His Fallen Mate (Elemental Series #1)

The Flower

A bouquet of flowers was suddenly placed atop Dane's table, interrupting him from his work. His cold eyes bore onto Antonio as his brows furrowed. Mind ravels onto the universe and is disgusted at the advancement of his thought. He never imagined his beta to have feelings for him and is now slowly unleashing himself from the closet. Dane cringed at the idea but he didn't want to offend Antonio, so he decided to keep his cool.

"I'm sorry, Antonio, but I can't accept your love," Dane uttered, shaking his head while returning the bouquet of flowers to the man. Yesterday, he was so pissed at his beta for the wrong reason, and now that he finally knew what he was, he understood.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Antonio scowled at him. As though he were ready to murder him at any moment. Is he upset because I turned him down? Dane's thoughts were preoccupied with the question which he attempted to dismiss.

"What's with the flower?"

"What's with the flower, and where have you been?" Dane said as he examined the bouquet. When he notices a card stuck to the plastic covering, he picks it up and unfolds it. His gaze follows the words written in it, but it is the signature underneath that catches his attention. Ember?

"Who is Ember?" Dane inquired, perplexed, "Is this one of your admirers?" Antonio shook his head unbelievably as he stared at the confused Alpha.

"Alpha Maal's second daughter, the one we toured yesterday," Antonio responded before going back to his work.

Ember? Why does that name ring a bell? As though he had heard it before? Suddenly, Dane's head began to ache as if it were ready to burst. He grips his head, his breathing becoming labored. The agonizing discomfort causes him to sweat profusely, and his eyesight becomes fuzzy. As though the mention of that name triggered his memories.

"Alpha, are you all right?"

Dane shut his eyes tightly as several scenarios rushed through his head. It was so much that his mind appeared to be unable to handle it all. Dane heard Antonio's loud scream before he was consumed by darkness.

"Don't worry, when I grow up, I'm going to marry you."

He jolted up from his slumber. The girl's face is clearer than before, but he still can't see what she looks like. He seemed to have made a promise to someone about marriage when they'd grown up, but he couldn't recollect to whom he made that promise. Dane is certain that his dream happened before; otherwise, why would it continue to haunt him?

"Are you okay, Alpha?" Antonio said, interrupting his train of thought. He accepted the glass of water offered by his beta. Then he realized he'd passed out. Dane cannot believe that a name could trigger his situation as it never happened before.

"What's the name of Alpha Maal's daughter again?"

"Ember Seraphina," Antonio said as he placed the glass back on the table.

Ember Seraphina. It appears that the girl who has been occupying his mind lately has a connection to his past. Perhaps this is why, the first time he looked at her again, something within him awoke. He'd seen a number of women, but none had ever piqued his interest.

Is she the girl to whom I made a marriage vow? Dane kept asking himself that question, but he was filled with skepticism. His heart is frightened of being betrayed again and of being played for a fool. It's difficult to trust women nowadays because they constantly have some hidden agenda. Dane shook his head, deciding to get on with his work. Antonio was calmly observing him as he returned to his swivel chair. The flower was still on the table, next to the notes.

He stares at it for a moment before throwing it in the garbage pail. She went without saying goodbye, and now she's giving him a flower? Dane shook his head, his lips pursed into an unpleasant sneer. Seraphina is not the type of girl he should fall in love with. Whatever occurred in the past will remain in the past, and if they were friends in the past, Seraphina would have stated it straight away rather than beating around the bush. He's not up for childish behavior.

"Shouldn't you have saved it, Alpha? Sera appears to have personally fashioned that bouquet for you, and I've even seen her fingers covered in gauze," Antonio exclaimed. Dane locked his gaze on his beta, who had now closed his mouth.

He took a short glance at the bouquet. It was perfectly arranged with the perfect combination of colors. Someone who made it makes a concerted effort. Dane, on the other hand, is unconvinced that Seraphina did that herself. Why would she squander her time on just a mere bouquet?

