Taken For The Alpha ✔️ - 42 - Wattpad
Taken For The Alpha ✔️
by Midika
YOU ARE READING
Taken For The Alpha ✔️
18+ read at your discretion!
My hands tremble by my sides. "Don't sleep with her..."
He steps toward me, his eyes dark. "Why not?"
"Whatever you were planning to do to her tonight, do it to me instead," I whisper.
Ayah has always been unrema...
# 18andup# alpha# alphamale# hot# love# magic# mate# pack# paranormal
Word Count: 2015
+
~Ayah
I lie down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I've finally rid of my drenched clothing, having bathed in the massive claw-foot bathtub. There were fluffy dressing gowns waiting on the hook behind the door, which I've since wrapped myself in before hobbling to bed.
Nevan's home is beautiful, and the room he has allowed us to occupy is no exception.
The bed is large and covered in a turquoise duvet. The room is full of bronze furniture and sumptuous decorations. It feels lavish and expensive in here, in a gaudy, overdone way. From what I can tell, it matches Nevan's personality perfectly.
Regardless, I'm grateful to be in the comfort of this home tonight. A large window shows off the night sky and the violent storm raging outside. Distantly, I can make out a large lake surrounded by the forest, where the amplifier likely still travels down the lone river.
The thought of coming so close, and then losing an amplifier I'm convinced would have worked, makes me feel sick to my stomach.
The bedroom door opening slowly has me sitting up, shaking off my depression.
Zaon walks in, a bundle of items in his arms. He let me bathe while he went downstairs to wrap matters up with Nevan.
"This room is incredible, but the storm outside is disconcerting," I say, keen to fill the space as quickly as possible with dialogue. It's awkward knowing that we have to spend yet another night together, in the same bed.
The goddess must be real, for this feels suspiciously like divine intervention.
"Hopefully it will have cleared off by morning." He approaches the bed.
"You have your hands full."
He dumps half the contents on the bed carefully. "I have ice and a salve for your ankle, and wine for the pain."
He holds up the bottle and two glasses. The warmth of alcohol would be nice right now, and it would provide ample distraction from the presence of his body lying next to mine. Maybe it will help me fall asleep quickly.
"Trying to loosen my morals, Alpha?" I ask, resting my head back against the cushioned headboard.
"No quite." His eyes glisten regardless. "I see you've bathed."
"I have."
"Give me your foot." He sits on the bed. "I'll apply the salve, then hold this ice against your ankle until some of the inflammation has gone down."
Hesitating, I eye him warily. Zaon taking care of me feels too intimate. He doesn't need my healed ankle in order for me to do what he needs. He's doing this because he doesn't want me to lay here in pain all night.
"You really don't have to do that." I flush, tucking my hair behind my ear.
His eyes meet mine, a dark, tumultuous blue. "I want to. Relax."
I melt into the bed, forcing the tension to lift from my body. His soft, soothing voice really isn't helping my wandering mind...
"I'm relaxed." I hold my foot out to him.
He gently lays it over his lap, his touch so tentative it leaves chills whispering over my skin. I don't even feel any pain anymore. It feels distant in comparison to the sensation flitting in my stomach.
"Good girl," he murmurs, reaching for the salve.
I shiver. My entire body responds to his words.
He uncaps the salve tin, smearing his fingers into the ivory substance. My heart is in my throat, in my ears, beating incessantly. It is an impossible image, watching such a hulking man tend to me with fierce determination, yet heartbreaking gentleness.
"You know, Nevan may be outside waiting for us to start fucking," he says lowly, an amused lilt to his tone.
This mistress coverup is infecting my mind, making it almost impossible to concentrate on reality.
"Maybe we should," I say breathlessly.
His entire body goes tense, but he doesn't stop the subtle brush of his salve covered fingertips over my swollen ankle. He's concentrating on it so dutifully he doesn't so much as glance up at me.
"Ayah." He sounds as though he's scolding me.
"I'm sorry. I'll stop bringing it up," I mumble, my cheeks warming.
He looks up at me through thick lashes. "Are you that serious about it?"
I wouldn't be bringing it up if I weren't serious about it. Nor would I bring it up if I didn't think Zaon wanted it as badly as I do. He's just trying to do the right thing.
"I am. I'm ready."
A muscle in his jaw ticks as he wipes the salve off his hand.
"Once you find your husband, the issue can be promptly resolved," he declares, although he doesn't sound happy about it.
Suddenly I don't feel very well, and it's not the fault of my ankle. I don't want to think of the male who is supposed to be my husband, and I especially don't want to think about having sex with him.
"It's bedtime, I think." I pull my ankle from his grasp.
"But the ice—"
"I've got it. You need to bathe, and I'm exhausted." I take the ice pack, pressing it into my ankle. The pressure it immediately painful. Hopefully soon, it will go numb.
Zaon rises, looking sceptical. He's noticed me pull away, but what can he say?
"Very well."
He steps into the adjoining bathroom, closing the door behind him. Only a few moments later, I hear the faucet turn on, the bath beginning to fill with water.
I sigh, staring down at my swollen ankle.
