The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 182: Schemes.

~Zarek’s POV~

The feel of Dahlia against my body felt surreal. It felt like this was a dream... one of the weird dreams I’ve been having these past couple of weeks.

Only that this time, it felt so real, I could literally feel her. I could feel the softness of her skin against mine... could even feel her warm breath on my chest. The steady rise and fall of her bosoms as she took in deep breaths reminded me that she was with me.

But then she began to struggle, forcing her way out of my hold. But I didn’t budge. I couldn’t bring myself to let go, especially knowing that she could easily slip away again

She squealed; "I can’t breathe!" And only then did I let my hands fall to my sides.

"I missed you." I said again, for the nth time since she stepped into the room, and just like the other times, Dahlia didn’t respond. Instead, she held my hand, leading me to the large sofa behind me.

"Sit." She commanded and like an obedient puppy, I obeyed.

It took me a moment to realize that she’d just so easily commanded me, and that alone brought a smile to my face. Dahlia however, who also noticed this did not smile. Instead, she cocked her eyebrows at me in askance, her hairline and eyebrows almost becoming one.

"I heard you weren’t feeling too good." She started slowly, and even though deep down, I wanted to ask who she’d heard that from, I couldn’t bring my tongue to move.

I was mesmerized by her... drawn to her. And maybe it was because I hadn’t seen her for a while but she seemed to glow ethereally under the light.

"...so I came to see how you’re doing."

"I’m glad you came." I answered, and again, she frowned before a grin she couldn’t seem to control split across her face.

"What’s wrong with you?!"

Goddess I know what she meant by that. Hell, I couldn’t even bring myself to understand why I was so complacent tonight... why I felt so giddy. So foolish. So I shook my head. "I don’t know what you mean."

Dahlia sighed, but the smile didn’t leave her face as she took me in. She shook her head. "Never mind."

And then a comfortable silence settled between us, one that was occasionally disrupted by her long sighs and the clicking of her heeled sandals on the marble floor.

I tried again. "Please do not leave Dahlia."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw her freeze ever so slightly. I saw the way she turned to me as if stunned, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes couldn’t find mine anymore. She shook her head. "I cannot."

It took a moment for her words to take form in my head and when it did, I looked up, the corners of my eyes instantly stinging, and my chest... my damn chest felt like it was being squashed.

"Why?"

"You know why."

"I don’t." I rushed out, my tone pleading. "I have no idea why. Tell me why."

Dahlia sighed before rising to her feet, and u instantly knew that she rose, not because she wanted to but because she wanted to put as much space between us as she could. "Alpha Zarek, you know it’s no longer safe for me here."

"Zarek." I drawled, my eyes latched on hers.

"Huh?"

"Call me Zarek, Dahlia... there’s no need to be so formal with me."

The way Dahlia turned to face me so quickly made me understand that she couldn’t quite believe her ears. Her eyes widened in surprise, her nostrils flaring as she panted for air.

"I’m afraid Alpha Zare—"

"Zarek." I snapped adamantly. "Call me Zarek... and if it is too much for you, you can simply say baby."

Now Dahlia looked like she’d just seen a ghost. She stumbled back, her lips parting and clamping shut repeatedly as she stared at me like I’d just sprouted a second head.

And with a firm voice—too firm— she drawled; "u do not think that’s necessary."

"It isn’t for now." I responded, allowing the implication of my words to settle before I continued; "But it’ll be soon. Now, what were you talking about?"

When Dahlia still wouldn’t speak because she seemed too stunned to, I continued; "you were just telling me about the reasons you have to leave."

"It’s unsafe here." She ground out. "I feel like there are people behind the walls around here... people ready to pounce on me. People who would do anything to kill me."

"And that’s why I’ll put in measures to ensure that you’re safe." I responded, but at my words, she shook her head vehemently, her eyes hardening with each passing second.

"No." She bit out.

"Dahlia..."

