70

I huddled on the locker room floor and still couldn't believe he'd just left me sitting here.

Pull yourself together .

I looked at myself in the mirror opposite and slowly got back up. I got tired of feeling sorry for myself all the time, so I decided to just swallow the bad feelings. Still staring at my reflection, I determinedly wiped away the remaining tears and then put on one of my new sweaters. I just left Selina's blouse in the corner and just picked up my bags and left the store with a queasy feeling.

Confused, I tried to orient myself outside, but how should one find one's way around in a strange place, especially when it was slowly getting dark and only a few people were about. As I strolled down the street looking around for the pack house, the lanterns began to light up, giving me some reassurance.

Unexpectedly, I suddenly spotted a phone booth under one of the lanterns and frantically ran towards it. It took me a moment to realize I didn't have a penny. Embarrassed, I then asked an older little gentleman for small change, who was the only one still on the road and smelled strongly of alcohol. Amused, he gave me some and then walked on laughing. I looked after him for a moment and only thought that he must probably be drunk.

I quickly ran back to the phone booth and grabbed the phone excitedly, only to make a couple of typos from the shaking. I finally made it, bouncing up and down excitedly while waiting for my dad to finally take off.

"Hallo?"

"Dad!"

"Alicia! Thank god you got in touch. After the last call I didn't know if I would ever hear from you again. Are you alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine! But I'm worried about you!"

"For me? Why for me?"

"Well, you're alone now and I didn't know how you would take it all."

"My little one. Of course it breaks my heart that you're no longer with me, but that's what happens when you find your soulmate. As long as he's good to you, I'm fine too. You know, your mum and I didn't have a mate connection and yet our love was greater than anything else. I can't even imagine how big his feelings for you are."

My breath caught in my throat as I realized he was right. Killian was a real werewolf and not a mongrel like me. My attraction to him had to put mine completely in the shade and I, being an egoist, only ever thought of myself.

"Are you still there, Alicia?"

"Yes, I was just thinking about your words."

"Little one, you're the smartest person I know. Even if you're shy, greatness lies within you. Tell him what you want and don't want. You'll wrap him around your finger, I know that. In your hands the alpha becomes a little lap dog."

His hearty laugh brought a smile to my face too.

"You're right. I need to get on the line and talk to him. I'll call you back soon. Love you Dad."

"Me too. I'm waiting for your call."

Relieved of the phone call, I hung up the receiver and thought about what I had just said. Although Killian was rude, I was sure that I could talk to him about my wishes and ideas. I've known alphas who would have just swiped the mark, but he turned and disappeared, so there was something in him that was considerate of me.

"Young woman!" someone suddenly shouted behind me and, irritated, I turned in the direction of a small park that was bordered by several benches. The drunk gentleman pointed to me and then to the free seat next to him. I had a queasy feeling sitting down next to him, but he made this important conversation possible for me and I didn't want to be rude.

Slowly, without taking my eyes off his, I sat down next to him and waited for what he had to say.

"So everything settled?" he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Yes! Thanks again for your help with this," I smiled shyly at him and got a fleeting smile back before he turned away and stared straight ahead into the darkened park.

"I grew up here and know every single face. But I've never seen you. You're either just visiting, or someone's mate."

He looked over at me again waiting for my answer, but now I avoided his gaze and looked up at the moon, which was surrounded by many stars.

"mate of someone."

"And happy about it?"

"I don't know exactly yet."

His gaze wandered into space again while I secretly examined him. He was small, even a bit smaller than me. Wrinkles covered his dark skin and I could also see small, fine scars on his face. His dark blond hair fell to his nape in a mess and the clothes he wore looked as old as if he had worn them all his life. He had his brown and white checked shirt neatly tucked into his pants and he was holding his walking stick between his hands, which I was surprised about because he still looked too fit for him.

"A leg injury. I can walk without it, but it takes more effort," he informed me, and I immediately stared the other way, embarrassed. I felt embarrassed that he had caught me mustering.

"Sorry. It's none of my business," I murmured softly.

"It's not an exciting story. Just the usual. A woman and two men." He smiled, but he took a deep breath, as if it were all still depressing him.

"And did the story end well for you?"

"Oh baby, I loved that woman with every cell of my body. Even when her mate showed up, I fought for her and our love. But it was no use. Our time was up, but the love between and never died. She left us years ago. It broke my heart."

I became painfully aware of why he smelled like alcohol and why he had so many worry lines. I swallowed his story with a bitter aftertaste. Just like my father, this man had lost the love of his life. Regretfully, I put my hand on his lap, on which he immediately put his and squeezed mine lightly. Suddenly I couldn't hold it back and started to cry, although I was trying desperately to pull myself together. My outburst surprised him, but not me. I've always been the type to cry a lot, whether it's about movies, books, or even real-life disasters. It got on my nerves for a lot of people, but that's how I was.

"Nanana. Who's going to cry? Your young face should shine with happiness and not cry with bitterness. It's all a long time ago." He patted my hand lovingly and handed me a tissue with the other. I accepted it gratefully and wiped away my tears. When I looked into his eyes again, his gaze suddenly changed.

"Don't take anything! You're a strong woman. Promise me that," he whispered and looked me firmly in the eye, but before I understood what he was trying to tell me, I was jerked away from him.

"Killian!" The man greeted my mate without even looking at him.

"Noah! Why am I not surprised that you bother drunk young women?" Killian growled at him and took a step towards him, while Noah still didn't notice him.

How could he accuse him of that? Outraged by his words and the way he spoke to Noah, I snatched my hand away and took a deep breath.

