Taking a deep breath, I walked inside the new Alpha Manor made for the soon to be Alpha. My chest thudded while I wiped my palms on my jeans. Nervousness and uncertainty settled in my stomach. At the same time, my wolf was purring over the thought of seeing him again. Even though he just threw me out of the training grounds half an hour ago.

Why did he want to see me all of a sudden?

The moment I entered the threshold, his intoxicating scent lingering in the air hit me like a truck. Gulping, I walked into the living room.

There he was, sitting on a black leather couch with his eyes set on his laptop. A frown sat on his forehead. Tanned skin was still glistening with sweat from training. Matt sat right beside him with some papers in his hands. While another pack member, high ranked in the pack stood there.

Matt noticed me first before the Alpha's silver eyes snapped to me. Surprise flashed across them for a moment before they hardened.

Oh no! Did I do something wrong? I was late, I had to change my clothes.

"Rory? What are you doing here?" Matt asked, smiling.

I dragged my gaze away from those silver eyes with difficulty. "Uh, h-he wanted to see me?"

The statement sounded more like a question. Matt raised a brow before casting Vin a look.

"May I know why you're having such a grave misconception?" Voice deep.

I blinked, frowning. Panic started to kick in. "But…Gina said…"

"Your habit of following me around like an obsessed puppy is getting worse. I must say, you are brave enough to show up at my doorsteps with a pathetic excuse now."

Each word of his hit right in my heart like sharp little needles.

Though he was right in one thing, I was obsessed with him. That was why no matter how much he hurt me with his words, I kept coming back.

The pack member standing there snorted, while Matt's brows furrowed. I made myself a fool again. Gina must have lied to me, to get me into trouble. And here I held a hope that he would say sorry or explain his behavior.

Biting my lip, I looked down ignoring the tightness in my throat. "I'm sorry. I won't disturb you again."

Just as I turned to leave, his voice stopped me.

"Now that you are here, why not do some work?"

I turned to find him standing.

"Go make us some drinks and clean the house." He then shot a look at Matt before disappearing upstairs.

My wolf whimpered in my mind. I was a mere maid to him now, just like the others thought of me.

Blinking away the tears, I avoided Matt's pitiful eyes and walked into the kitchen silently. I was just an omega, I didn't have any right to disobey the Alpha.

Once I was done serving drinks to Matt and the other man, I went back to clean the kitchen. He hadn't come down yet, and for the first time, I was glad he wasn't there. I was mad at him. Even though my wolf still wanted to go after him and nuzzle herself in his arms.

Why couldn't she understand that we weren't his mate? He didn't care for us anymore.

"Beta, the unmated wolves were gone after Alpha Vinson ordered. But now that tomorrow night is the blood moon and the crown ceremony will be held, all the Alphas and Betas are needed to be here. So…" I heard the man hesitating as I approached the living room. "They will be back today again. Alpha Christopher already sent them invitations last night."

I remembered Vin's conversation back in the hallway of the council building. He ordered someone to send the unmated Alphas and Betas away because he didn't want them near his mate. Though I heard they weren't happy with his dismissal, it was a rule for the leaders of each pack to attend every new Alpha's crown ceremony. And at least seven votes of Alphas were needed for Vin to become a crowned Alpha.

"I will talk to him about it. For now, arrange the guest rooms and make sure they are comfortable once they are here," Matt said before his eyes fell on me.

"I cleaned the kitchen. I think I have to clean the living room now," I said.

"Oh, no, Rory. Don't take Vinson's words to mind. You don't…" he suddenly stopped, his eyes glancing towards the upstairs for a fleeting second before he cleared his throat. "Uh, if you insist, why don't you clean the rooms upstairs first? We are kinda busy here."

Upstairs? But…he was there.

I bit my lip.

Nodding, I took the mop and the dusting cloth and climbed up the dark wooden stairs. Nervousness started to crawl in again. I had no desire to face him again today.

The first room I cleaned looked like an office. It was so immaculate and tidy, I didn't need to do much dusting. When I reached the second door right next to the office, I hasitated.

I knew he was inside, the sound of harsh water hitting the floor reached my ears. He was in the shower. I wanted to turn around and leave, but for some reason I stepped inside. My heart started to beat faster. His delectable scent of woods and fire hit my nostrils.

Licking my lips, I shot a look at the bathroom door. 

The walls of his room were gray while black curtains covered floor to ceiling windows. Surrounded by minimal yet expensive furniture, the king sized bed with dark silk bed sheets lay in the middle of the huge room. It was so different and darker than his childhood room back in his parents' house.

Something inside me was at ease finding myself so close to where he slept, while another part of me was alert. I didn't want him to catch me sneaking in his room even though I was just doing what he ordered. He could accuse me of stalking him again.

Then I shook my head. I should leave. He would get mad…

The door of the shower burst open, making my heart leap, and walked out a man wrapped in just a towel which hung low on his hips.

Silver eyes met mine and I froze.

Oh no! Why didn't I hear him turning off the shower and coming out?

