Chapter Thirteen: A Kiss

Just as I was leaving my bedroom and locking the door. I turn and immediately run into something solid; no, it was a person. My head struck the person's powerful jaw squarely.

"Ow!" I shrieked in agony, stumbled back, and then rubbed my head to relieve the excruciating pain.

How could I have not seen the person standing there?

"Oh shit! I'm so sorry."

This person swears, and when I look up, Colton is looking down at me anxiously.

"I had no idea that you would walk right into me. I just arrived and wanted to see you before I left. I sincerely apologize."

I sighed and smiled slightly at him since he seemed guilty.

"It's alright. Why did you want to see me?" I inquired.

"Actually, I wanted to check in with you after hearing about what transpired earlier today. You may consider my brother to be disrespectful, but believe me when I say that Stark's words often differ significantly from his actions. He is that much of a jerk. I nearly shattered your lovely delicate head, which is why I'm sharing this little secret with you." He says, and I avert my eyes.

He steps forward and touches my forehead. "Are you still in pain?" I chuckled and tapped his hand away when he worriedly inquired, "Does your head still hurt?"

"I don't know if I still feel the pain. I believe it is no longer there." I touch the place of my head once more while I speak.

"That's good because if something were to happen to you, I'm sure my brother wouldn't spare me." He murmurs softly, and I grimace, lowering my gaze.

I seriously doubt it. In any case, I do not believe he will give a damn about me.

I swallow and turn to face him again.

"Would you mind taking me to see him? I have an important matter to discuss with him. I don't know my way around yet."

"Shit." Abruptly, he swore beneath his breath.

"I'm such a fool. Mom has already told me to ask you downstairs for dinner. Everyone is waiting, and Stark is also there."

"Oh." I nodded, and he grinned, motioning for me to follow him.

I could feel my nervousness creeping back inside of me as my anxieties grew with each stride. As we walked around the wide corridors and descended the stairs, I bit my lip and twirled my fingers in front of me. Before going inside the dining area, I took a deep breath to help me relax.

"Oh! Here she is." Lorena called out as soon as she saw me, and I lifted my head from the floor to look for an empty seat. They were all sitting in their regular positions, with only a few glancing at me. I saw there were only two vacant chairs.

One seat is on Lorena's right side, while the other is next to... him.

Just then my gaze settled on specific hazel eyes, and my lungs began to dry up. My wolf, the voice in my brain, whimpered as if on cue, and I hurriedly averted my gaze.

I don't blame her; I simply don't like how my heart beats whenever he's close by.

Ignoring his vigilant gaze, I stealthily approach Lorena, who is already making motions for me, and stoop to give her a cheek kiss.

"Whoa. That's unexpected. Did something pleasant happen while you were sleeping?" Her eyes were wide as she inquired. I shook my head and blushed nervously before taking the vacant seat next to her.

I'm shocked that I did it as well. I have no idea where that bravery came from.

She turned to face her husband, who was already grinning at our conversation.

"Now, honey, I realize how good I am at winning people's hearts." She smiles at him as she speaks.

Her husband, William, laughed and kissed her forehead. "You do, indeed."

"How are you feeling now, Amelia?" I turned and gave Ivy a little grin as she inquired from where she was seated.

"I'm alright, thank you."

My food is soon being brought, and I immediately start eating it. I was quite hungry because I had puked up what I had eaten earlier.

I ate my dinner discreetly as the family resumed their chats, frequently asking and responding to the few questions that were hurled at me. After we had finished our meals, the others began to get up in preparation for the night's sleep.

"Thanks for earlier today." I tell Katyla just as she is ready to rise up. She turned to face me, clearly having heard me, and gave me a sad grin.

"You're welcome. We'll be returning tomorrow, but if you ever want to talk, you may ask Stark for my number and contact me."

I give a sigh. "All right."

We bid each other good night as she grins.

When I inquired why the family didn't live together, she clarified that this isn't the Pack House. Every family and every ranking pack member resides in the pack house. Before they may live with the trained pack, all young and new werewolves, as well as those who wish to join, must train to earn their rank positions in this home. They individually return to their homes later in the day, and they only come here to practice in the morning.

That makes sense as to why Stark's family is simply paying a visit. Additionally, that explains why I only see people when I'm training. The pack members should live with the alpha, after all. That's what I see in movies, at least.

