Chapter 13
1739 Words
Lina's POV
"But he was the one who threw flowers at you on your first win at age of fourteen"
I look at Donovan. He only looks at me. Those eyes speaking words that I don't understand.
Then he nods slowly. It is exactly then that I personally experience one of his ability. The ability of projection. He threw images into my mind through my matebond and I see him dressed in all black and black.
My legs stumble and he is quick enough to hold me.
"Excuse us" he whispers and lifts me up in his arms.
I go pink all over again. That is something I really cannot help! It is the way he has his effect on me.
"Awww"
"Oooh"
"Yuckkkk"
I hear mixed responses from my own family that I hide my face in Donovan's shirt. His shirt smells like him and that is somehow calming me to an extent I cannot describe.
I see he brought me to my room and laid me on my bed.
"You okay?" He asks me and I nod.
"It was.. it was something I never experienced.. so ...." I trail and he nods in understanding.
"You did not tell me there would be such crowd at your home today" he whispers softly.
"Well, you neither asked nor told me you'd be here today" I shrug as if it's not a big deal.
I sit up on my bed and hold his hand. He looks at me and raises his eyebrows. And I pull him towards me making him fall on the bed. He sits before me and looks straight into my eyes.
"What?" He asks
"You just looked cute" I whisper and he rolls his eyes with a smile.
"Gerald told me that snow was the reason behind you being so grumpy yesterday" Donovan says.
I roll my eyes. The next time I meet Gerald, he is finished for good!
"Why would I be jealous of snow?" I ask him rolling my eyes too.
"Ah! So it was jealous I see!!" He smirks stressing the word jealous.
I mentally slap my own forehead. He just said Snow was reason but I myself revealed that I was jealous. Way to go Lina!
"Who told you it was jealousy?" I awkwardly laugh.
"Well, you just did" he says and laughs.
He holds my hand and pulls me towards him. His face just inches away from mine. His black eyes asking me to get lost in them. His playful smirk still etched on his face.
"Why do I feel like I am falling for you?" Donovan asks me.
I smirk, "maybe it's already late Mr. Donovan"
He smiles.
"Or can I rephrase it?" I ask and he nods with wider smile.
Oh boy you are just going to regret that!
"You are too old already" I smirk and lean away from him just in case.
"What did you just-" he asks me with a surprised expression and once he gets the point he playfully glares at me.
I forgot that my hand is still in his and his grip on my wrist tightens.
"Ahhh! Grandpa!" I scream that only made his grip threateningly tightened.
"I would prefer being called daddy" he whispers and my eyes go wide.
I look at him more like stare at him with a surprised face. He doesn't react but shrugs as if he doesn't know what he just said. But I am still in awe.
"2 days, Donovan!!" I almost shout.
He nods and shrugs again.
"2 days and you are already turning into a ... a.." I fumble unable to find the correct word.
"Yeah. Yeah. Whatever.! Gerald and I traveled to human lands and watched you know... Some movies and all... Now I know how it works" he says.
This has to be one of a biggest joke!!! Two men who are existing since centuries are now learning how mating or such process works through humans! Tell me this is a joke.
But I cannot help the warmth! He is trying in different ways.
"Thanks for your efforts!!" I whisper.
A knock on the door breaks our conversation and I yell for them to come in. I see Riley walks in and she smiles looking at us.
"I am leaving" she says.
And my mind goes blank. I know she has to leave in order to spend the rest of her life with her mate who is also an Alpha. But it slipped my mind. My best friend. She is going to a place that is far away.
Suddenly, my brain fails to register anything else.
"Do you really have to?" I question.
"What? You stupid now??" She chuckles but walks towards me with a smile.
She hugs me and I hug her back tight.
"You should understand, Lina. I really have to leave. My mate is an Alpha. Moreover I need to mate to keep the race running. He cannot leave his pack. I don't have anything to do here" she whispers.
I nod.
