24

                                    

                                          
Word Count: 2138
~Venn
 
I pace back and forth in front of the door, debating opening it.
 
It's past midday and the urgent need for Alvera has died off to a familiar, comfortable level. I assume the same goes for her, although unless I open her bedroom door and venture in, I won't find out.
 
If she hasn't come already, something must be going on.
 
I continue to pace, weaving my fingers through my hair. All I can hope is she isn't feeling ashamed of what happened last night, and hasn't been suffering in silence all morning out of fear of losing control near me.
 
Even if she had wanted to give in to her desires and be with me, I wouldn't have allowed it to escalate.
 
She needs space to think everything through, and decide on her own her boyfriend isn't meant for her.
 
I pause, staring at the door.
 
At some point I need to tell her she's my mate. She has limited understanding of what that means since she's human. I just don't want to sway her into being with me if that's not a decision she is ready to make.
 
And then there is the matter of the prophecy...I can't have her. Not until I've doubt with that.
 
Rubbing my hand down my face, I sigh roughly before I knock on the door. Alvera's faint voice rings out so I press inside to see her smothered in blankets and darkness, her curtains still drawn.
 
"Sorry, did I wake you?"
  
"No, I was just resting." She sits up, her hair mussed about her head, her fringe sticking up in every direction. It's cute, and it takes everything in me not to reach out to adjust it for her.
 
I sit on the edge of her bed, putting a fair amount of space between us, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
 
"How do you feel?" I ask softly, my gaze drifting over her.
 
She's changed bedclothes since I carried her to bed after she fell asleep in the bath. Not wanting to impede on her privacy, and not wanting to drive myself to the brink of insanity and self-control, I wrapped two towels around her and put her to bed without changing her wet clothing.
  
"Exhausted, like every ounce of energy has been wrung from my body," she mumbles tiredly.
 
"Lunch is waiting for you downstairs whenever you're ready," I offer with a smile.
 
She nods weakly, rubbing her face. Her skin is still flushed and this room is drenched with her scent. I must still be impacted with remnant feelings because the urge to tear her clothes off still weighs heavily on me.
 
"That was...strange, wasn't it?"
  
"I know it was hard, but next time we will be better prepared," I promise her. At least we'll know the exact day we'll be inflicted by those feelings. "Regardless, I'm sorry you had to go through that."
 
"Don't apologise. It's just a consequence of this ridiculous union between us." She laughs roughly, although she averts her eyes.
 
"Right..."
 
It's strangely validating knowing that Alvera couldn't fight off her feelings of desire for me. It means some part of her, even if she isn't willing to acknowledge it, wants me.
 
"Are you okay?" She questions.
 
"Of course. Just concerned for you," I admit. "I want you to know that next time will be a bit easier. At least if we take the month to prepare you and to focus your energy—"
 
She holds her hand up. "I know, it will be fine."
 
She doesn't want to talk about what if obvious to the both of us, and that is fair enough. I'm not going to press the issue.
 
"Let me walk you into town today. I'm sure Eldon will want to hear from you," I offer gently.
 
"I doubt it." She shakes her head hopelessly. "We've had a break before and he ignored my calls for weeks. I had to wait for him to come back into contact with me."
 
I keep my mouth shut for a long moment, my jaw hardening. I should have killed that guy while I had the chance. Now he's left my pack and I doubt he's going to return here.
 
"And you love this man?" I ask carefully.
  
"Living in the city was lonely." She raises her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I struggled in the beginning. I blame it on coming from a small town and not knowing what city people would be like. Anyway, he was friendly and kind to me when my coworkers weren't."
 
"He was your boss," I deadpan.
 
"I know." She narrows her eyes. "Don't give me that look, okay? We were both adults, and I knew what I was getting myself into."
 
I suppose I can't judge. I'm now her Alpha and I want her. I'm sure my situation is much worse.
 
"Who am I to judge, Alvera?" I tell her. "I took you as my wife because I am not strong enough to fight off the will of the Moon Goddess."
 
A Moon Goddess whose nightmares didn't reach me last night. My sleep was fitful and stressed, and I was so damn hot I couldn't concentrate on anything other than Alvera.
 
After the third time of getting myself off, I collapsed into bed and had the only quiet sleep I've had in years.
 
"I'm not sure how it works, but when I saw you that day, I could see you were not yourself," she explains softly. "And I too felt overcome by something otherworldly."
 
I smile tightly. "I'll teach you all you want to know in time."
 
As long as it doesn't pertain to the prophecy. My intentions are to resolve it so she never has to hear that the Moon Goddess wants to take her away from me to make me stronger.
 
"Are you going to...ah..." She looks away, squeezing her eyes shut before she laughs awkwardly.
 
I frown. "What?"
  
"Are you going to take other lovers?" She tucks her hair behind her ear. "You know, since this isn't a proper union."
 
No, I want to tell her. I'll never take another lover that isn't you. You're my mate, the one who was made for me. My soul is tied to yours and I could never find myself in another now that you are in my life.
 
I don't say that, of course. It would be too much for her to hear.
 
