***

- "For Such A Smart Alpha, You're So Stupid At Times,"

"You're Mates?"

"No, We're just...exploring. Kind of."

"Oh,"

"Yeah..."

"Does Seneca know?" I ask, turning to finally meet her eyes.

"No!" She negates hurriedly, "And...Till I find my Mate, I'd like to keep it that way," She says, looking at me with pleading eyes.

I sigh.

We're currently sitting in our front porch, and it has been approximately 10 minutes since I caught her red handed in the act. And oh, the other girl, who's name I still don't know was sent away by Nicole. Apparently, she's Seneca's Pack too.

Not that I'm against what she did.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own preferences.

"So...You won't tell her?" She questions, hopefully.

"Okay," I acquiesce, nodding slowly.

"Thank Goddess," She exhales.

A few minutes of silence.

"Don't get me wrong, but I just have to know this," She says after a moment, looking up at me with big, curious hazel eyes.

"What?" I ask,

"On a scale of one to ten, how good of a kisser is Seneca?"

My jaw slacks.

Heat suffuses my pale cheeks in that simple question, and for the second time that day, I open and close my mouth like a fish out of water.

"Um..."

"C'mon, Micajah! I've always wondered and I want to know! Please?" She begs, clutching her hands together in front of her chin. I turn away from her to hide my quickly heating cheeks, but she notices the tips of my ears turning pink.

"I...Um," I blather, not having a clue what to say.

"Are you kidding me?! Don't tell me you haven't...haven't..."

My silence is answer enough.

"No fucking way! You're Mates for Goddess' sakes—"

"SHH!" I shush her, leaning forward and putting a finger over my mouth.

"Okay, okay!" She whispers, raising her hands in surrender.

"Just...Just leave it alone."

❉ ❉ ❉

It's almost time.

This is it. I'm gonna do this shit. No backing out.

Crap, who am I kidding? I would back out any day if there's even the smallest chance to do so.

Sigh.

'You can do it, human. Just a little speech. I'll help you.' My Wolf encourages in a firm tone.

Whoa. He is never this helpful and considerate.

Hm, this shows how desperately he wants our Mate.

I swallow heavily as I adjust my black bow tie, taking a once over at the full-length mirror in front of me.

I must say, Micajah. You are looking good today.

I grin, pleased with myself.

The guy in front of me does look good. His platinum blond hair is neatly gelled and styled, combed back in a modern way. His white suit fits his lean form perfectly, emphasizing his shoulders—making them look wider than they are—and tapering down to his narrow hips. His feet are adorned with a new pair of shiny black shoes, that can almost show his reflection for the amount of shine on them.

Only his glasses didn't match his elegant attire.

Gah, who cares.

Knock, knock.

I turn to my open door in surprise, and there standing is none other than Nicole.

Wearing a red dress and a wide grin.

Her hands are behind her back, as if she is hiding something in them, and this in addition to the mischievous glint in her eyes, gives me a bad feeling.

"Look what I bought!" She announces cheerfully, and pulls her hand to the front, revealing a small white box.

My nightmare.

Goddess NO! Help me!

❉ ❉ ❉

Ten minutes later, I'm sitting on my dresser chair in front of my mirror, scowling at my reflection.

"Goddess, stop looking so glum!" Nicole cajoles, screwing the lid of the box, shut.

"I hate you,"

"Haha, You're welcome!" She sings, placing the empty box on my bedside table. She saunters over to the mirror and stands behind me, looking at my reflection.

You're wondering what my problem is, aren't you?

"Aw, look at our cute Aleph! He's just too sweet, I wanna pinch his cheeks!" She exclaims, looking at me with an 'aw' face.

The box she brought? They're contact lenses.

"Shut up." I turn away, trying to tamper down a blush.

"Just kidding," She laughs. "Okay. I'm gonna help with the decorations." She looks serious now. "Gotta go! See ya!" She gives me a little wave and click-clacks out of the room in her heels, leaving me scowling at the mirror like a kid throwing a temper tantrum.

