Shit! Why is this happening?
No one was supposed to come inside now. I was too ashamed to face anyone. I thought I would be able to escape to my room. I looked around the room, wondering what I should do. I wasn't ready to face Richard at all.
In my blind panic, I stumbled on my toes as I rushed to hide inside his closet, almost landing on my butt. I held my breath as I heard his feet stomp inside.
"Isabel?" He called out, his feet moving rapidly to where I was. "There is no need to hide from me, little mate. You seem to forget that your mate is an alpha and he can already smell you."
Damn him and his stupid werewolf genes. "I'm coming," I replied from inside, trying to busy myself with something so it wouldn't feel as if I was hiding from him. I smoothed the clothes I had on and arranged my hair.
You can't hide here forever Bella, you have to face him. I know, Kiayra, I know. And then I won't be able to hide here for long... But why is she so wise? She is right, though. I can't continue hiding here.
Garnering the little courage I had left, I turned the door knob and came out, standing in front of Richard. I couldn't bring myself to maintain eye contact with him, so I kept staring at my feet. I made a mental note to get a pedicure. The nail polish was already chipping at the ends.
"How are you feeling now? I believe the effects of the heat have waned, right?" My heart warmed at his caring tone, and I glanced up, noticing his piercing eyes all over me, searching for any signs of discomfort.
"I am fine now. I feel much better. Whatever you gave me really worked wonders." I could see a hint of a smile threatened to come up, but he fought it. He really needs to smile more. He looks handsome when he does that. I will make sure I make him smile every day.
What the hell is wrong with you, Bella? I thought we didn't like him, so why are you trying to help him? I mentally slapped myself for that thought.
"You look so beautiful in my clothes, mate. I can't get enough of how much you turn me on, all bathed in my scent." I sucked in a sharp breath at his words, feeling the room get hotter. Richard sure knows how to make a lady's head swell. "You shouldn't even be moving around; you barely recover."
Without waiting for my reply, he carried me bridal style towards the bed. "W-what are you do..doing, Richard?" I managed to stammer out as I gripped his shoulder hard. Sparks developed from where our bodies met, and I felt myself inching closer to him.
"Isn't it obvious? I am carrying you." I almost rolled my eyes at him. Of course, I know.
"I can see that. I mean, why are you carrying me?"
"Because I want to, so just shut up and allow me." Oh no! He didn't just say that.
"You don't have the right to tell me to shut up. I have freedom of speech-" He silenced me with his mouth, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. That promptly shut me up.
He pulled away, and his face lit up in a smile as he watched me being a nervous wreak. "Now I know how to shut you up."
"You just caught me off-guard." I murmured under my breath, refusing to agree with him.
"How about now?" He placed his lips back on mine and kissed me hard. I grabbed his hair as our tongues began to come into play.
Until a loud noise interrupted us. It was coming from me, most specifically, my stomach. I was hungry. I couldn't even remember when I last ate.
"What do you think about lying about your pretty ass here while I go get you food? I had them prepare your local delicacy as compensation for all the time you were asleep."
Awwwww. I couldn't help but swoon at his words. Richard could be romantic if he wanted to, but... "I was actually thinking of eating with the pack. I have been cooped up for too long.
Besides, Jessica would be worried about me." He clenched his jaw as he ran his hands through his hair, his mind calculating different things. My body sagged as I began to prepare myself for a fight because I knew he wasn't going to allow me.
"Alright, let us go."
"I don't care if you don't agree, because I am... Wait wait wait, what did you just say?" I stuck my hands in my ears, trying to clean them, I couldn't believe my ears. Did Richard just agree with me? His giggles filled the whole room; they were like melodies in my ears. You are on a streak, girl. You made Richard laugh again.
"You heard me, love. Let us go." I moved closer to his face and pressed a kiss on his cheeks.
"Thank you." Then I remembered. "Uhh... Richard. I think you need to let me go now, or else they will find out about us, and I don't think you would want that." The smile dropped from his face as fast as a lightning bolt. Strange.
"Yes, you are right." He let me go, placing me on the tiles gently. I scampered to get my flip flops as the ground was a bit cold. His eyes were still on me, following my every move.
"Are you going out like this?" He eyed the clothing I had on.
"Yea, it isn't that bad. And I kind of like it." I stood in front of the mirror and looked at it. The polo and sweatpants were big and they were cute. Besides, it was already evening, so people wouldn't really come down.
I removed the hair holder that was packing my braids and bent down and shook the hair, feeling a huge wave of satisfaction as I released the tension on my head. I raised my head back up and got the hair holder, getting ready to pack it when a hand stopped it.
I didn't even know that Richard had come behind me. He removed the hair holder from my hands and placed it on the dressing table. He then pressed a kiss to my nape and whispered, "I think you look better with your hair down." His deep voice, so close to my skin, sent a shiver down my body. His piercing eyes were staring at me through the mirror. He reached out and tucked a stray braid behind my ears. "You look beautiful like this."
"O..kay.." I looked at him through the mirror, watching the way his eyes raked mine. He was practically eye-raping me. He pressed another kiss to the side of my neck and released me.
"Shall we?" He held out his hands to me. Confused eyes glanced up at him. Like, why the sudden change of heart? Well, now isn't the time to think about it. Let me enjoy this moment.
"Sure." I took his hands and let him lead the way.
I smiled from ear to ear as I felt the bond warm in a nice way. I could get used to this. We left the Alpha suite and trod down to the dining room, hand in hand.
I almost burst into laughter at the comical look on people's faces as they saw us hand in hand. I was bathed in his scent and it was very obvious that the clothes I had on weren't mine. All the evidence points to the fact that I was with him.
Whispers began to fill the hall as they walked past. But I couldn't care less. Today was my day. My mate finally acknowledged me, and no one would spoil my day.
We finally got to the dinner room, and a lot of people were already seated waiting for Richard. The dining room was like a chatterhouse. Voices were heard from different angles.
The room got silent as Richard entered. "Alpha," they chorused, as they all stood up to acknowledge Richard. They sat down again, and the chatter resumed, but to a low buzz.
I began to get goosebumps on my skin as multiple eyes were on me. They were probably wondering who the new girl was.
Richard led me to the chair beside him, and held the chair for me to sit down, before he sat down at the head of the table. His eyes glazed for a moment, and before long, two women came holding a special tray.
My mouth watered as the scent of jollof rice and fried chicken saturated the air. They set the tray in front of Richard and me and left. "I know I couldn't do much for you while you were in heat. But I hope this can compensate for it." He whispered in my ears. I smiled in response. Whoever gives me food already has a special spot in my heart.
I rubbed my hands together as he opened the food. I inhaled the scent deeply. It reminded me so much of home. Of the times mom and I would cook together, when mom was teaching me how to cook this dish.
"Mmm..." I moaned as the food touched my tongue. It was delicious. Richard's eyes flashed at me in amusement, wondering what was making me moan.
But he soon found out when he tasted the food. His eyes lit up as he started chewing. He nodded his head and gave me a thumbs up.
I was practically inhaling the food. I couldn't get enough of the rice. Whoever cooked it gave it their all. They truly tried to replicate the culture. All the spices were in the right proportion, and it was very tasty.
Richard reached over, and cleaned my mouth. I looked at him, wondering why you did that. "You had rice in your mouth."
"Ohhh... Thank you." We continued dinner in silence, enjoying each other's presence, oblivious to the outside world.