CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3 - Maybe too much

Cia’s POV

No matter how hard I tried to focus, his face, his voice, his touch haunted my thoughts.

Was it love? Or was I just obsessed?

My wolf, Nira, scoffed in my head. “Obsession? No. He’s our mate. You just refuse to accept it.”

“Shut up,” I whispered back. “It’s not possible. I have never seen him before. I don't even know who he is and where he's from.”

“Because he’s a coward.” Nira’s growl rumbled softly in the back of my mind. “He fights the bond. But I feel it. I feel him.”

I decided to stop bothering myself. 

At least I had something to look forward to, going home for the weekend. The excitement doubled when I learned that my long lost brother had returned. A brother I had never met, only heard whispers about.

But by the time I arrived, he was gone. Again.

No explanation. No note. Just gone.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was avoiding me. Anytime I asked, my mother’s face turned sour, and my father, well, he simply got angry. As if I had no right to ask about my brother.

Why?

I had no answers. Only an ache in my chest as I packed my bag and returned to school, feeling more alone than ever.

Nira was quiet too, but I felt her pacing in my mind, unsettled.

But my thoughts quickly shifted when I heard a knock on the door that evening.

Gabrielle, nonchalantly, called out, “Who is it?”

There was a pause before the deep, unmistakable voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Does Cia live here? She forgot something with me."

My heart stopped. Nira let out a triumphant howl.

"It’s him," she purred.

I shot up from my chair so fast I nearly fell. Gabrielle, who had opened the door, was frozen, her eyes practically undressing him. I couldn’t blame her. He was breathtaking, tall, powerful, effortlessly elegant in his all black outfit. But when his emerald eyes locked onto mine, I felt hooked.

“Do you feel that? The pull?” Nira whispered, almost giddy.

I barely held back my smile when I saw how he ignored Gabrielle’s desperate flirting. He wasn’t here for her. He was here for me.

"How did you find me?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

"I’m sorry," he said, his voice deep and laced with something primal that made Nira whimper. "You forgot your diary in my car and I went through the first page of your diary. That’s how I found you."

My breath hitched. He read my diary?

"Mate things," Nira giggled. "He needed to find you."

Before I could scold him, he spoke again.

"I wanted to talk to you about that night. Would you join me for a simple date?"

My heart screamed “yes.”

“Say yes,” Nira barked. “Say yes right now.”

But I hesitated, forcing my face to stay blank. I wouldn’t make this easy for him. Curious eyes were already staring at us. I wasn’t the kind of girl who had male friends, especially not Alpha looking men like him.

After a moment, I gave a small nod.

“I had no idea what I was stepping into.”

Nira chuckled darkly. “Oh, but you do.”

Months went by fast and Ale and I became inseparable. Despite the age gap, he was my best friend, my safe space. He was protective, kind, and very patient with me.

Gabrielle has been my best friend since we were little and I excitedly told her everything about Ale and I. Because she was dying to know what's going on between Ale and I. She looked genuinely happy and concerned about me, so she warned me never to tell him who my family were. Because he could be a spy from rival packs or an opportunist looking for a naive, wealthy daughter of an Alpha to deceive and I took her advice. 

Never once did Ale cross boundaries. Never once did he flirt. And it drove me insane.

“He’s torturing us,” Nira growled. “He feels it. He’s denying the bond.”

I wanted him to see me as more than a young girl. I wanted him to want me. But every time I tried to hint at my feelings, he brushed them off with a soft smile, never giving me what I desperately craved.

But when other men showed interest in me? Oh, he hated that.

Nira would purr with delight. “He’s jealous. He wants us. Look at his eyes. Listen to his heartbeat.”

He masked it well though, but I noticed the way his jaw clenched when I mentioned someone flirting with me. The way his green eyes darkened. The way his grip tightened just for a second before he controlled himself.

But still, he did nothing.

So, I decided to let him go before I hurt myself further.

For three days, I ignored him. No calls, no texts. I even blocked his number. I told myself it was the right thing to do.

But in those three days, I felt like I was suffocating.

Nira whimpered nonstop, clawing at my chest. “He’s our mate. You can’t cut him off.”

“Yes, I can,” I bit back. “If he won’t accept me, then we’ll move on.”

“You’re lying to yourself.”

When an unknown number called for the third time that evening, I snapped.

"If this isn’t about saving a life, then ..."

"My love, this is about saving my life."

“My love!” Nira’s gasp echoed mine.

I froze, my phone trembling in my hand. Ale had never called me that before.

I quickly muted the call, jumped on my bed, and screamed into my pillow. My heart raced, my cheeks burned, and I couldn't stop myself from dancing around my room in sheer joy.

“You see? He’s waking up,” Nira whispered, her tail wagging wildly in my mind.

I took a deep breath, composed myself, then unmuted the call.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked, his voice softer this time.

I wanted to tell him everything. That I loved him. That his unconcern was killing me. That I was tired of waiting. But instead, I started crying.

"Cia, are you okay? Should I come get you?" His voice was full of concern.

“Yes! Say yes!” Nira screamed.

I wanted him to. Desperately. But I refused. I wasn’t going to be that girl who ran back at the first sweet word.

So I lied. "It’s just school stress. I’ll see you this weekend."

We talked for another thirty minutes before hanging up, but my mind was made up.

“This weekend, I’d make him see me as a woman.”

Nira growled in satisfaction. “Finally.”

The next day, I packed my bag and waited for Ale’s driver.

Gabrielle begged to come along. I refused. I knew she was interested in Ale, and I wasn’t about to give her the chance. She threw a tantrum, but I ignored her. 

The drive started normally until I noticed something strange.

The car wasn’t taking the usual route.

"Where are we going?" I asked, frowning.

The driver responded smoothly. "Sir bought a new house. He asked me to take you there."

I wasn’t convinced. My stomach twisted with unease.

I quickly texted Ale. His response came instantly.

"Yes, my love. It’s a surprise."

Nira howled in delight. "He called us his love again!"

My heart fluttered, but something still felt off.

When we arrived, I gasped.

The house was exactly how I had described my dream home to Ale. The design, colors, everything.

But instead of excitement, sadness gripped me.

"Why can't you love me?" I said to myself.

Nira growled softly. "He does. He just doesn't know how to handle it. Don't forget, he is way older than you are."

I blinked rapidly, pushing down the tears threatening to spill.

"Why can’t you love me?" I whispered again, but this time, the question felt heavier. Not just about him. It was about everyone. My family. My parents who gave me half-truths and silence. My brother who had vanished like mist and after over two decades is back but doesn't want to see me. And now, Ale.