After considerable deliberation, he chose to continue with his work, disregarding the flower. Nonetheless, his brain kept pushing him to pick the bouquet and save the card. He attempted to block off his thoughts, but they were so loud that he couldn't even concentrate on his work. So what if she hurt herself? I didn't tell her she had to do it. Dane tried to persuade himself that he shouldn't feel bad about throwing the flower, but his mind betrayed him.

Dane sighed deeply as he rose from his chair. Fully accepting the fact that he had lost on the bet against his rebellious thoughts. He walked into the garbage can and picked up the bouquet that he had dumped earlier.

"Oh, I thought you didn't like that?" Antonio inquired after witnessing his sudden change of conduct.

Dane scowled at him again before turning his gaze to the flower. "Shut up, Antonio, and concentrate on your task."

He chose to leave the bouquet on the table while taking up the card and placing it in his pocket. He sat back down in his chair and resumed his work, but a thought had been circling his mind. How did Antonio obtain the bouquet when Seraphina had already gone home yesterday? Dane casts a glimpse at his beta, who is now taking his work seriously. He was contemplating whether or not to ask Antonio. Unconsciously, Antonio's response earlier flashed on his mind. How did he know that Seraphina hurt herself while making the bouquet? Did they meet?

"Hey, Antonio! Did you and Seraphina meet? Is that why you said you had some important matters to attend to?" he inquired, his steely eyes piercing Antonio's face. If looks could kill, Antonio would have died by now. Dane stares at his beta in an accusing manner. As if meeting Seraphina secretly is already a sin.

"Uh-oh," stutters Antonio, touching the back of his ears, not knowing what to say. His beta's response made him even more pissed. Did they really meet?

"Are you working with Seraphina or me?" Dane said solemnly.

"It's not that, Alpha," Antonio added, "this is my personal life. Yes, I served the pack, but there are certain things that should remain private. I made a vow to Seraphina, and I can't just break her trust. I'm very sorry, Alpha," Antonio said, humbly rejecting to answer his question.

Dane smirked at his beta's response. "So, your allegiance now is to that woman?" he growled fiercely. He is enraged for an unknown reason. Is it because Antonio had a covert meeting with Seraphina? Or is it because his beta's loyalty is now divided?

"No, Alpha, you know, I've always been devoted to the pack and serving it with all my heart but..." Antonio took a pause after defending himself from Dane's anger.

"But?"

"But Seraphina is a friend, and she trusted me; I am a man of words, and I will honor what I promised," Antonio added, resolute in his conviction. "I am prepared to bear any penalty, but please do not take away my freedom in order to uphold my virility."

Dane was dissatisfied with his beta's response. He suddenly slammed his table down, forcing the documents to fall to the floor.

"You better not betray the pack for that woman, Antonio," Dane growled as he walked away.

He stormed into his house, enraged on the inside. Did Seraphina really have formed a relationship with Antonio in such a short time? Screw it! Annoyed, he walked straight to his bar counter and gulped the Martini down like it was water.

Women are just a bit of a nuisance. They come solely to interrupt one's peaceful life and fade out when they are done, leaving their damage behind. Self-centered bitches whose ideals are fixated on materialistic things, and if they notice one imperfection in you, they leave as if nothing happened. f**k love. f**k mates. f**k everything.

Dane looks like a freaking psycho, laughing at himself and then being enraged over something the next minute. His gaze was drawn momentarily to something in his hand. It was the letter he had tucked in his pocket earlier. Dane drunkenly unfolds it as he reads what was written inside. Into you like how the moon embraces the sun and how the seashore welcomes the waves.

His brow furrowed slightly as he read the text. She is into me, but she had met Antonio in secret. Is she f'ing messing with my feelings? Dane grumbled as he dropped the card onto his tiled floor. He was sulking when he shouldn't be. Somehow, Seraphina had made him fall into the pit of confusion as even he had a hard time understanding his emotions. If only he didn't attend that party, he wouldn't be able to meet that freaking hot and seductive woman who's tolling his head right now. Dane drinks his Martini once again while staring at the ceiling, his mind racing towards someone and his heart pounding with bewilderment.