.

* * *

- "Make The Damn Move, Micajah."

It's Sunday.

The day after the disastrous ceremony.

I throw my pencil down with a sigh, looking up at the ceiling in frustration. I pull off my glasses and place them on the table, wiping my hands across my eyes.

How the hell does Mr. Devon expect us to complete the entire chapter in the weekend?!

'I bet our Mate would've completed it all,' My Wolf sighs, he too, feeling my pain in doing Maths.

'I know.'

I push the chair back as I stand up, stretching my limbs. Might as well take a break and do these sums afterward; with a fresh mind and renewed energy.

Okay, okay, I'll admit it. I don't think I'll ever have the 'fresh mind' or 'renewed energy' to do these problems.

I let the huge text book fall close and arrange it and my notebook on the corner of the table, making my way to the living room.

Last night, when Seneca had returned to the room with fresh bruises on her arms, I'd panicked. But, she'd assured me that it was just "friendly sparring" and that Beta Ezra is just "angry at the world". She'd also added that "he'll come around soon". I'd been sad, but her repeated assurance had forced me to accept it, and we'd finally gone to bed.

To sleep.

Get your minds out of the gutter, people!

And today morning Seneca had gone to take care of whatever it is she does every day, and I'd decided to catch up with some homework.

As I enter the living room, the smell of roasted meat wafts through the air, assaulting my senses. My tastebuds jump up at the smell and salivate, getting ready for a delicious meal. Since it's Sunday, everybody had awoke a little later than their normal routine, and we're yet to have breakfast.

Smells like Maggie is making something awesome.

Without thinking, I round the couches and cross the dining room, my nose leading me in the direction of the kitchen.

Only to halt in the doorway in surprise.

Because Seneca is the one doing the cooking.

She's chopping at some vegetables with expert precision, while the oven is on, with the most mouth-watering aroma emanating off it. Her back is to me, and she's so immersed in the cutting, I think she hasn't sensed my presence yet. So, like the hormonal Wolf I am, I take a moment to admire the view.

She's wearing a pair of khaki shorts that cling to her bottom in the most enticing way—making me almost groan at the sight—paired with a sleeveless dark blue tank top. Her wild mass of curls is out of her signature ponytail, falling up to her elbows in a tangled mess that she rocks so well. She's barefoot, but the dark red nail-polish she'd worn for yesterday's event still remains, making me wonder if it's possible for even feet to look sexy.

I wonder what reaction she will give if I sneak up to her?

'What are you waiting for? You'll only know it, if you try it. Make the damn move, Micajah!' My Wolf snaps, and the hurry and irritation in his tone are enough to send me into action.

I walk up behind her, trying not to make even the smallest of sounds. Just when I near her, I hesitate for a second, but before she could sense the heat of my body, I force myself to take the last step and wrap my arms around her waist.

Her startled yelp is encouragement enough, and soothes my nerves.

I nuzzle my nose into her hair, making her giggle.

Mhm, she smells Heavenly...

"What are you cooking?" I mumble, my voice coming out muffled due to her hair. I push it out of the way with one hand—and she shivers slightly—baring the smooth flesh of her slender neck to my waiting lips. This time though, my taste buds are salivating for something else.

"Um, steak." She says, continuing to cut the vegetables away. I end the torture to myself by placing a kiss on her neck, and I hear a thump of the knife hitting the chopping board as it slips away from her grip. I smile to myself in satisfaction as I let my lips wander upwards, placing kisses on the way.

"Nice..." I say half-heartedly in-between kisses, not able to think of a better word. My hand on her waist trails up the hem of her tank, skimming the taut skin of her stomach—man, this girl works out a lot—dipping into her navel slightly, making her shudder in delight. Truth to be told, I love steak, but being in her presence is like a drug. You won't be able to think of anything properly except taking her right here, right now.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up a second. Where is this coming from?!

But my naughty Wolf has no answer, except a mental image of us on the counter that's so obscene, it turns me on. Badly.

Crap. I push myself away from her slightly, hoping like hell she doesn't feel it.

But of course, very little goes unnoticed by her.

She reaches out and turns off the stove, turning around and making my hand under her shirt rest at the small of her back. I move forward and kiss her, making sure to keep a small distance between us, but being the adamant Alpha she is, she presses herself against me.

Fuck.

"Oh." She breathes out, the sound caught by my lips before it could fully escape her. Before she has time to think, or even move away from me, I wrap both arms around her, pulling her as close as possible. She stills for a second, before melting in my arms and molding herself to me.

