HOUSEMATES

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ANNALISE

I groaned as my eyelids slowly opened, I found myself in a large room with blanket draped over me. I sat up and squeezed my eyes for a minute to supress my headache. After that two minute activity, I got out of bed in search of Ace who could be anywhere. Walking down the stairs, I came to a realization that I am now living with Ace and I've been inevitable involved in whatever goes on in his life. Living together with Ace couldn't be that bad, right? Down the stairs, I began following my instincts, driving myself through the house till I came to the front of a huge door, not knowing what lies behind was scary but I needed to find Ace. I pushed the door open a bit and a ray or light, someone was inside. "Ace" I called into the room, walking in slowly and shutting the door behind me. I looked round as I am currently surrounded with books of different sizes and I was intrigued but I am not sure if Ace would want me snooping around his books. Was I in his library, study or his office? I was so lost in my thoughts, I bumped into a wall. I rubbed my palm against my forehead as I felt arms around me, did walls have arms? I snapped my eyes open and my gaze collided with Ace's. "You're awake" Ace declared as he walked me to a couch and helped me sit. "Well, yeah. I woke up just now and since its late thought I could make us dinner" I said trying not to stammer. Ace was towering above me and he emitted an addictive smell and aura, I wanted to bury my face in his neck. I saw Ace smirk, did I perhaps say that aloud? Ace laughed and went to sit behind the table, "You did not say that aloud honey but yes I wouldn't decline your offer to make dinner. Are you ready?" I need to understand the part where he heard my thoughts which is creepy but convenient since I don't have to tell him everything, he would just hear it. Once again Ace laughed "I can not hear all your thoughts, so if you need something ask" I pouted and just ignored him this time around. I got to my feet and walked to the door "Are you going to show me the way or not?" Ace shut his laptop, sorted the papers before him and together we went to the kitchen or rather, I followed him to find the kitchen.

I entered the kitchen and immediately headed to his refrigerator to check the ingredients he had. After scanning for three minutes, I popped out my head and looked at Ace who was leaning on the counter. " I'm making feijoada which takes about an hour to make if that's fine with you" I said already setting the place. Ace shrugged his shoulders and smiled "Do you need any help?" Ace didn't look like the type to cook or offer help so I declined his offer, he walked to the living room and started watching a movie which didn't quite match his personality but who cares. I start making the stew of beans with pork and beef as fast as I could. My mother and her family loved cooking so as a child I grew up learning how to make various foods for different countries and now that I found myself in Brazil, feijoada is by far the easiest dish so why not. 

I would occasionally hear Ace speak over the phone and I later realised he was talking to Daniel. Whenever Ace isn't on the phone he would randomly stroll into the kitchen to check up on me. I found it cute and nice so I wasn't complaining. When the food was finally ready, Ace helped set the table. "Water or wine?" I asked him. Ace looked at me from the dining table and muttered "I don't drink" Well that was the nicest way of saying water, I said in my head and I grabbed two bottles of water and headed to the table. I served our plates, said my prayers and dug right into the food. I saw Ace's eyes widen and immediately my mind started racing, was it that bad? did I use too much of an ingredient? does he hate it? My palms started getting sweaty and my heart beat raced as I watched Ace in silence.

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ACE

After Annalise dished the food on my plate, I saw her do a little cross thing guess someone is religious. I watched as she went straight for the food, she must have been really hungry, I thought to myself. I took a spoonful of the food and paused, my tastebudd were having a feast, my wolf was dancing crazy in my head this food tasted heavenly and all I want to do right now is throw the whole plate in my mouth and ask for more but that would definitely scare Annalise away. Annalise. I like the name, sounds very naïve and pure. I heard Annalise thoughts about why I paused then my wolf got mad. "How dare you make mate doubt herself, she's having a panic attack. Do something Ace!!" My wolf yelled at me. Suddenly, I snapped out of it and grabbed her hand from across the table. "Annalise" I said snapping her out of her pool of self doubt. Her eyes snapped up to my face as a look of apprehension crossed her features. "Is it that bad Ace? I am so sorry if you don't like it, I could make another disb right now." Annalise begged. My heart broke looking at her, seems like she has a problem with her self confidence, we would work on that. I placed a finger over her lips to keep her silent "Annalise, the food is great, the best I've eaten in centuries even. I love it, my moment of silence was in awe to this delicious meal. Don't beat yourself over nothing" I said hoping that calmed her down and by the look of relief that went through her features looks like she was calm. She smiled shyly "I don't know, I just thought you didn't like the food" She said in a tiny voice. I smiled at her, "I love the food" and with that we both went back into devouring our meals.

