Hated By The Alpha-Chapter 216: A losing game

Tossed and turned all night, Leon could no longer count how many times he opened his eyes to check if Mark returned to the bed. He didn’t.

He felt so restless, trying to pretend that he didn’t know the reason for his restlessness, but he did. He wanted Mark’s presence, at least.

Yes, they were in the same house but not in the same room; also, the way Mark had left last night made Leon feel very uncomfortable. He was starting to wonder if he had done something wrong to make Mark leave.

The sudden ring of his phone startled his sleepy thoughts out of his head, forcing him to open his eyes and snap into reality.

He groaned quietly, rubbing his eyes and turning his head toward the drawer by the side of the bed.

Sighing, he lifted himself from the bed and placed his feet on the floor, stretching his hands above his head.

He took a deep breath before standing up and picking up his phone.

His eyes widened as he saw Audrey’s name on the screen. With a quick slide of his thumb, he answered the call.

"Hey, hi, Audrey. Good morning," he greeted, feeling like he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t.

He didn’t want Audrey to know that he followed Mark home, she would think he was that easy to get. After telling her that he’d never have anything to do with Mark, but there he was, waking up from the bed of the man he had so despised in front of Audrey.

"Morning, Leon..." Audrey chuckled, "Calm down, I can sense your stress from here." She spoke calmly.

Leon cleared his throat, "No, no, I’m not stressed, I’m just... what’s up, Do you need me to help you with anything?" He diverted.

Audrey could be heard sighing, "No. I just wanted you to know that I was the one who told Mark that you were at his club. And... something tells me you’re already at one of his apartments -"

"He owns this building? And the club?" Leon asked, surprised... and impressed.

"Yeah... um, I guess I shouldn’t have said that to you..." Her voice trailed off.

"It’s alright, it’s not like I care. I’m not here for long anyway," Leon said, staring at the door and wondering what Mark was up to that morning.

"Fine, I’ll let you be. Just wanted to confirm that you’re okay. My cousin can be quite devoted, Please, don’t see it as being too much. He just has a way of letting people see his intentions. Gotta run, bye!" Audrey ended the call.

Leon sighed and lowered his hand to his side.

He gripped his phone tightly and walked toward the door. He needed to see what was going on with Mark.

Stepping out of the room, he followed the shirt passage Mark had led through last night and emerged in the living room.

The place was ghostly quiet, "Did he leave me alone in his house?" Leon muttered with a frown.

He felt more wronged.

He had thought that Mark had only left the living room, but it seemed that he had completely left the house.

Was the how uncomfortably he felt with him? Then why did he bother asking him to come to his house?

He stared at his phone and realised that he didn’t even have Mark’s contact, he did feel like calling him and giving him an earful.

He muttered something under his breath and walked over to sit on the white, plush sofa.

"Morning, my prince," Mark’s deep voice greeted behind Leon.

Leon immediately turned, a frown creasing his brow as he shifted to face Mark fully, bracing his elbows on the backrest. But the sight of Mark’s sweaty, bare chest instantly melted his frown into a blush. His gaze, betraying him once more, drifted lower, lingering on Mark’s sculpted abs and the perfect V-line revealed by his low-slung joggers.

"Are you hungry?" Mark asked, his voice sounding right in front of Leon.

Leon widened his eyes as he realised that Mark had made it to his front. He slightly reeled back, digging his fingers into the soft backrest.

Mark raised a brow, taking in Leon’s flushed face. He knew what was going on in his mate’s mind, but he wasn’t going to mention it. He had promised to steer clear of these kinds of topics.

"I’m not hungry," Leon said and turned away, facing his front once more as he resumed sitting on the sofa.

He was momentarily shut down. He needed a second to think of why he was angry in the first place.

He heard Mark walk around the sofa, and he stood in front of him again.

"Are you alright? Did you sleep well?" Mark asked, lowering himself to a squat in front of Leon.

"Do you own a fucking shirt?" Leon snapped, glaring at Mark.

Mark paused, slowly nodding, "Yes. I do..." he answered.

"Then put it on, goddammit!" Leon gritted out, frowning.

Mark said, "I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I bothered you. I’m just used to staying alone like this, I’ll quickly grab a shirt." He said and turned to leave.

"Hold on," Leon stood and grabbed Mark’s wrist, stopping him from leaving.

Mark turned, a questioning look in his eyes.

"You know what? You don’t bother me. I don’t care if you parade around naked. I just have a few questions for you," Leon said, quickly taking his hand away from Mark as he felt these warm tangles radiating through Mark’s skin.

Makr nodded, "Okay. I’m listening." He said, staring at Leon’s angry face.

Leon bit his lip, "Last night... why did you leave the room? Did I..." he paused and sighed, "Did I do something wrong? You could have just spoken instead of leaving, That was just so immature. I mean, it’s not like I wanted you to stay with me, I just want to know your reason for leaving, At least I deserve to know as someone you brought to your house." He said with a frown, tapping his foot on the floor.

