The car suddenly slowed, and I removed myself from my mate with excitement. Asra chuckled softly as I turned to stare out the window, the urge to escape growing when the wheels stopped turning completely. Eyes wide with glee, I wrapped my hand around the door, only for Asra to reach over and stop me.
"What?" I wondered.
"Remember the etiquette." He teased.
I grimaced and dropped my hand from the handle. It was a little annoying to be told that I had to let Asra take the lead, the stubborn part of me not happy that I was to be escorted. I was the damn luna; I can open my own door.
Stupid etiquette.
The driver opened his door, and Asra climbed out, his button-down shirt shifting against the leather. He walked around the back of the car, feigning indifference. I couldn't help but be entranced by the way he moved his body in those damn trousers. I don't think I could ever tire from admiring his physique.
His hand wrapped around my door handle, and I channelled my inner lady as he opened it. I did it a lot around Darius, so with practised poise, I spun in my seat to face the open air. Asra's other hand reached inside as I placed my fingers into his waiting palm and he guided me from the vehicle. The sunlight was temporarily blinding, and I subtly adjusted my skirt length as I glanced at my surroundings. It was nice and warm here.
There were guards littered in strict formations, alongside Asra's top three, around our car. I noticed Serenity amid them. Being my lady-in-waiting for the weekend gave her such protection.
Each of Alpha Black's men held stoic faces in matching dark red and black uniforms. They lined a grand staircase to what I may as well describe as an old white castle. Shrubbery and flowerbeds lined the front of the house and wrapped around the sides, following a quaint garden path. Large white pillars held up a vast roof that covered a million white stairs that they would soon force me to walk up. Having an elevator has made me lazy...
Ivy trailed around the pillars and up the three floors of windows to the roof. On either side of the grand entrance were two white windows, six on either side in total. The castle-house was tall, and I had to stop myself from squinting up high to see the roof. This wasn't even the pack house; I was told Alpha Black's pack lived in their own homes!
Asra tugged my hand forward, and I snapped out of my observations to fall into step with him. I didn't have a jacket, the too-tight dress, feeling overly transparent from any wandering eyes. A few people nearby were muttering to each other, and I didn't miss the way the guards flickered their eyes over Asra before focusing on me.
Suddenly, the front doors opened, and an echoing silence vibrated in my ears as the head pair walked out of the threshold. Asra was taut with poise, wrapping his arm loosely around my waist as we walked toward the bottom of the steps.
I swallowed harshly the moment we stopped in front of the head couple. Dropping my head with respect, I braced myself for what was to come. I noticed Asra shift his weight slightly, bowing so miniscule that if I was a higher power than him, I'd be pissed at the lack of respect. Cocky bastard.
Hiding my expression, I raised my head to the couple before us and took them in.
Alpha Augustus Black was everything I expected him to be. He was tall, strong, and reeked of egotistical power. He was imposing and held a cocky smirk on his face as he acknowledged Asra's movements. His hair, despite his name, was a white-blonde, long enough that he secured it into a small bun at the back of his head. With eyes as dark and creepy as that smirk on his face, I couldn't help but look away.
To his luna, of course.
Luna Black, who didn't go by her forename, was shorter than him by a head. Her hair was a rich coppery brown down to her hips, her eyes a brilliant icy blue. With plump lips and curvy hips, I could see why she caught the eye of every male here. Dressed in a pencil skirt and pink blouse, she held her mate's arm with confident ease.
"Alpha and Luna Zenith, welcome to Wolfram." Augustus Black beamed, his Luna smiling softly.
"Alpha and Luna Black, a pleasure to make your acquaintance again." Asra replied.
I couldn't help the twitch of my nose, the formalities making me want to barf already. I hated it in Evermore, and I think I hate it even more now. Asra being so to-the-book was something strange.
"Come, we shall talk in the foyer." The alpha waved his hand.
I saw Asra's jaw tighten from the corner of my eye, but he took my hand and pulled me alongside him. Luna Black kept her arm looped through her mate's, but I noticed the way her eyes followed my movement until she could look no more. They walked with well-rehearsed grace and guards surrounded our flanks as two butlers opened the doors.
The foyer was grand, with two staircases on either side, a large open centre that lead to a wall with open doors. Through one I saw a large kitchen counter and the other I noticed another hallway. It made me curious to how far back this house went. If it was tall, was it as wide?
The floors were an orange-brown tile, the walls a strange cream colour. It wasn't the nicest of modern interior design, but I suppose being as old as they are must come with old design choices. The doors shut behind us, locking us inside, and I shifted slightly at the awkwardness.
"How was your journey?" Alpha Black wondered, turning to face us at the bottom of one staircase.
"Long," Asra muttered. "But there were no problems."
"Good, I am glad you made it in such a great time." He smiled. "Plenty of time to get ready for tonight."
"We look forward to it," Asra smiled tightly.
It didn't take long before Alpha Black's wide-eyed glee turned to me. My breath hitched in my throat as he observed me, his dark eyes flickering over my attire before landing back on my face. His eyebrows crinkled just enough that I noticed, but otherwise I kept my gaze firmly locked on his face. When his dark eyes came to settle on my own, his grin broadened.
