Chapter 23

We walked together to the cliff which we went on the other day, he didn't attempt to talk and neither did I. Alpha Ava's words had kept me bothered and the increasing anger was on the edge of my nerves.

Alpha Lucas had been eerily silent for some reason, unlike other encounters. I kept taking glances at him but he didn't dare glancing back at me, probably too immersed in what he was thinking or very afraid to even eye-to-eye me—which was impossible.

The time when we reached our destination I halted our chests to clash in flush contact. I immediately reacted by pushing him away first, folding my arms around my chest while cursing under my breath. On the other hand, Alpha Lucas was completely fine, he didn't even bother to react.

I cleared my throat. "Why do you look like you had lost a bet with your friend."

He looked up at him, the honey in his orbs brimming with amusement. "A bet?"

I pushed my black hair behind my shoulder. "I mean you were looking depressed so... "

"It's nothing—"

I started, "About what happened yesterday... it wasn't what you saw."

He stared at me and I continued, unable to glance in his eyes.

No, I wasn't afraid of him.

Which was possible, but impossible to admit.

"Michael and I knew each other through Skylar, a common friend between us. I usually am not the dating type of girl. I had never dated any guy before and it was her worry that she kept on bringing me to blind dates although I had every shown hope in any. She thought I would never end up with anyone and Michael happened to be one such candidate but I am not interested in him. " His eyes intensified it's colour when I finally glanced at him, still not showing me the usual smile he used to.

"Yesterday, he wanted to meet him since I hadn't told him about my abrupt leave. He thought I was unhappy with my link towards you and came with that dumb idea about running away." It wasn't necessary to tell him the details so I left him with the upper information, it's not like he would do anything about it, I mean what's done is done and I rejected him. That's all he should care about.

"Did he propose to you?" The slight roughness in his voice was catchable to my ears, maybe it was because he cried?

"He confessed."

"And what did you say?*

"I never told him anything."

Unpleased by my answer he asked another one of his questions, "Do you like him?"

"No! I don't," I quickly answered.

Only if he saw how I acted around Michael.

"So, you weren't on this runaway thing with him?"

"Are you crazy?" I gave him my vexed look. "Do I look like a bitchy frog who jumps from one man to another?"

He let out a small smile. "No, you don't look like a bitchy frog."

"Forget it," I reprimanded. "Now that I've cleared your misunderstanding, let's go back. I have many other important things to attend."

I stepped ahead to pass by him when his hand took me by surprise, grabbing my arm and pulling me back to him. The quick action caused the imbalance of my footing increased the beat of my heart and I—like all in those cliché movies—fell right in his arms.

The sound of my palms taking a hold of his shoulders, tightening my fingers on his skin and face softly hitting his collarbone when he fastened his arm around my waist.

I looked at him with my wide eyes as if it would fall out if I widened it any more. His face expression was completely opposite of mine, he was relaxed and his tranquil gaze made me self-conscious as I tried to pull away only to be worsening his hold on me.

"What are you trying to do right now?"

"Trying to keep you close to me." He shrugged his shoulders in duh. My heart took off at that.

I tried to push his arm. "Let me go."

"I don't want to."

I warned. "Lucas."

He shook his head.

"What has gotten you so suddenly?" I huffed.

"I am happy," he said, his voice soft in its manlier way.

"Happy?"

He hummed, "The thought of you caring about what I think of you makes me happy. It makes me feel that you care about me."

Lost in words I just stared at him. The answer to his remark wasn't in my pockets to grab so easily. He was so close and the silent content look on his face left my cheeks colouring like strawberries.

"Alpha Lucas let go," I softly demanded.

"It's Lucas to you," he corrected, his thumb running circles on my baby pink knee-length top.

"Please."

He let go of me, stepping back creating a comfortable distance between us. He didn't say anything nor his face moved from his current look. He just gazed, like I was the only best scenery in this world, that he would reject anything to keep me.

