Alpha's Spoiled Princess - Burgov Series VI

4. Sean

Um… What the hell just happened?!

"Sean? SEAN?!" - I slowly averted my eyes to Lana, who was watching me with both brows raised in anticipation. - "What did she mean by it was nice meeting you all? Isn't she staying here?"

"I… Apparently not." - I grumbled, trying really hard to understand what the hell just went down.

We came in, I wanted to talk with her like two adults about the obvious red flag that everyone would see, but she didn't even let me form a sentence before she took off. What the actual hell?! Did she think she was too good for me? Was that it?

The old irritation that was momentarily covered by the angelic face and smoking body returned with triple force.

She seriously thought she was above me!

She! The woman who does nothing but judge others for fun of it.

I can't believe it. I guess that nothing has changed and the five… No, she said it was six years! But nevertheless, it brought her absolutely nothing. I guess the trip around the world in search for her mate was just a scam to live lavishly on Daddy's account.

Classic Cilia.

I stepped to the wet bar and poured myself a glass of whiskey and I drank it in two gups. I don't think I was ever this mad at another person.

"Sean?" - Lana spoke and for a moment there I forgot they were even in the room. - "Did you at least have a coffee first?"

"No." - I answered, pouring myself another glass, but this one at least I could sip, with my nerves more or less under control, just how it was supposed to be.

"Okay, what the hell happened? You guys were here for like three minutes. What could she possibly have done to make you drink? It's unlike you." - Lana asked, crossing her arms, and I knew that pose well enough to guess that she wouldn't leave without getting an answer.

I sat behind my desk and scowled, looking around. Cilia couldn't help herself from insulting my home. Sure, my office looks like a battlefield of at least five different decorators, but she could still show a bit of tact.

"To be honest Lana, I don't know what the hell happened or why she left." - I started - "But the reason for this," - I raised my whisky glass - "is quite simple. The crazy woman who just stormed out is my mate." - I said simply because I had to get it off my chest, and as my seconds there were probably the best people to do so.

Both Corry and Lana's eyes bulged out, first at me, and then they looked at each other with the same baffled expressions.

"And you let her go?" - Corry asked.

"What was I supposed to do? Throw myself at the door to stop her?" - I asked.

"Yes!" - they both said simultaneously.

"Well, I didn't. Besides, that woman is mental. It's probably for the best." - I shrugged.

They watched me in disbelief before Lana straightened her back and crossed her arms with a displeased look in her eyes.

"I talked to her, she's very far from being mental. But you know what, Alpha? I think you're scared." - I scoffed and shook my head - "You see a woman like her and you think she's too good for you."

Oh, how f*****g wrong she was!

"She thinks she's too good for me!" - I snapped - "She didn't even want to talk! She made the decision for both of us."

"Are you sure? Because to me, she looked like she was running away from being hurt." - Lana pointed out.

"What? Why?" - I frowned.

"Well, maybe because when you saw her instead of staking your claim you watched her dumbstruck. Maybe because you looked like you wanted to hide it in front of Nicky…"

"He's family for the Goddess's sake!" - I cut her off - "Don't you think we should discuss the game plan before telling anyone? She shares blood with my younger siblings for crying out loud!"

"But she isn't with you." - Lana pointed out. - "And sorry Sean, but if I were her I would have thought you were trying to keep it a secret. And do you know how many women want to be someone's dirty little secret? None!"

I leaned back in my chair as if I was struck, because there's no way Cilia got that just from me being rational, and if so, it only confirms that women speak entirely different languages. It's a miracle that our species hasn't gone extinct by now.

"But worst of all, you let her go." - she added.

I blinked surprised. What did she expect me to do? Keep her here by force?

"I…"

"You what?" - Lana asked sharply. - "Instead of trying to figure out the rest of that sentence for the love of the Goddess, stop her from leaving!"

I slowly nodded, and reached my front gate guards, but by the time my sight focused back on Lana I knew there would be more of her scolding.

"She's gone."

"Then go after her." - Lana rolled her eyes.

"Sure, but where to?"

Lana looked at Corey with a face full of resignation, as if she was begging him to help her with the dense man she was talking to.

"To the hotel, man." - Corry said. - "There aren't that many in the area, you'll find her."

I nodded, but my legs stayed rooted to the ground. Was I really about to chase her? The woman who's working on pure emotions?

"Go, Sean! Don't just sit there. Go!" - Lana urged me, practically pushing me out the door.

I guess I am going to chase her.

