08. Warning

Alpha Lennox was the one who looked away first—served him right. Being in the human world as a rogue made me toughen and helped me deal with assholes like him. 

"Look, Keira," he started to explain. 

"Yeah?" I replied, showing my indifference. 

Alpha Lennox heaved a sigh while looking at the ceiling. 

“Why don’t we settle our differences right now? Acting in love will be difficult if we have some hatred against each other.”

"That is not an easy thing to do, especially if you are acting like this. You always have a lot to say about anything to the point of saying things under the belt."

"Shit," he muttered under his breath and continued walking. "Why did I have to deal with the likes of you?"

Tailing after him, I questioned, “How long will we do this? I want this to be done sooner, the better.”

Alpha Lennox’s steps faltered, glanced over his shoulder, and retorted, “The doctor had given him roughly six months to live.”

Silence passed between us. My irritation was temporarily forgotten. 

Six months and Alpha John would die? 

I closed my eyes as they started to water.  That was sooner than I expected. 

"Just…bear with me during those months. I promise to give you everything you want—money, protection, safety, and everything. Let's make Father's remaining life memorable."

I shook my head. 

Stupid mouth. "I’m sorry to hear that. I like Alpha John. I wished he was my Father.”

“Are you truly sorry?” he inquired.

The entrance door opened, and we went upstairs. Everything in this place screamed rich. I was scared I would break something, and the alpha would ask me to replace it. 

I smiled bitterly.

I would not take it against him. If it was confirmed that I was the reason why his health gradually deteriorated, it only served me right. If I had known running away would result in this, I would have never run away. 

Of all people who would get sick, why did it have to be Alpha John?

Clenching my fist, I responded,  “What do you think? Do you think I like what happened to the alpha? I’m not a bitch like that, Lennox. I cherished Alpha John like my own father after my parents left me.”

Lennox cleared his throat.

I bit my lower lips when they quivered, when memories of the past kept flashing in my mind. 

“You are good on your own now, Keira. We are already tired from staying in this pack,” they said.

I pleaded and begged them, saying I will never be a liability on their journey of running away, but they did not listen to me. They much preferred my little brother over me. I was only eight years old at that time, yet they did not even doubt leaving me.

“I saw them three years ago.”

"Who?"

He tilted his head and said, "Who else? Your family."

My eyes widened, and without meaning to, I pulled the hemline of his shirt. Alpha Lennox almost fell from the staircase at the amount of force I gave.

“Tell me you are only toying with me.”

Alpha Lennox scowled.

“Why would I do that? If you think I am telling a lie, I don't.”

“Because you’re the evilest villain in my life. You never wanted to make me happy. That is why you rejected me. You loved seeing me suffer. And now it is enough that you have to drag my family into our conversation? How cruel could you get, Lennox?”

“Whoa. That’s a strong allegation there, mate.”

Mate.

I would be blushing if it was not stated in a mocking way. He definitely used the word in another way. 

“I am only telling the truth," I muttered.” We continued walking upstairs. "Besides, I am right. You never showed me any hint of kindness, Lennox."

"That was all in the past. Why bring it now?"

"Because you are being mean again!" I exclaimed, my heart beating wildly against my ribcage. "Why bring my parents, huh?" 

"It was you who mentioned them first. If you would react like this next time, remind me not to tell you anything about them next time."

I put one of my hands on my chest. 

“W-where did you find them?”

Alpha Lennox heaved a sigh. "If I answer that, will you be mad again? Or not?"

I shook my head. 

“Where else? In the human world. Based on what I saw, they are perfectly blending into this world. Saw even your brother. He’s huge already and entering college. I think.”

I clenched my jaw. 

Unfair. 

How could they do that, knowing I was suffering in the pack with no one to talk to? They knew I was the biggest weakling there. An omega. Yet, they did not even shower me with pity. Why were they so unjust?

“D-did they see you?”

“I did not talk to them. They seemed happy already, and approaching them will scare them away.”