"No!" She sounded stronger now... scarier too. "You’ve told me that before, and where did it lead me?"

Her question cut deeper than a thousand needles, but deciding to ignore how it made me feel, I focused instead on convincing her. I shrugged.

"I’ll take it more seriously now."

"And I still refuse." She snapped, causing my eyes to widen in surprise. "I cannot stay for more than a day. I now belong to a pack. I have my family some place else, and—"

"Dr Ava can help you recover the memories you lost." I snapped, noticing the way that made her freeze in place. She turned to face me.

"Alpha Zarek..."

"Zarek." I cooed softly, "Zarek."

"You can stay for a few days, and in exchange, I’ll make Dr Ava help you regain your memories... all of which have been forgotten."

"And how can I trust that you’re telling me the truth? How do I know that this isn’t a trap?"

Dahlia’s face was stone cold but I didn’t miss the flicker of emotions being her voice. I shrugged. "Because I’ve been digging into your case since you left. And now we know that you didn’t lose your memories after that accident... nor did you try to commit suicide..."

She gasped. And then under her breath, she muttered; "I knew it."

"The lady who was responsible for it, Dr Zorina is now dead, but we are certain that we now have an antidote to clear off the mist that had been put over your mind."

Now, she was silent. She seemed to ponder over my words silently before raising her gaze to meet mine, and I gasped, momentarily stunned by the beauty that she possessed. "How long do you want me to stay?"

"A month."

Her nostrils flared. "Two days."

I frowned. "Two weeks."

"Two days."

"Ten days."

"Two days."

"Dahlia?!" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I don’t think you’re ready."

"Okay, fine." She shrugged, "Four days."

"A week."

"Five days."

"Five days it is then." I said, rising swiftly to my feet. And then upon arrival at the door, I paused, turning to face her; "you’ll live in my chambers for the entirety of the five days."

"No, I won’t!" She sassed back but I simply shrugged.

"For security reasons." And with that, I walked away from her, feeling satisfied with myself, and happy that I would at least have her to myself for the next five days.

—

~Kai’s POV~

The rest of the evening passed by in a blur, and after successfully convincing Alpha Kael’vorn and his granddaughter that Dahlia was safe and that she had gone to sort out some issues, I leaned into my cushion, staring pointedly at the ceiling, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

I couldn’t help but wonder how Dahlia was, if she was safe. If she would be punished by Zarek for trying to flee... and most of all, I wondered what their reactions to each other would be.

They were mates, just like we were. And that in itself was more than enough to make me feel so antsy.

Shaking my head to rid myself of these depressing thoughts, I rose to my feet but stopped when I saw Alpha Kael’vorn leaning against the wall a few feet away from me.

His eyes were cold and brooding. His expression one of cold detachment. He asked; "Who did my daughter go to see?"

"The Alpha of the pack she used to live in." I answered truthfully as Dahlia never asked me to cover for her.

"And who is he?"

"He’s just some guy.,, a good guy if that’s what you’re worried about. He’s her mate too. So I think she’s safe."

At that, Alpha Kael’vorn leaned away from the wall, folding his arms across his chest as he gave me a once over. "You love her."

It wasn’t a question so I didn’t respond.

"You’re in love with someone else’s mate?"

"You seem to forget that we were betrothed. That and the fact that the moon goddess was crazy enough to make me her my mate as well." I snapped, not missing the way he nodded before coming to sit on one of the chairs close to where I stood.

"I wasn’t accusing you. I just want to know how you feel about her."

Silence.

"Well, that’s besides the case..." he drawled, continuing to speak as though the tension between us wasn’t as thick as a rock. "I’ve finished going through the details of all the files you showed me. And now I think it’s time to start plotting my revenge against Alpha Logan."

For a very brief moment, I contemplated telling him that the same Logan who he wanted to plot his revenge scheme against was Zarek’s father— his daughter’s mate; But I sealed my mouth and nodded.

"So how do we begin?"