Fifteen. It turns out I have fifteen hotels, inns and motels in a radius of twenty-five miles from my pack.

And how much does it take to check each of them? Gazillion hours!

It would be so much easier had I had her phone number, but I wasn't that lucky. And calling Nicky or anyone else would lead to endless questions about why I needed to call her, if she was supposed to be in my pack. So that wasn't going to happen before I figured out what the hell Cilia's deal was.

I was tired, hungry and pissed by the time I reached the secluded inn, settled by a frozen lake. I didn't have much hope for this place. Someone like Cilia would probably choose something more posh, with a good restaurant and spa. That's why I was so surprised to hear that she indeed arrived this morning.

I lied to the front desk lady, telling her I wanted to surprise my wife and if maybe she could be so nice and give me a key to her room. The woman started gushing over how romantic that was, and she didn't even make a fuss before handing me a plastic card, probably violating a few points of hotel regulations, but whatever.

I made my way upstairs, ready to confront the she-devil horns first, but I wasn't expecting to be left out of words when she opened her door. Yes, I knocked, the card was simply a backup plan, had she shut the door in my face.

If I thought she looked good in a skirt and long blouse this morning, there were no words to describe her now.

Cilia opened in a floor-length burgundy robe with black feathers on the hem of sleeves and at the bottom. It actually looked like a damn dress, and through the loosely tied front I could tell she wasn't wearing any bra, making her full breasts wave freely with every breath.

Fucking torture.

Her initial smile quickly fell, turning to a scowl and she took a sip of wine I hadn't even noticed, with her t**s right there in my face, before she spoke.

"You're not my room service."

"No, I'm not." - I said, inviting myself in and closing the door behind me, and locking it, in case she chooses to make a run again.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" - she asked sharply, as I glanced around the room trying to find the best place to have a chat. The room wasn't much. Sure, it looked comfortable enough, but with just a king-sized bed in the middle and two chairs, of which one had her morning outfit thrown at, I didn't have many options. I sat on the second chair and pointed to her to take the bed.

"We should talk."

Her icy-blue eyes glared at me, as she slowly took another sip of her wine, but remained standing.

"Cilia, please. Let's be grown-ups about this."

She snorted and rolled her eyes, obviously doing her best to rile me up.

"I'm your Mate. Don't you think I deserve at least a few minutes of your precious time?" - I asked sharply, making her glare harden.

"Oh, so now you're my Mate, huh? Not just a part of This?" - she asked mockingly.

"Woman, I have no idea what that even means. But can we, please, just figure things out like normal people do?" - I asked, trying to stay calm, but this is exactly the type of situation I've been avoiding my whole life. I don't like entangling myself in unnecessary drama. And somehow Cilia is all about that.

"Normal people." - she scoffed, shaking her head, and taking another sip of her wine. But all I could see was her chest heaving. Why didn't she wear a bra? - "Then enlighten me, Sean, what is there to talk about?" - she asked challengingly.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe how you spent the majority of last year looking for your mate, and when you found one in me, you bailed!" - I snapped and that infuriating woman just scrunched her nose and watched me as if I was the one crazy here, not her.

"Oh dear Goddess, you're serious, aren't you?" - she asked.

"About wanting to talk? Yes, I'm f*****g very serious." - I confirmed.

Cilia watched me for a second, piercing me with her damn cold eyes, before she put the glass down and crossed her arms, pushing her breasts even higher. Damn it.

"Okay, let's have it your way, then." - she agreed - "So tell me, what do you want to talk about? About you seeing me as nothing but a brainless bimbo, about how you never liked me and thought I was shallow, or about how you've only been pretending to be nice to me and my family, even though you clearly despise us."

My mouth opened in shock. Yes, most of it was true, maybe not in her exact words, but I may have thought about those things at some point. But how did she know about this? I thought I was being cordial, out of respect to my step-father's family. Then how does she know?

The knock spread throughout the room, and I was still speechless.

"You take your time, honey." - she said mockingly - "I'll get the door."

I watched her letting the busboy in, pointing where to put the wheeled table and then tipping him with a gorgeous smile on her face, yet I was still left without words. Then she began to uncover two lids and inspected her order with a satisfied sigh.

"I wasn't expecting you, but I guess we can share if you want some." - she said, not even looking at me. - "I have lobster Mac'n'cheese and a slice of lemon pie."

I arched one brow at her, and she sighed, noticing it.

"Yes, I went for comfort food, sue me." - she grumbled. - "You want some or not?"

