Scarred Luna

Xander’s POV

I’d always heard the word “distractions”, but I couldn’t exactly say I’d experienced it one on one. Or perhaps, I never considered it a distraction when they eventually occurred. I probably saw it as a welcome escape from the task at hand, but right now, this particular distraction in the form of the new help I’d just hired for the mansion wasn’t in the least welcome here.

I wanted her to leave. Now.

A couple more seconds passed, with neither of us moving. Alice stood quite a distance away from the fountain where Kieran and I were huddled together, but I could still see her pretty clearly. Even though the night had fully darkened and only a couple of stars were out, it didn’t change that I could still see her, and that I wanted her to leave.

I felt something shift beside me, or more importantly, someone. It was Kieran. Since our faces were still huddled together, I could tell she wanted to leave. She’d gotten uncomfortable and couldn’t be in this environment anymore. But I couldn’t let her go. I still craved her company.

And her lips.

I bit back a smile at the thought of that. Just a couple of seconds ago, I was running my lips over Kieran’s, a dream of mine I’d been yearning to fulfill ever since the first time I’d pulled her to my room that night. Now that I had finally gotten my opportunity, she just had to step in?

I ground my teeth in low anger and frustration. Right now, I wanted nothing more to spend more time with Kieran and no domestic help was going to change that.

“Kieran?” Alice shrieked again, her octave deeper than the last. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Kieren tensed besides me. Noticing this , I put my hand atop hers. In that moment, nothing else mattered, except for the two of us and it would have stayed that way if Alice didn’t just barge in again.

“Alpha Xander.” She pursed with a bright smile on her face. After she was sure I’d gotten her greeting, she turned towards Kieran with a frown. “What are you doing here?”

“I believe I should be asking you that question.” I beat Kieran to it, not like she was going to say anything. ” Don’t you have duties to attend to on the inside?”

If the gasp that Alice let out meant anything, it was shock. Perhaps she was shocked at what I’d said or what I’d just done. Whatever it was, I just hoped and prayed she would get the memo.

She needed to leave. Now.

“I was already done with everything I needed to do.” Alice chimed, something strange lining the tone of her voice. “I came to ask if you needed anything.”

“No.” I quipped immediately. “I’m fine. You’re fine, so you can leave now.”

“But it’s late.” I bit back a retort at her response. “You should be inside. Aren’t you freezing?”

“No.” I let out immediately. “The weather outside is perfectly fine and Kieran and I would love to enjoy the sight tonight. Right, Kieran?’.

“What?” Kieran mumbled. That was the first statement she’d made since Alice walked in.

It was dark, but the moon did a good job in lightening up her face and highlighting her features and as she let out her next words, I could see a mix of emotions etched into her face all at once. “I don’t… um… I…”

“You see.” Alice scoffed, a haughty undertone in her voice. “Even she can’t say anything.”

I cocked my head at the audacity she had and I was about to talk but Kieran beat me to it.

“Excuse you?” Kieran bit back, like that was the motivation she needed to speak up after all. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.” Alice smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, I was only looking out for you. I don’t see the point of staying outdoors when you’re freezing. It’s common sense actually.”

“Maybe.” Kieran shrugged. “But how and why can’t you see that we want to be left alone? Isn’t that common sense too?” She asked and my face remained emotionless but I beamed with pride at watching my mate handle herself.

“I… that’s not- you …” Alice fumbled over her next words. A frown formed up in her eyebrows, but one glance at me and it was gone, just to be replaced immediately by one of her pristine white smiles. “I was only looking out for you…” she started to say.

“I think you should be more concerned about looking out for those you were placed in charge of.” Kieran grinned, while cutting her off. ” As for Alpha Xander and I , we can take care of ourselves. Right?”

“Right” I had no idea why, but there was something about the way she asked the question that warmed my heart and I found myself smiling. “Right. So, Alice, thank you so much for your concern but we’re actually quite comfortable out here.” I said, hoping to the goddess that she would finally leave.

“With her?” Alice lashed out, something unreadable and frankly, annoying, in her tone. I barely managed to suppress the urge to tear her apart as I watched her eyes flare up as she let out her next string of words. “But… why?”

“What do you mean why?” Kieran retorted, beating me to it yet again. From the corner of my eyes, I watched Kieran’s eyes narrow down into the size of slits. ” Is there someone else you would rather the Alpha be with?”

Silence reigned as the question hung in the air. As the silence stretched into minutes, I couldn’t help but feel like there was something else in the air, something I was surprisingly missing out on, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t place a finger to it.

“Never mind.” Alice cleared her throat. “For your information, I actually have a good reason for coming out here.”

“And that is?” It was my turn to chip in now. “What exactly could that reason be?”

“Dinner is ready.” Alice’s reply was tight-lipped. Honestly, she looked like she would combust any minute now. “I came to call you in for dinner.”

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Then you should have started with that.”

“Yes.” Alice let out a grunt. ” Why don’t we go in then?”

“Not yet.”Kieran said and I turned to look at her at the exact same time Alice did too. “We’ll come in a little later.”

“Why?” It was just one word, but I could tell there was a bit of annoyance laced in it. ” Why can’t you come with me now?”

“Because we’re not done enjoying the sights yet.” Kieran shrugged, as nonchalantly as she could. ” We’ll come in once we’re done.” she said decisively.

“But dinner is getting cold.” Alice let out through gritted teeth. “I’ve been out here for the longest time now…”

“And we would have come in if you had just told us to come in for dinner earlier.” Kieran shrugged again, cutting her off . “So, it’s your fault, not ours.”

“Alpha Xander” Alice turned to me in the blink of an eye. “Come to dinner with me.”

It sounded nothing like a request. In fact, I almost thought she was commanding me.

“You heard her. I’ll come in when Kieran says we should.” Call me crazy, but I swear I heard Kieran cheer underneath her breath. ” You go on ahead without us.” I ordered her.

“But …” Alice trailed off, her eyes darting from Kieran to me and back again. “But, but, dinner is ready and…”

“Alice.” I let out in a monotone and she froze. “Leave. Now. And do not let me repeat myself.”

Without so much as another word, I watched as Alice stormed off, a slight spring in her steps whilst muttering incoherent words under her breath.

What the hell was wrong with her?