Alpha Noah

~Abella

My mouth goes dry.

The rational me would immediately assume he is taunting me with some kind of joke to make this situation even worse. However, I stare at him, as he gets back up to his feet, I see no falter in his expression. He doesn’t burst into laughter, and he doesn’t immediately crack some kind of joke at my expense. He is completely serious.

Fear fills my veins like thick poison. There is no doubt he is being truthful, but with everything that has been revealed today, I’m not sure I want to explore the idea of us being mates. Especially since when I think about it, it almost seems to make perfect sense.

“Why are you telling me this?” I question. I know I brought this upon myself, questioning him and demanding so many answers.

If I knew this would be the case, I would have kept my mouth shut.

“You wanted complete honesty, and I decided to do graciously provide it,” he tells me, leaning back against the couch as if he had finally lifted a weight of his shoulders that had been bothering him for awhile. I have so many more question building up within my mind, but I don’t have the power or energy to ask them.

In short, I don’t think I want to know.

“If this is true, it doesn’t mean anything,” I tell him firmly. I’ve always wanted a mate, however, I didn’t think I was going to be paired with an immortal. I can’t just accept it and that be that. I need to think about it first to decide whether or not I can handle this. It just doesn’t feel right, for whatever reason.

Cian raises an eyebrow at me, looking skeptical. “Why, are you scared? Is it because I’m an immortal? Because I’m a sin? There is nothing to be afraid of… The only people who should be afraid of a sin are people who cross one.”

I get to my feet, moving myself away from where he sits on the couch. I need time to process everything that I’m being told.

Before now, I never cared to learn anything about sins. I’m regretting that now.

“I just need time to think,” I mutter, delving my hands into my hair. I haven’t even touched him yet, but you don’t just call someone your mate unless you mean it. It’s impossible to fake, unless this is just a sick joke on Cian’s part. I honestly wouldn’t put that past him… but he looks so serious, I’m questioning my own doubt.

“Understandable. Can I get you a drink?” he asks, pulling himself up off the couch. I glare at him, wondering why he is so nonchalant about this when he just revealed a secret that big. It’s almost as if he’s had multiple mates in his time, and this isn’t his first experience.

I shake my head at him. “No, but you can take me home.”

Cian hesitates, narrowing his dark eyes for a moment. My arms are folded over my chest, as I stare back at him, balking. Cian doesn’t seem to be taking this so seriously, so I want to go home and think about this myself.

“We haven’t even confirmed that we are mates the old fashioned way,” Cian says, holding his hand out like some kind of proposition.

To be completely honest, I was hoping to go home and make excuses, telling myself that he isn’t my mate, and this has been a convoluted joke. However, here Cian stands, his hand held out to me, offering me the knowledge I can never step back from. I want to turn and run. To do anything but find out.

But I know I have no other choice.

“Fine, but again, this doesn’t change anything,” I mutter. The corner of Cian’s mouth turns up slightly, clearly amused by the hesitation. Sure, he has all the luck with women because he has a bright smile, undeniable charm, and looks that not many in this world are lucky enough to possess.

Here goes nothing I suppose.

Reaching out, I brush my fingertips against his, before shooting my hand back to his lap. Sure enough, my skin erupts into tingles, and just like that, I know who my mate is. It’s not a disappointed feeling, although I do feel empty, like something isn’t quite right, Maybe it’s because Fate decided to play a sick trick on me, and pair me with an immortal sin. I’m not exactly sure what I did to deserve that.

“Still want me to take you home?” he asks, shoving his hands into his pockets. I swallow the lump gathering in my throat, trying to process how I feel about this. Am I really okay with this? This is meant to be a happy moment…

I nod numbly. “I need time to think about this first. Then I have questions for you that I need you to answer.”

Cian takes in a breath, not looking offended by my decisions, although the air between us has definitely shifted. He wanted me to react a different way then I did, no doubt. This isn’t over, however. I just need time to consider what this means.

“You wish is my command,” he tells me, holding his hand out. This time, I don’t hesitate in taking it.

***

“Are you kidding me?”

Sam sits on my windowsill, back pressed against the glass. I sit on my bed, hands folded over my lap, having just presented the last ten hours of my life. Her mouth gapes open, as she stares me down. Out of all people to call, her reaction will be the most dramatic, however, there is no one I would rather talk to then Sam. It’s not as if I have anyone else to talk to anyway.

“I know it sounds crazy… trust me, I hardly believe it either,” I mutter, falling down to rest my head on my pillow. I stare at the ceiling, wondering if anyone has been paired with a mate who is nothing like them. I can’t imagine anyone more opposing to me.

I need to stop thinking about that…

“After everything that has happened in this past month, this is nothing crazy,” Sam admits, hopping down to pace across my small room. “It makes perfect sense. He chased you around and wouldn’t give you up in all that time when you were clearly not interested.”

That’s true. If there is one thing I can commend Cian on, it’s his persistence. I suppose when you are immortal, you have a long time to focus on one thing.

“But I didn’t want this. I don’t want to be mated to someone who lives in a completely different realm. And not to mention, he practically embodies all that is evil,” I exasperate. It feels good to complain my issues right off my chest.

“A minor issue,” Sam excuses. “Man, why did I let you move to this new job? All the fun and interesting things happen to you.”

“I wouldn’t call this fun.”

A knock at the door suddenly makes us both jump.

Exchanging glances with Sam, I quickly answer it, praying it’s no Cian back after only a few hours to harass me. Instead, it’s the lady who works at the front desk of this apartment, holding an envelope in her hand. She doesn’t even acknowledge me, as she places it in my hand, and turns to walk back down the hallway.

“Oh, who is it from? Your special mate?” Sam asks, as I close the door. I see it’s addressed to me, but no name to suggest who it came from. I already assume it’s from Cian, wondering whether I’ve decided when I want to see him next.

I’m nowhere near ready for that.

With Sam looking over my shoulder, I rip open the envelope, peeling it back to see what is written to me, and who by.

“Not quite,” I murmur. “It’s from the Alpha, inviting me to a tour of his gardens tonight.”

This letter is handwritten immaculately. Either Noah took the time to write this himself, or he had someone else do it for him. Either way, it’s very professional sounding, and no suggestive at all. There is no hidden meaning behind this to make me nervous, yet still, my stomach turns over in knots.

“That’s quite the innuendo there. Since when were you getting to it with the Alpha?” Sam asks, nudging me as she pulls the letter out of my hand to read it herself. I can’t help but roll my eyes, smiling at Sam’s ability to make everything appear dirty.

“Don’t be crude, he’s my boss,” I reprimand, hoping she doesn’t notice how my cheeks slightly flush. “I should turn him down. I have to be thinking of Cian right now.”

“It might be a work thing. Just because money isn’t an issue to your mate, doesn’t mean you should through your job away,” Sam says, taking my spot on my bed.

I’m surprised at Sam for thinking about this properly, not assuming Noah and I have anything else than a business relationship. She’s completely right, too. I’m overthinking, as usual. This could help my job, if I go to meet up with him, and find out what he wants.

I sigh. “Fine, I’ll go.”