Chapter 5
2501 Words
Christa POV
I get out of Eli’s car, and I see Chase’s car pull up into the driveway. It's been about a week since I’ve last seen him but he wasn't supposed to be home for another week? I’m excited to see him and say ’hi,’ but I am also nervous because Eli is with me, and my brothers can be overly protective. I was worried that Chase would scare him off. He looks over at Eli and looks at him funny but he continues to walk over to me, without taking his eyes off of Eli, and gives me a hug. As soon as Chase wraps me in a hug, Eli all of a sudden pushes Chase away from me, knocking him to the ground, whisper growling,” MINE.”
It all happens so fast; all I can do is stand there, shocked at what just happened. My brother is a pretty big guy and he's strong, so for Eli to just knock him to the ground like that was shocking in itself. After a few seconds, I finally come to my senses and shove Eli away from me.
”What the heck Eli? That's my brother! Why would you do that? What has come over you?” I’m extremely confused as to why he would growl “mine” in my ear?
As I am spitting out question after question I run over to Chase and help him up. As I help him up, Chase is unusually quiet. I’ve never seen Chase act so weird like this before, either. If someone even dared to touch him like that, he would knock them out cold, but he's just standing there, in front of Eli, bowing his head. Eli is looking between Chase and me, while Chase is looking at Eli and me confused.
Eli runs his hand through his hair nervously, looks at me, then Chase, turns around and takes off in his car without saying another word. I stand there watching his car pull away, confused as to what just happened. Pete and Monika come pulling into the driveway just as Eli turns out. When they get out of the car we all head inside together. As we walk in through the door Pete asks,
”Who was that?”
”That was Alpha Eli!” Chase replied.
”What was Alpha Eli doing here?”
”I don't know? You should be asking Christa?”
”Christa? What was he doing with Christa?”
”Uh hello, I’m right here,” I wave, getting their attention, ”he was dropping me off from work, so I didn't have to walk.”
”Christa, do you know who he is?”
”No, why?”
”He’s the Alpha of Opal Moon pack! He's our Alpha!”
”Oh.”
”What would Alpha Eli be doing with you anyway? Since when did he care about humans?” Monika replies.
Pete sends her a glare, and she shrugs her shoulder.
”What it's true?”
”How did you two meet in the first place?”
I let out a sigh.”I accidentally ran into him outside of the Library yesterday. I didn't get to say anything because I ran back inside, and today I ran into him again inside the Library, and this time we introduced ourselves and talked a bit, and he offered me a ride home! That's it. End of story.”
”Christa, I don't want you hanging out with him. He’s dangerous, and he has a distaste for humans. I’m not sure of his reasons for driving you home, but you need to stay away from him!”
”He seemed pretty nice to me! I don't think he’ll hurt me!”
”There’s a reason he is the most feared wolf in North America! Please, just do it for me ok?”
”Look, Pete, I know you're just trying to look out for me, but he's the first friend that I’ve made, and I should be able to talk to him if I want to!”
”I understand but being around him could get you hurt. Please, just stay away from him for me?”
I sigh frustrated, ”fine.”
Pete let out a sigh of relief; I went straight to my room afterward; after I’m all showered, and in my pajamas for the night, I grab my book and head over to my window nook and read. I hear a soft knock on my door.
”Come in.”
”Hey it's Chase. Can I come in?”
”Sure.” I close my book and move my legs so Chase can sit next to me.
”Pete is right, you know.”
”Ugh, not you too?”
”He’s dangerous to be around! We just want to protect you!”
”I know but at the same time, I’m an adult. I should be able to decide who I hang around with!”
”Look, we know Alpha Eli, and we know that he doesn't like humans. The fact that he even spoke to you makes me worried! He doesn't just do things unless there is a reason!”
I roll my eyes.
”We love you, kiddo; we only want what's best for you.”
”Ok, fine. Are you done?”
He chuckles and ruffles my hair into a mess. I pull away and swat at his hand!
”Hey, quit it! You know I hate that!”
”Fine, have a good night.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.
”Goodnight.”
The next morning I arrive at work, I rotate between being in the back and putting books away in their rightful place and organizing. It's getting into lunch when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I startle and turn around and see Eli standing there with a big smile on his face! Gosh, he’s so handsome! I immediately get flushed when I see him because of the way he makes me feel.
”Sorry,” he puts his hands up in surrender, “I didn't mean to scare you. I was wondering if I could take you out to lunch on your break?”
”Umm, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” I turn and start walking down the aisle to continue putting away the books.
”And why wouldn't it be a good idea?”
”Because it just isn't. Look, I really appreciate you giving me a ride home but I don't really know you.”
”That’s why I’d like to take you to lunch so we can get to know each other better?”
”Why me? Why do you want to go to lunch with me when you can have any girl you want around here?”
”Because I don't want to go to lunch with any other girl, I want to go to lunch with you.”
I sigh he’s going to make this really difficult for me, isn't he?
