"Jesus!" I whisper to myself as my body turns over and over against the satin sheets of the bed. It's currently 2 in the morning and I can't go to sleep. So much sits on my mind, that my body can't rest until the thoughts are released.
This is like at the pack house, the only way I'll be able to go to sleep is to take a walk. Since I'm in a new location, walking Nyx's yard doesn't seem safe, and plus it's his house what if he's picky about it. Instead, I slip on my house shoes and head down the stairs to the foyer. A series of lamps in different parts of the house illuminate the rooms. To what I can see, no one is around. Not even the servants.
Passing the kitchen and dining room, I come to the massive living room. It must just be a sitting room because I don't see a TV or anything remote to entertainment. A series of shelves line the walls with old books of information. In the front of the room is a large balcony that shows the midnight sky outside. On that balcony is a tall man with black hair leaned over it smoking a cigarette. Once I realize who it is, I start to walk back to my room, but accidently stumble over the black loveseat.
Hearing the noise, he turns around eyeing who the stumbling girl is that's wearing the duck house shoes. Thank God they lost their quack years ago. "Quinneth?" He speaks.
"S-sorry about the chair, I was just- it doesn't matter I'll head back to the room." I start to walk out, until he stops me with a couple of words.
"Come here Quinn, I won't bite." A playful tone sings in his voice. Too scared to say no, I trudge across the room to the balcony. My knee length nightgown blows in the gusty Oregon wind. I hold it down with my hands. It would be unladylike for me to flash him. He goes back to smoking his cigarette.
I waft the smoke away from me back to him. He takes notice of this, "Do you not like guys smoking?"
"I don't have a place in telling someone what they should and shouldn't do. I just don't want to get second hand smoke from you." He politely smiles and puts out the cigarette on a red ash tray. "Thank you."
"No problem. What are you doing out here?" His elbows hold him up on the balcony railing. His fingers fumble with a lighter as he looks across the horizon. Even if you can't clearly see it, the Oregon land around here is so beautiful and peaceful looking.
"I couldn't sleep, usually I have to take a walk to wear myself out." I shrug. "What about you?"
"Thinking, just thinking. Being an Alpha will always have you on edge, the job is never done." He lets out a huff.
"That explains the cigarettes." He looks over to me, taking in my outfit. Those curious eyes revert down at my shoes, a small chuckle escapes his lips.
"Cute shoes." I blush and look away.
"Why do you do it then? Being an Alpha, I mean." The words leave me before I have time to register them.
He leans against the glass balcony doors, those strong shoulders of his slump down. "I have no other siblings, plus it's my birthright. All in all, it's fun to be in charge and to dictate rules and other things. The paperwork is what sucks the most. You'll figure this out in a few years Quinneth Germani, Alpha Female of the Golden Summit Pack." He smiles.
I never gave much thought about my future, my future with Alexander and the pack. Once his father dies, or abdicates, Alexander and I will rule over the pack. We had a small discussion about it when I visited the pack a couple of weeks ago. Damn, only a couple of weeks ago everything was normal, now the world is upside down.
He questioned himself on if he would be a good Alpha, and I know in my heart he will be. Now, the real question is, will I be a good Alpha Female? Will the people listen to someone that put their future Alpha in a coma and endangered tons of lives around the world? This is a thought that also keeps me up at night.
"Never heard someone say the full name before, not even myself."
"You'll be a good Alpha Female, what mate would go on a long journey to the dangerous Nygaard to find a cure for him." My eyes widen, he smirks at my response. The lighter that was once fumbling between his fingers now sits quietly in his back pocket.
"How did you-."
He holds up his hands, "Katana didn't tell me if that's what you think. She would kick my ass if I told her I discovered her plan. Also, I'm scared of her."
"She can be scary sometimes." I mention to him. "Does anyone else know?"
He shakes his head, "And no one will, trust me."
"Thank you." I smile.
