Alana’s POVI swallowed, feeling somewhat frantic. I had to do something! But what exactly could I do?My heart raced. I was NOT romantically involved with Jordan. If –A thought suddenly occurred to me and I sucked in a breath, my hands reflexively coming up to cover my mouth. What if Jordan heard the rumours and thought I was the one insinuating such to people because I was something like a gold digger that wanted to get with him because of his position?Goddess no! Why was this happening to me? Jordan was the only friend I had other than Alaric and now this was happening to ruin things just as Ava had happened to ruin things between Alaric and I.Why did things like this always have to happen to me? Why couldn’t things just go smoothly and normal for me?Or… was this also Ava _happening_ to my friendship with Jay?But she’d apologized and called a truce…_And what good thing has happened since then?_Was the thought that blew into my mind on a wind of confusion.Air slowly left
Alaric's POVI clenched my teeth hard and tried to ground myself as I walked briskly to my room. I forced myself to focus on my breathing, ignoring Ava who was once again shouting after me.I burst into my room and banged the door shut, but of course she was right on my heels.The door hinges rattled frighteningly as she banged the door open again, hitting the wall with a force that sent flecks of paint spraying from the wall.“Please get out of my room Ava, I am not in the right frame of mind for this.” I growled, staring her down. I was doing my very best to keep my voice even and be cordial. All I wanted was for her to leave the room so I could calm down again.Hearing Ava talk to Alana about her being in a relationship with Jay had put a dent in the resolve I'd built after my drive. All I needed was a few minutes of peace and quiet and I would be in my element again.But of course Ava could not understand that, it was almost like she was created to rile me.“How dare you Alaric! S
Alana's POVI wiped my hands on the short waist apron still tied around my waist as I walked out of the kitchen.I unhooked it from behind and hung it on one of the clothing hooks for the servants as I passed by one.My mind kept trying to flit to the Jordan issue at hand but I made deliberate effort to think of something else, the part of my head that'd hit the floor had started to ache nastily and I was sure it was because of my raging thoughts and worries.My steps slowed unconsciously as I ascended a flight of stairs, my hand coming up to lightly caress the bandage on the area of the head that hurt.I sighed as I arrived at the top of the stairs, on the floor that belonged to Alaric.Wait, why did my brain just go to him immediately? Ugh –Then I saw Ava from where I stood, – more like _heard_ her – storming down the hallway like the minister of death. She looked like she was coming from Alaric's room. I wondered what had transpired between them.But I didn't let myself dwell on i
Alana's POV“Alaric I don't understand what you're saying.” I summoned the courage to mutter, pushing away the default instinct to get up and run out of there in fear.“What part of ‘get up and get out’ don't you understand?” Alaric barked, making me involuntarily jump back in fear.But I gritted my teeth and stayed put.“For your information you look like shit. And your room is in an utter and complete mess. Leaving you by yourself here would be a disaster.”“I like disasters.” He ground out. “Please leave.” he pointed in the general direction of the door, glaring at me even worse.I noticed however that his fingers were shaking. And so I forgot myself for a minute. I reached out and sandwiched his hand between my much smaller ones and asked,“Have you eaten lun–”But he didn't even let me land.He snatched his hand from mine with the speed and force of one that had just touched a naked wire.The action caused me to tip forward such that I almost fell on him. I gasped, but I managed
Alaric's POV I wanted the kiss to go on forever.She moaned lightly into my mouth, making sparks fly in my brain.She finally leaned into the kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck.I tightened my grip around her waist, my right hand moving up to cup her head and hold it in place as I kissed my tension, my anger and frustrations away.It felt so right. Like she was completing me.I heard a moan, but I couldn't even at gunpoint say who it'd come from.I never wanted to stop kissing her.Never? I was going to be alpha. For that to happen she would have to be –Reality pounced on me like a rabid dog and my eyes unwittingly flashed open, my muscles snapping, causing my lips to separate from Alana's.They immediately protested and I found myself leaning forward again but Alana's eyes fluttered open and from her eyes the gravity of what I was doing fully collapsed on me.I sucked in a breath and immediately detangled myself from her.I saw a flicker of what looked like hurt in her eyes but
Alana's POVI felt like crying and screaming at the same time.I wanted to pull out my hair!Why was I sitting and taking shit because of Ava when Alaric was rightfully mine! Why couldn't I just open my mouth and tell him of the mate bond!All of this hurt I was causing myself wasn't worth –“_Slut._”I looked up to see the individual that was standing in front of me. Her face was contorted in a sneer.But no, it wasn't the person who usually donned that expression.It was a maid.I was sure I hadn't heard her correctly.“Excuse me?” I said to her,“You damn well heard me the first time.” She scoffed.My eyebrows went up amusedly at the statement and I began to feel dangerous laughter building up within me.“I’m actually not really sure. I'd like you to say that again?”“_Slut!_ I said you're a slut.”I felt my blood begin to boil.Who was this girl that thought she could just go about insulting people anyhow?“You do know who you're talking to right?” I asked as calmly as possible, a
Clarissa's POVI hurried into a bathroom to splash water on my face.My body was still trembling badly.I kept turning to look over my shoulder to be sure she hadn't followed me.I collapsed against the wall, sliding down and drawing my knees up to my chest.Sera had said that she was just a timid little orphan girl. A shiver ran through my body.There was nothing timid or small about her.Why did it have to be my turn that she got some sort of redemption arc and remembered who she was?I'd been trying to get on Ms Ava’s good side for such a long time and Sera had said providing useful information on Alana and/or helping Ms Ava cause her some sort of discomfort was a sure fire way of getting on her good side.So I'd been monitoring her. As well as monitoring her relations with Ms Ava, so that I could know the kind of information that would be particularly useful.Now look what had happened…I shivered again.I was usually warned of my tendency to overdo things, and in this case I didn
Ava's POVMy hand lowered slowly from my ear and came to rest in my lap, my fingers loosening from around my phone.I sat in complete silence and pondered for some seconds on what I'd just heard.I shook my head, a light chuckle emanating from my lips.It wasn't me throwing shades or anything, it was just that it was just plain _impossible_.Alana? That skinny, trembling little thing? Fighting?I laughed out loud. Nah. It couldn't be. It absolutely couldn't be.My laughter died out slowly as reality slowly began to set in…No one would dare try to play such a prank on me.Which could only mean that it was true…A breath escaped my chest slowly as my heart rate slowly increased.If Alana was truly pretending to be timid and helpless it meant she had a plan for something under her sleeves.And it would mean that she was well equipped to blindside everyone of us.What was she up to?What could she _possibly_ be up to?My heart was beating so fast now and I became very restless, I had to