"You're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between." - Pat Riley

J o r d y n ✤ T a m e

FOR A MOMENT, I almost forgot where I was when I woke up.

The sounds of a roaring vacuum had entered my ears, pulling a groan from my throat. I fluttered my eyes open to find two maids cleaning my room. I could've sworn I locked the damn door.

"You see, Isabella! You woke the girl," one of them said, her strawberry blonde hair catching the light as she pointed in my direction. Her chocolate-brown eyes flicked toward her companion.

The other maid, Isabella, turned her sharp gaze to me, then back to her friend. "Does it matter? It's already 11:58 AM. I did the girl a favor," she shot back with a sassy tone.

I frowned and groaned again as the strawberry-haired maid strode over to the windows, throwing the curtains wide and flooding the room with harsh daylight.

"Sorry, pumpkin," she soothed, her voice softer now. "But Isabella's right. You need to get up. There's a guard outside the door waiting for you."

I sighed, annoyed. "What does he want?"

"He mentioned the Alpha wants to meet with you this morning. Something about brunch. We were told to wake you up as soon as possible, but—"

"Yuri here thought you looked too cute to disturb," Isabella interrupted with a roll of her eyes.

Yuri's cheeks flushed, her brown eyes lighting up with a hint of embarrassment. "You reminded me of my kitten, JuJu. I couldn't wake you. So, we agreed to give you five more minutes," she explained, her voice almost shy.

"You mean you agreed to give her five more minutes," Isabella corrected, her sass cutting through the room. "I didn't care. I just wanted to finish and get out of here."

I chuckled despite myself. These two were quite the characters.

"I thought the supernatural hated cats," I said, stretching as I slid off the soft bed.

It was something we'd been taught in supernatural studies back in junior high. I'd loathed those classes at first, but I couldn't deny they'd gotten interesting as time went on.

Yuri chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Isabella and I are mortals," she clarified.

That explained a lot. I should've guessed from their jobs. No one from the supernatural union would bother cleaning up after humans or other immortals.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door echoed through the room, startling me. My eyes darted to the small mirror beside my bed as I flinched, taking a moment to collect myself.

"Jordyn, Alpha Lexis isn't the most patient guy in the world. So hurry up, would you?" A familiar voice spat out.

I gave Yuri and Isabella a look before glancing around the room, searching for my bags.

"Don't worry, sugar. We already unpacked for you. Everything of yours is in the closet," Yuri said with a touch of glee, swinging the closet doors open for me.

A grin tugged at my lips as I took in the sight of my clothes, neatly folded and hung. It was perfect—every item in its place. At that moment, I understood why so many human girls dreamed of this lifestyle. It wasn't just luxurious; it was a kind of care and comfort we were never taught to expect.

Never in my life had I imagined someone unpacking my bags or folding my clothes for me. For human girls, that kind of indulgence didn't even seem real. We grew up learning to fend for ourselves because, deep down, we all knew the truth: the supernatural didn't care about us.

"Thank you so much," I said sincerely.

Yuri smiled and pulled out a dress—a short, blue-and-lavender piece adorned with a delicate pastel floral pattern. It was simple but classy, something I'd bought weeks ago. Nostalgia washed over me as I realized it was the dress I'd worn on my 18th birthday.

My birthday was a total disaster though. Since I never had too many friends, my mother invited a bunch of her coworkers' kids to come to the party.

"This is the one," Yuri declared confidently, holding the dress out to me. "Knowing the Alpha, it's perfect. Comfortable for brunch, and he'd love it. Right, Isabella?"

I took the dress hesitantly, already sensing Yuri's intentions. I had no plans to seduce him, no desire to play into those expectations.

Isabella shrugged indifferently. "It doesn't matter what she wears. Alpha has and will always have walls ten feet high." Isabella retorted.

Her words settled into my mind, and I realized she was right. I was nothing more than a stranger to him, and he was nothing more than a closed-off, powerful sovereign to me. Yet, I couldn't help but think about last night in his room—a push and pull lingered between us, something more than nothingness.

"Don't listen to her," Yuri said quickly, shaking her head. "Isabella's always been pessimistic about the Alpha."