“You could have reported them to the authorities.” They will be forced to be brought back to the pack and wait for the punishment of Alpha Lennox. But the latter chose not to.

He was kind. I wished he could extend his kindness to me—his mate.

“Are they really happy that they forgot they also have another child?”

I could not hide the bitterness in my voice. I hated my parents because of what they did, but I also loved them.

“I did not know about that.”

“I hope I could share their happiness.”

Alpha Lennox inclined his head and watched me. Shrugging off his curiosity, I walked faster until I reached the second floor and saw two opposite rooms.

Enough of my parents. I should focus more now on the present. 

The thought of finally lying in bed brought a smile to my lips. And on top of that, something comfortable and luxurious.

“Where will I be staying?”

“You’ll sleep in the same room with me.”

“No freaking way!” I blurted, my eyes bulging. “If you are thinking something funny, don’t ever dare. I already suffered a lot this day. I don’t want to add anymore.”

“Nothing funny. I only wanted to make sure you will not back out.”

“You think I will do that after having a near-death experience? I just want to rest, for now, my dear alpha. No plans of running away. Maybe if you act like a jerk next time, do you want me to sleep in the same room? Fine with me. Just don’t do anything funny, or I will cut your cock.”

Alpha Lennox winced. “Point taken. Don't have the energy to make foolish actions that would result in cutting off my dick.” He fished out something in his pocket and brought out a key, and opened the door.

There was a soft click, and we both entered his room.

Looking around, I realized this was definitely his room. But not only his. As I checked the bathroom, there were female toiletries—the same with the cabinets housing some shirts and bikinis.

“From your girlfriend? Is she living with you?”

What did she look like? What kind of women did Lennox prefer? Voluptuous? Skinny? Big breasts? Sexy? Angelic? Rich? 

“Careful. That’s jealousy, I hint in your words, my little Keira.”

I scoffed. “Jealousy my foot. Is it a sin to ask? I don’t want to be surprised early in the morning and see her at the foot of the bed holding a gun on the point of killing me.”

Something crossed his eyes.

Sadness? Anger? 

I did not know. It was so fast that I failed to catch it. 

“She won’t.”

I fell on the soft bed. It smelled so much of Alpha Lennox. 

“How sure are you?”

“I broke up with her.”

"You said you have a girlfriend. Are you toying with me? I raised my eyebrows. “Why?”

I forced down the little feeling of happiness in my heart. It was wrong. 

“Prying on my private life is not included in our agreements, my little Keira.”

"Stop using the privacy card. You can tell me she dumped you. Not the other way around."

"She wanted more of my time. She is obsessed with me. She was getting out of hand. I can't deal with a woman like that. Not with the condition of Father. But still…in my heart, she occupied it."

"The two of you will be together again after this."

"I hope so, my little Keira."

My little Keira. 

Dang!

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Stop that.”

He gave me an innocent look. “What?”

“Calling me little Keira. I hated it.” It made me feel as if he wanted me, which I knew he did not even consider. I was far from being likable. Everyone left me in the end. “Call me Keira. Just Keira.”

“Don’t want to.” I was about to argue with him when he lifted his shirt and stepped into the shower. The back part of his body was ripped with muscles. 

Back when we were small, Alpha Lennox was once a skinny boy. He looked frail and sickly, but when he reached puberty, it looked like he was another person. 

“If you want to eat anything, maybe you can find something in the fridge. It is stocked with some essential foods. Make yourself comfortable. And don’t think of running away if you want to live. Going back to your house will not be the best decision you can make. Your enemy will locate you. They will not stop, Keira.”

“I won’t run away, okay?”

Did he think I could do that if I valued my life? 

“I just want to make it clear between us. Because right now, I am your only best shot, Keira. I am the only one who can fight and even put Salvacion in jail. I can use all the resources I have at my disposal to put him behind bars. If and only if you will behave."

"Geez. You talk too much, Lennox. No need to remind me."

"Just wanted to make sure."

Closing my eyes, I heard him step inside the shower. 

I am not yet hungry. Sleeping for a couple of seconds is what I wanted more than ever.