The Beta Is Mine

Your cold hands

He walked closer to Andera, that made her anxious.

Andera have no idea why the man is there, “did my father send him?” she whispered, trying to hide her disappointment.

The man stood in front with his eyes who always looked down on her, “What are you waiting for? You stand and come outside, we will talk.” He commanded her as if he were more powerful than her.

She wanted to say no, but those eyes that kept staring at them made her stop. She slowly put down her utensils and obediently stood up like what the man said, they walk quietly outside of the dining area.

She cleared her throat, “why are you here?” Her voice is lower than usual as if she’s afraid that someone will hear her talking to someone.

He looked at her with those eyes again, it’s been years yet he always made her whole body tremble. “What do you think I am here? Do you think I missed you to the point I will leave my work just to go here and visit you, Andera?”

She pursed her lips, “You don’t have to do whatever my father says, from the start it’s not your obligation to look after me…”

His hand landed on her left cheek, and it sure made a loud noise to the point that some of the betas walked around and looked at them briefly. “How dare you say that? Do you think you have the right to tell me what I should do?”

Andera can see how he greeted his teeth, his hands tightly gripped as if he tried his best not to punch her on her lips. She looked down on the floor, she can’t even look at him anymore…

“I’m sorry, brother…”

Another slap landed on her face, “Don’t call me like that, it disgusts me. No matter what happened, we are not siblings.”

“I’m sorry,” Andera replied, “I’m sorry, Aster.” Andera’s voice trembled as she called his name.

It’s been years, for those years they become step-siblings the man hasn’t accepted her as a family or just a friend.

The man could not help but grit his teeth and avert his eyes at her, “Father wants to know how are you doing and wanted to congratulate you, from what I can see you are doing okay seeing how you can run your mouth like that.”

Andera tightly gripped her hand, “that’s not it… I can explain.”

“There is no need for you to explain, I know you very well, Andera.” His voice is sure, and it made her keep her mouth shut.

Because Andera knew it, that no matter what she said; the man would never listen to her.

“How about grandfather?” Instead of trying to explain herself, changing the topic is the best decision she comes up with.

Aster sighed and combed his backward using his right hand, “he will go here once he’s not busy, that is what he only says when I inform him about me going here.”

“Is that so, then I will look forward to it. By the way, please tell Father that I really appreciate it.” Andera smiles faintly while looking at the floor, “I will have at least three days’ vacation after the summer before we finally start the training, hope you can inform them about it.”

“I will, and so, if you don’t have anything to say I might leave now. I don’t want to stay here, letting everyone look at me with curiosity.” Aster said.

Andera knew that the man just could not stand that they are standing in the same place, breathing the same air in the room. Just them talking made him skin irked, Andera is aware of how she’s being hated by him.

“Sure, you can go now. Thank you for being nice, hope Father won’t ask you again to visit me when you are busy.” Andera said with her most gentle voice, “I’m sorry.”

Aster clicked his tongue and without bidding goodbye he walked away from her.

She is already used to how the man acted toward her, yet there glimpse of pain in her eyes. Acceptance is the only she always asked for people around her yet why there is only a few of them can do it?

Even Aster, her best friend hates her after they become step-siblings… For what reason is, unknown until now that they are already grown-ups.

Andera just kept her head down and could not bring herself to go back to the dining area, no matter how strong she will be, being mentally unstable is still a weakness and she admits it.

She can’t hide it at all, because no matter how she’s strong physically when it comes to that nothing she can do.

All she could do is walk back toward her room, wishing that the man she heard in that room is still not there… Or maybe, not coming just for tonight. Seeing the man after her staying in the main mansion made everything become fresh.

Her hands were about to grab the doorknob as she reached the room when a cold, large one also grabbed it to open.

It was hard for her to recognize him at first, but once she saw his face a relief runs through her chest. “It’s you.” She whispered as she lowered her head again, “Did you only finish the thing you did right now? I think the canteen is still open, why don’t you go there and eat something before the headmaster knows that you skip dinner time?”

“It’s fine, I’m full.” His cold voice echoed in Andera’s ears and walked fast to her and went inside the bathroom.

But that’s not the thing she noticed, it’s the man’s scent.

It was the first time she ever smelled something from someone, it’s a bit uncomfortable for her because the scent it not only one but mixed with another.

Her trembling feet slowly stepped inside their room, with all the scent lingering on the four corners. Andera could not keep her sanity, it made her crazy. She started to sweat yet she knew that even though it was summer the atmosphere in their room in not hot.

She held her neck, the scent mixing with his scent suffocating her… She can’t stand it.

“What are you doing?” His topless wet body exposed with the soft white towel hanging on his shoulder, “you sweating too much and are you trying to kill yourself?”

He walked closer to Andera, fortunately, the mixed scent finally faded.

But the scent from the man becomes stronger for Andera to handle, her hand gradually moves and pushed his hand away from her.

Both of them looked at each other, they have this shocked reaction written on their faces.

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to slap your hands. Don’t worry about this, I just ate something bad and it makes me feel uncomfortable.” Andera has no choice but to lie, she was too confused why her nose become sensitive to others’ scents.

“No, how can I ignore you when you can’t even move your body and look so pale with so much sweat coming out? What happened, did someone drug you?”

Andera opens her mouth but there are no words coming out from her dry throat.

And, even if she can, how can she honestly answer the question?

How will she explain that she’s acting like that because of his smell?

His hand caressed her burning cheeks, “be honest and tell me, and I will help you.”

From the first time, his voice becomes gentle as if he’s really worried about her. She could not help but lean her face more to his hand, “It’s cold, it’s so nice.” She whispered and close her eyes, she let herself feel the coldness in his hand.

Wayne was surprised, he did not think that the woman will act like that suddenly. “There really must be something that happened, you are not someone who will suddenly be acting like this.”

He kept asking her, but there is no good answer coming out of her mouth. She kept giggling while his hand is still on her face.

Even Wayne can’t believe, that he carefully and patiently asked for her to answer his questions. “come on, tell me what is happening to you.” He becomes gentler, “do you like how cold my hands are?”

Andera looked at him finally, she nodded her head numerous times and smiled, “Yeah, I do!” She said, “I like it a lot.”

Her eyes stare at him, drowsy.

Wayne blinked his eyes three times before he averted them from her, “I-is that so…” He gulped his saliva, he already released his frustration from s****l desire but how could he stop himself again to feel the hot inside of him if the reason is in front of him?

“Do you want to feel how cold my hands are more?” His voice becomes husky, “hmm?” He held her waist inside her clothes.

Waiting for her answer, he was about to withdraw his hand when she stopped him. “Please, let me feel your cold hands more.”