Chapter Five

It has been a couple days since Declan asked me to give him a chance, but his words have not stopped replaying in my mind. I have been trying to wrap my brain around this new world I have been introduced to, but it all seems so fast.

But he is your mate, a voice says in my head as if I made the thought myself.

"Great, now I'm hearing voices in my head. I really must be going crazy." I mumble.

I do really want to give him a chance, maybe something good can come from it. He acts gruff on the outside, but there is so much there that no one gets to see other then me. Maybe we are the perfect fit. I push the thoughts aside, as my stomach began to grumble.

"Hey you! Are you coming to breakfast or what?" Declan says through my closed door.

"I'll be there in a minute! And my name is not "you"!" I yell back, more sarcastically than I wanted.

He drives me crazy, and makes me forget my manners, but I could really see myself giving him a chance. I feel the pull towards him growing more and more, so maybe this whole concept is true.

"If you don't hurry up, I'm going to start calling you "Late" instead," he says through the door.

"Maybe you could keep calling me kitten, or princess or something? Maybe then I'll think you aren't a total jerk." I say as I throw open the door. He is standing on the other side as close as possible. My pulse instantly jumped, and my heart started to beat erratically at the closeness of him. I could feel the heat radiating off him, as his scent wafted through the air.

"About time, little lady. C'mon. I have an errand to run after breakfast." he said, lifting me up bridal style.

"Why do you insist on carrying me everywhere?"

"It's something you complain about the least," He says, smiling down at me in his arms.

I roll my eyes, but secretly love being carried by him. His strong arms wrap around me, making me feel safe and the tingles I feel when he touches me is intoxicating.

"Where are you going?" I ask shyly.

"Out," He says gruffly, holding me tighter. "Why? are you writing a book?"

"Yes, in fact!" I say, sarcastically. "It's called, where is Alpha Declan going?"

I snicker at my own joke, and I notice that Declan is trying to hide a grin that was threatening to form on his face.

"You're kind of funny, Late."

"Yeah, and you're a joke a minute," I retort.

He lets out a little laugh, making me feel accomplished that I could make him laugh.

"So, where are you going?" I ask again.

"I'm going to the store, to pick up supplies," he answers, blankly.

"Bring me with you! I'm going stir-crazy in this house." I say, making a stupid face at him.

"I am bringing you to the kitchen, kitten. I'm walking you there now, silly girl," he says giving me a wink.

"No! Not to the kitchen. To the store! Bring me to the store!" I correct him.

Declan just grunts and sets me down in the stool. Someone I have never met is in the kitchen, downing a bowl of cereal and raises his eyebrows when he sees me in Declan’s arms.

"So, you're the human, I've heard so much about?" the unknown person says to me.

"Uh huh, that's me. Riley."

"I'm Levi, Declan’s best friend and his Beta. What’s up?" he says as he waves his spoon at me, flinging milk on the counter.

"I'm trying to convince Declan to bring me with him to the store," I tell Levi, trying to get him to help me.

"You got it, Riley. I'll invoke my best friend/beta-powers to convince him." He says with a laugh.

"Hey Dec.."

"No."

"Well, I tried." he says as he slurps up the last bit of milk in his bowl.

"Come on, Declan. Please?" I say, giving him my best pouty face.

"I said no." Declan growled, getting irritated.

"You didn't say no, you just grunted at me like some caveman," I said back, pouting.

"Oh, come on Dec, let's take her with us. It'll be fun!" Levi says, putting his bowl in the sink.

"Going to the store, isn't fun." Alpha Declan says, pinching the bridge between his nose now dealing with two people.

"It could be, if you brought me with you!" I exclaimed, walking over to Declan batting my eyelashes at him.

Lauralie entered the kitchen and instantly noticed me cuddling up to Declan’s chest and raises her eyebrows at us.

"Are you going to the store? I have a list!" she asks, pretending to ignore how close I am to Declan.

"Lauralie, please tell Declan to bring me with him. I have been cooped up here all week. I'm bored." I said, trying to convince her too.

" Oh, come on, Dec. No one will see her. It's not a big deal."

"Fine, just everyone stop talking." Declan says as he goes to start breakfast. "Now, do you want your eggs over easy or scrambled?

"Scrambled please." I said, getting back into my stool. "You know, the way you always do them."

After a few moments, Declan slides the scrambled eggs over, piled high with cheese and chives.

He gives me a teasing smile, and my breathe hitches in my throat.

"There is one thing I will never joke about," I start. "And that is how good your cooking is."

I throw my best smile at him, and a little blush forms on his cheek.

"I'm glad someone appreciates my cooking around here," he smiles back.

