Bonus mid-week update! I have an exam this Friday so that update might be a little late 😊
Enjoy~
3228 words
The air is heavy with my dread, making it almost too thick to breathe. Especially with my mate's hand squeezing my shoulder, his thumb pressing in under my collarbone. Although it doesn't hurt, I understand his meaning clearly.
"I asked, where have you been?" Malachi growls at me again when I take too long to answer. "And who were you with? I can smell his scent all over you."
An extra wave of fear engulfs me as I look into Malachi's dark eyes, dotted with dancing red embers. I know the type of risk a jealous mate poses to another male, especially if it's a jealous Alpha mate. Their strength can be magnificent when fueled by fiery possession.
I try and tell him he has nothing to worry about though. "It—it was just a boy—"
"Don't lie to me!" Malachi leans into my face and snarls, making me flinch. Squeezing my eyes shut, an involuntary whimper escapes my throat.
Suddenly Malachi steps back from me, leaving a rush of cold air between us.
When I open my eyes, his gaze is to the floor, a frown creasing his forehead.
Then he looks up. "Sorry about that," he says with a smile. All trace of darkness is gone, leaving me to stare into those crystal blue eyes I admire so much.
"What— Excuse me?" I fumble for words, the air rushing from my lungs as I exhale shakily.
"Sorry, I was just practicing my scary face," he says after a moment's hesitation, as if he was debating something in his mind while I stand here, still pressed up against the wall, my heart on lockdown and all my shields up.
"Your scary face," I say it flatly, still having no clue what is going on.
"Yes, for when I'm negotiating with other packs. And for intimidating them," he shrugs his shoulders like it's the most normal situation in the world, and brushes his fringe back with steady fingers. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that. I didn't know you'd take it so seriously."
I look away and take a few deep breaths, not wanting to admit that I was scared of him. My mate. He'd never hurt me, right?
"You know I'd never hurt you, Ariella?"
I snap my eyes to his. It's almost like he read my mind. But with his mark gracing my neck, maybe he does have some stronger connection to me than I realise. I nod and force a smile, my mind brimming with so many questions and not much idea where to start.
When I don't say anything, Malachi grimaces. "Again, I'm sorry," he whispers and takes my hands between his. They are so warm and gentle around my cold ones, and my breath catches in my throat when the sparks tingle up my arms. "Let's, uhh, let's get a drink or something. I was on my way to the kitchen for some food. You want a snack?" he asks in a soft voice, so different to his harsh and throaty growl from before.
I let him lead me down the hall, still trying to figure him out and what just happened, yet feeling reassured by his calm behaviour now. He is always gentle with me, even if distant.
I sink onto a bar stool at the kitchen bench, and observe my mate. He moves fluidly to the freezer and pulls out a container before getting two bowls from the cupboard.
Setting it all in front of me, along with two spoons, he asks, "Do you want some ice cream? You do like salted caramel ice cream, right?"
"Yes of course, seeing as I'm the one who bought it." I reach for the tub and begin scooping some out.
"You bought this? When?"
I look at Malachi, puzzled. "When I went shopping the other day."
"Who with?" His eyes hold mine steadily, a dark shadow creeping out from the irises.
"Beta Knight. He was kind enough to take me." I watch him carefully, the ice cream on my spoon momentarily forgotten.
"And you didn't inform me?" His brows slash together and he frowns at me, a sternness once more lacing his tone.
Again, I am so confused by his behaviour. "Uh, I didn't know I had to. I mean, we needed more food—"
"Harlow could have—"
"Will you forget Harlow!" I slam my hand down, every cell in me reacting to the mention of the blonde shewolf who'd had her hand practically caressing my mate's knee last night by the fire. More than once today it crossed my mind that perhaps Malachi had spent his night absent from me and with her instead. "I live here, I do my own shopping, I can look after the food and what we buy and have for meals. Why all the questions? What on Earth does Harlow have to do with any of this? And why does it matter to you when I go out and when I do things with the other pack members? Why can't I spend time with Beta Knight, and Guard Jasper and his son Sammy? Yes, you smelt a male on me— a little pup who was stuck up a tree who I then helped down and then made some dinner for him because his poor mother is dead and his dad won't let him talk about her. What is wrong with any of that? Tell me what is your problem, and I'll—"
My frustrated ramblings are cut off as Malachi grips my hands and tugs me to him. I fall into his chest and he envelops me in a tight hug.
For a moment we just stand like that, hearts beating against each other, veins throbbing beneath our skin as if even our blood can sense the proximity of its soulmate.
I am calm.
For a moment, this is all I need.
This closeness and understanding with my mate.
No words, no fears or misunderstandings, just him and I in each other's arms.
"The ice cream is melting," Malachi's warm chuckle vibrates between us and he pulls away, leaving me colder than the milky ice crystals in the tub.
We sit down and smile at each other, but I can't ignore the awkward atmosphere that settles over us.