Mark stared at Leon’s face and chuckled, shaking his head, "You’re not being, fair. Acting like this and expecting my poor heart to stay unaffected?" He asked Leon, smiling.

Leon scoffed, "Just answer me and get back to whatever you were doing." He said.

Mark sighed, "Fine. I left to do some work in my office," he paused and pointed to the white door at the first corner, "You did nothing wrong, my prince." He assured, even though he was lying.

Leon hadn’t done anything wrong, but that wasn’t why Mark had escaped from the room.

He thought he would be able to brave it but the moment Leon’s gentle manly scent scattered all over the room, he knew that lying beside him would be a difficult game, a game he had already lost from the very beginning.

Leon eyes Mark angrily, "Still, courtesy demands you tell me where you were going and what you were going to do." He shrugged.

Mark smiled, stepping closer to Leon, "I missed you, too." His voice was lower now.

Leon snapped his head up to Mark, "I never said that," he pointed out.

"Said what?" Mark questioned, looking confused.

"I missed you," Leon answered.

"Well, now you have," Mark smiled snidely.

Leon balled his fist and glared at Mark, "C’est énervant!" ’(How annoying!’). He muttered, irritation lacing his voice as he slid past Mark to move to another sofa.

"I know you probably cursed me out, but damn..." he spun around to face Leon, "That was hot." He winked at Leon.

Leon scoffed and sat down, crossing his legs, "You never told me about the club... this building. That’s no way to make someone open up to you. I’m a man, too, I know girls hate it when someone they like keeps things about themselves hidden from them." He stated, toying with his phone in his hands.

Mark furrowed his brows, picking up many hints from Leon’s words. He walked over to Leon and sat beside him, "How did you find out?" He asked.

"Audrey called," Leon shrugged.

"I’m sorry for not telling you," he took Leon’s phone away from his hand and held him, causing Leon to turn his face to the side and look at him.

"What? Look, you don’t owe me an apology, I was just giving you some tips, " Leon said dismissively.

Mark shook his head, "You said girls hate it when the person they like keeps things about themselves away from them. Does this mean you like me since you’re already angry that I kept something from you?" His voice was super tender as he asked.

Leon stared right at Mark, "No." He replied.

Mark smiled, "So... my wealth doesn’t impress you enough to love me?" He asked cheekily.

"No," Leon answered in a bored tone.

"Of course, it doesn’t." Mark cleared his throat and scratched his head.

He brought Leon’s hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it, "Good morning." He whispered over Leon’s hand and gently returned it to Leon’s lap.

"Don’t do that," Leon murmured, staring at his kissed hand.

His heart fluttered like a fucking teenager.

"Why?" Mark asked.

Leon glanced at him, "Because I don’t like it." He said.

Mark bit his lip, "Really?" He sounded hurt.

Leon felt his heart sting from Mark’s hurting voice, but he remained unmoved.

"Yes. I don’t," Leon confirmed.

Mark nodded, "So, just so we’re clear. I’m not allowed to touch you? Give you kisses in places that are not lips? Hell, even just hold you?" He questioned, his eyes raw with painful intensity.

Leon gulped, his throat constricting with unsaid words.

Mark’s questions reached deep into his heart and soul. Everything he listed was all so sweet and simple, Leon was already inching himself allowing Mark to do all those things to him. It would be really nice to let himself feel that kind of genuinely intense affection.

"Yes, you’re not allowed," Leon lied, looking away from Mark.

"How am I supposed to make you fall for me, then? If I can’t even give you a preview of what being with me would feel like. There’s no way I can change your mind without showing you how I feel. Cut me some slack, please?" Mark pleaded, peering at Leon’s face.

"That’s my condition, or I’m leaving," Leon stated.

"Okay, okay, fair, fair. I’m happy enough with your presence," Mark said, smiling sadly.

"So, are you hungry?" He asked.

Leon was about to say no when his stomach said yes by protesting by rumbling loudly.

A blush stained his cheeks, "I guess I am. Do you have ingredients?" He asked Mark who was smiling at him like a fool.

Mark nodded, "Yes, but I can just order take-outs -"

"I hate take-outs. Ask Audrey, my food is the best," Leon boasted and stood from the sofa.

Mark’s smile widened as he stared at Leon. He desperately wished his mate would let him love him. He couldn’t wait to show Leon how much love he already has piled up for him.

"Quit staring and show me to the kitchen," Leon’s impatient voice cut through Mark’s delusions.

"Ah, right... sorry. This way, please," he said as he stood and wanted to hold Leon’s waist.

"Don’t touch me," Leon slapped his hand away.

Mark blinked, realising what he wanted to do. He chuckled, "Sorry... again. Please, follow me." He said and turned away, leading Leon to the kitchen.