I nodded and watched how she busied herself dividing food she ordered, looking rather relieved to have something to occupy herself with. I accepted the plate of pasta and we ate in silence. Both taking our time with chewing and swallowing, because we knew that as soon as the dishes were empty we would have to get to the point. But it didn't take long for it to be done and I still didn't know what to say.

Cilia put down her fork and reached for the wine again and she looked at me. Her eyes didn't betray any emotions. To be honest, she has to be the hardest woman to read. It's almost ironic, that I, the guy who prefers to have as simple a life as possible, would be ripped out of his comfort zone by a woman who doesn't even know what simple means.

"What are you doing here, Sean?" - she finally asked - "It's not like you asked for any of this, and I gave you an easy out. You don't even like me, so why did you come?"

"Why are you making this all about me? It's you who ran without even so much of a talk first. And what gives you the right to talk about what I want and what I like?"

She regarded me with a lop-sided taunting smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm not making anything about you…"

"Oh, my bad, I forgot I don't even have a say in the matter at all." - I cut in sharply.

Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed.

"You don't have the right to that attitude, Sean. I was nothing but nice to you. Always! While you were not. And if anyone tries to act like an adult here, it's me! I removed myself from most of MY family gatherings to not bother you, Your Highness, and to keep everyone else happy. I kept all my thoughts to myself, instead of mocking you behind your back, which you sadly can't say about yourself. And finally, I'm the one not making a fuss here. For me, nothing has to change, but for some reason you chose to chase after me, even though you probably don't know what for."

Her words again took me aback. But at least this time she showed at least some emotions. So I take it as a progress.

"When have I ever mocked you?"

"Ha!" - she barked in hollow laughter - "You'd better ask, when have you not. But just to enlighten you, I heard what you said to my brother after finding out he will inherit everything, basically throwing me at the curbs." - I frowned, having no clue what she was talking about. Maybe I have talked with Igor about it, but I honestly can't remember every conversation I had in the last six years. - "I see you have no idea what I'm talking about, so let me refresh your memory: What would she even talk with other leaders about anyway? Romantic novels and the last fashion show? - that's what you had to say about stealing my birthright."

Okay, if that was true, that wasn't my brightest moment. Especially speaking like that to her brother, who I knew she was at odds with.

"Cilia, I'm sorry if that hurt you. But it was a long time ago and you must admit you weren't exactly a picture of great leadership skills." - I said, but the angry flash in her eyes said it was, once again, a bad choice of words.

"Excuse me?!" - she shrieked.

"Well, what did you expect me to think? You were constantly asking if I liked your clothes. You don't build good alliances on that."

"You're such an asshole." - she shook her head with a scowl.

"Why? Because I don't care about things like that? Because for me it literally doesn't matter whether you're in Gucci or a potato sack?" - I asked.

"Because you choose to judge a book by its cover!" - she snapped.

"Maybe I did it because you never hinted there might be anything behind that cover?"

I cussed internally as soon as those words left my mouth. I don't know what it is about her, but she infuriates me, and brings out the worst in me. Quite a couple we are.

"Get. Out." - she seeth through her teeth.

"No. Not before we talk."

"Get out! Now!" - she shouted.

"Why? Because I wasn't a part of your flock? I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but don't you think that holding a grudge for six f*****g years is a bit extreme, even for you?!"

Her eyes went wide.

"You think it's about hurting my feelings?!" - I shrugged, not knowing if she even expected me to answer - "Then rest assured it's not. I heard more hurtful adjectives thrown my way than you'd ever be able to count. I've been called Ice Princess more times than my actual name. I was surrounded by fake people with ulterior motives every damn day. But you, you were the worst of them. You made me believe you were good and charming. That there are guys out there who are chivalrous enough to stand up for a girl, just to crush that belief with your hurtful words."

Was she for real? She ran away because one time I expressed a not too flattering opinion about her? What is she, five?

"For the Goddess's sake, Cilia, grow up! You can't take everything so personally. Have you never heard Dave talking s**t about one of the girls? That's what we do. And in my defense, I expressed only what I saw. Each conversation we had was mundane and puerile. What was I supposed to think? You put too much effort into your looks. You were only ever nodding and agreeing with me, showing no true character of your own. No interests, no hobbies, no backbone, nothing." - I said, because the moment felt like a good time to put all the cards on the table.