I gulped at the power of Wolf's love. They were more affectionate and intense than any human being in his world and being drowned in his love behaviour was only spoiling me. Thoughts whispered to me that it was alright to give a chance to myself although I was already in the middle of falling for me. It scared me to be honest because I had no idea how everything would work out, especially, when your mate was an Alpha.

"Are you hungry?"

I turned to face him. "Treat's on my side."

He smiled. "Let me."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I beg to differ."

"That cute little thing... " he said, loud enough for me to hear and giggle, Lucas, caught up to me as I smiled at him going on our little happy journey to Crescent Moon restaurant.

***

"What the hell is this!? I exclaimed, looking at the mess my friends had created in my room—no not the mess of things but a mess that there wasn't a single thing if mine on my own. It was completely vacant.

I had just gotten back from my lunch with Lucas, wanting nothing but to hit my sack, but unfortunately, my wish drowned in my brain before I could even act on it.

"You're kicked out from the packhouse," Ashley said, biting an apple with a smirk.

"Kicked out? What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded, having no idea about my things was the last thing I would expect. Skylar seemed to be enjoying it too, she air high-fived with Ashley only making it hard for me to replace my thoughts.

Skylar explained, "You're no longer going to live here. We have shifted your belongings to Alpha's house."

I narrowed my brows confusedly. "And what was the need for that?"

"People in the packhouse are spreading I'll rumour about you and Alpha and you know how weak and thoughtless a wolf becomes if his mate is not near."

I looked at her, not convinced. "I am near him, aren't I?"

Skylar hit her palm to the forehead. "You are such a doofus. He will become weak if you don't stay with him. Having one or two conversations won't help him, you need to be near for his wolf to ensure that you are with him. Wolves aren't practical like humans and to convince him you need to be in front of his eyes. You must not know how hard it's for him to control his wolf, especially, after the full moon."

"Do I have to?" I sighed, slumping down on the couch beside Ashley wearily.

"It's for the best," Ashley said.

"I mean it's not necessary, Lucas hasn't told me anything yet."

Skylar moved closer and sat beside me. "Do you like him?"

I leaned my head on the sofa and gazed at her. "Why do you ask that?"

"Just tell me."

"She does." Ashley chuckles.

I glared at her.

"You do or not?" Skylar pressed.

"Just say you do." Ashley nudged me.

"But I think it's mate bond's magic," I said.

Ashley scoffed. "Mate bond? You think so."

"That's not an answer to my question," Skylar glared at me.

"Fine, I do a little, so what?" I was a bit annoyed.

"That's it!" Skylar merrily smiled. "You're moving in."

"Not like she has an option," Ashley said.

"Lucas won't accept it. He wouldn't feel okay if I moved into his house."

Skylar gave me a care-you-kidding-me look and disclosed, "You have no idea how pleased he would be."

"Doesn't mean I will move shamelessly."

Skylar pretended not to hear me and whispered something in Ashley's ears, pretty much sure it was about how to push me in Alpha Lucas' arms. It looked like they were more interested in my relationship than me.

And here goes my life.

It has a knack to turn upside down without notice and my friends, they were only encouraging it.

The picture of Alpha Lucas standing on the porch with a welcoming smile and with opened arms for me to run to him was the only thing running in my mind. Of course, it won't happen but after admitting that I liked him just felt nice.

My feelings just took a complete 360 degrees swift turn and I wasn't sure if I had almost fallen for him or not or it's all just mate bond's magic again. But my father had told me once that when you start seeing someone you wouldn't know when you will fall in love with someone and for me, it just felt so early.

Was I wearing my heart on my sleeve? Or was it.... mate bond?

Whatever it was, I did feel something towards him.

But it could even be the case that Alpha Lucas has been nothing but a very sweet and nice guy, I guess it shows an effect on my behaviour.

He wasn't like any other Alphas.

Maybe I judged him too quickly.

Must be the case.

Well, I had a long way to go.