"What makes you think the King will give you the cure? His parents went down there over 2 weeks ago, and they were denied. Hell, his father groveled in front of the King and Queen. Just to let you know, Alpha's don't grovel, for no one. Even then, no cure was given." I knew Col and Mr. Germani went to ask for a cure, but didn't know that he groveled for it. Mr. Germani is the toughest, and scariest man I know. The thought of him on his knees, pleas and begs rolling off his tongue. If they say no to a parent, why would they yes to a mate?
I give the most stupidest response, "beause I'm his mate." Nyx's face freezes, then a boisterous laugh comes out.
"That doesn't mean shit to them, trust me. The only way your curly head is walking away with a cure, is to give them something they want." I turn my head to the side; a bunch of thoughts and questions rush in my mind.
"I don't have anything to give them. Unless they want 200 dollars and an old yellow Volkswagen Beatle." He walks closer to me, my neck cranes to look at him. He analyzes me.
"I know we don't know each other, but you are exceptional Quinneth. You hold the original power of the first ever witches in your hands, it courses through your veins. It radiates through your eyes, comes out in your words. You have the one thing no one has, a connection to them. There's something there Quinn, dig down and find it."
I savor his words, work it out in my mind. He's right, I have a connection to the most powerful witches to ever exist. Maybe I can give them a bit of it, or do a spell for them on something they want.
Someone clears their throat from the room, both our heads move to the girl with the scowl on her face.
Alice.
She taps her foot against the floor as her arms cross on her chest. I instantly back away from Nyx, he also backs away from me.
"Alice, hello." Is all I say. She doesn't even look in my direction, her eyes only focus on him. As if my presence doesn't exist.
"Thank you for the conversation Alpha Nyx, I should be getting to bed." He just stares at Alice; I rush out the room into the foyer. As I run up the stairs, I can hear whispers and spells coming from the living room, from the sound of it, Alice was mad.
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As I lay in my bed, I think to myself and the realization comes to me. That's why Alice hates me, looks at me as if I killed her family. She thinks Nyx likes me, and I him. Tomorrow, I have to assure her I don't and that nothing romantical happened on that balcony with him. I would never do that to Alexander, not in a million years.
And Nyx, someone I barely know, wouldn't do that to her.
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This morning consisted of a stale breakfast around the table. Nyx didn't even dare look my way after what happened last night, which obviously nothing happened. He must be scared of how Alice reacted last night; she was throwing daggers my way as I sipped my orange juice. At one point I thought she poisoned it, the rest was left on the table.
After I finished with breakfast, and everyone disappeared, I decided to walk in the backyard garden. It was beautiful, it reminded me of Lyra's mothers garden back at home. This one was bigger than hers, zinnias, gardenias and lotus flowers color the fields. A white gazebo with gold and silver swirls decorates it. By a large oak tree, Nyx leans against it.
His gaze is roaming over the great land, he doesn't even hear me coming until I clear my throat. He turns and looks down on me, instantly his vision roams over, wondering if maybe Alice is lurking around. If she was, I would feel an ill feeling overcoming my body.
"Good morning." Is all he says.
"Good morning to you too. I just wanted to say that-."
"I'm sorry about last night, Alice-." I stop him.
"It's fine, I understand. That's what happens when your mate gets jealous." He's taken back by what I said, he tries to explain himself but I stop him. "I'll keep your secret, the same way you're going to keep mine."
"Wouldn't tell a soul." He crosses his heart.
"When did you find out she was your mate?"
He looks to the ground now, "A couple of weeks ago." His eyes are upon the view behind me, "She came here a few weeks ago, her uncle is a member of my pack and she needed a place to stay. . .so I let her live here. We had a- a moment in my room, and that's when everything clicked into place. I don't know if she knows were mates or not, we haven't exactly said it out loud."
"Why aren't you guys together, meaning why isn't she recognized as your Alpha Female yet?"
He leans in close to me so only I can her the whisper of his words, "She's not- a werewolf."
