Lyell's Point Of View
"See what you've caused, Alpha Lyell. I'm all soaked in water and I don't have any clothes to change into."
"Don't worry, I have something you can wear."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "You've been bringing ladies here?"
I tittered at her accusation. I unwrapped her legs from my waist and brought her to stand in the water. "Better close your eyes or you'll behold the body of this sexy man."
She rolled her eyes and turned her back to me. I stepped out and went into the cottage. I dried my body and put on a new pair of grey trousers and a white shirt. I took a towel from the hanger for Aleena to dry her body. She was coming out of the water when I got outside. Her plain white gown hung onto her body like a second skin, showcasing her perfect pear body shape. She hesitated to take a step the moment she saw me. Her dark long hair formed wavy streaks as they stuck to her collarbone. She must have noticed my lingering stare at her chest so she covered her chest with her hands.
"Don't be such a pervert!" She spat, eyeing me. I snickered and went to her.
"What are you...
"Be still." I wrapped the towel around her. "You shouldn't catch a cold," I say to her, patting her head. She looks like a cutely wrapped burrito. I can't handle her cuteness.
"You'll find clean clothes on the bed. Wear them."
She didn't say anything. She simply nodded and walked in. I sat on a rock as I waited for her. My mind wandered off. Just yesterday, I almost gave up on finding my mate, and tonight, just like magic, I found her. Funnily and unexpectedly enough, she's a sacred bone. Very cute and charming sacred bone. I still have Valko to deal with. I'm sure with a little price, he'll let me leave with Aleena. But what was I thinking running off with her like that? I could be in big trouble for that but I just couldn't bear seeing Aleena frightened. Even though I end up leaving with her, what about my people? Gosh, I haven't thought this through, have I?
"Alpha Lyell?"
I turned to her. I went speechless when I took a good look at her.
"What? It's too big right?" She asks, tugging the sleeves of the shirt shyly. I wanted to reply but I couldn't find the right words to use. This is the first time a woman is putting on my clothes and...wow! I got off the rock and went to her. The last time I wore this cowled cardigan was when I was twenty but because of how small she is compared to me, it's loose on her body. Loose but it suits her beautifully. Even the sweatpants are a little bit lazy by the waist. She looks adorable pulling it up every minute.
"You look cute in my clothes. You should wear them more often."
She almost smiled but she quickly erased it. I dipped my hand in my pocket and brought out a linen belt. I wrapped it around her waist and used it to hold the sweatpants up.
"There. Perfect."
I raised my head to look at her, only to find out she's been staring at me all the while. Her face flushed in embarrassment and took a step away from me.
"Th..thanks."
"If you're sleepy, you should go inside."
"What about you?"
"Me?" I lay down on the grass. "I'll be here. I'm not sleepy."
Aleena's Point Of View
And sleep alone in that room? I glanced back at the cottage and then at him. Nah, I'll rather be by his side. I lay down on the ground beside him. He tried to hide his smile but he failed terribly. We both didn't say anything. It was so quiet that I thought he would hear my racing heartbeat. I glanced at him. Is he really going to stare at the moon all night? I was about to look away when he turned to face me. It caught me off guard but I didn't look away. I maintained eye contact.
"Hi." He says, smiling.
I shook my head as I chuckled. "What was that about?"
He lied on his side and so did I.
"I don't know. This is kinda awkward for me. This is the first time I'm not having an 'I wanna sleep with you' conversation with a lady so I don't know what to say."
"So you've been sleeping around, huh." I teased.
"Um...maybe?" He smiled mischievously and I shook my head.
"They would have been searching for us by now, right?" I ask.
"Are you worried? Don't worry, they can't find us. This place is like my little hideout."
"What do you do here?"
"Secret alpha stuff."
I narrowed my eyes at him and he laughed. "You look cute when you do that."
"Stop calling me that."
"Why not? You're cute."
Gosh, this man. A flower flowed in and perched on his hair. Without thinking, I reached for his head to pick it up. My action seemed to surprise him.
"S... sorry. I just...there was a flower on your hair." I explained, my hand hanging in the hair. He smiled and took my hand. He placed it on his head but he didn't let go of my hand.
"Aleena."
"Hm?"
"What was it like in Valko's household?"
"You...you wanna know about that?"
He nodded like a baby anticipating hearing his favorite bedtime story.
"Well..." I cleared my throat. "It wasn't good nor was it bad. Alpha Valko treated his maids well and right. I ate decent three-square meals daily and slept on a good bed. Though I get bullied at times."
"Bullied?"
"Yeah. Being a sacred bone means you'd be bullied and called names that can't even be used to qualify a dog. You'll get criticized for the littlest things you do and you'll be treated less than a pig. I can't count the number of times I've been locked up for fighting back against my bullies. At the end of the day, I'm at fault." I paused when I saw the menacing frown he had on.
"Are you okay?" I had to ask. He swallowed and nodded.
"Yeah. Continue."
Why do I feel like he's angry?