"This is really good," he murmurs, and it's as if he is trying too hard to make this normal, to pretend like nothing just happened.
He is clearly hiding something.
"Mmm, I haven't had ice cream this good since—"
"You're acting strange, you know that? Even for you, and that's saying something, because it seems everyone around here is strange," I blurt out, sick of this, of avoiding the issues between us. Whatever calm was between us is once more gone.
He sucks in a breath and gives me a sharp look. "It's just been a long day, you know?"
"No, I wouldn't know. You ditched me last night, and weren't even around this morning. You didn't come see me all day, so I have no idea what's going on with you or your long day." I finally let out my frustrations. I don't care if my tone of voice is harsh, or if my hands slap the bench top like I'm angry, or if I tug on my hair like I'm turning mad. Maybe I am.
Malachi stands and comes to me, kneeling beside me and taking my hands in his again. The stern expression slides off his face as my words sink in. He looks away and closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're right. I'm sorry for reacting like this." He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts.
When he looks at me again, his eyes are soft and his gaze languid. "I'm glad you're making friends, and finding your way around here. I'm sorry for leaving you to make your own way. I'm sorry for getting angry with you when none of this is your fault. I'm sorry ... I'm sorry for all these apologies. It seems all I've done tonight is upset you. I don't ... I don't want that." His eyes hold mine in a steady gaze, almost with a look of pleading in them.
"Neither do I. I don't want to argue, Malachi. But it seems we don't even talk. We don't even spend much time together as friends. I want to get to know my mate, but you're always away, or busy, or working here or there."
"I've let you come with me. We've spent time together—"
"Yes, but.. But not quality time." I do remember the number of days I've spent in his office while he works, but it's not the same as just spending time together. Talking, listening, doing nice things with my mate like everyone else does. I know who the Alpha is, but I want to know who Malachi is. The other half of my soul who seems intent on hiding in the shadows.
"You're right. You're absolutely right. Let's start over and try to do this properly? But if I'm honest, Ariella.." He says my name so tenderly, my heart flips. "I've never really seen a good relationship between mates. I'm not sure I know how to do this..."
"That's okay. We'll figure it out together," I smile reassuringly as he gets up to sit beside me.
Malachi rakes his hand through his hair, then spends a moment to pat it down to a neat messiness. His movements are measured and graceful, entrancing me.
"So, what is your favourite colour?" he turns to face me, our knees bumping each other.
My mind can't think straight for a brief second.
Cerulean blue, like your eyes.
"Umm, it's blush pink. Like peonies."
A faint smile tugs on his lips. "And like your hair."
"Yes, like my hair," I chuckle and bite my lower lip, still self-conscious of the colours in my hair. I've seen the looks people give me, like I'm such a child, playing dress ups with unicorns.
But here, in Malachi's presence where he is looking at me with such tenderness, I brush it off and feel more confident than I have in years. "And yours?"
"I would say black, but everyone always responds with 'that's not a colour', so I think forest green is my favourite now."
I nod, "Yeah, black is the absence of light. And that colour green I love too. A beautiful emerald jade that is so calming."
"Yes, calm. That's it. It reminds me of just being one with creation, like our bodies and souls meld together. Amongst nature, we can understand our Creator in a way we never can when we're stuck inside, cased in bureaucracy, opinions and beliefs, and stuffy nonsense. It's enough to drive you mad!"
I understand this much about him. He loves his territory, the land and mountains that are his dominion. The grasses and wildflowers that bloom with beauty. They are his escape, his remedy to surviving all the crazy around him.
And I'm the same. Nature comforts me, and never judges me like everyone else. It embraces me in its strength and beauty when so much of the world is dirty and cruel. It also keeps me sane, keeps me from going mad.
"We should go on camping trips and mountain treks together," I muse aloud.
"I'd love that," Malachi agrees with a glimmer in his blue eyes, and my heart shudders with a thrill of excitement.
"So what's your favourite food?" It's my turn to ask.
"That would have to be spinach and feta cheese pastries. My mom makes them for special occasions and they are the best."
"Luna Seneca cooks? I never would have imagined it!"
My mate chuckles, "I guess there's lots about her you don't know. She's pretty amazing when she lets you know it." Malachi has a contented smile on his face, and I can tell he cares about his mother despite her being so cold and indifferent whenever I've seen her. I tell myself she just doesn't trust me enough to share her true self with me.
"So what about you? What's your favourite dish?" Malachi prods.
I don't need long to think. "There is this really delicious cake my mom used to make. Not Lexi, but my real mom. So obviously I haven't had it in years, not since I was practically a baby before she was killed. I almost forget the real flavour, but when I try to make it myself, it never seems right." I tilt my head and reimagine the scent and taste in my mind, the happy laughter of my mom and dad as they cook in the kitchen together, the fireplace flames flickering in the background, casting a warm glow on the scene. They were so joyful, especially when I kept hearing the whispered word baby, and I knew a little pup would soon be joining our family.