I groan when she opens her mouth, letting my tongue dip into hers. She gives me full control of the kiss, and as much as I enjoy her kissing me, this is a whole new spectrum of pleasure I've never considered before.

And it's safe to say, it's fan-freakin'-tastic.

I suck on her lower lip as I let my hands slide lower. I wait for any sort of protest, and when I get none, I rest my hand on the curve of her bottom. We come up for air, and I take this opportunity to kiss my way down her neck.

"Mhm," She moans when I bite the skin near her collar bone, raising her head to give me more access. I back her up against the counter as I bend my knees to lower myself to her neck, nibbling and suckling on her soft flesh.

'Our mark would look good there,' my Wolf comments, urging me to mark her subconsciously, but I ignore him, focusing solely on the task of giving my Mate pleasure. When I bite hard enough to draw some blood, she goes wild in my arms and leaps forward. I wrap my arms around her instinctively, just as she wraps her legs around my waist, holding onto me, making me chuckle in satisfaction.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, this position is...even more...intimate.

My hands go to her butt as I pull her closer to me and balance her in my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck, running her hands through my pale blond locks, and tugging hard as she gets lost in the sensations. I kiss my way down, up to the neckline of her shirt, before kissing back up, determined to leave a mark that would last at least a few hours, if not a day.

"Aching for my mark, aren't you, my Alpha?" I repeat her words from earlier, and this seems to flip something inside her, because in a second, her lips are on mine, kissing me aggressively, almost bruising, taking full control this time.

"Uhm." I groan in pleasure, walking forward and placing her on the counter. I don't fight for dominance of the kiss, letting her have her moment of control. Eventually, she pulls away, trailing hot kisses up my jawline to my earlobe.

"Yes," She breathes out after a moment, "I'm aching for your mark as much as you are." She pulls back, looking at me in the eyes intensely.

We're breathing hard, panting actually, but that doesn't stop my stupid mouth from asking, "What do you think about going on a date this Friday?"

Way to be smooth, Micajah.

Her already dark eyes darken further at that. She swallows thickly, clenching her jaw before looking away. "No, Mating is too permanent. I won't tie you to me before you know everything." She says, not beating around the bush.

"Then why don't you tell—"

Ring, ring, ring, ring.

I'm interrupted by the chiming of her mobile phone. I sigh, moving back slightly as she digs into the pocket of her shorts, fishing her phone out and swiping across the screen to answer.

"Hello." She starts and I tune out the rest, thinking over her words.

I've practically confessed my love for her, and so has she. But even after everything that's happened, she still thinks that something will drive me away? It's hurtful to know that she has that little faith in me, in my love for her.

"C'mon." She says, snapping me out of my reverie. I cut my eyes to her in surprise. "What?"

"We're going shopping." She explains,

"Shopping?" I repeat, dumbfounded.

"Yes, we're going car shopping."

* * *

"So..." Seneca trails off, her eyes flickering to me for a second, before focusing back on the road. "Do you have any preference? A particular brand perhaps?"

"Nope. And I repeat, I don't want a car."

"Oh, but you do. Don't you want to drive me around? Wouldn't you feel good to drive instead of giving me directions?"

I remain silent this time.

Because that's the point she's been using against me the whole time.

"But we can buy a second-hand one! Why would you waste that much money in a new one, when I don't even know how to drive?!" I exclaim, frustrated that she's ready to throw so much money away.

"That's the problem with you, Cage. Why do you think of it as a waste? It's not a waste. When it comes to you, nothing is ever a waste."

I shut up this time, torn between feeling flattered and irritated.

A thought occurs to me after a moment. "Well, can't we buy one after I learn driving?" I query quietly.

This time, she blushes, and my eye brows shoot up in surprise. "Ha ha," She laughs in a sort of embarrassed way, and this piques my curiosity. "That's because, you've never visited our garage."

I'm confused. "What?"

"We don't have any cars or bikes that you can learn driving on, Cage. All of them are too powerful for a beginner." She says finally, looking at the road.

"Oh."

"Yeah,"

"Wait, you drive motorbikes?" I ask, looking at her incredulously.

"I do. But I prefer cars. The 'rawr' of a car's engine is way powerful than any bike. Though, Ezra prefers bikes. He doesn't ride them much because it draws attention."

"Oh," I say, taking in this new information.