Zaon is making it clear he isn't interested in going any further with me. I need to let it go. He's right — I need to find this male I am to marry, and maybe then I can consider having sex with him, and not the dangerous Alpha I can't have.
By the time Zaon is finished with his bath, I've sunk under the covers of the bed, my back turned against him. I feel the bed dip with his weight.
We don't exchange any words for the rest of the night.
The next morning we head down together for breakfast. My ankle still hurts, so he helps me down the stairs. I finally get to sit once we reach the dining area, guided by one of Nevan's maid.
He's sitting at the head of a heavily adorned table, laden with food and vases of orange and yellow flowers. The scent immediately upon entering the room is cloying, and even more so once I'm seated on one side of the table, while Zaon sits on the other.
Nevan looks at us both in turn. "Good morning you two."
"Morning," Zaon mumbles, rubbing his face. He looks exhausted, like he hasn't slept so much as an hour.
Nevan, however, looks animated. I can't imagine he gets many visitors this deep into the forest. It seems strange he would choose to live here, when he clearly adores human company.
I cat my attention out the window across from me. The sky is dark and tumultuous, rain slashing in great sheets against the glass. Beyond, I can see trees shifting wildly in the wind, some branches having been felled by the vicious wind.
"This storm is relentless," I murmur, shivering.
Nevan passes a perfunctory glance in the windows direction, unbothered.
"I doubt it is even at its worst," he muses. "There is flooding on the roads out of here. You'll have to stay until that's resolved."
Zaon and I exchange wary glances. We had hoped to be leaving here this morning. The sooner we return, the sooner we can resume our search for another amplifier.
And the sooner I can put some distance between myself and this complicated male.
"Do not worry. I get the feeling we'll all have some fun," Nevan exclaims brightly, sensing our unease.
It's not as if this home isn't beautiful and a pleasure to be in. It's not as if the food I'm loading onto my plate isn't colourful and nourishing, and it's not as if we aren't safe. Nevan seems kind, albeit a bit over the top. Why shouldn't we enjoy another night here?
"I agree. I'm in desperate need of fun," I tell him, digging my spoon into a bowl of pale pink yogurt.
Nevan leans back in his seat, folding his hands over his stomach. He watches me with sharp, molten brown eyes that peruse me carelessly.
"Zaon must keep you thoroughly entertained, though," he murmurs, raising a brow.
Zaon looks up at me from where he was studying his empty plate. His eyes narrow ever so slightly, seeming to remember our ruse of me being his mistress.
"Not nearly as much as I would like." I lick the yogurt off my spoon, enjoying the sweet tanginess.
Zaon shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe I'm a little spiteful after our conversation last night, and I enjoy watching him shift comfortably. I'll play as his mistress, but I won't make it easy on him.
"It has always been platonic between Zaon and I, but I have wanted to know since I met him how he is in bed," Nevan brings up. He's in a pleasant mood this morning, clearly...
"Honestly?" I straighten, sighing wistfully. "Not the best I've had."
Nevan's brows raise in surprise. "Is that right?"
I ignore the stinging bite of Zaon's stare. I'm having far too much fun.
"A bit...quick off the mark, if you will." I wiggle my brows.
Nevan claps his hands together, laughing so loud it almost makes me wince. Zaon doesn't seem nearly as amused. As my attention shifts to him, I'm caught in the turmoil of his irritation.
"How funny. Is that the case, old friend?" Nevan asks.
"Hardly. Ayah has a bizarre sense of humour," he mutters, shaking his head.
I giggle under my breath. He makes it far too easy to tease him, and he's not sniping back in any way. I'm surprised he isn't ending the ruse now, offering me up to Nevan instead.
"Tell me. Is it big? I've heard rumours." Nevan leans closer to me over the table, asking in a low voice that makes this topic out to be a big conspiracy.
I shrug. "Barely pushing average if you ask me."
Of course, I know better. I don't believe for a moment that Zaon isn't incredible in bed, and I know for a fact he isn't exactly small. Nevan doesn't need to know these truths, though.
He frowns contemplatively. "Huh. Raven has told me otherwise, the insidious bitch."
"And his ability to pleasure a woman with his tongue...well, let's just say, he's not good at all." I take another bite of my breakfast to hide my smile.
Another lie. I've experienced his skill first hand, and I'm sad knowing I'll never likely encounter his talents again. I've committed the feeling to memory, although it's slipping away.
"How disappointing," Nevan sighs.
"This is all an inside joke between Ayah and I," Zaon grinds out. "She knows the real truth."
Nevan waves his hand. I don't think he believes me, but it's been fun to joke around. It's a nice distraction from the crushing disappointment of losing the amplifier yesterday, and the dull, throbbing pain in my ankle.
"Anyway, I think we should get drunk tonight and celebrate old and new friendships," Nevan announces.
"That sounds like great fun." Perhaps not the drinking part, but celebrating does.
Nevan's eyes flash as he looks at me. "I would love to get to know you more, Ayah."
I smile, nodding. But when I look to Zaon, he looks anything but pleased by the notion.
Which means this will be a good night.
Thank you everyone for continuing to read this story, your support means everything to me (:
If you want to read ahead, this story is 15 chapters ahead on INKITT (@midika) and is 5 chapters ahead on RADISH.