Let Me In

The tension between Alaric and I is palpable enough to be sliced through with a knife. We walk slowly by the shore line, rather he walks and pulls me along with him while I try to keep pace with his agitated strides.

Alaric is completely silent. He has not said a single word since he sent Lana scampering off in terror and I am beginning to think he will not say anything at all, but continue to torture me with his silence.

However, I'm proven wrong when he speaks and says the most unexpected thing. "Do you love Mikos Landry?"

My heart sinks for a moment, apprehensive on what this question from Alaric implies. And what answer does he hope to hear? What happens if I say something wrong? The last time Alaric and I talked about Mikos, it did not go so well and Alaric threatened to deliver me right into Mikos's hands. What will he do this time if I get him angry?

"You do not have to overthink everything I say, Kyra." Alaric interrupts as though he can hear my spinning thoughts. "It is just a question. If you do not wish to answer, you can also say that. I will not insist or pursue it." He assures me.

His words calm my thoughts by a good measure and I give his question some thought. What do I really feel for Mikos? I am not even sure. I have never had the time to really think about it but now, I realise, I do not have much of an impression of Mikos Landry.

"I barely know him, to be honest." I reply. "Other than when I see him on the news, we've met thrice now."

"How do you love someone you don't even know?" I murmur, more to myself than to Alaric.

Alaric glances over at me for a moment, as if contemplating the sincerity in my words. But he seems to get the conclusion he is looking for because he nods his head slowly.

"Good." Alaric says. "Because I do not plan on letting you go back to him. Mate bond be damned."

I am left speechless by Alaric's words and so I just quietly walk beside him. The waves crash softly some distance away from us and I watch the scene, appreciating the calming effect it carries with it. 

After a short while, Alaric speaks again. "Feeling better?" He asks.

I glance over at him in surprise. I thought he was just too lost in his own rage that he needed a walk to take his mind off of things but I realise now that the walk is for my benefit. Though I wish it hadn't, Lana's words really got to me and the sinking feeling of disappointment is difficult to shake off.

"There is nothing wrong with freeing the earth of one more scum." Alaric continues. "As I see it, your only mistake is saving him the stress of paying for his crimes. They can only persecute you if you also believe you deserve it."

My throat is tight. Alaric's words provides a point of view that I have not considered myself. Alpha Rich Landry was just another scumbag, he got what was coming at him and I did what I had to do to protect myself from him.

For the next hour, we just walk in silence till the moon is high in the sky. My legs hurt from the long walk, but my chest feels lighter and my shoulders carry less weight.

I do not know what will come after this, but I now know one thing. I am not the one who should be running.

A short time later, we headed back to the beach house. Cedric is waiting on the porch and his expression reveals his relief as he catches sight of us. He takes one look at our joined hands and then he takes Alaric's jacket from his hands and moves aside to let us in, a suspicious smile on his lips.

"And here I was thinking you had run off again. Turns out you both were just enjoying the view." Cedric comments in a teasing tone.

Alaric ignores him and leads the way up to my room. I walk in, taking off my jacket and Alaric lingers by the door, just watching me in silence.

"Ummm... I'm gonna take a shower." I say uncertainly. Alaric shrugs casually but makes no attempt to move or leave the room. "I mean... like now..." I add,

"Do that. I'll wait." He says simply.

My brows furrow slightly and my eyes scan Alaric from head to toe. He is still dressed in his suit pants and a white button down shirt tucked in. He looks every bit as dashing as he always does.

I know he has had a long and tiring day even before he came in search of me and then he spent hours accompanying me to ease my mind, I cannot understand Alaric's actions or the reasoning behind them and so I can only conclude he just wants to make certain I am fine because I am carrying his child.

"Wait for what?" I ask in bafflement.

"Go have your shower, Kyra." Alaric replies simply and then he goes to take a seat by my bed.

I frown slightly but I gather my necessities and head into the washroom. I stand underneath the shower for a short moment before I hear a knock on the door.

I glance over my shoulder as the door slides open just a fraction and Alaric is standing there, staring at me. The shower doors are blurred by steam and so I know he can only see me from my shoulder upwards. Yet his eyes are dark and I can practically taste the desire pouring off of him in waves. His arousal is thick in the air, it floods my senses and I stare back at him in astonishment.

"I want you..." Alaric says in a low, husky tone. "But I need you to let me in, Kyra."

"If you ask me to leave... I will." He adds.