Another hard knock echoes through the room causing my breath to hitch in slight surprise. "Jordyn! You have five minutes! I'm not about to get penalized for your inability to get dressed at a productive rate." I heard the guard exclaim.

Isabella smirked, leaning against the wall with a playful glint in her eyes. "Better get moving, darling," she teased.

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I smiled in satisfaction as I adjusted my attire. With Yuri's eager help and Isabella's reluctant assistance, I'd finally gotten dressed.

Turning to the mirror, I frowned slightly, my gaze lingering on my reflection. My thoughts began to spiral, fixating on what Lexis might think. Then my stomach turned, why did I care what he thought?

And why was the concept of brunch with him increasing my nerves? There was no denying it now. I was nervous.

The floral dress hugged my curves perfectly, the soft pastel tones accentuating my figure, while the white strappy heels added a subtle, sexy edge.

I was ready to face the devil.

"Here," Yuri said as she handed me a white cotton sweater. "It can get a little chilly around here."
   
I thanked Yuri and Isabella before heading out the door. I was annoyed to see the guard with creamy skin waiting for me outside.

"Thank the moon goddess!" He exclaimed with relief when he heard the door open. He turned around and his face turned pale. "Y-you look nice." He muttered out adverting his eyes away from me.

"Are you sure? Do you like it? I mean it is brunch. I would have just worn sweatpants and a T-shirt but Yuri insisted I dress nice, and everyone that lives in this impeccable palace seems to dress up so nicely in luxury. I mean—how out of place would I look wearing one of my bleached stained T's? Like—"

"This is Alpha Lexis we're talking about. Trust me, this won't be an average brunch. Expect expensive wine and pricy meals. With that said, you look fine. Now, will you please stop talking?"  He responded cutting off my excessive rambling.

Well okay then.

"Um, should we go then?" He suggested huskily, scratching the back of his neck before leading the way.

I tried to keep up with his movements while in heels. I now remembered why flats and sneakers made up the majority of my footwear.

We went inside the elevator that was not far from my room and waited until the doors closed. "Take us to the main level." He ordered the elevator causing the jolt of the machine going down.

I stood there in silence along with the guard, who I still never got his name, yet I see him everywhere.

"You know, you never properly introduced yourself." I told him causing him to scoff.

"You don't need to know my name. It's quite irrelevant to why you are here." He muttered.

I rolled my eyes at his response. "I just asked for your name." I clarified. "I didn't ask for your damn autobiography."

"Mason," He said tightly. "It's just Mason."

"Nice to meet you, just Mason." I teased causing him to give me a glare.

The elevator door opened and Mason walked out first. I followed him down the hallways of the main building. I received intrigued stares by many pack members walking by.

I kept my eyes glued to the walls to try to ignore the attention I was getting. While doing so, a picture caught my eye. It was of a girl who looked to be around my age. Her glossy eyes were beautiful and her light hair was tied up. She had henna markings on her arms, which complimented her skin.

I stopped following Mason and continued to stare at the photo. Mason noticed and walked
over to me in concern.

"Jordyn, we have to go. We already are 15 minutes late." He said in slight frustration.

"Who is she?" I asked ignoring his complaint.

He is caught off guard as he followed my eyes onto the portrait of the girl. His face grew pale once again. "U-um, s-she was a pack member." Mason stuttered out.

"Was?" I questioned. "What happened to her?"

Mason flinched at my question before walking off. "Come on Jordyn. The Alpha is waiting."

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The breathtaking scenery surrounding the pack house eased my nerves as my eyes found Alpha Lexis standing ahead, dressed sharply in a formal suit and tie. His presence, authoritative and effortlessly poised, sent a ripple of intimidation through me.

When I arrived at his destination, our eyes locked together instantaneously. It was just like last night except the pull was stronger. It was an odd feeling, when those eyes would greet mine; like I had seen him in another lifetime.

Then there were moments when those eyes of his would crack, offering a sliver of some kind of emotion. I could see it happening now as they ran down my body and he softened his gaze slightly.

Lexis bore a black dress shirt. It wasn't buttoned all the way allowing his toned chest to be seen. The shirt was paired with dark black jeans and dress shoes.