Yeah, she forced me to wear them.

'Stop being such a big baby. It's getting late. Go!' My Wolf commands, and I can feel his urge to kick my butt into action.

'Okay! I'll go!' I answer and get up, blinking once more in unease.

You guessed it right. I hate contacts with a passion.

I sigh and traipse down the stairs to the living room.

Just as I'd expected, there's no one.

Maybe I should go to the hall where the ceremony is going to be held and make myself familiar with my surroundings. At least, that will help me a little to calm down when I'm giving my speech.

I spin towards the main door to leave when a voice stops me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Seneca.

Just thinking of her makes white-hot anger course through me.

You want to know what she did?

She cooked dinner last night. And didn't invite me to eat.

I even checked the kitchen after she and Beta Ezra left.

I wanted to storm into her room and yell at her, but I know that it would be a futile attempt.

So, I decided that I'm gonna give her, her own treatment.

"To the hall," I reply flippantly, not turning around.

"You're supposed to be the guest. You should go there with your Mate; me."

A bitter laugh escapes my lips.

I spin on my heel, fury pulsating through me.

But all that disappears for a second when I get a good look at all of her beauty.

Oh. My. Goddess.

She looks...she looks...

Words can't describe how good she looks.

But, To put it simply, she looks like the Goddess.

Then I force myself to remember what she did last night.

"You certainly don't act like one," I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" She raises one neatly shaped brow.

Anger gets the best of me.

"I said, 'You certainly don't act like one!'" I repeat loudly, glaring at her.

Her eyes avert and fingers clench in a tight fist as she fumes in rage, trying to control it.

"Silence, Seneca? Really? Don't have an answer for that one I see." I shake my head mockingly, a satanic smirk tugging at my lips.

"Go back to your room, Cage."

It's not a request. It's an order.

Well, she can't order me around.

"Don't do that." I frown.

"I said, 'Go back to your room'!" She yells, glowering hard.

"No!" I yell, taking a step closer.

"Do not disrespect your Alpha!" She orders, her voice hard as stone.

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"Alpha?!" I cross my arms across my chest. "You're not my 'Alpha'," I shake my head ruefully, looking at her with hurt eyes. "You know what? I never thought that you'd be that kind of girl,"

Silence.

"The kind that lets their past define their future." I continue, not waiting for her reply, "The kind that gives up so easily,"

I look her up and down.

"I have been through a lot, Nicole has been through a lot, and there are a lot of people who walk around carrying baggage! But not everyone is blaming the world for their problems! Why are you doing this?! Why are you letting it come between us?!"

"Stop it, Micajah."

"No, Listen here, Seneca and listen carefully." I walk closer to her. "I've had enough of your bullshit. Your father did something in the past and you are blaming everyone for —"

"Shut the fuck up, Micajah." She snaps, stepping forward as well, "Don't you dare talk about things you know nothing about—"

We are in each other's face now.

"Oh, I know enough alright! Enough to say that the reason why you've been ignoring me is because of something that happened—"

"Don't—"

"—in your past—"

"Shut up—"

"—and you're being a coward about it—"

"NO—"

"—letting it destroy what we have—"

"Can't you listen for once—"

"And hurting me—"

The next thing I know, warm soft lips are pressed against my own.

Whoa!

Her hands go to the back of my head, weaving in-between locks of styled hair, clutching me close to her as her lips move against mine aggressively. It takes me a few seconds to actually understand what is happening.

And then, I kiss her back.

I kiss her back with all that I have.

Our tongues mold together in an intense lock, and I let my hands wander up her hips to her back, pulling her close. She sucks on my lower lip like a pro, and I let out a groan.

She pulls back suddenly.

"Since you seem to already know a lot, did you also know that I'm in fucking love with you?"

What?!

Before I could even think twice about her words, her lips are on mine again.

And then we're kissing each other like we are about to leave our last breath. She pulls back.

"Huh? Did you also know that from the moment I saw you, I've been dying to do this?"