"My focus right now is on my pack," I say carefully. "Why? Would it upset you if I do, in the future, entertain other lovers?"
  
"I don't know what you mean by other lovers," she drawls. "Even if we have a history together, it is very brief. And despite what will pull us together every month, you and I are not lovers."
 
I clear my throat. "I know that."
 
"And no, I don't care if you want to be with other women," she states. "You're not going to hurt my feelings, don't worry."
 
I watch her expression carefully, looking for any indication she's lying. There is a spark of irritation in her eyes, but I'm uncertain if it's from me asking the question, or the thought of me being with other women.
 
Either way, she has nothing to worry about.
 
"That settles it then." I stand.
 
"I think I am going to head into town, but don't worry about coming with me. After everything that happened I need a moment to decompress." She watches me open her curtains, letting in sunlight that is muddied by the thick swarm of clouds outside.
 
"Absolutely. Let me know if you need anything. And please, be careful."
 
***
 
~Alvera
 
The walk into town is long yet calming.
 
By the time I make it, it's late afternoon and it's practically deserted. Tensions are starting to ease here, but the town is still largely uninhabited by humans.
 
Eventually they will return, but for now, I can wander these streets and be assured I'll only really run into werewolves, which isn't necessarily comforting.
 
Thankfully the marking on my neck warns everyone that I'm under the Alpha's protection.
 
On my way to the library I turn a corner and spot a cluster of people lingering near a bench. They laugh and talk until they see me. Their eyes fall to my neck and their voices quieten.
 
Werewolves, who are smart enough to know what would happen if they so much as spoke to me.
 
They watch me hurry past, eyes tracking me curiously. Some even bow their heads out of respect, which has my skin prickling uneasily.
 
To them I'm important because I'm important to their Alpha. It's a terrifying concept.
 
I don't breathe until I'm up the library steps and inside.
 
The door is unlocked yet the lights are off and the place is clearly abandoned. I haven't been here in over a year, and it's fallen into disarray.
 
I sigh dishearteningly as I switch on the lights. They buzz and flicker to laugh, illuminating the dusty space and books stacked haphazardly on shelves.
 
The librarian clearly fled well before the werewolves returned. I find the familiar class case smashed and the book inside missing. I'm sure all documents pertaining to werewolves have been reclaimed, which pleases me.
 
They've fallen back into the right hands.
 
Dumping my laptop onto a table, I plug it in to charge followed by my phone. I sit until it switches only, only to find no missing calls or replies to my texts from Eldon.
 
Sighing, I toss my phone to the side and wander around.
 
For a while, I avoid my phone by tidying the place up. It's a tedious task but it keeps me occupied and I manage to get a few shelves righted and dusted.
 
By the time I tire of that, night has occupied the outside world. I pick out a book, not ready to return home yet. It's something dull on ecosystems but it's better than staring at my phone wondering why Eldon hasn't responded to my messages.
 
Laying the book out on the table, I settle in my seat, staring at the words on this page rather than absorbing anything.
 
"Hi there."
 
I startle, looking up. A man stands amongst the shelves, a book in his hand, staring at me with a wide smile.
 
He winces. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
 
I stare at him with wide eyes, realising I should have locked the door when I entered. He doesn't look particularly intimidating, but he's looking at me like he knows me.
 
I've never seen him in my life. His hair is a mess of dark brown curls and his hazel eyes glitter as they take me in.
 
"It's fine," I mutter uneasily.
 
"I was wondering if I could read that book you've got there." He sets his own book down, sliding it over to me. "In exchange I'll give you this one."
 
He's a werewolf, I realise. The book he hands me pertains to his species, about something called a mating bond.
 
"Oh, this isn't mine," I tell him, going to give him the book I've been reading but I hesitate. "Wait, you want to read about ecosystems? You a student or something?"
  
He shrugs. "No, just curious about the wonderful world we live in."
 
Something feels off about this guy, about our interaction. I don't think he's in this library just because he's interested in the book I'm reading.
 
And he hasn't even glanced at the mark on my neck, as if it bears no meaning to him.
 
"Alright...here you go." I slide the book over to him.
 
"Take this one. Maybe it will interest you."
 
I look down at the cover, which is ambiguous aside from the title. I turn the first page, although a twist in my stomach makes me hesitate reading more.
 
"Werewolf mate bonds. Weird," I mumble. "I don't think this is any of my business."
 
"You never know." He slides into a seat on the other side of the table, watching me with hungry eyes. "You're human, right?"
  
I swallow. "Yeah..."
 
This library suddenly feels too large and vacant. If I ran from him, how far would I really make it? Would anyone come to save me?
 
This was a mistake...I should have stayed where it's safe, with Venn.
 
"You won't find any animosity from me, don't worry." He holds his hands up defensively, sensing my unease.
 
"You're apart of Alpha Venn's pack?"
  
"My name is Able." He holds his hand out to shake mine. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
💙••💙
If you want to read ahead at any point, you can read this story 15 chapters ahead on INKITT and 10 chapters ahead on RADISH.
Inkitt:

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Radish:

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          


~Midika 💜🐼