The rest of the ride is silent until she pulls into a dealership.

"You're buying me an Alfa?!" I twist in my seat, surprise evident in my tone.

"Yeah..." She says hesitantly, "Do you not like it?"

"What? No, of course, it's fine! But there are so many cheaper cars on the market, Seneca!"

She rolls her eyes at my protest. "Just get out of the car, Cage."

I sigh as I get out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me. Beta Ezra's Nissan GTR pulls up behind us, and after a few seconds, he's out as well, walking ahead of us into the showroom.

"Ms. Mordecai, a pleasure to have you here." The sales manager welcomes us with a professional smile plastered on his face. We're ushered into an office-like room, where we sit in front of one of the many computers.

And that's all I understand, because after that, Seneca, Beta Ezra and the manager launch into a discussion about an 'Alfa 4C' that lasts 25 minutes. Only, the terms they use are so technical, I don't understand a thing they speak. I often catch the words 'powerful', 'rear parking assistant', 'safe', 'only the best'.

Finally, Seneca calls me, showing the computer screen and asks me to choose some colors for the car, roof, mirror caps etc. I browse around the colors available and choose a Rosso Alfa, because come on, the blood red color looks seriously kick ass.

Finally, they're done, and my jaw drops at the bill.

"That car was supposed to be $55,900!" I exclaim, pointing at the figure that the screen is now showing.

"That was before Ms. Mordecai chose all the upgrades for the car, sir. For instance, the color you chose alone costs $1,500 and installation charges are also included." The manager says with a smile, and my jaw drops even more.

"B-but $72,425 is way too much—"

"Only the best for Mr. Rye." Seneca cuts me off, turning to the manager, and he nods in acceptance.

"Sure, ma'am. The car will be dropped off in two days."

"Thank you." She nods and stands up, looping her arm through mine, as she drags me out of the showroom.

"Seneca, you don't have to—"

"Shut up, Cage. Just come." She cuts me off yet again, and I sigh for the umpteenth time in frustration.

"Where are we going now?!" I exclaim when she starts the car and drives in the opposite direction that we came.

"To get you a phone."

* * *

"I don't want an iPhone." I say stubbornly, and the sales assistant nods with a smile.

"Would you prefer a Blackberry, sir? It has more features—"

"Which one is the cheapest?" I ask, crossing my arms.

The sales assistant looks taken aback.

Seneca sighs from beside me.

"Just pack the iPhone 6s." She orders and the woman nods rapidly, scurrying off.

I glare at Seneca.

We're currently seated in a mobile showroom in a huge mall, that Seneca had dragged me to. Yes, my protests had fallen on deaf ears.

"What?" She asks with an amused smile, when I continue glaring.

"Nothing." I snap, standing up when I see the sales assistant approaching us with a bill. We'd already purchased a sim card with my number varying only 2 digits from Seneca's.

Unnecessary expense, I know. She could've just bought me any number. But who listens to me here? No one.

She pays for the phone and we exit the showroom, Beta Ezra walking a few steps before us.

Yep, if you're wondering, we haven't talked a single word.

Suddenly, he halts in his steps, making me almost crash into his back.

"What—" I start, but the words die in my lips when I see what made him stop.

Daemon and Nora.

They're walking in our direction, eating some ice-cream of sorts, each taking a lick and passing it to the other.

Yuck.

They haven't spotted us yet.

Just as I think it, Daemon's head snaps up, almost as if he sensed us. His eyes search the crowd for a second before they land on Seneca, a devilish smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

Don't even try punching him, Micajah. It's useless.

He looks at Seneca directly and says two words, but even above the roar of the humans surrounding us, I can hear those two words clearly.

"Hello, murderer."

What the fuck?

Beta Ezra takes a step in his direction, his fingers fisted, a clear sign that he wants a fight. Seneca reaches forward and grabs him by the arm, stopping him with a sharp shake of her head.

They're having a tele-link convo, but I can easily imagine what she would've told him. "We're in human territory."

I turn back around to see him, but the duo is already walking in the opposite direction, arms around each other.

I whip my head to meet Seneca's stone hard eyes. "Why the fuck would he call you a 'murderer'?!" I exclaim, shocked.

She turns, looks into my confused eyes for a few seconds with the frustrating icy mask that she always used to wear before.

"Because I killed my father."

With that, she spins on her heel and walks away.

* * *

SUSPENSE!

Hope u like this one too :)