Chapter 5: Frustrated Alpha

"Come out while I ask nicely.". Elias spoke to thin air. He started going closer, towards the presence. 

"Who are you talking to?" Gavin asked, standing behind Elias, confused.

Elias turned, but didn't answer. He returned his attention again but the presence was gone. "It seems you have a talent of distracting people." Elias said to Gavin.

"What did I do this time?" 

"I felt a presence, I was sure of it but then you distracted me." Elias turned, walking past Gavin. "I'm going to rest."

"Okay! And uhm, Elias...I don't want you to get hurt by trying what you want with Jace. You know it's not allowed."

"Thanks Gavin. But I can take care of myself." Elias responded. "I'll be attending the warrior training tomorrow, let the warriors know."

"But it's late? " Gavin gasped. 

"Oh well, I guess they will find out when they see me." Elias smirked then went up to his room. 

He lay in his bed, frustrated. For days he was restless and could barely sleep. His wolf kept whispering in the back of his mind.

Ours! 

Elias put one hand over his forehead, staring at the ceiling. After a while, he turned his head to the side and smelled the faint trace of Jace still left in the room.

Early the next morning, Elias didn’t ask for or wait for Jace. He got up and went to the training grounds. The warriors trembled as Elias landed. He was blind but didn't behave like he was blind. Everyone was shirtless during training. His body was built up for someone with such a handsome and delicate face. 

He did have men who crushed on him among his warriors but he gave them no attention. He trained harder than usual, sparred with ten warriors at once. and didn’t hold back. He needed to let out his frustration. The ground cracked under his feet as he held them off. After the training with Elias, the warriors always had major injuries. None was yet to defeat Elias. "You call yourself warriors, yet ten of you can't land a scratch..." Elias said angrily. "This is why I leave the training to Gavin." 

Elias dripping with sweat, and some blood stains on his hands turned and left the training grounds. "Most would fall to their knees in excitement if I ever showed interest in them and yet, the little wolf I want the most, is avoiding me..." Elias stopped at a tree, hitting it once. " Pushing me away" He hit the tree the second time. "Calling me SIR!"....As he hit the third time, the tree came falling down. 

"Maybe I am too gentle on my Little Wolf." Elias muttered. Then decided to go after Jace more aggressively. Thinking that might be the best way to change his mind.

He walked into the mansion shirtless, sweat glistening over his skin. Before going up to his floor, Jace happened to be in the hallway carrying folded sheets.

They both froze and staring at each other. His scent and heartbeat made it obvious it was him. Elias tilted his head slightly. “Didn’t expect to meet you this early, Little Wolf.”

“I...I was just working, sir,” Jace said, eyes dropping instantly to the floor. He was trying to avoid looking at Elias shirtless.

Elias stepped closer. “Still calling me that...Sir?"

Jace quickly dropped what was on his hands by the edge of the floor and stepped back slowly, using his hand to cover his lips. “It’s respectful to call Alpha... sir.”

Elias kept coming closer. “It’s distance.”

“I need that.” Jace looked up at Elias body and gasped.

“Liar.” Elias’s voice was calm but it made Jace’s blood pump faster. Especially seeing him like this bare skin, damp hair, sweaty, lips parted just slightly from exertion.

“You’re not scared of me,” Elias said. “You’re scared of yourself.” He kept coming closer until Elias heard a soft thumb on the wall. Elias smiled knowing Jace had reached a dead end.

“I’m not... like that,” Jace muttered, still covering his lips. “I’ve always wanted a simple mate. A girl like me. Someone who...”

Elias cut him off by stepping in, close enough that their shadows merged on the wall. He tried touching Jace's face, and realized he covered his lips.

"Do I make you that anxious?" Elias smirked, then carried the hand on Jace's face and put on the wall above Jace's head. He did the same for Jace's second hand, and then held both of his hands in place. "There! Now, you can't stop me from kissing you."

Jace panicked, but was too weak. "I'll be gentle don't worry." Elias lifted his chin up like he wanted to kiss him, but stopped mid-way, teasing.

“What if SHE doesn't exist?” Elias asked. “What if what you’re looking for is standing right here?”

"Please let my hands go, it hurts." Jace said. "Oh, sorry...if you say so." Elias let go of his hands gently. Jace quickly removed his face from Elias hand and turned his back. “Please, don’t talk like that.”

“Is your back facing me, right now?”

 Jace quickly turned back. 

"Better." Elias said.

Jace’s hands folded, his heartbeat as always gave him away. Elias didn’t touch him but his presence was a touch all on its own. Jace was uncomfortable with the fact a man was attracted to him and wanted to touch him. After a silent while Elias left to his chambers.

That night, Jace couldn’t rest. He paced his room like something was chasing him. Trying push ups, jumping and everything he could think of. 

“Why do I feel like this?” he whispered to himself. “Why can’t I just be normal?”

He remembered what a few servants had said days ago;  about a club in the lower district. 

“A place to let off steam,” they’d said. “To dance. ..To flirt...No rules....No names...to be around females...”

Maybe that would fix it. Maybe being around pretty women would remind him of who he was.

So he dressed quietly, slipped out through the side entrance and walked into the night.

The club was lively. There was music, laughter, smiles and scents layered over each other like perfume and musk and temptation.

Jace stood by the wall, nervous, but trying not to show it. A girl smiled at him. He smiled back. Another touched his arm. He laughed, awkward but polite.

They gave him something and he drank it once. It was sweet and warm. It let  the music fill his ears. It felt almost right.

He loosened up, dancing with the ladies. One in particular seemed to like him, placing her body closer to him and playing with his hair as they danced.  

Suddenly, he saw the crowd give way.

And there, walking through the haze and the sweat and the dim golden lights was Elias.

He was dressed very casual with some chest exposure. His hair was moving in slow motion as he walked up to  Jace.

Jace couldn't focus anymore, his pulse started beating fast again. His cup slipped from his hand, crashing to the floor.

Elias didn’t blink.

He walked straight toward him, towards his heartbeat. Jace knew he was in big trouble.