Black Blood: Between Two Alphas

Chapter 7

Instead of buying takeout, we decided to eat dinner outside as Noah had planned. But before that, we had enough time to watch a movie. Noah also accompanied me shopping.

It had been a while since we last went on a proper date, so everything somehow seemed and felt new to me. I got butterflies as we walked hand-in-hand, displaying affection in public. My heart fluttered every time Noah would randomly kiss the side of my head and wrap his arm around my waist to keep me close.

It reminded me of those times when we were still dating while getting to know each other. It was a perfect time to reminisce about those days. It helped me remember why I fell for Noah in the first place — the reason why it became clearer to me why I chose to stay.

I was happy that we got to settle whatever argument we had right away. If not, we wouldn’t be able to spend the day in bliss while keeping each other company.

With a smile still lingering on my lips, I played with Noah’s right hand resting on top of my lap.

“Right…Your birthday’s just around the corner,” Noah suddenly said while driving me home. His hand pressed mine lightly to get all my attention. “Do you have plans already?”

I lifted my gaze at him. “Hmm… I haven’t thought about it yet, but I think Marga’s planning to fly here.”

“Your cousin?” he probed.

I nodded and smiled.

I went home to Anchorage for her birthday last year, so it was naturally her turn to visit me. We had a vague discussion about that the last time we talked. Nothing was finalized yet. I didn’t get any follow-up from her, but I knew there was a higher possibility she would come.

“If she ends up coming here, can I still have you on your special day?” Noah asked, gently caressing my hand.

I playfully narrowed my eyes. “Do you even need to ask?”

Noah chuckled and took my hand to his lips to kiss it. “Sorry. I thought you might want to spend the whole day with your cousin since you haven’t seen each other for almost a year, right?”

“Well, I also can’t get enough of you these past few days….” I pouted my lips as I reasoned out.

He let out a hearty laugh. “Fair enough,” he said. “Can I set a sched for the night of your birthday then?”

“I think we can work on that….” I said, sounding slightly teasing.

Noah shot his brow up. “We can work on that?”

“Kidding!” I quickly leaned forward to press a light kiss on his cheek. “I’m all yours on that night.”

“I guess I should start preparing now, huh?”

My eyes lit up as excitement crept into me. I tried to enumerate all the possible surprises he could think of.

Last year, Noah prepared a sweet, intimate dinner at the apartment. It was the first time someone put effort into my birthday. He decorated the whole place with rose petals and fairy lights. It looked very magical. And being away from home made it extra special.

I appreciated the little things, but I couldn’t help expecting more from him after what happened. I had a feeling that he would step up his game to make up for everything.

“Can I look forward to that?” I asked, even though I was already expecting a lot from him.

Noah smiled meaningfully. “You should.”

My upcoming birthday was all I could think of once I got home. I was very excited until I remembered the inevitable curse that was bound to fall upon me.

Yes. A curse.

I knew it was wrong in all ways to think of the moon’s decision and blessing as a curse, but I couldn’t help it. I valued my freedom so much. I hated the thought of not being able to choose my own mate. I could be fated with a stranger or someone who had the worst personality, but there was nothing I could do.

I just had to accept that. I couldn’t reject it, for it could probably cost my life and put my family in danger.

The elders always said there was no need to worry about our mates. They assured us that we would eventually get along and fall in love. However, knowing that it was also part of the fated thing didn’t make me feel better.

My thoughts were cut short when I heard my phone ring because of an incoming call from Marga.

I was waiting for her call. I texted her five minutes ago to call me once she was free.

A smile flashed across my face, putting the worries aside. “Margs! You called!” I happily answered.

I saw Marga sitting on her bed at the screen while eating strawberries. She rolled her eyes at me. “You told me to call.”

I sheepishly smiled and shifted to a more comfortable position.

“What’s up?” she casually asked and popped another strawberry into her mouth.

“My birthday’s fast approaching.”

“Uhuh, and then?”

“You told me last time you were planning to come here!” I said, because it seemed like she had forgotten about it already.

“Oh, right. I forgot.”

I inhaled a deep breath to calm down. I should be used to her already, but sometimes she can still really get on my nerves.

“So?” I frowned. “Are you still coming?”

Marga stared at me for a few seconds, still munching on her strawberry. It seemed like she was trying to study my reaction. Her silence made me feel frustrated, though.

“Marga!”

My cousin laughed when I exploded. She reached out for her flask to drink before facing me properly. “You’re so funny, Pais. It’s so easy to annoy you.”

“Ha-ha!” I sarcastically laughed. “You have your fun now. Can you answer my question already?”