”Look I’ll make you a deal. You come to lunch with me today, and if you still feel the same way, I’ll leave you alone!”
I take a minute to think about his offer. I mean, I know my brothers want me to stay away from him, but one lunch with him won't hurt, right? And then we can go on our merry ways and I never have to talk to him again. What's the worst that could happen?
”Fine, deal.”
I clock out for lunch and Eli takes me to a small cafe around the corner. As we get ready to enter the cafe Eli opens the door for me and ushers me in while laying his hand on my lower back. As soon as he touches me, I get goosebumps and a shiver up and down my spine. We find a booth to sit at by a window.
As we walk to our table we get a lot of stares which make me really uncomfortable. I pick up the menu and begin looking at what they have; while I look at the menu, I can feel his eyes on me. I look up from my menu and give him a questioning look.
”Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?” I ask while trying to wipe off my face for anything that may be stuck on it. He chuckles at me and shakes his head.
”No, there's nothing on your face.”
”Then why were you looking at me like that?”
”It’s just that you're the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen!”
I ended up snorting at this. ”Yeah, right, you probably say that to everyone.”
”No, not everyone. Just you. And did you just snort?”
”Sorry, I do that sometimes when I’m nervous.”
”Don’t be sorry; it was adorable!”
I can feel myself blushing hard at his comment so I clear my throat and look away from him hiding my face in my menu and hide a small smile on the corner of my lips.
”Do you see anything you want?”
”Hmmm, the chicken ranch wrap looks pretty good.”
Right then, the waitress walks up to our table to take our orders. She comes to our table with her back to me and begins to take Eli’s order,
”Hi, my name is Amy. What can I get for you today? Maybe my number?”
Eli ignores her remark and continues on.
”She’d like the Chicken ranch wrap, and I’d like the Bacon Burger.”
”I’ll be right out with that.”
Not once did she look at me. It was as if I didn't even exist.
”Do you always get that kind of attention?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
He clears his throat as if he’s uncomfortable with that question.
”I got used to it after a while.”
After we sit for a minute awkwardly, he asks me a question.
”So Christa, tell me a little bit about yourself?”
”Well there really isn't that much to tell.”
”Now, we both know that isn’t true. Why did you decide to work at the library?”
”Well I love books! It's my way of escaping reality, and I’ve always wanted to own a bookstore!”
”Is that right?”
”mmhm, I think working in a library will be the closest I’ll ever get.”
”You shouldn't sell yourself short. Working at the library is just the start. If you work hard, you can make it happen. You just have to trust in yourself!”
His words make me blush and I can’t help but look away from him.
”What about you? Tell me more about yourself!”
”Well you already know that I create security system technology, and I’m Alpha of Opal Moon.”
”What about your family?”
”It’s just my dad, my younger sister, and I. My mom passed away in an accident.”
”Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn't know.”
”Don’t be; it happened a long time ago.”
”So, you have a younger sister?”
”Yes, her name is Amanda.”
”How old is she?
”She’s 22.”
”She’s only a couple of years older than me!”
”Yes, you two would probably get along really well! Maybe I can introduce you to her sometime!”
”I don’t know. I’m not really sure. I grew up kind of a loner so I’m not sure if she’d really like me.”
”I know my sister! She’d love you!”
As he told me how much his sister would love me, he had an intensity in his eyes as he stared into mine. His eyes were so blue, like the ocean, that I could drown in them. I found myself just staring into them until I caught myself, and I glanced away. Just as I looked away from him a beautiful tall woman walked into the cafe. She looked like she could be a supermodel. Then I noticed her zero in on us and walked straight to our table with a scowl on her beautiful face. Eli had his back to the door, but I noticed Eli tense up before she even reached our table. Before she reached us, her scowl immediately turned into a smile, and she stopped in front of us.
”Eli darling, what a surprise to see you here! And who might this be?”
”Eliza, what are you doing here?”
”Oh, you know I just came for lunch.”
She turned to me and smiled, but I could see a flash of resentment in her eyes.
”Well, if my dear Eli won’t introduce us, I’ll just have to introduce myself; I'm Eliza, Eli’s fiance. I didn't know he had you like as a friend, we should totally get together and do some female bonding time, and I can get to know you. I can't believe he didn't mention you to me!”
For some reason, I was hit with jealousy. I don't know why it's not like I know him very well and I have absolutely no claim on him. I shouldn’t be feeling jealous at all. In fact, after this lunch, I wasn't planning on seeing him again. So why was I feeling so sad and angry?
Eli got up from the table with what looked like anger on his face.
”Eliza, I need a word with you! Please excuse us; I’ll only be a moment.”
He grabbed Eliza’s arm and took her outside with him, and I could see in the window they were having a heated discussion. I could see her pat his chest and right before she walked away she gave him a kiss on his cheek. I felt extremely uncomfortable. I was about to get up to leave until he came back in, staring me down, and the intensity in his eyes made me freeze in my spot.
- Writer
