Alice and The Rogue Wolf

Chapter 6

Alice

"What happened?" Jonathan asked with his hand still lingering on my cheek.

My lips clapped against each other but nothing fruitful was produced. Truth be told, the whole evening was full of a lot of surprises for me. First, without prior notice to me, a ritual is conducted to bind me in marriage with someone with who I have no passion, and now I'm faced with wiggling out of this awkward situation while my mouth has apparently become lifeless. Could my morning get any worse?

"I… " I stuttered, leaning slightly away from him. "You know I have a lot on my plate, and besides I'm still trying to figure things out so I'm in a tight spot."

"We talked about this, didn't we?" He grumbles, seemingly annoyed. "Is it that you don't love me?"

"No!" I defended myself. "you know what? We'll have plenty of lovey-dovey time when I move into your house. But until then, could you spare me some time to adapt or something?"

I could see the look of frustration in his eyes and I felt for him. It must be hard having your lover in your arms one moment and the next, they don't remember anything about you. But he needed to understand that this was difficult for me too.

"Okay fine." He shrugged, hopping on his feet. "I don't know how long it'll take but you need to learn to accept things the way they are. Now come on, I'll show you around town."

During the rest of that day, Jonathan maintained a cold countenance toward me. Every time I asked what was wrong he'd reply with an absentminded " nothing" that I gave up and focused on the tour I was given.

Unlike the forest, we took a bus around town, and while he pointed at the important amenities like the grocery store, and school among others, I always acknowledged with a nod.

"You know if you were going to be this cold, you could have appointed another person as my tour guide," I mumbled as I nibbled on my brunch of, well, pancakes. Getting drunk that early in the morning had heightened my appetite and after I had complained, we stopped by a diner.

*I know and I wanted to," he responded with a full mouth. "However, I wanted to make sure you were okay, and besides your mother instructed that I never let you out of my sight."

"Yeah, whatever," I murmured, rolling my eyes. "You had a nightmare the day I woke up." I blurted out immediately regretting afterward.

"A nightmare?" Jonathan asked, laying down his cutlery abruptly. "Tell me about it."

"Oh, so you're interested? What happened to the standoffish attitude?" I teased.

"C'mon what happened?"

"Nothing. There was no nightmare," I replied, trying to change the topic. I too was unsure what the nightmare was and didn't want to cause him any worry. "I was just pulling your legs."

He looked at me unsure for a second before sighing and resuming his meal.

We later stopped by a truck and got some ice cream and lazied around town till it began getting dark. After a long day, we got some groceries for our mother and got back home.

"When are you coming by my house?" Jonathan when he dropped me off at my house. I could sight mom eavesdropping through the parted curtains.

This question, I must say, threw me off balance. I knew it would eventually come but I was yet to prepare an answer for it.

"I don't even know where you stay. How could I come by then?" I replied, playing dumb.

"It's easy. Everyone knows where the alpha male stays."

"I wonder, is that boasting I hear?"

"You better get used to it."

The chuckle that ensued was long but awkward in the end. I collected the groceries from him and after receiving a rather awkward peck on the cheek from him, we both parted ways.

****

The next three days were spent stuck by Jonathan's side. He never let me leave his side as he went by planning the wedding and coronation ceremonies, he even insisted that I sit in most of the pack's meetings which my mum had been a frequent figure. He claimed he needed to be with me all the time and now it seemed he had also begun to grow on me.

I had woken up so excited and in his arms this morning. Last night, which was my first at his house, was not sensual but was as romantic as my awkwardness allowed it to go.

"Hey, morning beautiful," Jonathan sang as he walked bare-chested and with an ashtray balanced on his fingertips. I bit my lips as I regretted being asleep while he busied himself in the kitchen.

"Morning. Is that for me?" I asked, pointing at the brownish contents of the ceramic mug.

"Yup. It's called coffee. Here are some," He placed the mug's rim on my lips. I was about to take a sip when I recalled something.

"Sorry, I can't. Doctor Tanner warned me to stay off coffee… "

"Nonsense! C'mon, just a sip."

"Well, it tastes nice if that's what you want to hear. A little bland but fine." My compliment was not what he expected but he shrugged the disappointment off.

"Whatever you say," he said, heading for the door. "C'mon get ready. Now you're getting better, I'm taking you back to the waterfalls. I just hope you don't drown for real this time."

I couldn't help jumping out of bed excitedly. I giggled softly when I remembered the events of our last visit there. Thankfully, I bought a couple of changes of clothes yesterday so I quickly freshened up and changed into one.

By the time I was out, Jonathan had already set the table for breakfast; bacon and some omelets.

"How am I not freaked out that my future husband can cook?" I mumbled under my breath.

"You should be freaked out right?" Jonathan whispered. Oops! He must have heard me.

"You know, before we head out, I need you to know that I'm a better swimmer than you," He boasted, as he locked the door behind him.

"Well, it didn't look like that last time. But if you claim you're so good, why don't you show it?" I challenged.

"Yours looking for a challenge, huh? Well, I have to warn you, I wouldn't mind hurting your feelings."

"Oh, you have my dearest consent. It's better to back down now than turn out to be all bark and no bite."

"You wish!" He replied scoffing.

The stream was a stone's throw from where Jonathan's house was located so getting there wasn't that strenuous. Jonathan was so impatient that before we got to the more still part of the river he had flung off his clothes and stripped to his shorts.

"You ready?" He asked as I joined him at the river bank. He looked so anxious to win that even though I was not really into this challenge at first, I was determined to put in all I could muster from my blank brain.

"Yeah." A point in the water marked by a protruding rock was designated to be the finish line and at his command, we both dived in.

We had to swim for a kilometer or more, so I started steadily while Jonathan employed explosiveness. He was way ahead of me in the water while I followed behind closely, not because I couldn't catch up with him but because I had a strategy in mind, which in the end was quite useful.

I could hear him giggling as we almost neared the supposed finish line. Taking in one long breath, I sneaked my face underneath the surface and wiggled my arms fast, overtaking an already exhausted Jonathan and beating him to the challenge.

"No way!" He exclaimed as we both fell on the moist bank to catch our breaths.

I was too exasperated to reply but I let out a light chuckle.

"Nosir, do you affirm that you're all bark and no bite?" I asked teasingly.

"Whatever. I still can't believe how fast you were so fast."

"Well, a lady never reveals her secrets."

"I believe that's not how the saying goes."

"Yeah, right." I smiled weakly but my mind was absent. Perhaps because it was debating on how to bring up the issue which has been bothering my mind since I woke up this morning.

"You know, for I have thought heavily about getting my memories back," I began matter-of-factly. I could feel his body stiffen but I went on anyway. "I have tried adapting but it's just like living in the dark. I sometimes try to remember but all I get is a freaking headache."

On impulse, he sat up with a stern look on his face. He stared silently at me for a few seconds before speaking.

"I have consistently warned you, Alice. Trying to get back those memories will cost you so much pain and you know I can't stand you hurt. I'm bound as your future mate to protect you at all costs but I can't do that if you don't listen."

"I know, Jonathan. But living without them is way worse than you think. You are experienced so you could tell me something that could help me regain my memories."

My words had begun to enrage, I noticed. But I wasn't going to stop trying to milk out what I know.

"I told you, Alice." He half yelled. *I'm done talking about… " he trailed off as a not too distant explosion resounded through the air.