Wait- WHAT!
"So, you're saying that she could be like me?" It all makes sense now.
"Yeah. And with you releasing the first power, I can't let them know that there's another Zastitnik out there. I would kill someone if something happened to her." I believe him.
A deep retching feeling pains in my gut. It's one thing for someone to tell you how your actions have consequences, but to hear it up front is another feeling. To know that I'm stopping him from being in an official relationship with Alice, to have to hide behind the shadows of his house to have a small moment with her, it makes me sick.
Not just about Alice and Nyx, but other humans that will be mated to Alpha's, their lives are on the line. "You don't know how sorry I really am, Nyx."
He just shrugs his shoulders, "What's done is done Quinn. Many other people may not fully understand what you did in Insofar, but I do. I would do anything to protect Alice, and even thought she comes off as strong willed and mean, she would do the same for me."
"Love is so fucking complicated, huh?" He just laughs and looks off on the rolling hills with bright green grass. The sun's rays bounce off of the flowers, creating a yellow hue that spans around the whole of us. If I had to spend the rest of my days in a location, it would be Oregon. It may not seem interesting or worthwhile, but it's beautiful.
"I hope that you'll be able to get the cure for Alex, he's really a good guy and would be essential to Nygaard."
"He deserves the world. Trust me."
Realizing that our conversation has come to an end, and Katana should be packing our stuff in the car by now, I say a quick goodbye and began to walk back to the house.
"And Quinneth?" says Nyx.
I turn back, "What is it?" I ask curiously.
"Remember to dig deep, and be creative." I give him a small smile and start back on my journey to the house. Opening the door, and down the hall, I see Alice walking in my direction. Once her eyes land on me, she quickly turns back around.
"Alice! Wait." My voice echoes down the long corridor. Her feet clatter against the marble floors, but to my luck, comes to a dead end. Defeated, she huffs and turns around to me.
"What the hell do you want?" She grits through her teeth. Maybe it was just my eyes, but I swore I saw smoke rising from her.
I smirk, "It that the way you should be talking to your Alpha's guest?" Her fingers play with the hem of her crimson red shirt. I got her just where I want her. "Now, can you stop being so rude and listen to what I have to say?" She only nods, her teeth biting her lip.
"Go." She speaks.
"Look, nothing happened with Nyx and I on that balcony last night. I couldn't sleep, and neither could he, so we just had a normal, platonic conversation. He likes you Alice, he wants you."
She's taken back by my words, mostly the part where I said that Nyx likes her. "He-he does?"
"You know he does Alice; he didn't even look in my direction when he saw you coming. His eyes and body are only for you."
Her eyes gloss over, but dare not to let a tear drop from them. She lets out a deep breath, "Thank you for notifying me."
"You're welcome, that's all I wanted to tell you. Me, Katana and Kai are leaving in about an hour so I'll be out of your hair."
"There will be consequences." Is all she says. I look at her weird, not understanding what she's getting at, picking up on the confusion she furthers on, "Whatever you're about to do, or promise the King and Queen, don't do it."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Look who's speechless." She laughs. "You know Quinn, you messed up the first time don't do it a second time. You unleashed a power you don't understand, messed around with people who would snap your neck in pieces. Remember these words: Darkness lurks inside of you; it's wanting to crawl out of you and finish its unfinished business."
All I do is laugh. "What are you trying to scare me or something, because you're not. I KNOW what I'm doing, always have and always will. Now, if you excuse me, I have business to handle." Leaving her speechless, I head down the hall to the front of the house.
Alice's words pan out in my head, what did she mean? Does she know what I'm doing? No, no there's no way Nyx promised he wouldn't tell anyone, it defiantly wasn't Katana or Kai.
I lied; her words did scare me.
"Everyone ready to go? "Katana asked as she starts up the car.
"Yeah." said Kai.
"I'm ready." Oh, was I ready to leave, after Alice's words I needed to get the hell out of dodge.
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