"What kind of cake was it?" Malachi asks in a soft voice as he watches me with undivided attention.
"Rosewater and almond persian cake. My mom, Aliyah, grew the roses in our garden, and she would make a fresh syrup with the petals to drizzle over the cake. She must have had a secret ingredient though, because I just cannot get mine to taste the same."
"That sounds amazing. I'm sure you'd be very good at making it yourself. Maybe it only tastes different because you miss your real parents."
"True," I shrug, the memories still lingering and causing my eyes to grow misty. I blink back the tears before Malachi can see them, and keep going with our question game. "So where do you see yourself in five years?" I ask, spooning some more ice cream into my bowl.
Malachi hesitates, his smile faltering, but only for a brief second. Then he grins at me. "With you. By my side, always."
"Hmm..." I murmur, buying myself time to gather my thoughts and process his enigmatic response. "That's nice, but it sounds cliche. It also sounds like the kind of answer you'd give if you wanted to hide something."
His eyebrows go up before he quickly wipes the surprise away. "Why would you think that? What could I be hiding from you?"
"Oh, any number of things." It's my turn to shrug and act nonchalant.
Like why your mother thinks I'm cursing her.
Or how your dad died.
Or about that girl in all the photos with you.
So many questions. So many reasons to not trust this mysterious Alpha sitting so close beside me, I can hear the blood pulsing in his veins and the increase in tempo of his heart.
So many times I wonder why I don't have the courage to ask him.
"Well, I guess we all have our secrets that we don't want to share. Our own personal demons that are too messy to just let anyone see. But that doesn't mean I don't ever want to let you in, Ariella. You're my mate, and I want us to be close. One day, I want you to know my heart as well as you know your own, and still have you look in my eyes and love me."
As he speaks, I sink further and further into the oceanic blue depths of his eyes, losing myself in the rhythm of his heart beat and the magical bindings of his words as they weave about me.
"I will." I will look in these perfect eyes of my mate and know that I will always love him.
No matter what.
Without thinking any further, I lean forward into his lap and wrap my hands around his neck. Bringing my body close to his, I press my lips against his own and let the sparks of electricity rip through me.
His arms tighten around me and his lips move against mine, kissing me deeply and stealing every molecule of oxygen from my lungs. The warmth I feel all over again, like I'm drowning and Malachi is my very breath. He breathes into me, taking my bottom lip between his teeth and causing my entire body to light up. I feel like lightning has seared my heart before reshaping it into something beautiful.
These feelings he has awakened in me are so strange and foreign, yet I realise I can't get enough of them. I don't even know how to kiss him properly, I just let him move his lips in time to mine, yet it feels so perfect. Like a symphony we've been composing for this very moment.
All too soon, that moment ends, Malachi clasps my shoulders to push me back and put space between us. And the final notes of our symphony fade with his heat still tingling on my lips. I shiver from the absence of him.
"Ariella." His voice is deep and strangled. "We shouldn't."
"Why not?" I whisper back, eyes still closed, hands still gripping the collar of his shirt.
"Because... we just can't." He pries my hands away and moves to tidy up the bench, putting the bowls in the sink and ice cream in the freezer while I remain stuck to my chair, watching him in an entranced daze.
"That's not a reason," I hear myself mumble when he takes my hand again and leads me out. I don't recognise my own husky voice, and I'm surprised I can even string more than two words together. Our kiss has shaken me to the very bones in such an incredible way, but this isn't how I imagined it would end.
With him denying me again.
"It's the best I can give right now. Until..."
"Until what?" I pull my hand from his and stop in the middle of the hall. We are on our way to our room, but I want to talk about this now.
He throws me a stern look. "Until you fully decide to be mine. I don't want to push you or become too attached physically when there's so much more involved."
"Okay, yeah, you said I could decide if I really wanted to be your mate forever. So, what if I have decided? What if I want to finally claim you as mine?"
"You can, just not now—"
"Then when? I know we've planned to give this a good shot and spend more time together, so why do you still push me away?"
"This is different, Ariella!" He clenches his jaw, frustrated probably that I'm not seeing this from his point of view. I might actually be able to if he would tell me what that is. "A kiss and cuddles and whatever else you want to do are entirely different to talking and spending time together, or bushwalking or whatever. We can do that. But not this, not yet..." he rubs a hand down his face, as if rubbing at all the stress and only smearing it further.
"Then when? Just tell me what is going on that makes this so hard between us? Why are you keeping me at a distance, Malachi?"
He narrows his eyes on me, a dark blue that is deep as stormy oceans and I can see he's making a decision to tell me something.
"Hamilton and I think we know who killed Archie, and the other warriors. We think we've found the killer."
Okay so I really want to hear your reactions to this chapter!!
Where do I start....
Mr Scary Face?!
The adorable way Malachi gave her a hug 🤗
First kiss!!
Ariella instigated it 😏
They've found the killer!?!
[I basically updated early cos I am dying to know what you think of this chapter 😂😂]
♥️🌹