11.2: ...or Punishment

Dina's POV

If memory served me right, he hadn’t hit Josh, so he must have gotten those before he rescued me.

“You need some ice for that?” I offered while wondering what had happened. Without waiting for an answer, I took the towel and icebag out of his hand, and as carefully as I could, I wrapped it around his hand.

“It’ll heal,” he gruffly grunted and tried to shake me off. Mentally, I rolled my eyes at him.

"Hold still, you big baby," I huffed and grabbed his hand again, carefully avoiding putting too much pressure on it. This time he let me, despite the displeased growl that made his chest vibrate.

“What happened?” I asked to distract him. I reached for the other hand and carefully gave it the same treatment I'd given the other one. I knew he'd heal in no time, but there was no need for him to be in pain while it happened.

Macho alpha bullshit...

“Trespassers," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

My eyes bulged in surprise.

“Rogues? Here?!” I exclaimed, sure he had to be joking. Rogues around these parts were almost as rare as fucking unicorns! Again, thanks to Alpha Stone and his rather vicious temper. Before he became alpha, rogues had all but taken over the pack. Members and warriors were killed every day and we lived in constant fear. Until Alpha Stone stepped in and literally saved us. And let’s just say he fixed the problem the way he did best: killed everything in sight. Ever since then, rogues knew to stay away from the Black Lunar Pack. They said that even the King’s territory had more rogues than ours did. Which was why it was rather terrifying to think about them being back…

But to my surprise, he nodded.

“Why?” I gaped, sure my jaw was still somewhere on the floor.

“That’s pack business,” he said gruffly, his eyes once again going stormy. He pulled his hands back and unwrapped my work as if annoyed by me. His sudden cold demeanor came on suddenly and while it was irrational, I felt hurt by his action.

“But considering you apparently bring in every stray in the neighborhood, I might as well just put up a welcome sign,” he continued in a chilling tone.

“Stray?” I echoed, confused. I met his eyes and they were vivid.

“Who was in my room?” he asked, his voice void of any emotion.

“Your room---?!” I echoed again, ready to defend my maiden honor. Until I suddenly remembered---

“Oh, I forgot!" I exclaimed, suddenly feeling embarrassed that I'd forgotten to tell him. "Angela Danvers came by the other day. I think she wanted to talk to you---” I trailed off when I noticed the anger returning to Alpha Stone’s eyes.

“Cute blond, blue eyes, and an annoying personality?” he quickly summed up her appearance.

I gulped.

“Let me guess,” I asked nervously, with a knot-like feeling settling in my stomach. “Not Angela Danvers?”

“There’s no Angela Danvers,” he replied coolly, his face and voice still void of all emotions.

“Oh,” I muttered, feeling about an inch tall there on the kitchen table. Note to self: next time there's a weirdo at the door, don't let them inside...

“You took her to my room?” he continued his questions - and I nearly choked on my own spit.

“What?! No!” I exclaimed, but before I could explain more, I was rudely cut off.

“Then why the fuck was her scent inside my room?” he growled as if he’d just caught me in a lie. And just like that, I forgot all about who was standing in front of me, as I glared right back at him.

“She followed me in,” I growled back, catching him by surprise. I quickly took my chance and explained: “I was there to put the laundry away and she opened the door. I didn’t know she’d---” I trailed off again, not really knowing what to say after that. I didn't know the alpha's family and even when I dated Michael, we didn't hang out after school. But I had had a bad feeling about her, yet I ignored it and let her inside the house. So, in a way, I guess I was about 10% guilty too…

“I’m sorry,” I whispered and turned my gaze away from the alpha. "I shouldn't have let her inside the house." Automatically, my lower lip found its way to my chin. I hated how I always pouted when I felt embarrassed, but I couldn’t help it. My mother had this habit too and somehow I picked it up as a kid. It used to make dad laugh until he was crying, but---

“I see,” he sighed and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. And in turn, flexing his gorgeous biceps. My wolf drooled and I was suddenly thankful that my cheeks were already a flushed red.

He. Was. Gorgeous!

“Did she threaten you?” he suddenly asked with a frown, and his eyes met mine. If possible, I blushed even more, and my heart skipped a beat. Did he catch me ogling him?

“No,” I quickly snapped and gulped, trying to cover up my mistake. “A-and if she did, I can take on a teenager.”

It’s you stupid males I can’t take on, I mentally added, but didn't dare to say it out loud.

“I’m sure you can,” he grinned, his blue eyes sizzling with amusement. Oh, goddess, he’d totally caught me! Desperate, I tried to think of a way to save my dignity, but nothing brilliant came to mind.

Except to distract him…

“Who is she anyway?” I asked, thinking it was the perfect distraction. And because I really wanted to know. And because my wolf wanted to rip her throat out.

“My stalker,” Alpha Stone replied WAY too calmly. I felt my jaw drop. What?! How could he be so calm about something as serious as that? Wolf or not, those types of people were dangerous! Not necessarily because they were a physical threat, but because they didn't know how to take a hint and take a hike. Not to mention that "no" didn't necessarily mean NO to them...

But Alpha Stone just shrugged and smirked: “I can also take on a teenager.”

“You sure about that?” I replied skeptically. “Teenagers are more dangerous than hungry lions and you can’t go all alpha on their ass.”

He laughed at my theatricals, before stepping back up to me. He placed his finger under my chin, lifting my head, so my eyes met his.

“I don’t want you to place yourself in danger,” he said gently. And if my cheeks weren’t red as hell before, they sure were now. “Is that understood?”

“Yes alpha,” I gulped, suddenly having a hard time breathing. He was so fucking close. His power wrapped around me like a blanket and his scent was like a calming drug. All I wanted to do, was to snuggle into his chest and stay there…

“Good,” he replied and let go of me. “What’s for dinner?”

Dinner?

Oh yes! Dinner!

That’s what you usually do--- when you’re the maid!

“I-I was going to make chili con carne,” I replied and jumped down from the kitchen table. I gave myself a mental pat on the back when my legs didn't give out on me, as I launched for the recipe I’d picked up. Anything to put as much distance between me and the alpha. He was a danger to my heart and probably also sanity---

“Want to help?”

I froze.

Please say I didn’t just ask that?!

But to my surprise, Alpha Stone nodded.

“Sure,” he replied with a casual shrug and effortlessly plucked the recipe out of my hands, glancing over it. “What do I do?”

He was--- he was going to help me?!

Why on earth would he do that?!

And then, when the realization hit me, I couldn't contain a smile. He really went all in and beyond making sure his pack members were OK. I should really tell him, he didn’t have to. I was fine, really! And he probably had better things to do, than his own dinner...

But instead, I let him do whatever he wanted.

“If I cut the onion and chili, you think you could handle the meat?” I asked, taking out the ingredients we needed.

“I’m a wolf,” he smirked. “I can always do meat.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that.