Chapter2
1678 Words
YOU WANT THIS, RIGHT?
RUBY HENDERSON
The more stairs I ascend, the less I hear their jeers and laughter. The more adrenaline keeps on rushing in. I don't know what to expect, but I must keep moving. Keep breathing.
My palms are sweaty and sticky, and I can still feel the alcohol trickling down my chin, a chilly reminder that this isn't a dream. Nolan Earl, the Alpha of the Bridgeford pack, is waiting in one of the rooms for me.
I gulp, but my throat feels so dry.
Every step I take echoes in the pearly hallway dragging me closer to the brooding Alpha.
I should brush it off, turn back, and choose the private exit, but I don't. Omegas don't get to choose when the Luna says go.
But Meredith isn't the Luna. At least, not yet. That doesn't make it any easier for me though.
Nolan's sweet cedarwood lingers heavily in the hallway, almost as if guiding me to him. I hesitate by the right door and I've never been so scared to knock on a door. I do anyway.
I can hear my heart thrashing wildly. My fingers are cold and trembling terribly, but I keep taking deep breaths and praying with everything in me that he doesn't answer the door.
He should send me away. Goddess, please, please, please make him send me away.
My prayers go unanswered when the door clicks open and his Stoic frame is planted there, those very ensnaring eyes are locked on mine. Waiting.
Waiting for what?
"Come in."
His voice is deep, rough, and commanding as he murmurs in one breath.
He steps aside so I can get through, but I'm hesitating. I can't move not with his eyes searching the liquor mess on my dress.
I'm afraid to get through, to bump his chest from how little the space is by the door. I'm afraid to be left alone with him especially with how hot he looks in this beige-color crew neck shirt and sweatpants. I don't completely trust that I can be left alone with him.
He leaves the door open and walks so casually back into the room, leaving me gawking at his back by the door. The way his muscles flex as he's moving.
“I'm not gonna bite, you know."
Yeah right. And I can't wait outside here forever, so I take the bold step and step in close the door behind me. Summoning all my nerves to be as courageous as I can be.
He's standing by the window with his back to me.
I've never seen him look this casual both in outfit and stance. He looks more like a normal guy in the Pack than an Alpha but his Alpha aura and the luxury before my eyes do not fail to remind me this man is a dangerous beast best kept as a folk rather than a foe.
He doesn't look at me, just lifts a glass of smooth-looking liquid to his lips, taking a slow, deliberate sip.
I'm not sure what to do or say. I'm not sure if I'm breathing or not but I'm too captivated by the bulge of his arms and how I can make out the veins on his arm from where I'm awkwardly standing.
Then he whirls around.
I flinch.
Bounce off my gaze on anything… to the big bed and instantly regret gnaws on my inside because I'm now thinking of hopping into the nicely made bed with him, naked.
I feel my cheeks burn.
His eyes follow my gaze, and it strikes me that he already knows what I'm thinking.
"It's not happening."
“Isn't that why we're here?"
He squints at me, “You look so young. How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
I hate myself for sounding so breathy.
“Good thing." His brows furrow briefly, then he nods rapidly, "You're the girl Ivan rejected?"
Rejected. He sounds more like it's alright to reject a mate. I nod regardless.
He moves from the window towards me, and I want to back away. I also want to be here. I want to get this done and over with.
"Okay, so where do we start? Alpha?"
His lips twitch humorously. Sexily.
Then a laugh leaves him.
I've never heard our Alpha laugh and must admit that it's beautiful. He looks way too handsome now that he's smiling. Now I want to be funny so he can keep laughing.
He doesn't stop moving until he's close to me, forcing me to back away until my back bumps against the wall. Damn.
His hand lands on the wall beside my head, caging me in without touching me.
I'm worried he's going to hear my pulse thump. Like a skittish fawn caught in a meadow, I'm transfixed to the spot with his perfect pair of orbs studying my face.
"You're afraid of me, Ruby?"
Honestly, I don't know if this ache in the pit of my soul is fear or something else.
