Chapter 16 A House

~Anna~

His handheld mine tightly; warm, just like before. To admit, it did feel right to be around him. From this simple gesture, I had to stop my facial muscles from smiling. Goddess knew I wanted to. Seeing him sulk like a child was just so out of character, it was a little cute.

His hold brought back the butterflies in my stomach, and the weird tingles that only his touch could awaken. There was no denying it – he really was my mate.

This was surprising, especially to someone like me! Getting mated to an Alpha – lucky! Getting mated to two Alphas – the Goddess must be planning something for me. This mate thing sure changed the direction of my life completely.

There were two things I was certain of for now – I wanted to leave the White Lake pack and my second chance mate was Alpha Liam. If the Goddess’s will was that I spend my life with him, then so be it. But I wouldn’t give in to the bond so easily and give him whatever he might want from me. It’d take a long time and a lot of convincing, and if he wouldn’t step up to the challenge, I wouldn’t hesitate to leave him too.

Perhaps there was more to him than what the rumors said, and that none of those were true, except that he massacred packs. This one always had the Omegas talking for weeks. Still, there might be a reason why he did what he did because from what he’d shown me so far, he didn’t seem like the kind of person who would kill without reason. This didn’t make him any less dangerous. He could easily kill me, and no one could stand up to him.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, and only then did I realize that we have reached it – my home. It wasn’t much, just a humble bungalow. The blue and white paint was chipping off the exterior walls, and dried leaves piled up on the lawn.

“Well, this is it,” I said, stopping right beside him. “Home sweet home.”

He didn’t say a word. I could tell his sight was on the front door. I looked back at Carson, but he wasn’t there. I felt a light tap on my shoulder and turning to my side, he was already beside me.

“It’s unlocked,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I knew, Bella. I was waiting for you yesterday, but you never came.”

Freeing my hand from Alpha Liam’s grasp, I walked towards the door. I didn’t want to answer Carson. He had been Alpha Flynn’s Beta ever since he took over his father as Alpha, and I didn’t want to ruin their relationship.

Carson would never forgive Flynn if he knew about last night. It was best he didn’t know. The three of us wouldn’t go back to what we used to be, but at least Carson was still my best friend, and they were on good terms with each other.

Carson would be loyal to Flynn; he was a true friend to both of us.

A creaking sound, as the door opened slowly. Surprisingly, it didn’t smell of stale air and dust.

“Turn the lights on,” Carson said from behind me.

Feeling the wall to my left, I found the switch and flipped it up. The lights flickered for a moment, before fully illuminating the living room. A beaten-up two-seater deep blue couch faced a flatscreen tv, situated on the right side of the small room. The pack’s flag hung on the wall facing the doorway; Father wanted it to be the first thing he saw when he entered the house, at least until he had me, or so he said. To the left was the kitchen and straight ahead, on both sides were the bedrooms – mine was on the left and he was on the right.

For as long as I could remember, it was just the two of us. Our daily routine was that he would be in his office to assist the Alpha or he’d be training the warriors while I was on training with Carson and Flynn. Sometimes, he would train the three of us, and if he had more time, he would give me private lessons. Even the Alpha gave Flynn private lessons. Same with Carson and his father, the previous Beta.

We were always so tired by the end of the day that we barely watched any film. And when I fell asleep on the couch, he would carry me to my room. The place was bringing back memories. I was getting teary-eyed.

“You kept it clean?” I asked, to distract myself.

“Impeccably clean,” Carson said, chuckling. “Thought you’d like it like this.”

Turning to face him, a small smile on my face as I said, “Thank you, Carson. It means a lot to me.”

“Sure. I didn’t clean the bedrooms so don’t come crying to me if you find skeletons,” he said, smiling.

Goddess, please let him find his mate already, this is seriously bad for my heart.

“Why would she go to you?” Alpha Liam retorted, glaring at him. So cute.

“Because he’s my best friend,” I answered. I knew I was testing his patience here, but it was really fun seeing him act like a child.

“I’m your mate!” he said, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Ignoring him, I turned to head towards my room. Turning on the lights, I found that it was in the same state I left it, only dustier and with cobwebs here and there.

“Pink,” came a voice from behind me. “Your favorite color?”

“No!” I answered immediately, feeling the heat on my cheeks. My room had pink curtains, pink sheets, and pink cabinets. It was Father’s idea, not mine. I didn’t mind it when I was a little girl but when I turned into a teenager, he would always sulk when I requested that I change the colors to that of the pack’s. So, my room was stuck with one color – pink of different shades.

He pushed me inside the room lightly to make way for himself. I rolled my eyes at him. Who invited him in?

He looked through the stick figures that were pinned to a wall – a drawing of my parents and me, my father and me, of his wolf, my friends and I, and many more. They were from my childhood, obviously, and Father didn’t want me to take them off the wall too.

I miss him.

“I’ll leave you guys to it, then,” Carson said, peeking in.

“Where are you going?”

Don’t leave me alone with him!

“I have to check up on Flynn, make sure he doesn’t get wind of you leaving tonight. Don’t worry, Bella. I’ll see you off, I promise.”

Before I could reply, he was already gone.

It’s unfair how they could move so fast!

“Nice drawings,” Alpha Liam commented.

He’s happy Carson’s gone.

While he was looking at the uninteresting drawings, I made my way to the bed. Putting a hand under the pillow, I felt for the object I sought to retrieve. Something hard grazed my palm. Clutching it, I quickly pulled it from under and stuffed it in a pocket, just in time for him to turn to face me, grinning like an idiot.

“Alone at last,” he said, walking towards me.

I darted out of the room and into the living room. Then I felt his arms wrap around my waist, stopping me from reaching the front door.

It’s really unfair!

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, chuckling.

Squirming against his muscular frame, he tightened his hold on me.

“Let me go!”

“Hmmm… no,” he said. “We need to talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about,” I said, and let my body relax, causing him to lean back a little to support my weight.

If you won’t let me go, carry me then.

“You’re a handful, aren’t you?”

I grinned. “Yes, I am. I will tire you all day and night, so just let me go.”

“No,” he simply said. “I want you to tire me… all day and all… night.”

A shiver ran down my spine. It sounded like he was planning something, but before I could ask him, he leaned back a little more, raising my feet off the floor.

“Put me down!”

He gently placed me on my feet in front of the couch, then sat down. I stood glaring at him, and he flashed me a smile that instantly melted my heart.

Goddess, he makes me want to smile back.

Nope, hold the glare, Anna. You have the upper hand here.

“Will you stop glaring at me and have a seat?” he said, patting the space beside him.

Crossing my arms, I raised a brow at him and said, “No.”

“No?” he asked, leaning back into the couch as he mimicked my pose.

“No,” I said firmly.

Then he pulled my arm causing me to fall into him. Which should’ve happened, but since they just love to take advantage of their supernatural abilities, when I opened my eyes, he had an arm around my waist and I was sitting on his lap, my legs to one side.

“Sit on me then,” he said. “It’s a nice house, by the way. But I prefer a home.”