The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 135: Moonlight muse.

~Dahlia’s POV~

It’s been so long since I heard that name that now it has begun to sound like something foreign to my ears; like something that wasn’t mine.

Now, I couldn’t help but wonder if the name was even mine; if Alpha Kai was making all these up on the spot... if this was another game. If I was another game to another Alpha.

My eyes glazed with unshed tears at the thought, even though deep down, I knew that I was overthinking. Even though deep down I knew that he was telling the truth... a truth I’ve tried so hard to suppress for so long it began to sound like a fictitious story.

My breath caught in my chest when I looked up to find Alpha Kai still watching me carefully, his expression unreadable, his breathing uneven.

He carefully let go of my hands to go pick up a small silver tray containing sliced fruits, and after popping about two small red grapes into his mouth, he pushed the tray towards me, saying; "Eat."

"No, I’m not—"

"As you can see, they’re not poisoned." He muttered, causing a smile to spread across my face. I slowly corrected the tray from him but made no attempt to eat; and you may all call me paranoid, but I still had my reservations about him.

I still feared that perhaps he was up to no good.

That he was just like everyone else.

I was suddenly snapped out of my train of thoughts when I felt his presence even looming dangerously closer, and I blinked, gasping when I noticed that he was in my face... like literally in my face!

Alpha Kai was leaning over in such a way that we were now on the same eye level. He had a knowing smile playing across his lips, and his red eyes were glowing as he regarded me carefully. However, something about the way his rich bergamot scent— the one I was beginning to associate with him— crowded my nostrils filled me with anticipation. It made my throat suddenly go dry.

And you know what is worse?

When he leaned even closer, licking his lips as he said; "I noticed you stare at me... a lot."

I gulped. Hades, I didn’t know how to respond to that. Didn’t know how to feel about that. A small smile tugged at my lips and I ducked my head shyly before responding with a hoarse; "You flatter yourself."

That made Alpha Kai laugh aloud, and for a minute, I was mesmerized by the sound of his rich laughter... drawn to the way his eyes crinkled at the sides, enthralled by how he held his chest lightly, tipping his head backward as he let the laughter ring free.

I wish I was that carefree. I wish I never had to be so uptight all the time.

"You’re a lot of work Dahlia, but I don’t mind it."

"You should."

"Oh come on, give me some grace!" He shrieked as if hurt. "If only you’d agree to stay here for a while, then you’ll get to know just how much I can tolerate—"

My eyes farted to the field. To the children playing. To Amara... and the way she giggled carefreely. Here she wasn’t afraid of the other children bullying her. Here she wasn’t scared of being cast away. She was simply free. Simply loved.

But for how long?

"My Lady, your bath has been drawn, and dinner is served. Which would you like to do first?" A soft voice called from beside me and I turned to face her, coming face to face with a beautiful young girl with silver hair that cascaded down her waist and eyes so big and so honey-colored, it felt as though I was looking into a painting.

Here, they treat me like royalty.

I lifted my gaze then to find Alpha Kai watching me, the corners of his lips twitching in delight. I nodded carefully at the silver-haired girl, and said; "I’ll have dinner first. Don’t worry about my bath, I’ll take care of it myself."

"But—" she tried to argue, and in response, I grabbed her wrist gently, forcing her to look at me.

"I can take care of myself just fine, okay? Thank you so much."

"You’re welcome, My lady." She curtsied before stepping out of the room. And while she went, I couldn’t help but feel my heart race. I couldn’t help the way I panted like someone in a race.

She’d drawn my bath.

Prepared my dinner.

She’d called me; "My lady."

I was simply royalty here.

I couldn’t help it, greed seeped into my bones. I didn’t want this sweet treatment to end. I didn’t want this life— even if it may be a dream— to end. I bit down on my lips hard, and with my new found self-centeredness coursing through my veins, I muttered;

"Can I stay for a month? If by the end of the month, there’s still no news about my father, then I’ll leave."

At the sound of my proposal, Alpha Kai’s eyes lit up like that of a kid that had been promised some candy. He smiled at me, his stupidly sexy dimple causing my breath to hitch in my chest as he said;

"Of course! And if by the end of the month, we find something concerning him, you’ll remain here until we find him. Deal?"

I smiled, taking his outstretched hand. "Deal."

—

We ate in literal silence besides the occasional awkward coughs and the sound of the silverware as it hit the ceramic plates.

But despite the uncomfortable silence, my mind was a jumbled mess. My wolf, the bitch, was a whining horny idiot who wished it was me he was chewing up, not the steak.

My breath hitched when she made a sassy joke when sauce ran down his lower lip and I chortled, hiding my burning face to prevent Alpha Kai from noticing the nonsensical thoughts flying through my head.

However, I was soon snapped out of my filthy thoughts when Amara stopped eating, sitting up as she looked up at me and muttered; "mommy, are we still gonna leave?"

I froze, my eyes widening as I took in her serious expression. Right now, I couldn’t decide if she wanted me to say no or yes. So I decided to tell the truth instead. "We are staying for now, until I’m fully healed."

Amara chewed on her lower lips before looking up to beam a smile at me, "Okay mommy!" She squealed excitedly, but I could see how far from okay this was for her.

I could feel how uncomfortable she was at the thought of staying here.

I thought... I thought she liked it here? Or was she this mad because she feels I’m trying to replace Alpha Zarek with the man in front of us? 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

A frown tugged at my face at this thought, but before I could ponder over it, a guard suddenly rushed into the dining area, his head bowed, his lips obviously trembling.

"Alpha, I’m so sorry to disturb you right now, but you have a guest." The young guard said quickly and I instantly sat up, turning to face him with cocked eyebrows.

I heard him say a few more words to Alpha Kai but I was too distracted by the intoxicating scent now flooding into my nostrils to listen to what he was saying. The scent was strong. It was crazy. It made my wolf howl in delight.

Subconsciously, I licked my lips before I could stop myself and scrambled backward when I noticed the way Alpha Kai’s eyes traced that action.

However, I knew that he was not the reason for my discomfort— hell, I found him insanely attractive but he was not the reason for this. He was not the reason my wolf seemed on the edge of going on a rampage.

Sighing, I turned to Alpha Kai when he whispered something to me and my eyes widened when the weight of his words slowly began to settle in my mind.

"You need to go to my chamber now, Alpha Zarek is here."

"Zareeq?" Amara’s eyes that had been dim for most of the evening suddenly lit up as she said that, and I frowned, quickly shaking my head as I pulled her into my arms.

"Not that one." I said stiffly, "Another one."

"But I want to see—"

There was no time. His scent was getting stronger... too intoxicating. It was making my wolf too excited; making my body respond in ways that it shouldn’t.

Desperate to be out of here before my cover gets blown, I picked up Amara ungraciously and rushed blindly in the direction of one of the dark corridors adjacent to us; and I ran.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, uncaring that there were probably people watching me scramble around like a headless chicken.

I didn’t stop running until I arrived at a door at the furthermost end of the hall and rushed inside with Amara secured firmly in my arms.

And that was when I allowed the breath I’d been holding rush out of my lungs.

Relieved to have not been caught, I turned around and let out a strangled gasp because...

....There was a woman in the middle of the bed in the room, with blonde hair and skin as pale as the surface of the moon.

And she was unconscious.