Mason offered a curt nod to the Alpha before leaving us alone.

"Hello, Jordyn." Lexis' dark voice laced around my ears.

I nodded at him. This time it was me who was the quiet one. I couldn't talk. I didn't know how to respond to him.

Lexis tilted his head to the side, a subtle gesture urging me to follow. I obeyed, stepping into stride beside him. Together, we walked along the wide pavement surrounding the pack house, the scenery alive with vibrant greenery and adorned with statues that seemed to embody the beauty of nature itself.

Our walk was silent and I was becoming confused about how this was going to go. I didn't even fully understand what this was. Was it a date?

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday." He started off. His voice was raspy and sharp. "For having you leave so abruptly."

"It's fine." I said clipped, keeping my same pace.

Lexis grabbed my hand causing cold shocks to travel up my body. Those familiar shocks I have felt before. I stopped walking and so does he.

"No, really," Lexis said, his voice low and steady. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to end the night like that."

The sincerity in his voice was undeniable, wrapping around me in a quiet reassurance. I nodded once again, but this time, I found my voice. Straightening my posture, I stood tall, determined to show him the confidence I felt building within me.

"Your apology is accepted," I said, my tone firm yet calm.

His lips curved into a smirk, an expression that carried a hint of relief mingled with something I couldn't quite place

"I forgot to mention how beautiful you look." He said his gaze traced my whole body again and I could see the subtle change in the color of his eyes. "I planned this day because I wanted to get to know you. I need the chance to know who you are." He explained.

I couldn't help but smile at the hint of passion in his voice.

"Brunch will be served to us in the pack's guest house which is a few blocks away." He informed me. "And there, I want you to talk about yourself. I want to know everything."

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Lexis and I awkwardly ate in silence, and I found myself shifting uncomfortably in my seat at the lifeless outing. We were supposed to be getting to know each other, but the moment our food was served, it felt as though Lexis' guard shot up like an impenetrable wall. He sat across from me, quietly eating his food and offering little else.

"The French bread is good," I ventured, breaking the silence. "Everything on the plate is good."

Lexis responded with nothing more than a raised eyebrow. I frowned at his complete lack of intrigue.

"I wish I had good culinary skills. The only thing I can cook is Ramen," I added, chuckling softly to fill the void.

"Interesting..." Lexis muttered under his breath, more to himself than to me, his tone void of any real engagement.

Conversations between Lexis and me could be summed up in brief strings of sentences; in truth, the man spoke more with his eyes than he ever did with words.

Even in his eyes, there was always a level of distance.

I clenched my jaw in slight anger. Hadn't he said the purpose of this brunch was to get to know me better?

"You know," I said after taking my last bite of bread, my voice calm but laced with frustration. "I guess you don't have to bother speaking to me when all you have to do is claim your sovereign power to get all the information you need."

Lexis' head shot up the moment the words left my mouth, his eyes finally locking onto mine with undivided attention.

I felt a surge of boldness rise in me. "Tell me, Lexis," I drawled, leaning slightly forward. "What was the point of this outing with me?"

His gaze intensified, his eyes narrowing before dropping to the table. Silence. Again. The infuriating silence I was so tired of.

"Is this all part of your game, Alpha?" I continued, pushing, trying to provoke him, to force him to say something—anything.

I shoved my plate to the side and stood, my voice sharp now. "Well," I began, my eyes narrowing on him. "I choose not to play."

I turned and started for the door, my heels clicking against the marble floor with each determined step. But before I could leave, Lexis' rough hand grabbed my forearm, his grip firm yet cautious.

"Wait," he said, his low voice breaking through the tension with a surprising hint of vulnerability.

I stopped and turned to him, my eyes wide with surprise as I watched his body language unravel. He was frustrated, his shoulders tense, his jaw tight. And in his eyes, there was something raw, something unspoken. Need.

The need of a man trapped within the confines of his own authority. A man whose subordinates couldn't even meet his gaze—whether out of fear or reverence, it must have been isolating. Lonely.

His eyes flickered over my face, searching for the right words. The need for connection was so evident, it was almost painful to witness.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, the words barely audible but genuine. "Let me make it up to you. Just... sit back down."