"Mundane and puerile?" - she repeated after me with her chin quivering - "I was trying to make you like me." - she said. - "And did it ever occur to you that I had to look my best, because it was expected of me? That I never had the freedom Ellie or your sister had to be wild or quirky? That each step I took was watched and assessed by the scrutinizing eyes of hundreds. That it's hard to pursue your dreams or hobbies with an army of guards constantly on your ass? Don't pretend to know what it's like to be me. And don't pretend to know who I am, because you have no damn clue because you never really tried to look past the impression you created in your head."

A single tear fell from her eyelids and I think that was the first time I actually saw her. Her mask started slipping and she actually started making sense.

I don't remember exactly what I said six years ago, but I don't see a reason why she would lie about it. And if she's not, her dislike towards me is more or less justified, even if a little exaggerated.

But making her cry was never my intention. I was raised better than that. Both my fathers would be disappointed, and I don't even want to think about what Aunt Chelse would have done with me.

I got up and crossed the two steps separating us, reaching my hand to wipe her tears. But she flinched, and dodged my hand, looking at me like a frightened animal ready to either run or jump for the jugular.

"Can we start over? I'm not the same guy I was six years ago, and I think you've changed as well." - I said, looking into her eyes and she didn't respond, but she at least didn't pull back when my thumb reached for her cheek. - "So tell me who Cilia is today?"

She c****d her head to the side, giving it a little bit of thought.

"A nomad."

"Why would you say that?" - I chuckled.

"I live on my suitcases, the homes I stay at are never mine and I'm still looking for a place to plant the roots."

Hmm, insightful and rather clever. Maybe I was wrong about her after all.

"And who is Sean, if not an Asshole?" - she asked back, making me smirk.

"I never said I wasn't an Asshole." - her lips curled up too. - "But other than that I'm afraid I'm rather boring."

"Really? No hobbies or interests? Nothing at all?" - she sassed bringing up my own words.

"Okay, you definitely didn't have such a sharp tongue six years ago." - I said.

"I did. I just didn't want you to dislike me because of it." - she said, and her eyes suddenly became more insecure.

"Why? Why did you care so much, it's not like my opinion mattered?" - I asked, brushing her cheek even though there were no more tears to get rid of, but there was something undeniably pleasant and satisfying in touching her even in such an innocent manner.

"I'd rather not say."

She said it in the strangest way, looking down and blushing slightly, and her chest waving faster. She was embarrassed, or shy, or both. And then it hit me.

She had a crush on me.

There couldn't be any other explanation for caring so much over what some guy thinks of you and holding a grudge for so long. f**k, I pulled a number on her, not even realizing what kind of jackass I was.

But there was also something primal that almost made me hum in contentment that I caught her eye. Cilia wasn't back then and definitely was not now the kind of woman you walk right past without a second glance. She's simply gorgeous, exquisite even. You don't expect the time of the day from that kind of a woman, not to mention her affection.

And now she is mine, if I don't screw up again. If I just play it right.

"Are you willing to give this a chance?" - I asked and that made her look up and search my eyes.

"Not if you keep calling our bond this." - she said with that wit again that made her that much sexier.

"Fine. Are you willing to give our bond a chance?" - I rephrased.

"Are you? I thought you were too concerned about how it would affect the rest of the family."

"Of course I'm concerned. Telling my step-father that I'm sleeping with his niece doesn't sound like my ideal moment." - I said.

"Sleeping?" - she arched one brow, trying hard to suppress a smirk.

"You know what I mean, woman." - I grumbled.

"Oh, do I?"

"Cilia." - I said with a warning.

"Sean." - she responded with a grin.

I sighed, shaking my head, resting my hands on my hips. How could I ever think she didn't have a character or a backbone? I should be rather worried that she'll give me the run for my money each f*****g day.

"You're not going to make anything easy on me, do you?"

"Hmm" - she c****d her head to the side, pretending she was thinking. - "I wouldn't say anything."

She was having way too much fun with riling me up, and since I was never a fan of playing games, that wasn't about to change now.

I grabbed her hand, snapping her from her playful mood.

"I asked you a question." - Cilia visibly swallowed, losing her smirk - "Are you willing to give it a shot?" - I repeated myself.

"I… I don't know if I should." - she said in such a small voice that it came out almost as a whisper.

"Why not?"

"Because…" - she trailed off, looking away from me.

She was afraid I would hurt her again. s**t.

"Alright, don't answer that now." - she looked up at me in question - "Let's just spend the next three days together and see where we stand after that. Sounds good?" - I suggested, and the clouded look on her face cleared and she even looked relieved.

"Sounds great."