She nodded and ate another strawberry. “I’ll be there the day before your birthday. I’ll stay for three days.”

“Three days only?”

“I have classes and a part-time job. That’s the best I can do, Pais.”

“I know…” I nodded my head. “I was just hoping you could stay a bit longer.”

Marga’s eyes showed a change of emotions when she silently stared at me through the screen. A seriously worried look cast a shadow on her face.

“Are you still with Noah?” she hesitantly asked.

My eyes widened a bit. “Yes, of course.”

“Then are things going well between the two of you?” she probed. “The last time we talked, you had a problem with him.”

“We’re okay.” I smiled to prove a point. “We had a date earlier. We went out to watch a movie and eat dinner outside.”

“So, he still doesn’t have a mate?”

“Yes.”

Her brows furrowed. “That’s odd.”

“Why odd?”

“Remember Travis?” she asked.

I nodded my head. “Of course, I do.”

Travis is a member of the Crescent River. We trained together when we were younger, along with Marga and the other three members, who were all born in the same year. He had a crush on me once, but my father blocked him immediately. Since then, he has been put in a separate team during training.

“What’s with him?” I followed up.

“He turned twenty-one last week and found his mate the same week,” she said.

“He did? Do I know his mate? Is she from a different pack?”

“No. He’s with Dianne.”

“Dianne?!” My eyes widened in shock as my voice raised an octave higher.

I couldn’t believe the sudden turn of events that goosebumps actually prickled on my skin. I never thought his mate would turn out to be Dianne. Before I left, she was in a relationship with Travis’ best friend.

I could only imagine how complicated things were between the three. It must be very awkward.

Marga let out an evil laugh which caught my attention. “I wonder how she feels, knowing that her mate once had a huge crush on you.”

“Marga….” I shook my head. “You should stop that already. You’re just wasting your time on her.”

“What?” She innocently shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just wondering.”

I was friends with her, but she stabbed me in the back once out of jealousy. I didn’t care, though. But Marga came to hate her because of that. She would always stick her nose into Dianne’s life and find anything she could use to avenge me.

“But back to the topic…” Marga said as she crossed her legs and moved her face closer to the camera. “Are you sure he hasn’t found his mate yet?”

“Yes, that’s what he told me,” I said with a sigh. “I trust him, Margs. And I believe Zero will know if Noah has already found his mate.”

Marga looked suspicious. “Zero, huh? Isn’t that his cousin?” she asked. “How sure are you that he’s not trying to defend Noah, huh? They are cousins, and they are boys! You know them! Bros before hoes!”

I narrowed my eyes as I thought about what she said. I looked back on spending my day with Zero at the exhibit. He was looking out for me all the time.

“Zero isn’t like that. Please, don’t think of him that way,” I defended him to Marga.

I actually didn’t want to say this, but I had a feeling I could trust him more than Noah. Although we were bickering all the time, and he was always abrasive, I knew I could rely on him. Even when I couldn’t tell if we were really friends, I knew he wouldn’t turn his back on me.

Marga got even more doubtful by the way she raised a brow and gave me a calculating gaze. “I thought you hated him? Why are you suddenly defending him?”

I pursed my lips, feeling slightly guilty about that. “I’m just annoyed. I don’t hate him.”

Although I had said so many times in my inner thoughts that I hated him, it wasn’t like I really meant it. I just often used it as an expression every time he would piss me off.

“Okay, okay.” Marga raised both her hands, then glanced at the door when I heard soft knocks. “I won’t pry more into your love-hate relationship with that man. I have to go and eat dinner now. I’ll talk to you some other time, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay. Take care. Tell me once you booked your tickets.”

“Sure thing.”

With that, Marga finally ended the call.

I sat straight on the sofa, and then my eyes naturally drifted to the paper bags on top of the kitchen counter. My eyes widened when I remembered the sushi and chopsticks. I wasn’t able to put it inside the fridge before we left to go to the mall.

Leaving my phone on the couch, I hurriedly went to the counter and pulled the sushi takeout from the bag. I also got the chopsticks and decided to send a picture to Zero, so I returned to the couch and grabbed my phone. As I opened the camera, I sat on the stool and carefully picked up the chopsticks, then slid my thumb and pointer finger through the holes.

After taking a quick picture, I opened the gallery to send the image when I saw Zero’s photo at the exhibit. I tilted my head, put the chopsticks down to view his picture, and set my chin on my hand.

“He’s really good-looking….” I unconsciously whispered.

I was lost blankly staring at the photo until it suddenly clicked that his birthday was also coming close. I already had that thought at the back of my mind, but it was suddenly pushed forward after discussing my birthday with Noah and Marga.

Hmm… What can I get him?