Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

NIRVANA

“How’s your first experience in the underground fight club, Vana?”

“It hasn’t sunk in, Kaleb. I’d never seen people fight, let alone watch them for entertainment. I don’t even watch WWE or boxing on TV.”

“You did well, considering you didn’t pass out back there.”

“Trying my best not to. It was terrifying, maybe because I knew who was in that ring.”

“Because you care for the person fighting in the ring. If it happens to a stranger, maybe it isn’t that terrifying,” Kailin said. “Want more mashed potato?”

“I’m good.”

“You barely touch your food.” Knight saw the food on my plate. He was the one who filled it for me, and it could feed five heads.

“If I eat more, I’m gonna explode.” I wasn’t sure everyone was listening until they laughed.

“Guys, the food is good, but I’m not like you all, who can burn thousands of calories in one run. And it’s worth it if it goes into your muscles, not your tummy.”

They chuckled, still eating.

“Vana makes a good sandwich.” West grabbed another lamb chops and took a huge bite.

“Hmm.” That was all Knight said, making West sag against the chair. “Sit straight, West. You’re on the table of food.”

“Sorry, Alpha.”

“How much you win, Vana?” Aspen asked.

“Oh.” I smiled. “I wish I bet more than fifty bucks.”

“Roisin in, I made two hundred bucks each.”

“If I’ve only known. If McKaye didn’t urge me to place a bet, I won’t do it.”

“Congrats.” Knight was amused.

After the fun dinner, Kailin and I went upstairs. I took a shower. When I left the bathroom, Kailin was already in my room, checking my sketchpad.

“How long have you been here?”

“Just a couple of minutes. You improved a lot. Did you enroll in art classes?”

“No. I just do it when I have time,” I lied. “Why are you here?”

She placed down my sketchpad and smiled meaningfully. “I can see the sparks between you two. I take it the tour went well.”

I still felt his kiss. Damn, he was a good kisser. I’d never kissed many, but Knight certainly knew how to make women fall on her knees.

“Earth to, Vana.” She snapped her fingers on my face.

“Um, aside from pissing me off and driving like a lunatic, yeah. It went well. He made fun of me and told me I’m more pleased with a cluster of grapes than his hundred-grand cars.”

“He’s trying his best, Vana. He did not experience long-term relationships. When his parents died, he changed. So just understand him if he seems clueless.”

“I’m also trying, K.”

“So that’s it? No plans?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he left.” I put on my clothes and brushed my hair.

“So he’s coming and staying here?”

“Don’t know.”

“You know what? I don’t have long-term relationships, but if you’re into him, don’t wait for him. We’re in the 21st century, and Gen Z, like us, is making the first move. Seduce him, but I have a feeling no seducing needed.” She beamed.

“You’re insane, K.”

She got up from my bed. “Just saying. I’d love to take care of my little nieces.”

“Oh, my God. We just got into the first base, don’t get too ahead of yourself.”

“Oh, wow! I knew it!” She gushed, pointing a finger at me before throwing herself back in the bed.

“Gee. Calm down. You said it yourself. You guys have enhanced hearing.”

“I knew it. So, who kissed first?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t kiss and tell. Now, get out so I can rest. I want to run in the morning. Knight said I shouldn’t use the gym with my workout outfit.”

She giggled, throwing a pillow at me. “We’ve been best friends for almost five years, but I never thought you were my cousin’s mate. I should have invited you long before we were in college.”

“Hey. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe it’s the right timing. At least I finished college, or maybe if I had met Knight then, he would have rejected me.”

“Maybe. Knight was a senior, and Mac was just a freshman. Mac told me Knight was a manwhore in college. He was kinda famous on the campus, and girls like bad boys like him.”

“How old was he when he lost his parents?”

“Eighteen. He just started college. It was difficult for everyone. It was one of the darkest moments of our lives, but I was grateful he didn’t do drugs or impregnate someone. Instead-”

“He trained himself and began fighting in a secret underground fight club.”

“Yeah. He told you?”

“Yes.”

A knock on my door interrupted us. I got up and went to open the door.

I froze for a moment before I could speak. “You’re still here.”

“A deal is a deal, Nirvana.” He got in without an invitation. “Kailin, go to your room.”

Kailin got up, smiling with a salute. “Aye, aye, captain.”

“See you tomorrow, Vana. Night.”

“Night.” I waited until Kailin shut the door closed. “Why are you here aside from collecting our deal?”

“I’m staying here. Tomorrow, we go home to my house.”

“You will share my bed?” My heart started pumping hard.

“Yeah. I don’t wanna sleep on the floor.” He removed his shoes and socks and got in bed like we had done it a thousand times. “Come to bed and tell me a story.”

“I don’t do bedtime stories, Knight. I also don’t want to sleep on the floor. This house is too big, has enough empty rooms to sleep over, and you’re the alpha. They will prepare the master’s bedroom for you.”

“You’re right, but I don’t wanna go and sleep in the master’s bedroom while my mate is here. And I’m exhausted.” He arranged the pillows for both of us. “Come to bed.”

“Why not? The bed in the master’s bedroom has enough space for your feet.”

“Because that’s my parents’ bedroom.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I crawled to bed and sat before him. “I was just talking about you before you knocked. I’m sure you heard a part of it.”

He reached out for my hand, linking our fingers together. “It’s fine. I’m not a good student in college. I slept around-”

“I don’t wanna hear about it.” I took a deep breath to calm my heartbeat. It was stupid that even his past could affect me.

“You have small hands and slimmed fingers.”

“Does that disappoint you?”

He smiled. “No. For me, you’re perfect.”

“I bet you’ve said that a thousand times to the girls you slept with.”

“No. We didn’t do much talking. I thought you didn’t wanna talk about my time womanizing.”

“Good idea.”

“Are you sleepy?”

“No.” I picked up my sketchpad and grabbed a pencil from the drawer. “I’m not yet exhausted because I didn’t go down punching and kicking a Godzilla.”

“You were worried about me.” He lifted my chin with a finger to meet his gaze.

“You’re the main reason I’m here. I’m not ready to go back home because you fall into a coma.”

“Harsh.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head, showing me his abs and distracting me.

“Yeah. I am.” I started doodling, hoping I could do justice to his eyes. For a guy who had been through a lot, he got expressive and warm eyes if he was not pissed off.

I began with his dark, wavy hair that slightly fell into his eyebrows.

“Put your shirt back on if you wanna sleep in my bed.”

“I was hoping we could finish what we left off in the car,” he said with a smirk, making my pulse race.

“If you came here for that, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Alpha, but there’s nothing left to finish. It was a lapse.”

“Quite long for a lapse, sweetheart.” Every time he called me sweetheart, something deep inside me giggled.

“Shut up.” I hid my smile, but he was like a hawk watching my every move, making me almost squirm.

“What are you scribbling in there?”

“Nothing important.”

“Then come to bed. I promise to behave. My wolf wants to feel you.”

“Screw your wolf. Tell him to behave, or I will slip a wolfsbane in your sandwich.”

“Damn, woman. You’re deadly.”