She slams her lips to mine again, biting and nibbling and suckling. I moan helplessly against her sweet torture, unable to control the myriad of sensations coursing through me. Just when it gets to the good part, she pulls back again.

Ugh.

"And this," She withdraws and lets her lips trail down my neck. She plants a line of sweet kisses as her lips move down, setting my skin on fire. Her fingers fumble with my collar, and a moment later, my collar is torn off with a hard tug from her dexterous fingers.

"And this," She says, biting down on my neck, enough to draw blood slightly.

Oh ma Gawd...

"Uhh," I moan, and she soothes the pain with her tongue, licking over the bite.

"Did you?" She repeats, but I'm in no state of mind to even think about what she's saying. All I can do is, purr in delight.

Her hands around me drop as she steps back. "You don't." She answers for me.

What is happening?!

She spins around, turning her back to me. "Did it ever occur to you, that I might've fallen hard for you? That I might've been spending my every minute awake, avoiding you because I want to lessen the blow when you finally decide to leave? Or that I've been trying to reason with myself that you might actually have a little affection for me and that I'm worthy of your love?"

She turns to me again, but this time, her eyes are on fire. "But I know that as much as I love you..." She swallows, looking away, "...you can never love me back. You can never trust your heart to a...a monster like me. And I know that you are too kind to even tell that to my face. I..." Her voice becomes thick, "I know that I don't deserve you..." A lone tear slips down her cheek.

I whimper.

She takes in a shaky breath, wiping the tear away with one firm swipe, "That's why I've decided that I'm leaving,"

WHAT?!

She meets my eyes again. "I'm going around the world for a few years."

"What the fuck are you saying?!" I burst out,

"I'm so sorry, Micajah. I tried. I really did, but I just can't watch you with other girls. It kills me." Her voice box bobs up and down. "It's killing me. Please give me a few years, I'll learn to live with the pain. All I'm asking of you is, please don't leave me."

"What are you—"

"You can be with anyone, fuck anyone after I'm gone. I won't take that away from you," With that, Seneca turns around to leave.

But this is not over.

Far from over.

So I reach forward and grab her by her upper arm.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" I exclaim, tightening my grip.

She looks at me with emotionless eyes, dead eyes.

"For such a smart Alpha, you're so stupid sometimes, Seneca." I pull her forward, grabbing her by her shoulders.

"What—"

"To tell the truth, none of those things you said, occurred to me before." I say, and hurt flashes across her dark eyes, "But," I add hurriedly, "Did it ever occur to you, that I might be in 'fucking' love with you as well?" I ask, grinning like a fool.

Her jaw drops.

"Are you..."

"Yes, my dear Mate. I'm in love with you," I declare firmly, cupping her cheeks in my palms.

"Micajah, Please don't play with me, you don't know how much those words mean—"

"Oh, Goddess! I'm telling this now and I can tell this thousand more times if you want. I. Love. You." I proclaim, trying to show her with my eyes how earnest and sincere I am.

It seems to work, because she grins. She grins the biggest grin possible. And that makes her the most beautiful girl on earth.

"Are you serious?" Her hands caress my cheek, and I lean into her tender touch.

"As a heart attack," I whisper back, and the next second, she throws herself at me, figuratively and literally, slamming her lips to mine.

I stagger back slightly in surprise, but wrap my hands around her, pulling her as close as possible. This time, I don't even fight for dominance, letting her have her 'wicked' way with me.

Ah, my dream is coming true.

She pulls back and I sigh in loss.

"Say it again," She whispers against my lips.

"I love you," I say, smiling. She smiles back and leans forward again, but the both of us are grinning so hard, our teeth hit against each other's several times.

But it doesn't matter, because I love her and I know that she loves me too.

❉ ❉ ❉

OKAY, I just want to say ONE THING.

IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE THEY FELL IN LOVE TOO SOON. BUT KEEP IN MIND, THEY ARE "

SO, Tell me now, does this chapter deserve a vote?

:)