ABL 07: Gone

“This is your place?” Malakhi asked as he looked around my small apartment. “It’s tiny,” he grimaced, and I threw a pillow at him.

“Not all of us are friends with royalty,” I said, and Malakhi laughed. “Now help me pack,” I stood on my toes, trying to reach for my bag, but of course, with his help, I was easily handed my bag. 

He was handy.

“Do you promise to show me around once we’re done?” He asked with a puppy dog look, and I rolled my eyes, pushing him away from me. 

Nyleve was right, this man was a sucker for Earth.

“Only if you help me, which you are not doing,” I took out my clothes from the closet, and he chuckled as he helped me pack up some stuff. 

Malakhi was a pretty funny person, or wolf, should I say. After he found me crying outside, which was very dramatic, he took me to the Pack House, where Nyleve lived. She was kind enough to give me her hoodie and pants.

While we sat together, they made me feel better after the whole shit show with Miall and his girlfriend, whose name I now knew as Willow. Was I being dramatic in the first place? Sure.

It was only because I had no clue of what was going on between them, and I hadn’t been told it was not as if any woman in their right mind would let a guy that impregnated them kiss someone else right in front of them. 

I was feeling a bit jealous, but what was I expecting? To be accepted as soon as he found out I was pregnant and hopefully get a happy ever after? Wishful thinking.

I was just grateful that Nyleve and Malakhi didn’t talk about them until they came in, which ruined the whole mood and conversation. Willow definitely tried to single me out of the group, but Nyleve came to the rescue. 

Should I be angry at Willow or the man who allowed her to act that way? Definitely the man, but gosh, she pissed me off!

I’ve never had a mother, so I will gladly admit I love Nyleve's attention. At first, I was very sceptical, but the more I sat with her, the more I just fell in love with who she was. It hadn’t even been more than a day, and I was so jealous that Miall was blessed to have her as his mother. 

“Alright, what else should we get?” Malakhi asked as he put his hands on his waist, and I looked around my room. 

“We can go get snacks and then see Frank,” I suggested, and Malakhi nodded.

First of all, what man in Nioz wasn’t attractive? Even the few men who came to the house were incredibly good-looking. His purple eyes suited him, and I was very proud to say I had found a brown-skinned man here. I had so many questions to ask him, just to see if politics exist everywhere in the same manner. 

“Finally! We should also go to the arcade, it’s always fun there and I—”

“Slow down, Akhi. We’re only going for snacks, and I have to put on my leave with Frank,” I said, and he groaned. 

“I already told you to call me Mal, Akhi? Seriously?”

“Honestly, it's cuter than Mal,” I smiled as we walked down the street to the convenience store. 

“Yeah, sure, whatever. So, how are the women in your neighbourhood?” He asked while rubbing his hands together, and I cocked my head to the side. “Not that that’s why I came here; I came here for you,” he said slowly, and I raised my eyebrow, nodding. 

“Hmmhmm,” I grabbed a basket, and we walked around the store as I picked what I thought I would need. The food in Nioz was weird, and most of it was unidentifiable to me, and I was afraid that I was going to die of hunger.

Nyleve wouldn't let that happen.

“But you know, just for interest sake, how are they?” He asked with a hopeful smile, and I broke despite trying to keep a strong front. 

He was so cute!

“They’re not as big as yours are,” I tried to find the wording without sounding prejudiced. “There are a few big women, muscular, thick, tall and all, but we can definitely see the difference in the two species,” I said as I opened the freezer. 

“A huge difference I can see,” Malakhi muttered, and I saw him staring at some woman's ass, following her with his eyes. I slapped the back of his head, and he turned to look at me, unaffected by my slap. ”Ow?”

“You’re an idiot,” I said as I walked towards the till to pay for my stuff. “Do you want candy?” I asked as I showed him the sour candies, and he grimaced, shaking his head. 

“Not good for my teeth, neither is it for you," he pointed to his canines that extended out before he pointed to my belly. "That pup growing in you needs meat, not candies,” the cashier looked shocked. I chuckled nervously and pointed to my teeth. 

“He did that at the dentist,” I smiled. “And I’m pregnant,” Why did I say that? 

“Congratulations to the both of you,” she handed me my plastics, and I shook my head. 

“To me, I’m pregnant. It’s not his child. It's like his friend, who is also his boss, but like he doesn't want me. Don't think I'm like with him now—” I over-explained, and she widened her eyes as she nodded slowly. "I said too much," I laughed nervously and blew a long breath.

“Why do you say it like that?” Malakhi asked, and I pinched his side, and he laughed. “That actually tickles,” he laughed as he ran away from me. 

“What do you think you’re doing extending your teeth out in human public?” I asked as I handed him one plastic, and his mouth opened in a small "o". 

“Oh,” he whispered. “This is what Mother was talking about when she said I get excited,” he laughed nervously. “Sorry.”

"Why do you call her mother?"

"Because she's the pack's mother, and she's been in my life since I was a kid; she's my mother."

"Are you also an orphan?" I spoke softly, and he chuckled as he scratched his head.

"Yeah, but in the pack, we practice the whole thing. It takes a village to raise a child parenting," he waved his hands. "But it always makes the girls fall in love with me."

“Oh God,” I whispered and shook my head. “Come on, let's go to Franks. It’s not far from here,” I said as I led the way. 

“We could just use the portal to get there,” he offered.

“Akhi!” I scolded, and he laughed, catching up to me in two long strides. 

“I was just playing Ama,” he said, making sure he emphasised the vowels. 

“It’s Manah,” I said, and he threw his arm over my shoulder. 

“Now, why would I call you that? Ama is so much cuter!” he teased, and I laughed. We made it to the bar after he gave us such a hard time on the streets, either doing something embarrassing or randomly picking me up with one hand to show off his strength.

He laughed at a child who fell off his bike and called him weak. I kind of figured Malakhi was somewhat of a bully, but then again, we were from different worlds.

“Hi, Frank,” I greeted as I walked into the bar, and Frank rushed toward me to hug me. 

“Where have you been, Amanah!” He held my shoulders and shook me; he held my face and turned me around. “Where the hell have you been!?”

“Woah, did you miss me that much? I’ve only been gone for a day,” I said as I put my plastic on the counter. “By the way, this is Malakhi; Malakhi, this is my boss, Frank,” I introduced them. 

“Hi, Malakhi,” he waved before turning his head back at me. “Amanah, you’ve been gone for three days! It's Wednesday today!”