Chapter 3

Adelia’s Point of View

“What is your name?” Ciaran asked the man. 

There was a flicker of irritation in his eyes as he looked at the Alpha. But his lips remained fully sealed. 

Ciaran growled. Demanded again. “What is your name?” 

This was met with a sneer and the brooding male spitting in front of Ciaran’s feet.

Alvara’s hand flashed forward and clasped around her mate’s wrist, already knowing what he wanted to do.

“You tried talking to him when she was asleep and he didn’t. He’s not going to now.” She offered in a small voice. 

I should have chimed in then. Offered my services by telling them that I would talk to him alone. But I was tired and defeated. My house was now a mess. 

All I wanted to do was sleep.

“Adelia can always talk to him,” Ciaran offered. 

My stomach dropped into my shoes. So much for getting another few hours of sleep.

Alvara cut him a flat look.

“What’s your name?” I asked the man chained to the floor, not keeping my irritation out of my voice.

His eyebrow perked up. And I could have sworn there was a ghost of a smile at the corners of his lips. Like he knew what I was doing. Enjoyed watching me do it.

Alvara chuckled.

“I didn’t mean now. In private. We could leave and she could talk to him. I mean, it’s worth a shot.” Ciaran hurriedly explained.

“Absolutely fucking not! We can’t just leave him alone with her when we don’t even know why he was in the house in the first fucking place!” Alvara cut in with a high-pitched voice.

“He is chained up and can’t get out. It’s not like we are putting her life at risk. And you seemed to point out exactly the reasons why she needs to try and talk to him. We don’t know what went on last night. If she can get answers, then let her,” Ciaran argued back.

Mates and their constant struggle for dominance. How thrilling.

Sighing, I sat up a bit more. Winced when the stitches on my chest pulled a bit more than what was comfortable.

“If me doing this gets you the fuck out of my hospital room, then I will. I’m tired. It has been a long few hours and I just want to sleep.” I huffed out.

Alvara passed me a concerned look. But her mate almost immediately conceded.

A gentle hand clasped mine. “We will leave the door open. If anything,” Alvara looked at the man again. Swallowed hard. “If anything happens, we are only a call away.” 

“No. The house is soundproof. I take it this room is as well. Close the door. No one hears but her.” The man growled out.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Oh, so now you choose to fucking speak. Just admit you want me alone in a room so that you can undress me with your eyes more freely.” I huffed.

This time around, he did smile. White, brilliant teeth flashed in the sunlight coming in through the window. “Who says I haven’t been doing that all along?” 

Pervert. 

A fucking home-intruder and a pervert. The goddess just knew how to pick them. 

“How do you know the place is soundproof?” Alvara asked, horror dripping from her voice.

The man sent her a dry look. Sealed his lips again.

“Fine. Fine. But then I need answers to my questions. Otherwise I might as well just kill you and be done with it.” I said. Tried to wave him off but my hand only twitched beside me.

Every muscle I had was tired down to the bone. My healing had always been speedy. I thought it was the same as everyone else’s. And for as long as I can remember, I always felt spent after healing.

Looking back at it now, I was dumb as fuck for thinking it was normal.

He scrunched his eyebrows together like he was puzzling something out. Then the look was gone. Replaced by a cold shell.

With a last, lingering look, Alvara stood up from her seat. Squeezed my hand in hers once. “Are you sure?” 

I smiled up at her and nodded. 

Both of them left. Clicked the door shut behind them and left me with my deranged mate.

For long seconds, all we did was stare at each other. Assessed and reassessed. Refused to be the one who spoke first, despite needing to get things out in the open.

It gave me a clear picture of what our life might look like together. Two stubborn assholes giving each other hell. 

What fucking even? 

A life together? 

He had wanted to kidnap me!

“You didn’t tell them that you overheard Ricky and Bell’s conversation in the kitchen. That you know well enough why the fuck I was here.” He stated breaking the terse silence.

Sighing again, I leaned my head back. Closed my eyes. “They don’t have to know everything. Especially when it comes to my father.” 

 “You don’t trust them.” 

“I don’t want them to worry.” 

“Aren’t you even a bit curious as to why we wanted to use you to get to your father?” He asked, amusement weaving with his voice.

Slowly, I raised my head off of the pillow. Opened my eyes. 

He had a smug smile on his face.

“Did nobody tell you that my father and I aren’t really on speaking terms? Shit. I wouldn’t be surprised if he blew up wherever you came from, just because I was inside.” I replied drily.

His eyes widened in shock. Horror. But he remained silent. 

I let the tension drift back into the air. Settled against my pillow again. Closed my eyes.

Until he spoke again.

“So you really aren’t going to ask me anything? Not even a bit curious about, say, my name?” 

I really needed a jog after this.

“I liked you more when you spoke less. Your voice grates on my nerves. Will you keep quiet if I ask you something?” 

“Yes.” 

“What’s your name?”

“Siya Mxolisi.” 

My eyes shot open. Head tilted forward and I locked eyes with him. Stared at him with a burning that I couldn’t begin to describe.

“Phaedra Mxolisi’s infamous douche of a brother?” I asked in disbelief.

His smile grew wider. Became feral, almost unhinged. “The very same. I was sent here by her to collect you. And I never fail in the tasks she gives me.”

Even when those tasks entailed killing and maiming people. Not even children were spared once he was sent on their path. He killed mercilessly. Was famed for it.

Yet the king never bothered to bring the bastard to justice. Not when Phaedra was so close to him.

Phaedra Mxolisi. The famed and hated concubine of the werewolf king. Scum of the fucking earth. I wouldn’t be surprised if her brother was even worse.

“And you let a fucking girl bring you to your knees? How pathetic.” I bit.

All of the color drained from his face.

“And you are the interim Alpha of a pack you have no connection to. It seems we both have our weaknesses.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I am fulfilling a debt to a friend.”

“You will come home with me. By the end of this week, we will be back in my pack. These chains…” He carried on speaking without missing a beat. Ignored my explanation. “They have no true hold over me.” 

“Why? So that you can try and get uranium out of my father? Good fucking luck buddy. I just told you, he gives zero shits about me.” 

“No. Because you are my mate and you belong by my side, nowhere else. Especially not close to any males that think it's fine to touch you so openly.” 

Ciaran had gotten under his skin. I liked the thought of that. 

Shrugging, I smiled at him. Sweetly. Innocently. “You first have to get out of those chains, buddy. Sorry to disappoint. Now, keep your mouth shut. They’ll leave me alone as long as they think we are talking and you are wasting my time.” 

Siya’s eyebrows knit together. Jaw muscles feathered. “You have no urge to know what my sister is planning? What she wants?” 

I closed my eyes. Rested my head on the pillow. “Not right now, no. You are chained up and I can keep you here for as long as I want, seeing as I am the interim Alpha here,” I used my so-called weakness as a weapon. “ For now? All I want is for you to shut up and to fall asleep.” 

“You are selfish, then.” Not an accusation. A statement. Like he was observing me under a microscope.

But I couldn’t deny that it stung more than I thought it would.