Lauralie hands the list over to Levi and gives me a wink. "Make sure you protect Riley, being unmarked and all."

"What does that mean?" I ask the three of them through my bites of breakfast.

"When you find your mate, you're supposed to bite them leaving your mark on them. Every couples mark is unique to them," Levi starts.

My cheeks flush at the thought of Declan "marking" me.

"Um, what?" I ask, "Doesn't that seem a little crazy?"

"No, it's how you now when someone has found their mate. It's very romantic actually,"

Lauralie says, pulling the collar down of her shirt. I notice her mark is silver, with what looks like a crescent moon with a star.

"Does it hurt?" I ask, still staring at her silver mark seeing the colors swirl inside it.

"Only for a second, but then it comes with the best feeling after," She continues.

I look over to Declan, but his back is turned to the sink obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me.

"So, who's ready to go to the store?" Levi asks, changing the subject.

We clean up our plates and make our way out the door.

Despite the manor being nestled in the woods, it was surprisingly close to the town. It takes only a few minutes for us to make the drive and we pull into the parking lot a lot sooner then I expected.

"I thought the town was a lot further then that." I said, hopping out of the backseat.

"Shouldn't she stay in the car?" Levi asks, squinting at me.

"No, she stays with me." Declan says, grabbing my hand. My cheeks turn a bright shade of crimson as he touches me. "No wandering off."

Once we enter the store, it looks almost deserted other then the cashier reading a magazine behind the counter. Declan starts putting things in the shopping cart, crossing them off of the list. Shopping with him was surprisingly fun.

"Favorite cereal?" I ask.

"Guess." He says.

"What do I get, if I guess right?"

"Guess and find out."

"Hmmm... Lucky charms. Because you're magically delicious?" I giggle to myself.

"What?" He says, with a confused look on his face.

"Er... I meant you like lucky charms because they are magically delicious." I said, trying to save myself from embarrassment.

"Are you saying you want to taste me, doll?" He asks, as a smile formed on his lips.

"God, he's so gorgeous," the voice in my head says.

I let out a squeak that was not really an answer.

"I'm just teasing little mate. You got it right though. It is lucky charms. What's yours?"

"Dec!" Levi runs up, looking panicked.

"What's wrong?" he turns to him. He tenses immediately seeing his best friends’ expression.

"We need to get Riley out of here. I just saw Harlan and -"

Before I could respond, a familiar face comes up and slides her snaky arm around Declan’s waist.

"Declan, baby, why haven't you called?" Maxine says pouting. " I miss spending time together."

Declan grabs her wrist and removes her arm from his waist.

"It's Alpha Declan to you, Maxine. I've also told you that we will no longer be seeing each other."

I could not help but seethe at her words from jealousy, but I kept quiet knowing that I shouldn't try and draw attention to myself.

"Because of her?" She spat, pointing her claw at me, "I see your class of girl has dropped considerably."

"That's enough, Maxine. You will not speak to your Luna that way." His voice booms throughout the grocery store.

"Oh, the Luna, eh? Or are you just protecting your little pet?" She hissed. "That's so cute, always keeping a toy around. Where is her leash? She looks like she needs one."

I start to laugh, and her gaze switches from Declan to me.

"Oh honey, I've been called worse by far better. Are you even trying?" I say, still laughing.

"Declan, your exes are so amusing. I'm really glad you brought her out to give me a good laugh."

A surprise laugh left Declan’s lips, and I couldn't help but grin up at him.

"Did you just insult me, you-" She raised her hand to slap me, but her wrist was caught mid-air by someone.

"Who is this delectable person you're with Dec?" the unknown guy says as he lowers Maxine's wrist.

"My mate. What are you doing here, Harlan?" Declan says through gritted teeth, pulling my waist in tighter towards him.

"You're mate? So, the rumors are true." He says, shocked. " What a pretty little thing, isn't she?"

"Move along, Harlan."

"I think we both know that isn't going to happen," Harlan says.

"Riley, I need you to turn around, and start walking. Get her to the car Levi."

Without another word, I turn on my heels and run down the aisle towards the car with Levi hot on my trail. Once in the car, I turn to Levi.

"What the hell is going on, Levi?" I ask, trying not to sound scared.

"Harlan was in our pack once, but he left and went rogue. He isn't exactly the best guy in the world." Levi says. "Now that he knows you're the Alphas mate, you aren't safe."

A bloody fist slams into the car, and I let out a scream in fear.

"Declan! You're hurt!" What happened to your arm?"

Declan climbed into the passenger seat, and Levi started to drive. I could see that his shirt sleeve was torn, and the blood was running down his arm.

"What the hell happened in there Declan?", I yell, trying to get answers.

"We need to get Riley home, NOW."