"So, this is the human." He clicked his tongue.
"My luna, Ailia." Asra grumbled.
Augustus barely glanced at him before his eyes were back on me. "Such interesting colouring and scent. That hair..."
Asra's hand tightened on mine, but I held my ground. Nothing he would say would faze me. Asra informed me that Augustus was not used to humans and didn't like them all too much. His family was one of the founding leaders that led the original hunts before the wolves took over. I suppose it was engrained in him.
Asra growled again, the heat from his hand pooling into my palm. "I would appreciate you stop staring at her like she is a toy."
"Of course. I apologise, Alpha." Augustus was quick to stammer out. "Such unique... appearance these days. I could not help but comment."
What about me? Do I not get a 'sorry for being a creep and staring at you' from him?
I glanced at the luna to see her still looking at me. Although silent, I could read a thousand emotions in her eyes. She did well to hide them, but the way they slanted with concentration, and her lips pursed just so slightly as she stared at me, meant she was deep in thought about something.
"I am sure you are tired," Augustus spoke, snapping me out of my scrutiny. "Allow one of my maids to show you to your room. There is an itinerary on your bed, towels in the bathrooms... Anything else you need, just pick up the phone and a maid will be on your very call."
"Thank you," Asra's voice was tight.
We tilted our heads at each other one more time before a maid appeared from behind the staircase and bowed at us. She introduced herself as Violet before leading us up the staircase and taking us further down the hall.
Violet showed us to our room first, which the guards took with acknowledgement before she gestured to their rooms. Serenity was sharing with the only female guard in a room next to ours, the other males pairing up in a room opposite us.
I wondered for a moment if the two large men would have to share a bed. It would be quite comical.
We thanked Violet, who explained she would be our help for the stay before she bowed and scuttled off. I gave Asra a look before wrapping my hand around the door handle and dragging him inside. I barely got a glimpse of the large room before my agitation took over.
"I don't like him!" I snapped.
"You don't?" Asra hummed.
I narrowed my eyes at my mate, my hands falling to my hips. "The moment I saw him, I knew I would not like him."
"He is a unique taste." Asra nodded.
"So, you are saying you like him?"
"Now, I never said that." He smirked, slowly walking closer to me.
I huffed, dropping my arms to turn and observe the room. The walls were cream with dark red wallpaper and white carpet. A four posted king size bed sat in the centre right wall, raised slightly by two steps. It even had curtains like in the princess books I once read to keep the bugs out. Walking closer, I ran my hand over some wooden drawers and found our bags already seated beside them.
The help worked fast.
There was one window that showed the back of the house, various gardens and pathways littered with flowers. Beside it was a door that lead into a grand, white-tiled bathroom with golden taps. The window in here was just as large and opposing as the one in the bedroom, covered by only a thin white voile.
Turning away from the bathroom, I bumped into a warm, hard chest. I grunted, my hands wrapping around Asra's biceps to steady myself. His chuckle was low as his hands fell to my hips.
"I'm going to shower." He stated. "It has been a long day."
"Okay," I nodded, side-stepping him.
"I would feel better if you showered with me." He suggested.
My eyes darted up to him with surprise, only to find him giving me puppy eyes. I scoffed, rolling my own and patting his chest lightly.
"That is a decoy and you know it."
He laughed. "I gotta try my best. You revoked my rights in daily showers."
"Because I won the bet."
"By a few minutes," He grunted. "Please? Shower with me? It's big enough for two."
"Barely," I muttered, eying the cold-looking tub-shower.
"I'll keep you warm," He suggested.
Sighing with defeat, I rose my hands into the air. Asra was grinning as his hands wrapped around the hem of my skirt and pulled it up. His eyes only widened with delight at the lacy underwear beneath, and I smirked at the triumphant feeling of having one over him. Over-excitedly, Asra was all over me, kissing and toying with my flesh until I stood naked.
"Asra..." I laughed.
"This outfit was a naughty move."
"I didn't pick it."
"I know," He breathed, looking down into my eyes. "I did."
I scowled. "So, you are the reason that I stuck to the leather seats?"
"I was." He grinned.
About to blow off some well-needed annoyance, Asra moved fast to intercept. His hands curled around my waist and he lifted me up and toward the shower. Placing me into the tub, he turned the shower on with a broad grin. I grunted, crossing my arms and stepping away from the cold water as it spluttered out of the shower head.
Asra climbed in beside me, taking my view of the room with him. My eyes drifted over his naked body, warmth flooding my core as his muscles rippled with the movement. I had been eying him like a starved woman all day, and now he was here beside me in all of his glory.
My hands twitched, aching to touch him, but I was too stubborn to make the first move.
Flustered at my predicament, my jaw tightened. Asra towered over me, his hand coming to caress my jaw, thumb brushing my lower lip as he pulled my attention to his face.
"You can tell me all about how annoying I am, as I enjoy taking you against this wall." He growled, promising me everything I was craving.
*********