After dinner, I did the dishes while Annalise cleaned the table. After that we both headed to the living room. Annalise was sitting right across from me and I needed all the strength in the world to contain my wolf from claiming her. I thought of telling her about my kind, but that would be too overwhelming so I just settled for an half truth. I cleared my throat to catch her attention,since I've noticed Annalise gets interested in little things in my house like my fireplace. "Since we would be living together henceforth I think we should establish certain grounds" Annalise looked at me and bobbed her head in agreement. "Well aside the kitchen, living room and our room and my study, every other room is accessible to use since they're either empty or locked. You make the food, I'll do the dishes. Don't worry about cleaning, I have helpers that come in every morning and evening to clean up the place. Any other thing?" Annalise looked around for a second before speaking up "Ace, the castle is pretty large and I could always get lost" I smiled at her innocence "The hallways are interconnected and every floor has the same layout, our room is on the fifth floor, the third room to your left so if you find yourself lost, just follow the stairway and you'll be fine" I explained hoping she understood. She looked at me before saying she understood. Annalise watched a movie on N*****x while I sat there having a meeting with Daniel and my Gamma through mindlink. The meeting lasted thirty minutes then I zoned back to reality to see Annalise already asleep on the couch. I turned off the television and carried her bridal style to our room. Since she was already in a baggy hoddie and socks which seemed pretty warm, I let her sleep like that. After placing her on the bed, I went for a quick shower, slipped on my joggers and lay beside Annalise on the bed. I let my mind analyse the things going on right now, although Annalise was human, I could train her to be strong. That shouldn't be an issue so I am allowed to fall for her, her human nature shouldn't hinder our mate bond but as she lay asleep beside me, totally harmless I could sense another aura aside her humanity. My brain was too tired to bother about it so I pushed it behind me and went to sleep. I didn't fall asleep immediately, I just couldn't fall asleep maybe because my mind was so used to being this alert but I need this sleep, I have a meeting with another pack tomorrow so I can't afford to be tired but at the same time, I just couldn't force myself to sleep. Suddenly, Annalise turned around, shivered a little in her sleep and tucked her self into my arms. Her head nested in my neck as her slow breath tickled my jaw, her hair was the usual mass of flame around my face and chest, she threw one leg over mine and snuggled closer. It took me a minute to realise that Annalise was cuddling with me and my wolf couldn't have been happier. I pulled her closer and sniffed her hair, smiling at how nice she smelt and felt. I felt my fangs beginning to elongate but I forced them back in refusing to mark Annalise in her sleep but aside being a werewolf, I am an Alpha male so being this close to my mate did a lot of things to my hormones. Just as I felt myself drifting to sleep, I kept in mind that my joggers are now at least a size to small and there is nothing I could do about that so I fell asleep, holding my mate inhumanly possible close to me.

The next morning, I woke up with my face dangerously close to Annalise but since she's still asleep, I steal myself a small kiss. I got up and went for a run in my wolf form on the castle grounds not wanting to go far away from Annalise. After the run, Annalise was already awake and in the kitchen making breakfast. "Good morning Ace, breakfast is almost ready go freshen up quick or you'll be late" Annalise smiled from the kitchen. Unable to resist watching her cool, I leaned on the kitchen counter and smiled at her "How'd you sleep?" I asked watching her move smoothly in the kitchen "Fine thank you Ace" She smiled at me briefly before returning to the food. "What are you making?" I asked walking to the room. "I'm making egg benedict if that's fine by you" She replied. "I want a juice with it. You pick the fruit " I called back and walked up the stairs. I took a shower, slipped in my black tux threw my tie over my neck since the meeting was sort of formal. I enjoyed the aroma as I walked into the dining where Annalise was setting the table "I made banana juice if that's fine by you?" I smiled at her and took a seat. Once again, Annalise wowed me with her cooking skills. After the food, I explained that she didn't have to the dishes since the helpers will arrive soon. Just as I was about leaving Annalise pulled me back by my upper arm "You didn't fix your tie" She said in a low voice and proceeded to help me with my tie. I could really get used to this, living like a married couple. 

I gave her Brianna's phone number and told her to call her if anything ever happened. "I'll be back before dinner so make me something delicious" I said with a wink. Annalise blushed under my gaze and nodded in agreement. I gave her a goodbye peck and headed out already missing the presence of Annalise by my side already. Was this how the mate thing worked because I feel its making me weaker which is not something I'm familiar with. 

