53

ALINA

Just when everything was finally falling away, when I could forget the world and get lost in Alexander, there was a knock on the door.

He groaned, his mouth pulling away from mine, frustration etched deep into his features. His hair was completely tousled from my fingers raking through it, strands falling over his forehead. He leaned forward again, and I held my breath, thinking he might just ignore it. But before anything could happen, a second knock echoed through the room, even louder and more urgent.

“Fuck,” he muttered, straightening his shirt with clear annoyance. “I swear, if it’s not life or death, I’m going to kill whoever that is.”

Normally, I would’ve laughed at the sheer drama of that, maybe teased him for being so irritated. But this wasn’t one of those empty threats. Knowing Alexander, he meant every word.

He turned slightly, eyes dropping to my shoulder. I followed his gaze and realized the strap of my shirt had slipped, exposing more skin than I intended. I pulled it back up and sat upright, smoothing out my top and running a hand through my tangled hair. It was a mess. I didn’t bother fixing it.

Did this mean I was okay with people knowing about me and Alexander?

Was there even a me and Alexander?

Sure, we’d just made out, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Right? Except… I was his mate. And mates didn’t just stop at kissing. Eventually, people would know. That is, if Alexander ever intended to make me his Luna.

I looked down at myself, suddenly hit with a wave of uncertainty. My throat tightened, and to my surprise, tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. I had no idea where they came from, but they burned all the same.

“What the fuck do you want?” Alexander barked as he flung open the door.

I couldn’t see who he was speaking to from where I sat. They kept their voices low, too soft for me to catch. A brief exchange followed and when Alexander returned, his expression had changed. There was something hard in his eyes. Whatever he’d been told wasn’t good.

I opened my mouth, wanting to ask but I didn’t. It wasn’t my place. I reminded myself of that.

“I have to check on something,” he voice dropped as he spoke to me. Completely different from the growl he’d given the person at the door.

His eyes scanned me in a way that made me feel more exposed than I had earlier. “I’ll be back later.”

“Okay,” I murmured, looking down at my hands, twisting my fingers together.

He didn’t leave immediately. He stood there for another second, saying nothing. Then, with sudden purpose, he crossed the room, bent down, and kissed me again. Before I could even process it, he was gone.

I lay back on the bench, staring at the ceiling, my mind blank but also spinning with too many thoughts at once.

I must have drifted off, or just completely zoned out, because the next thing I knew, another knock pulled me back. When I looked toward the window, the sky outside had darkened.

“Come in,” I called out without thinking.

The door creaked open. I didn’t even have to look to know who it was. It wasn’t Claude, he knocks now, but always hesitates. And Alexander wouldn’t knock at all.

So that left Lisa.

She slipped into the room, moving like someone trying to outrun something behind them. The moment she was inside, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her head fall back with a low, guttural noise that was somewhere between a groan and a scream.

“Hey,” I said, pushing myself up and stepping toward her cautiously. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mind me.” Her voice was forced, shaky. She exhaled heavily, but didn’t look at me.

“You sure?” I asked again, more gently this time.

She didn’t look okay. Her face was flushed, eyes too bright, and her energy was just… off. This wasn’t the Lisa I was used to. And that had me worried.

“No,” she groaned, eyes shut. When she finally opened them, they were glossy, and I could see how hard she was trying not to cry.

That was all it took for me to guide her toward the bed.

“Here,” I said, helping her sit. “You’ll be more comfortable here.”

I poured her some water and handed her the cup, frowning when I noticed how her hands trembled.

When I brushed her arm, she shivered at the contact.

“You’re cold,” she said, surprised.

“Well, I’ve been sitting near the window. It’s a bit chilly.” She looked like she had something else to say but chose not to. Whatever was bothering her must have taken up more space in her mind.

Okay. This was bad. Lisa never acted like this. Something had to be really wrong.

“I guess so,” she finally said, eyes fluttering closed for a second before locking on mine. And when she did, all I saw was raw, unguarded vulnerability.

Lisa always carried herself like someone older than her age, confident, sharp, unbothered. But right now, she looked exactly like what she was: a teenager lost in the middle of emotions she didn’t know how to handle.

“Can I ask you something?” she said softly, her tone careful.

“Of course. I’ll try to answer.” I gave a weak smile. Truth was, I probably didn’t know much more than she did.

Even though she’d been stuck here most of her life, I had a feeling she still had more freedom than me.

“How do you know if a guy likes you?”

The question caught me off guard. My mouth opened, then closed. I didn’t even know what to say. For a long time, I just stared at her. It felt like forever before she groaned in frustration.

“God, this is so stupid. I’m being stupid,” she muttered.

“What happened?” I nudged her gently.

“It’s dumb, okay?” she snapped, defensive, like she was already bracing for judgment. But I just waited. Eventually, it all spilled out. “I kissed Isiah and now he’s vanished. I’ve been looking for him everywhere, and nothing. Not a word.”

Her voice broke on the last part, and I felt a sting in my chest.

I didn’t even know who Isiah was. I assumed he was the one she was asking about. The one she wanted to believe liked her.

“Are you sure nothing happened to him?” I asked after she mentioned they’d been sneaking around, seeing each other in secret.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “He would’ve told me if he was leaving… At least, I think he would.” That last part came out barely audible, like she was already doubting herself.

“Wait. You said his name was Isiah?”

My brain scrambled, trying to piece things together. I remembered earlier, Isiah had been mentioned. I think I heard Alexander say his name and he didn’t look very happy.

Could it be connected?

“Yes,” Lisa said quickly, her voice tinged with hope. “Did you hear anything?”

She looked so desperate, it made me hesitate. Should I tell her?

“I… I think he’s with Alexander,” I admitted. The words came out before I could weigh them properly.

Lisa’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. Her fear turned sharp, immediate.

“This is bad. If Alexander’s got him, he’s probably already dead,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“What? Why would he kill him? What did Isiah do?”

“But it doesn’t make sense,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s his cousin.”