"This went on for a while until I became friends with Valerie. Having the alpha's younger sister by my side secured me. No one dared to even look me in the eye because they know they'd be done for if they made one wrong move towards me."
"You must like her so much. You smile so brightly talking about her."
He's right about that. She must have been worried by now. Thinking something bad has happened to me. She can be such an overthinker sometimes. I miss her badly. I was about to say something when a yawn took over.
"You're sleepy?" He asks and I nodded tiredly.
"Come here." He says, gesturing to his chest. I scooted closer and placed my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me and whispered, "good night, sunshine."
I closed my eyes and nuzzled against his chin. "Good night."
Before I knew it, I slept off with his heart beating calmly against my head.
The Next Day
Lyell's Point Of View
"Hey, hey, Aleena."
"One more minute."
This girl. I tapped her again and she groaned. She opened her right eye. "What?" She demanded and I chuckled.
"We should get going. Here, let me help you up." I held her waist and pulled her up. She stretched as she yawned loudly.
"I'm about to shift. You might what to look away."
"Will you go naked again?"
I laughed. "No."
I got on my knees and my bones started cracking. She watched as I shifted into my wolf, she didn't even blink. I bent and she climbed on. I felt so happy when I felt her grip on my fur. I took off and made for Redblood pack. Today is the day.
In no time, we arrived. I walked into the palace like I owned the place, ignoring the stares. My business is with Valko. They must have notified him of my presence because as I was about to go into the council room, he emerged from there.
"Welcome." He says to me. I bent down and Aleena got off me. I turned to one of the guards and ordered him telepathically. "Take her to Valerie."
I could feel Aleena's worry through her eyes. I assured her by patting her head with my paw. She smiled and went with the guard. I shoved aside Valko gently as I went into the council room and he came in afterwards. This is gonna be a long meeting.
Aleena's Point Of View
"Aleena!"
There she is. There is the face I've missed since yesterday. I smiled widely and ran to her. We collided in a tight warm hug. I chuckled when I felt her tears trickle down my shoulder.
"Are you okay? You did not acquire any injuries, did you? Your temperature?" She bombarded me with questions as she checked every part of my body for injuries.
"In fine, Valerie. See?" I twirled, showing her that I'm okay. She sighed in relief and pulled me into another hug. I didn't know when my own tears started to fall. She took my hand and pulled me to sit beside her on the bed.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?"
"I'm fine, Valerie."
"You're not! Silver!" She called out to her maid who came in running immediately. Has she been by the door the whole time?
"Get Aleena a plate of chicken soup."
"Yes, your Highness."
Silver went back out to run her errand. Valerie took my hand. "Do you know how worried I was? One minute, I was getting a glass of wine by the bar and all of a sudden, an alpha elopes with you?"
"I know...crazy."
She scooted closer curiously. "Tell me. What exactly happened? All these still seem like magic to me."
"I don't know, Valerie. I just know one way or the other, Alpha Lyell and I shared a mate bond at your brother's party and boom! I'm mated to him."
She shook her head in disbelief. "What will you do now? It won't be easy, you know. This is the first time a wolf has declared a sacred bone as his mate. It has never happened." She said, worry all over her face.
I sighed and nodded. "I know but Alpha Lyell said he'd find a way to...
"You think it'll be easy on him too? Moon knows what's going on in the council room right now. It's him against hundreds of opposers. Even if he successfully gets you out of here, what about his pack? Do you think his people would want a sacred bone as their Luna? Hell! The whole continent might go against both of you and all pressures would be on Lyell's shoulders. He might be forced to reject you or worst still, give up the throne! This is harder than you think, Aleena. I don't want anything to happen to you! Lyell might be able to endure this but I don't think you would be able to."
That was the moment realization hit me. I've never thought of any of this. What was I thinking? Forget about me, what about Lyell?
"Can I reject him?" I ask her.
"You're not a wolf, Aleena. Only a wolf can reject his\her mate. At the end of the day, it's all in Lyell's hands."
I can't bear to see Lyell go through hell because of me. I could just stay here and live my life. I have Valerie with me, I'll be fine. He's able to protect me but he'll get all the hit and I don't have the power to protect him in return. If it's going to be like that then I won't be a mate to him but a burden.
"I need to see him."
I quickly stood up and made for the door.
"But..wait! Aleena!"
I ignored Valerie's call and ran to the council room. Reaching there, I was already out of breath. I paused in front of the door to catch my breath. I was about knocking when someone opened it from inside. It was Alpha Valko, looking dejected and furious. The glare he threw to me made goosebumps of fear rise around my body. His glare lingered on me for sometime before he stumped away. My eyes followed him until he was out of sight. What happened?
I ignored Alpha Valko and proceeded into the room. I paused when I saw Alpha Lyell. He had no expression on as he conversed with one of the council members. He turned his head to my direction. He flashed me a really bright smile when he saw me and mouthed "hi". He's smiling. That means things went well, right? He left the man he was talking to and jogged to me.
"Alpha Lyell, I...
"We're going home, Aleena."
I arched my brow. "What do you mean?"
"We're free to leave."