The Alphas Dilemma

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Emory's pov

"Want to grab a drink with me?" Gilbert asked, flashing me his charming smile that I knew would not work on me. At least not today.

"Ah, no. I still have to do video calls with my godchild through his mother. I still haven't had a proper look at him. Maybe next time, though. Let's go, Alex" I linked my hand with his and pulled him away. A faint see you soon from Gilbert's voice greeted me, and I turned back to acknowledge him once more. "See you, Alpha Gilbert. It's nice seeing you, Jenny."

"If you continue with your actions, you might end up winning the actress of the world award. Damn girl, you are good." Alex said, smiling broadly at me.

"Cut it out, Alex, and start talking" I freed our joined hands and stood in front of him with my hands on my waist.

"About what?" He looked confused. Then his eyes lit up in realization. He quickly masked it up.

"You know every bit of what I'm talking about, Alex! Don't act ignorant with me" I flared

" I don't know what you're talking about, Emory."

"Like the hell, you don't! Fine! Let me help you remember. 'What can I say? Unlike some Alpha's, I can look after my people. Especially the ones I care about. Those were his exact words Alex and don't even tell me anything because I will not buy that s**t from you" I snarled at Alessandro, who just stood looking at me like I was speaking in a language he did not understand.

"I know you'd ask." He said with a low voice and his head bent.

"Great! So start talking." I puffed.

"Not right now, Emory. I really can not tell you about it." As he talked, his demeanor turned sour, and he looked almost fragile.

"When will you be able to tell me?" I asked a little more calmly than before. Something was definitely eating him up if he was acting this way.

"When I finally make peace with everything. I didn't and can not tell you now because I don't want you to judge me. I know you won't, though, but I just can't risk having you think of me as a bad person. I don't want to lose you. Especially now that we are what we are. Losing you means losing myself, and I don't want that to happen more than it already has. I feel like I'm slowly losing myself, Emory. And you are the only thing that is holding my piece together," he finished speaking, but he didn't raise his head to look at me

"Hey, look at me" I nudged him, but he didn't obey. "Look at me, Alex," I demanded pleadingly, and this time he obliged. I used my index finger to tilt up his chin so that we were staring into each other's eyes.

"You aren't losing me. Ever! Perhaps you didn't notice. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and the sweetest person I know. You went out of your way to help and build me. It is okay to feel unsure and skeptical about everything else, but please not my trust in you, and it's fine if you can't talk to me about what happened. I'm not sure what you did, but I'm certain it has to do with making wrong decisions which is okay too. What isn't okay is when you don't try to make amendments to your mistakes, and you allow it to happen again. Do not let yourself be guilt-tripped into slaving away for something that happened in the past. Did you fall? It's okay. Bring yourself from the ground, dust your butts and get back into the saddle! And if you can not do it on your own, I'm always here by your side to help you. That's what we are. Partners?" I finished my siel with a smile while Alex just stared at me with awe and wonder. He eventually smiled, too, which melted my heart. How extremely lucky would be the woman that will end up with this glorious male specimen as his mate!

"What will I ever do without you, Rayne?" Alex asked, engulfing me in a bone-crushing hug.

"Lower your voice… Gilbert and his minions might be lurking" I pulled away from him. "I'm Emory now, remember?"

"Yes, I do," he mumbled and kissed me. "I'm sorry"

"No, what will I ever do without you, Alex?" I replied, melting away in his warmth.

"Nothing at all," he chuckles, then let's go of me.

"Boastful much?" I retorted

"Yeah. Grant me this one wish for tonight, please."

"What wish?"

"Run with me! It's been ages since we challenged ourselves to race, and Viper is feeling so high on adrenaline rush" oh, I missed Viper. Viper was his wolf's name. And truly, it felt like ages since we last allowed our wolves to explore. Ever since our new project of making me a newborn was complete and I took up the CEO work, I've barely had enough time for Goldie—my wolf.

"Yeah, racing could work. After seeing Gilbert for the first time after all this year, Goldie could also use a race."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes, it's a yes. Only if you agree that the loser buys ice cream for the winner."

"All I have to say is, may the best man win."

"See you at the wood in ten."

"We could race in our cars too if you want. If one of us emerges as the winner twice, it means the loser buys ice cream and cheese. But if not...assuming we both emerge winners in either race, we could either cancel out the prizes, or I'll buy you what you want, and you'd do the same. Deal?" He asked, sticking out his hand for me to shake.

"Deal," I responded, smacking my palm with his in a handshake.

_____________

Five days passed in a blur, signifying the coming to an end of our time in the capital city. The meeting was over, but the host insisted that all of us wait for a closing party, and that was why we are all still here in this glamorous hotel. Not all of us, though, some of us. Quite a good number of the CEOs and representatives had gone back yesterday. Being the day the final decisions and conclusions were made—Alessandro and Jenny were part of the CEOs that had gone back to their base why Gilbert and I were part of the CEO that stayed around. I knew my life was ultimately going to change from next week, and it was probably best if I got all the fun I can now before going back to Venice . The party started at 9:00 pm, and it was already some minutes past 8:00 pm, and I was still draped over my bed sheet on the hotel bed. For some reason, I was very weak and unable to move a bit. Maybe it is as a result of the run I had with Alessandro. We ran for a complete five hours in our wolf form, without even a single pause or break. At the end of the race, though, I got two different ice cream flavors.—The toasted Oreo cheesecake and Nutella ice cream and Chimney Raspberry kiss ice cream. Not because I won the two parts of the race but because I suddenly grew a second stomach and I wanted to eat my two favorite ice cream flavors. I groaned when Goldie began to wiggle her tail in my head because she wanted us to go out and have some fun. Something told me something big was going to happen. That something is my wolf instinct, and my wolf instinct didn't lie. Ever!