I'm about to go into bed myself when I'm grabbed by the hand, and I quiver as sparks tingle through my entire body. My wolf purred with ecstasy as his cologne-infused scent filled my nose, and I made an effort to distance myself from him. My eyes widened as I was just being drawn closer.

I swallow hard. "What are you doing, W—"

I look around the room uneasily and find that nobody is left. We could only make out a few omegas strewn about, washing up the dishes we used to consume.

I wonder what's going on in their heads. If they knew I was his mate. I doubt it.

Why would their Luna be in the training pack? She should be at the pack house, right? Who is this woman?

I glanced up at his face from where I had been looking at the wall when I saw he had not spoken. He was studying and watching me. I looked up at him, and his austere demeanor softened as his eyes locked on mine.

"Amelia." His voice is deep, silky, and ruthless as he says my name. His fingertips touched my chin as his hand approached it. I instinctively tip my head sideways into his touch and close my eyes, tingling with pleasure. When I opened my eyes and beheld his dark ones, I exhaled.

I was aware that his gaze was fixed on me during the meal, so I ignored it. He even made an attempt to get my attention once, but I was able to swiftly shift the topic to someone else without anyone noticing. I didn't want him to think I was over his afternoon behavior. The panic he made me go through.

Right now, I don't understand his actions, but when I hear a sigh from his lips, I know he's back to normal.

As if jerking out of the hypnosis, I lurched back and yanked the hand he was holding away from his. I turned my head away as he glanced down at me, his eyebrows quirking.

I inhaled deeply, ignoring the frantic pounding of my pulse.

"I—I have to talk to you." I whisper.

He chuckled, and I glanced back at him, perplexed.

With a sly smile, he gently tapped my nose with his index finger.

"Cute." "Was all he says next," and I blinked as my eyes widened.

What?

I opened my lips to say something, but as I stood in disbelief, all I could manage was a whoosh of breath. I stand there looking like a total loser while he looks around the room and turns around. I watched him walk away with my mouth open in shock, but when he stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder, my heart skipped a beat.

"Are you coming?" he asks.

"Y-yes, okay." I gulped hard and nodded forcefully. I chewed on my lip nervously, but I decided to stroll to him with my eyes fixed on the ground. He gave me a quick glance before taking the lead, with me trailing after. The omegas in the area bowed slightly as their alpha went past.

I had no idea where he was bringing me, but as we proceeded down a little corridor, my anxiety became closer with each step.

We soon reach a door at the far end of the corridor, which Stark opens before motioning for me to enter. When I noticed the interior was dark, I gave him a stern look.

There is no way I am going in there.

Shaking his head, he entered and pressed a button that activated the room's lights.

"Will you now come in?" He asks in a bored tone before walking glumly into the room.

I hesitated before entering, assessing the area first, but my brow furrowed as a particular scent mixed with furniture and cotton filled my nostrils.

This is his bedroom.

I halted by the closed door, nervously turning my gaze to meet his. There he sat quietly on the big bed, intently observing my every move. He sat upright, his arms clasped over his chest, his expression grim and stern.

Why did you bring me into your room?

I bit my tongue to stop myself from asking.

There is a certain sensation of my stomach churning when I am alone with him in his bedroom.

"What? Are you worried that I may hurt you?" He got up from the bed and asked, and as I saw him coming toward me, my eyes grew wide. I quickly retreated a step, but as my back struck the door behind me, I cursed under my breath.

I swallow and open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

He moved closer, pressing one palm on the door by my head and the other against my waist, causing tingles to flare up on my torso and set my body on fire. His face pressed into my cheek, making me gasp. I could feel him inhaling my scent, his breath warm across my skin. I tensed. My skin is getting goosebumps.

What was he doing?

"Stark..."

He drew his head away to gaze down at me after taking a quick, long breath. His eyes darkened, and he traced his finger across my chin, a searing touch that sparked something inside of me as it slid down my neck and collarbone.

"I want to hear it once again. Say my name." He muttered hoarsely, and I opened my mouth in shock at how intimate we were. He hovered over me, and I pressed into him, my face only a few inches from his. The closeness made me quiver and feel moist between my legs.

"Stark." I breathed again, gazing further into his dilated eyes, which went directly to my lips.

"Fuck." He cursed and smashed his lips onto mine.