"But I cannot meet you easily. The pack is far away" I whisper with tears already pricking my eyes.
"I promise. I send her to you often" I hear Alpha Jabari's voice.
He stands with a smile at my door and I smile back. I at least have minimum courtesy still left in my body I guess. Or is it just me being the Alpha greeting another Alpha?
But deep down, I know it'll not be the same. I cannot just go to her whenever my mind doesn't feel right. I cannot have spa days with her anymore. I cannot tease Adi by teaming up with her anymore.
"I'll miss you" I whisper with my voice starting to crack.
She hugs me tighter and I feel her tears on my shoulder. That is all enough to make me cry and we both are sobbing before we even realise.
We just don't care if we are before our mates and they might witness something awkward, but we least care about it.
"I'll miss you more" I whisper as I pull away.
I cannot stop what has to happen. I can only hope she takes care of herself and that I get to meet her every now and then.
"Promise me that we'll stay in touch" I whisper.
And she nods teary eyed. I cannot help the flow of tears as I hug her again. Aside from Adi, Maa and Papa ... it is Riley to me. I don't know if I can be the same but I know a huge part of me would miss her.
"When are you leaving?" I ask her.
"Now?" She asks in return.
She nods.
"He is an Alpha, Lina. Like you. Do you think you'll stay away from your pack longer?" She asks.
I shake my head. She just shrugs leaving it to myself then. I nod at her with half mind. I walk downstairs and every one hae a gloomy expression on their faces. I look at Caleb and he is just standing without showing any emotion.
But deep down, I know he is the one who is more effected by all of this. Riley is his twin sister. They grew up together. They spent every day of their lives together. And now, the space will occupy their bond. The distance might have its own effect.
"Cal?" Riley calls her brother.
Cal refuses to look at his sister. And that is when I know, he is struggling to stand straight. My heart aches for him. I know we are just getting closer but I still feel bad for him.
"Cal!!!" Riley sighs as she walks to her brother now.
She hugs him and Caleb takes a moment to hug her back. I see Uncle Carl and Aunt Leah smiling at their children. A sad smile at that.
"That's okay. You are the King. You are always welcomed to the pack" Riley says in between sniffs.
"No" Caleb says as he shakes his head.
"I don't want to visit your pack as your King but your brother. I shall only come to see you" he says and my heart swells at his words.
I look at Adi in corner and his eyes on me. His stare is sad too. I don't understand why. But I let it slide for now.
Few minutes later, we walk outside and Riley sits in her mercedes car. It is said that they shall travel by Caleb's helicopter that is waiting at his pack. Because Africa is surely far from here.
Maa, Papa, Adi and I wave at Riley as she left the pack house. Only this time, even she doesn't know when she would return. I cannot help the sadness that I start crying again.
The familiar warmth of him engulfs me and that somehow calms me down mostly. But not entirely. The space that Riley left is still there. I only hope Jabari treats her well because she very much deserves to be treated such.
I walk in and look at everyone. They still has the gloomy expression on their faces. Donovan sits on the couch and pulls me towards him. I sit beside him and he throws his arm around me again. Why is he behaving this way all of a sudden?
"You can reject me if you want to" he says.
My head whips up to him and his eyes are on me watching my every move intently.
"What?" I ask him.
"You've heard it right, Lina. You can reject me if you want to" he says again.
"I did not say I haven't heard you, I asked you what do you mean by that!" I say.
"You are an Alpha" he says.
I nod.
"I am a warlock" he says.
I nod.
"We live in different worlds" he says again.
I nod. Only this time, the reason behind his words clearly hitting me. But I just don't want to say it. Not yet.
"Do you think I would be okay and happy if you leave your pack just to stay with me?" He asks.
My heart sinks. Being the first female Alpha. It is our goal. Ultimate destination. Nora and I worked a lot for this. I cannot even imagine my dream slipping away from my hands.
"You can reject me" Donovan says again.
"If that is what makes you happy" he adds again.
- Writer