I hesitated, studying him for a moment longer before retreating to my seat. My heels clicked softly against the floor as I walked back, and I slowly picked up my silverware.

Then his voice broke through again, quieter this time, but with a hint of warmth. "I'm actually not much of a chef myself," he admitted, the faintest trace of humor coloring his tone.

I couldn't help but smile at the unexpected confession, the tension between us easing ever so slightly.

And suddenly, we were entrenched in a conversation. We talked about random things—small talk, of course—like our favorite weather and hobbies. Though Lexis made it clear that he hated small talk about the weather, finding it utterly pointless, he humored me when I brought it up, his subtle smirk betraying his amusement.

I found out the man was an avid reader and Lexis was amazed about my knowledge of art.

Then those random cracks in his tough demeanor—those fleeting smiles he gave as he spoke were so masculine yet boyish.

"Tell me something weird about you," I asked, tilting my head in curiosity.

"I can't stand mismatched socks," Lexis replied, his voice carrying a rare lighthearted tone. "They throw off my entire day."

I chuckled, leaning back slightly. "That explains why you refused to talk to me at the inn after seeing mine."

He let out a laugh for the first time and I watched him in subtle awe. His laugh was rich and powerful as it echoed through the room.

"What's the worst thing you've ever done?" I asked, raising a brow, my tone teasing.

But the playful edge to my question didn't seem to register. His jaw twitched, and I could almost see the flicker of darker thoughts behind his eyes.

I cursed myself for forgetting—Lexis and I had vastly different upbringings. Whatever "worst" meant to him, I could only imagine it was tied to the weight of being an Alpha, a world of choices and consequences I couldn't fully comprehend. It was obvious this was territory he wasn't willing to explore with me.

"If the amendments still existed," I said quickly, attempting to steer the conversation back, "I'd say you could plead the fifth."

Lexis smirked, though there was still tension behind his expression. "Worse than anything you've done," he replied, his tone shifting back toward lightheartedness, though it felt slightly forced. He paused, his eyes narrowing playfully. "...Or maybe you're full of surprises today."

Lexis was mysterious. A man of few words. But when he did speak, his words were a colloquial blend of sharp wit and understated charm, leaving an impression that lingered long after the conversation had ended.

When brunch ended, I noticed the rigidity in Lexis' demeanor was nearly gone. He seemed more relaxed now, almost at ease.

"This was fun," I said, standing and moving closer to where he sat.

"It was," he murmured, his tone softer than usual. "You're not like how I expected..."

I narrowed my eyes, raising a brow in mock challenge. "I could say the same about you. Who knew the infamous Alpha Lexis had a personality?" I teased. His lips curled into a smirk, but then his gaze fell to my neck, lingering before rising slowly back to meet my eyes.

That look—his intense, burning attention—made my entire body go numb. I felt frozen under the weight of it, my hand resting idly near his glass of wine. Without thinking, I moved, knocking the glass over and spilling its dark contents onto his lap.

"Oh my god, I am so, so sorry," I stammered, grabbing a napkin and dropping to my knees beside him in a panic.

My eyes immediately sought out the stain, and I froze when I realized it was mere inches from his crotch. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry, as I dabbed at the wet spot with the napkin.

I look up at Lexis who's completely silent, his eyes dark with mischief. I could feel him grow at my touch and I instantly moved away from that area.

I could feel Lexis' stare burning holes through me before I felt him push my hand away and sit back up. I was so embarrassed. That was the most awkward situation I have ever put myself in. I gulped as Lexis' height towered over me.

"Remember your first day at the human education facility starts tomorrow." He said as if trying to forget what had just happened moments ago.

I nodded not daring to look straight at him. I crossed my arms and try to hide the redness that was most likely forming around my cheeks.

Lexis lifted my chin up before caressing my face. I bit my tongue trying to suppress the shaky breaths that escaped my lips at his touch.

He kissed my forehead catching me by surprise. He then removed his hands from my face before glancing at me one last time. Something so soft yet so dark released from his lips..."If only you knew."

He walked away leaving me speechless. What did he mean by that? What was he trying to tell me?

I took deep breaths feeling my heart pump faster than normal.

This was my life now. This was actually happening.

To be continued...

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