Something else for sure. I've been afraid many times in the past and this feeling—my mouth suddenly dry, quickening pulse, and the unfamiliar feeling down... in between my thighs. All foreign and certainly not fear.
He leans closer, his breath ghosting over my ear, "You're scenting. I can smell the fear and your heat. Mostly curiosity, little wolf."
I'm instantly so aware of everything. How his eyes seem to be softer and a lighter shade of green. I'm aware of myself. My omega's uniform suddenly becomes too thin. One look from him, I feel so exposed.
He slowly reaches to grab my jaw with so much pressure that it hurts at first, then his grip loosens. His thumb slightly brushes the corner of my mouth, and the need to pull closer and wrap my arms around his waist becomes overwhelming.
"You want this, right?" He asks.
I have no words. I should have some dignity, push him aside, and walk out the door despite the consequences but my legs feel so weak. Wobbly. I'm vulnerable and curious.
I have become a rabbit in the hyena's trap. I can never escape this.
So I nod. Rapidly. Shamefully.
His hand eases from the wall, and he backs away with a chuckle.
"You're tempting, but you're Ivan's girl."
Instant fuel to the fire.
"I'm no one's girl." I snap, not sure why I'm so defensive and snappy hearing him bring Ivan up, "He has a fiancée."
"No one's a girl," he said back. Filtering out every other word, "Make this s**t complicated by saying you're a virgin?"
My mouth drops open and hangs there.
His intense gaze is glued to my lips, as though he's interested in getting a response.
I'm super sweaty at this point.
Is it not obvious? I mean my mate doesn't want me.
He studies my silence, then curses under his breath, "f**k!"
He pulls away again but I grab his arm. A move that surprises us both.
I release his arm, regretting it deeply. Knowing what this man feels like. So toned. So freaking warm and soul-stirring.
The heat of his skin scorches my palm and lingers. I release him too fast, but the damage is already done. His scent deepens.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he mutters quietly.
"Why?"
“Because now I can’t stop thinking about it." He moves in again, his mouth dangerously close to mine. I close my eyes and await the moment the fireworks will be ignited when his lips meet mine.
"Don't get your hopes high, I'd never f**k an omega."
My eyes pop open. Reality check. I feel utterly humiliated and rejected.
I'm not sure of how I'm feeling, but I'm there, not moving. Watching him move around to grab a towel and hurl it to my chest.
"Go wash off, you reek like the bottom of a vodka bottle."
I don't argue. Here's a chance to escape this humiliation. I grab the towel and skip to the door he's showing me which is the bathroom.
I close the door and confirm the lock. I strip out of the soiled dress and step into the shower.
It's going to be a terribly long night. After showering, what's next?
It doesn't take long to find out because I'm coming back to the room. I must've taken so long in the bathroom because he's already in bed with his computer on his thighs and attention glued to it.
I don't have anything else to wear and don't have the confidence to interrupt him.
"There's a shirt in the drawer."
He mutters without looking away from the work on his computer.
I searched the drawers and found a tank shirt. I return to the bathroom and change into it. Find some bedding in the drawers to sleep in. Then I'm back in the room.
"You can leave now if you want to, a chauffeur will drop you off."
I'm frozen by his words. But is he kidding me?
"Meredith's the girl no one cares to cross."
His gaze leaves his laptop, "You'd rather cross me?" Another chuckle. "There's room on the bed, if you want to stay."
Duh. I want to stay. But not share the bed with him. I dare not. It might cost me my head.
He slams his laptop and sees me still standing with the beddings by the bathroom door.
"Come here." He puts his computer away, cracks his finger my way.
I oblige. Almost instantly.
He grabs my wrist and tugs me to sit on his thigh.
"You're too damn stiff. Drink?"
I nod.
He gives me his glass and I gulp the liquor. Swallow hard. And cough.
Tastes so f*****g nasty.
"Having s*x,” he murmurs, eyes unweaving from my lips, "Is just like chardonnay…” He dips even closer, voice d
Ropping to a whisper. "Gets better over time."
His hand slips under my chin, and he tilts it up. My eyes flutter shut, waiting for the fireworks to explode. Waiting to have my first kiss.
- Writer