My heart thumped in my chest as my gaze flickered down to his bare chest without permission. Water droplets ran down his still wet hair to his sculpted hard chest, rolling down to his defined abs. Wet tanned skin glistened under the light.

My wolf purred at the beautiful yet scorching sight. I had a sudden itch to touch him, get closer…

"Done gawking?" Deep voice took my eyes to his, they were dark, stormy, but…not cold. Instead, there was a heat that burned something inside me. A muscle of his jaw ticked as his hands clenched.

"I…" My cheeks warmed as I looked away. "I was just here to clean," I whispered. "I will leave."

I turned around to flee.

"Did I permit you to leave?"

My legs stopped.

"If you are here, then finish your job," he said, tone…husky.

Turning around, I blinked at him. I thought he would insult me again and throw me out of his room.

His eyes took a slow troll down my body, stopping longer on my chest. My cheeks burned.

"Y-you aren't mad?" I asked in a low voice, biting my lower lip. His darkened gaze followed the move and stilled on my lips. His nostrils flared.

"Stop that."

"Stop what?" I frowned. I parted my lips to say more. "Vin…"

Before I could blink, I was pressed against the wall beside the door with his hard towering body pinning me. A gasp left my lips while his hot breath fanned my cheek. Silver eyes flashed to red.

"Stop fucking driving me crazy!" he growled in a low voice, staring right into my hazels. Those flickering silver eyes were so intense and dark, they pulled me in, hypnotizing me.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed my nape and pulled my face close to his, making me whimper. Sharp canines flashed as he hissed.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from me, hmm?" Leaning in, he nuzzled my cheek and took another deep breath, inhaling me. I shuddered at the touch. My heart pounded in my chest. Electric shivers ran through my pores. "You have a bad habit of disobeying me, little butterfly."

Something jolted inside me at the nickname he called me with. H-he still considered me as his butterfly?

A tear slipped my eye. His jaw clenched at the drop rolling down my cheek.

"Vin…" I gasped out. "Y-you don't hate me, do you?"

His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me so tight against him it made my body quiver from his heat and an unknown rush that ran through my veins. A pleasurable rush.

"I do, I hate you so much," he whispered, closing in to my ear, "because you're creating havoc in my mind and I can't seem to stay sane…"

What did he mean?

My lips parted in a silent gasp as his lips brushed over my neck, where my pulse thumped. I trembled in pleasure. My eyes threatened to close.

"You shouldn't be here…" Deep, rough voice made my eyes fly open. His hands started to roam down my waist to my hips. "Don't you have the least manners not to enter a man's room who has a mate?"

I frowned, all the haze his touch created evaporated.

"Get over your obsession, little girl. Or else…there will be trouble." His hands continued to roam my body with an urgency as if he couldn't control himself. When my body was melting in his hands, my brain couldn't understand his words, which contradicted his actions.

A low rumble reverberated through his chest, making goosebumps crawl across my skin. His scent of woods and fire was threatening to engulf me whole while my hands gripped his hard biceps.

"W-what are you doing?" I managed to ask through my breathy panting. "You are confusing me, Vin."

He gripped my chin. Silver eyes were completely red. I could see the black veins started to appear around his eyes again. I stared in horror.

"Call me Alpha," he hissed, so close to my lips. His stormy gaze zeroed on my mouth. "I'm not your childhood sweetheart anymore whom you can address with disrespect. I, Alpha Vinson Rustov, won't tolerate any silly nicknames."

Silly nicknames?

My eyes started to burn. While his words insulted me, his hands pulled me close. What was he doing? Playing with my feelings? Mocking me? Or was he just being a pervert?

I pushed him away with everything I had in me. But I just managed for his hands to fall away from me.

"I don't care what you will tolerate or not! I want to know why you are doing this to me? Why are you pushing me away like I'm your arch enemy?" I snapped, tears rolled down my cheeks. "What did I deserve to get such a treatment? We…" My lips trembled. "We were so close. I thought…I thought we had something special. W-was I wrong, Vin? Didn't you care for me? Don't you care for me anymore?"

His shoulders rose and fell with deep breaths. His jaw clenched and unclenched as those black veins spread more prominently. As much as scared I was, I wasn't going to back away. I only had this one chance to talk to him.

"Answer me. What happened all of a sudden that you stopped sending me letters? You stopped caring for me. Do you really hate me that much that you don't even want to see my face anymore? D-do you really want your butterfly to go away from you?"

"Shut up!" he growled, I could feel the ground beneath me trembling. He gripped my arms in a vice-like grip, making me wince. "I don't have any answers for your questions. Just know one thing, stay away from me…"

He seemed to want to add something, but didn't. Instead he backed away.

"Now leave." Voice harsh. His eyes were glowing red. His form shook with rage.

"Vin…"

"I said leave!"

Flinching, I let out a sob and ran out of the door.

Aww, our sweet Rory had another heartbreak! 😢

Vin is really being an ass! But don't you think he is hiding something? His actions don't say he actually hates her, otherwise he wouldn't behave like a pervert here 😉🤣

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With love,

Eva Zahan