After spending seven long hours, Alpha Grayson stood up to give me a sign of respect "Thank you so much for your support Alpha Ace". Although Grayson was respectful and kind, his issues with rogues have been so frequent of late but that's his issue "You're welcome Alpha Grayson, but please enforce more strategies against the rogues to ensure the safety of your pack." I said and walked away with Daniel on my tail. Halfway down the hall Daniel placed an arm on my shoulder to stop me "Calm down Ace, where are you rushing to?" I looked at him like he grew another head "I am going home, to Annalise. She's home alone plus she might be scared since the castle is very large" I said explaining with my hands. Daniel smirked at me like some sick bastard "I see that you've become very attached to Annalise now but look outside Ace, its super late" I glanced out side and by the look of how dark it was, it was definitely past six in the evening but Annalise--- 

My thoughts was cut short by Daniel "If you're that concerned about her, I will mindlink Brianna to spend the night with her if that's fine by you" All I wanted to do was to see Annalise but a very reasonable Daniel had a point.

Grayson offered us a room in his mansion. Not only do I have to spend the night without Annalise, I am unfortunately sharing a room with Daniel. "You could at least look happy" Daniel said rolling his eyes at me. "Why should I look happy?" I replied. Daniel stood up from the bed and walked to the front of the mirror "Well maybe because you're sharing a room with awesome, wonderful me". "Seriously? Daniel, you're a beta and you're this unserious?" I laughed. Daniel joined me in laughing and walked over to me " You know, if you miss her that much, just call Brianna to put her on the phone plus I wonder when the big bad Alpha became so whipped" Daniel said laughing. I glared at Daniel "Shut up".

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ANNALISE

I waited patiently for Ace. Throughout the day, I did random things like cleaning our room, counting the amount of rooms in the castle which I gave up on and headed to the kitchen. I made myself smoothie and watched N*****x. I considered calling Ace but then I did not have his phone number so I was stuck at the top of a mountain alone in god knows where. I also realised that I Ace had beautiful paintings around the house I looked around, it was like a museum. So I looked around for another thirty minutes till I started feeling weird, my chest was burning and I felt dizzy. Deciding I had walked around a lot, I took a short nap in the living room and when I woke up, guess whoI found. No its not Ace much too my disappointment, it was Brianna but a company anyways so I was still glad. I made dinner for both Brianna and myself before heading to watch N*****x together.

"Annalise?" Brianna called out. I tore my eyes away from the television and looked at her with a questioning look. Brianna played with her fingers for a while before finally speaking up. "I know that you feel sad because Ace isn't here. My Daniel isn't also here and my wolf feels very empty" 

Aside from admitting the fact that she misses Daniel, I also took notice of something "You wolf?" I asked Brianna. She laughed awkwardly before smiling " I call my subconsciousness my wolf" Brianna said and flew out of the chair. "Well that's weird" I laughed at faced the television. Brianna headed up for a shower since herself and Daniel has a room in this castle with a bunch of their stuffs here and other things. I let the images on the television screen fade one after the other with my mind lost in the thoughts of Ace. I thoughts of calling him but then I do not have his phone number so I kept staring at the screen.

"Annalise, Ace is on the line" Brianna said handing the phone over. I need a panic attack internally before speaking "Ace" I said into the phone. I heard him release a sigh of relief "Sunshine, how are you doing?" I smiled at the nickname before answering that I was good since Brianna was with me. "Why aren't you home?" I asked, wanting to confirm he was safe. "The meeting lasted seven hours and it was dark by the time we prepared to leave and its a four hour journey so I would have---" Ace explained but I cut him off "I understand. Ace?" I heard shuffling on the other side and Daniel cursing at Ace before Ace answered "Yeah" My ming went blank for a second because I really had nothing to say so I shuttered into the phone. I heard some more shuffling then Daniel was on the line "Annalise, Ace will call your phone right now so can you give the phone back to Brianna". I laughed awkwardly before apologizing and handing Brianna the phone who wastes no time in talking and walking off to her room. I got up, turned off the television took a glass of water before jogging back to my room. I took a quick shower and changed into my red lace night gown which was comfortable and pretty. Just as I was about settling in bed, I got a call "Where have you been?" Ace growled into the phone. I took a minute to snuggle under the covers before answering "I was in the shower Ace, I was taking a shower and you called me thirty times. I was gone for fifteen minutes" I explained into the phone. Ace paused before continuing the phone call "What did you do today?" I explained that I literally walked round the house with nothing on my mind then I told him about the random things I did before and after Brianna came. "I was watching a movie when you called" I said finishing my explanation. I heard a low growl from Ace's side "You mentioned you were a little dizzy in the afternoon, are you alright?" I laughed at his worry nature "Its nothing, I was probably very tired" Once again, Ace sighed "I missed you so much Sunshine". I don't know how we came about the nickname but I could definitely get used to it "I missed you too Ace" I said stiffling a yawn. I asked Ace about his day then he entered beast mode and started explaining how his day went. I don't know how or when but I knew Ace's voice was so soothing, I fell asleep with the phone still resting on my ears.