CHAPTER SIX

MALACHI’s POV.

I know exactly what she is trying to do, trying to rile me up and see how I react. If only the lady before me realized the fact that I genuinely do not care about what she and that lover of hers says.

Tamika is only here because of a reason and until that is accomplished, she can do whatever she chooses.

“Hi baby,” her voice rings out, I can hear the sarcasm from it. I don’t say anything, I just stand and continue to look. If she thinks talking to him like that will get to me, then she has another thing coming.

“Sorry, I didn’t pick your calls earlier,” her voice rings out again, “I was busy and I just got the chance now,”

The more she talks, the more she expects me to say something but I only lean against the wall and close my eyes, waiting for her to finish.

The only thing she is doing is making me hate her more, just like my ex wife. The one who cheated on me and made it look like I was the problem.

“Tamika,” I hear Rome call from the other end of the line, “you know you did not—

Before he can finish his statement, I grab the phone from her and end the call. Her forehead creases into a tiny frown but that means absolutely nothing to me.

“What do you think—

“When I talk to you, you do as I say,” I cut her off, “do you hear me?”

“And who are you to give me orders?”

“The person who has your life in his hands for the next one year, Tamika. Do not piss me off with these gimmicks. Tomorrow night, I am having a party to introduce you to the people you need to introduce too. The makeup team and everyone involved would come to take care of you,” I pause for a moment as anger washes over me, the urge to grab her neck envelopes me but I keep my calm,

“And dinner is served if you are hungry,”

Before she can respond, I turn around and make my way out of the room. Being in the same space with her is making me more upset than I will.

As soon as I step out of the room, Vick, who is standing by the door, bow softly.

“Alpha,” he calls out, “Don Mahon has been calling. He says it’s urgent,”

“Tell him I will return his calls in the morning and arrange for a meeting at the pack house. I need to brief everyone before I introduce Tamika to them,”

Both our worlds are different. She is a full human, born and brought up in the palace, having everything at her beck and call from childhood but here—I struggled to reach this height I have and I am not going to let her do anything to mess with it.

She doesn’t have to know who I was or what I was. The only thing I want her to do is focus on giving me a son.

“Okay, Alpha,” Vick nods as he pulls out his phone and makes his way down the hallway. I just turn and make my way towards the study.

The full moon is a few days away and I can already feel the pain cursing through my veins. A pain I have been nursing for the past ten years, the punishment that the moon goddess thinks is befitting for me.

As soon as I step into the study, my phone buzzes and when I see the caller ID, I almost roll my eyes to the back of my head before clicking on the receive button.

He knew about this deal from the get go and that’s why he didn’t have a problem when I came for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Funny how I had the power to usurp him from the throne but his daughter thinks otherwise.

“Why have you called?” I ask as soon as I press the phone against my ear.

“Malachi,” his voice filters through, “I believe you and Tamika are both fine. I have been trying to give her a call but she has refused to pick up. Do you think she is still mad at us?”

“You should ask her,” I respond, “I genuinely do not care about that and you know from the very beginning that she doesn’t like me. This is just a contract,”

“Yes, I know that.”

“I will speak to you in the morning,”

Before he can answer, I end the call and allow my mind to wander off again. Having someone else in this house aside from the workers and my pack members is not something I will consciously do.

After my wife died, I made a conscious decision not to let anyone in again. Letting Tamika in was not in my power and I couldn’t wait for a year to go by quickly. Humans annoy the hell out of me.

I don’t know how long I sit there until I hear the door creak open and a familiar cologne fill my nose.

I let out a sigh. When the heck did she come back?

“What do you want?” I ask her immediately.

“What do you mean?” Her voice is full of sarcasm as Melisa lowers herself on the chair opposite me,

“I hear you finally brought her back. I thought you said it would be over your dead body that you will let a human enter this house?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” I cock an eyebrow at her, “why are you back?”

She had her mark and mate ceremony two weeks ago to her mate who manifested himself a year ago. Melisa couldn’t wait to get married to him because that was someone she has been in love with.

At times I look at my sister and I feel grateful to the moon goddess for not making her life complicated like mine—I would never tell Melisa this though.

“We flew back the moment I heard you were going to Cane—city,” she replies, “I couldn’t miss the arrival of the new wife,”

“Get out, Melisa”

“What?” She burst out laughing but I just continue looking at her.

“But..” her voice rings out again, “the curse can finally be lifted. Are you not happy?”

“Where is Xaden?” I ask about her husband, “did he not get scared that I will chop his head off for allowing you to come here?”

“Oh please “ she rolls her eyes, “stop making my husband scared of you. Yes, you are his alpha but he is my husband now,”

I don't respond to her, I just pick up my phone from the table and pull my body off the chair before making my way out of the study.

She is already seated on the table when I walk into the dining room, Melisa is sitting beside her, showing her something on the phone.

Tamika’s face is creased into a smile but this is not what catches my attention. She is putting on a tank top and a pair of joggers, the tattoo on her lower back catches my attention.

My forehead creases into a small frown as I try to assimilate what’s going on. She is a princess and princesses do not do these kinds of things.

“She is Tamika,” My wolf says deep in my head, “what do you expect?”

“Hey, you” Melisa’s voice pulls me out of my train of thought and I raise my head to see the two of them staring at me. A look of disdain on her face.

“I thought you already left,” she adds.

“About leaving,” I say as I pull out a black card from my pocket and I drop it on the table in front of Tamika, “this is for you. Use it as you wil,”

“I do not need it,” she hisses, pushing it towards me.

“I didn’t ask if you needed it," I answer back, “it’s yours,”

Without another word, I turn and make my way out of the room—I do not want to look at the tattoo a second time.