Chapter Two

Lying in my king-sized bed, I had never felt so restless. The fluffiness of the cotton itched my skin and made it crawl. With a lot of work on my shoulder, I couldn’t help but feel tired every day. A surge of pain burst out from my back as I touched it. Of course, I winced at it. It was from yesterday’s fight. I had made Gryphon’s pack my number one priority, I had to protect what I owned with all I had, after all, I was the Alpha of the clan.

All my life, I’d been able to hold on to what I owned tightly, but I had not held on to who I loved for the past ten years and six months—oh yes, I was counting. I had lost my love trying to protect her. My hand reached where the picture of hers was placed—next to my heart. I fished it out with my fingers, fingering the texture of the paper used in printing the picture.

I saw her face again. I got to see this face over and over again for the past ten years. This exact face. I smiled at the picture, savoring the moment of it. Yolian’s auburn hair was falling in a wavy style, her hair bringing to light the pink freckles splattered on her face. Her blue eyes were like that of the ocean—pacifying yet turbulent at the same time.

Her teeth were perfect and arrayed in a polished manner. I always made fun of her crooked nose, but that was what made Yolian, Yolian. That was what made me fall deeply for her, and that was what made me lose her.

I traced my big index finger on the small passport picture, outlining her face, trying to feel her, but I cautiously reminded myself it was all just paper. Yolian would not come back.

As I saw this picture, I remembered when we were in love when we thought nothing could keep us apart, and the feel of her body on mine. Every kiss spelled something. It spelled Yolian’s honey breath, it spelled her smooth, soft lips that could be misplaced for sodium, and it spelled the inner sensation that built inside of me whenever we kissed. Maybe she didn’t see the love I had for her, if she had seen it, she wouldn’t have run away.

No, I was a fool. Who wouldn't run away after rejection? Especially when she had consented.

A memory flashed to me. It was the first time I had seen her when she was broken and torn. I guessed I left her worse than I had found her. There was no forgiveness there. I had wronged Yolian beyond her expectation, but I had to do what was best. For us, and most especially, for her.

My thoughts were interrupted by the footsteps made from the clash between a marble floor and the heel of a shoe. Making a wild guess, I knew it was Minna. I wasn’t ready for her shit.

I sighed heavily and tucked the picture back into where I had pulled it--it would always be there till the end of time, and laid back on the bed, making a mental count before the door would burst open and Minna would swim in. At the appropriate time of my guess, the door of my chambers burst open, revealing a small figure packed with the heaviest kohl and other makeup girls do.

She walked like Cinderella on her way to the ball–so majestic and hopeful, with her head high. She was quiet, trying to check out if I was asleep, but I guessed she knew I was fully awake because she continued to walk down to my bed, with her chin pulled so high that I feared her neck would break.

I made sure Yolian’s picture was properly tucked in because Minna’s reaction to it would not be what I wanted now. Minna was beautiful, no doubt, she had high cheekbones, a long neck, and a dazzling mouth, but she wasn’t Yolian.

“Darling,” her peachy voice broke out, seductive as ever. “How are you?”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I think I’m doing fine.”

She looked at me and gave an unsatisfactory sound. “Hmph. And how is your back?”

“Better than ever.”

She ran her hands down my back, sending shivers down my spine. Minna was lovely when she wanted to be.

“You still need to change the band-aid.”

She dug out the first aid kit and began to work her way through my back, soothing the pain with an ointment before applying the band-aid on it. “Abien,” she kissed my neck as she laid the band-aid properly, then placed a kiss on my lips. 

She expected me to kiss her back and I did so, feeling her lips on mine. Three years ago, I found out from my father that I had an arranged mate that I’d been betrothed to all my life. It turned out to be Minna.

Sometimes, when I kissed Minna, I thought of Yolian. I felt like she was the one I was actually kissing. I’d tried all these years to forget all about Yolian, but every new day, I saw the sparkle in her eyes. The way her eyes shone when I told her I loved her. I hope the shine hadn’t dimmed. I look at the spot between Minna’s neck and shoulder. I hadn’t marked her, yet. I didn’t know if I was ready.

Minna’s smile was short and sharp, pulling me more to her. We kissed for minutes before we were interrupted by a knock. She cursed under her breath as she pulled out of the kiss. Her mouth and hair were a bit ragged now, so she tried to fix everything together, while I put on my shirt.

“Come in.” The person walked into the room with their head bowed.

“Alpha Abien, there’s somebody that needs to see you.”

“Let the person into the meeting room, I’ll be down in a second.” The person bowed and left the room.

Minna’s sharp eyebrow met mine. “What is it, my love?”

“It appears I have a visitor.”

She gave a half smile and nodded. “I’ll be waiting, whenever you’re ready.” She pulled the shoulder of her dress to the side, revealing the upper half of her body and her bra-less round breast, then covered it back up, going back to lie on the bed seductively.

Minna was never hesitant to show her body to me, always trying to seduce me into her bed. Yolian, on the other hand, was afraid to show her body to me. She was always careful about it, until that day she had been carefree with me and had given in.

I followed the servant down to the room where the guest was waiting. I received guests from other clans, so it wasn’t a surprise to have a visitor. The question is, who could this person be?

The servant waited outside and I proceeded into the house, making eye contact with a man I've always been neutral about seeing. I wondered what kind of news he brought to me. His face didn’t tell anything, just crestfallen eyes, and a crooked smile to acknowledge my presence.

I turned to the door and closed it. Whatever he had to say was private, it was what I’d been waiting for, yet, it was what I dreaded to hear. This is what happens when you hire a professional private investigator.

“My Alpha.” He bowed.

I shrugged it away. “Get to the point, PI.” We agreed to call him PI as he wanted to keep everything a secret. “What is it? Did you find her?” I had hired private investigators to help trace down Yolian for over four years now, but I hadn’t gotten anything from any of them.

“I happened to find Yolian, sir.” He said in whispers.

I hit my right hand with my other fist. “Where?” Different questions were burning on my lips, but I knew I shouldn't sound like I was desperate. I set my jaw together, waiting for PI to finish it up.

“New York City, my Alpha.”

I took a moment to pause and think. New York City? “It’s far from here.”

His answer was immediate. “Yolian doesn’t want to be found, she said so herself.”

I tried to digest it all. “She saw you?”

He nodded slowly. “Yes, she did. It was all a mistake, so she said I should tell you that you should quit looking for her, that you’re wasting your money and she doesn’t want to be found.”  

I was pacing now, thinking of what to do next. Yolian had come out and demanded she didn’t want to be found, but my problem in all these was that I couldn't stop thinking of her. I wanted to find her. 

I think of Minna. I saw a girl happy with me, someone so in love with me. Yolian didn’t want to be found.

I was fine with it.

“Okay. Close the case. She doesn’t want to be found, so I’ll just pay you for your troubles.” My mind was piqued for more information. “But, were you able to get any more information about her?” I said so fast that I didn't wait for the words to register in me.

“No, Alpha. Except she wasn’t wearing any human ring of commitment.” He laughed, trying to loosen my tight face.

I didn’t laugh with him. “Okay, PI. I’ll get your pay.”

“Okay, my Alpha. I’ll close it down. Thanks for working with me, sir.”

With this, he tipped his cap off and walked away, leaving me in the room. The thoughts of Yolian would dissolve slowly, and I wanted to regain myself before walking out of the room.

I hoped Minna was still in bed waiting because she was the only way I could clear the thoughts of Yolian from my head.