room.

I sat down on my bed while trying to calm myself. The breach must be serious for them to act this way. I’ve never seen them like this before.

“Czar said there was another breach in one of the borders.” I finally said as soon as Narcia finished closing the blinds.

“That’s true.” She replied as she sat down beside me. “According to Kiba, there was a breach in the east border. A witch managed to get past the barriers and break one of the borders.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “A witch? But you mentioned a witch created the borders for us. Why would another witch try to get past the barriers?”

“We have to wait for Kaleb to return to know what truly happened.” She let out a deep sigh. “Ellie, we must convince Kaleb to proceed with the ritual of sealing the bond between the two of you. The Devlins are not wasting any time. They are moving as fast as they can to get to you.”

“What exactly do you mean by sealing the bond?”

She grabbed my hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Before the red blood moon takes place, you and Kaleb must seal the mythical bond through consummation. It is the same process for shifters.”

I blinked at her. Did she just say what I thought she said?

“Consummation, you mean s*x? Kaleb and I should have-” It’s impossible for me to finish that sentence.

To my horror, Narcia nodded as a response.

Oh, fudge.