"It wasn't like that at all! I spoke to him. Besides, you just left me alone. Do you think I'll run after you like a little dog?!" I hissed at him, but he was still glaring at Noah and pulled me by the sleeve of my black sweater behind where Damiano was standing by the car, holding the door open for me. I didn't even think to get in and jerked away again to stand protectively in front of Noah, apparently infuriating Killian.

"Have you lost your mind defying me, the Alpha, in case you forgot, Alicia?!" he yelled at me angrily, clenching his fists, but I ignored my fear.

"No, I didn't! I'm your mate and not your property! You have to accept me as equals and if you don't leave Noah alone, I'll reject you without batting an eyelid! Better an outcast than one toy of your whims!"

My breath hitched and my trembling lips would show him how scared I was feeling and make it easy for him to submit. But he didn't do it, instead he took a step towards me in his gray hoodie and nodded in agreement. Did I really just get my way? I? Alicia the invisible versus the big alpha? Inside I was celebrating my triumph, but my body was shaking with excitement.

As I said goodbye to Noah, I heard the Alpha growl softly behind me, but I didn't care and ignored it skillfully. Confident in victory and with my head held high, I climbed into the car behind him and buckled my seat belt with a smile on my face. Damiano and he did the same and with one last look at Noah we quickly drove away.

Lost in thought, I stared out into the darkness and wondered what he had against Noah. They weren't the same age, so it couldn't have been a girl. I didn't know Noah, but I couldn't imagine that he was a bad guy.

Why do they hate each other ?

From the seat in front of me came an answer to my thoughts.

"He's not a good person, Alicia. I don't want you to have contact with such a scumbag either!" he spoke in a commanding tone that sounded ice cold and emotionless.

"How can you talk about him like that? Because he drinks alcohol? He must have his reasons for it. Or is it because he wears old clothes? You know, Killian, not everyone grows money out of their ass!" I countered and tried to suppress my anger.

"It's not about the alcohol, it's not about his clothes. I don't have to justify myself either! You stay away from him and that's the end of it!"

I winced when he banged his fist on the dashboard at the end of his sentence and Damiano looked over at him worried.

I was amazed at how little control he had over his emotions and shook my head in horror as Damiano looked pityingly at me in the rearview mirror. I didn't need his pity, so I looked out the window again and focused on the darkness.

The car came to a stop just in front of the pack house and I stubbornly refused to get out, even when Killian gave me his hand and gave me a stupid grin.

"What are you grinning at?" I snapped at him, crossing my arms like a stubborn child.

"Now don't act like a toddler," he said, amused and annoyed that he also seemed to find it funny that I was pissed, I narrowed my eyes and gave him the middle finger.

"Wait a minute," he laughed, and with great pleasure he grabbed my waist to throw me over his shoulder without much effort. I tried to fight back, but that made him laugh even more.

"That's not funny. Put me down!" I yelled at him angrily, but without giving me a reaction, he stomped up the stairs to our room, gently lowered me onto the bed, and laid his full weight on top of me . He pressed his strong arms into the soft bed on either side of my shoulders and pushed his pelvis between my legs.

At that moment something strange happened to me. I suddenly didn't care about our disagreements. I only had positive feelings for him. Safe, loved and protected. That's how I felt and I couldn't resist it because it was the connection that forced me to feel that way in that moment.

His lips gently touched mine, as if trying to see if I was going to fight back, but how was I supposed to fight back? The heat encased my entire body and everything in me flashed like small fireworks, which elicited a soft moan from me. Aroused by my moans, he closed his eyes and parted his lips to thrust his tongue against my mouth.

With a slight tug on my hair, he persuaded me to let him in and our tongues danced together as he pressed himself tighter against me, pushing his bulge into my crotch. His circular motions drove me insane, and I held my breath, clutching his strong back to pull him even closer to me. I was suddenly intoxicated and could no longer keep myself under control.

His lips suddenly parted from mine and made their way to my neck, leaving incredible goosebumps in their wake. He nibbled on my earlobe and drove me crazy with pleasure with his heavy breathing, which made me moan again. He immediately pulled away from my ear and looked deep into my eyes. I could see how much he wanted me and he put his tongue in my mouth again, but this time no longer carefully, but wildly and unstoppable.

It wasn't long before he reluctantly pulled away from me again and jerked to his feet. I felt like I'd done something wrong, but before I could think about it any further, he turned to me out of breath.

"If we keep going, I won't be able to stop. Then I have to mark you."

"Dan you are!"

My eyes widened, startled at my own words, and I couldn't believe I actually said that. The sexual tension in the room clouded my senses. There was no other way I could explain why I suddenly became so obsessed with him.

"Not like that," he smiled and lovingly bent over me to give me a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"When you're ready, you'll feel it. I don't want to force you into anything and I want it to come from you," he explained in a calm voice and carefully pulled off my hair tie to stroke my slightly sweaty hair. He gently brushed them off my face, looking down my body from top to bottom, putting a smile on his face.

"What are you doing to me?" he whispered and lay protectively behind me to take me tightly in his arms. My heart was still racing uncontrollably and it took me a while to gather myself and breathe deeply.

"Kilian?"

"Yes?"

"I have to go to the bathroom again." Growling, he lifted his arm and let me go and I quickly found suitable sleeping clothes and then disappeared out into the hallway.

As soon as I closed the door behind me, I heard a loud growl coming from the direction of the spiral staircase, which made me wince. An older man in a suit stood across from me and eyed me disparagingly from head to toe. When he growled again, I shivered down my spine and in a panic I opened the bathroom door next to me, only to quickly close it behind me.

Who is this ?