Thomph! Thomph! Thomph!
The sound of the footsteps seemed to get louder and louder as Elise's trembling frame hid behind the door, clutching the vase tighter to her chest. Her breath hitched with every step, her heartbeat pounding so loudly she feared it might give her away. She could feel the cold sweat sliding down her back, her eyes fixed on the doorknob as it began to turn.
The door creaked open slowly, and she held her breath, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike. A tall figure stepped inside, his presence dominating the dimly lit room. Without thinking, Elise swung the vase with all her might, aiming straight for the intruder's head. But before the vase could make contact, a strong hand caught it mid-air, effortlessly stopping her attack.
In one swift motion, the man pulled her closer by the waist, her body colliding against his firm chest. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up, her eyes meeting those familiar, intense ones.
"Trying to kill your mate, are you?" Dietrich's deep, teasing voice broke the silence, a smirk tugging at his lips. His grip was firm, yet there was a gentleness to the way he held her, his thumb brushing against her waist in a way that sent shivers down her spine.
Elise's body, tense and ready for a fight, slowly relaxed against him. She could feel his warmth, his heartbeat steady against her racing one. Her hands, which had been gripping the vase tightly, loosened, her fingers brushing against his as if unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer.
"Dietrich..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling not from fear but from the sudden closeness that had her head spinning.
The smirk on his lips widened as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "You know, if you wanted to get my attention, there are easier ways than smashing a vase over my head, Little Elise."
His teasing tone made her cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and something deeper, something that made her want to melt into his arms. She looked up, her lips parting as if to retort, but the words seemed to die in her throat. For a moment, they stood there in the quiet room, locked in a silent yet warm atmosphere, where the only sound was their mingled breathing.
However, that moment didn't last long as the sound of the rumbling thunder outside broke them apart. "How did you get in?" Elise avoided Dietrich's gaze as she rubbed her upper arm feeling a sudden coldness rush through her, having separated from Dietrich.
"Mom gave me the keys. I met her on her way to the hospital." Dietrich spoke, casually as he jiggled the keys in front of Elise's eyes.
"Where were you going?" Elise questioned Dietrich, the same way a wife questioned her cheating husband.
"To meet my ex." Dietrich's casual answer made Elise's eyes narrow dangerously, her lips pressing into a thin line. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to ignore the flicker of jealousy rising inside her. "Your ex?" she repeated, her voice dripping with venom. Her current voice, completely betraying her innocent personality. "And you just decided to stroll in here on your way to her like it's no big deal?"
Dietrich chuckled softly, clearly amused by her reaction. He took a step closer, his towering frame making Elise instinctively take a step back until her back was pressed against the wall. He leaned in, his eyes glinting with that teasing light she found both infuriating and intoxicating.
"What's this, Little Elise?" he murmured, his voice a low, teasing rumble. "Are you jealous?"
Elise's cheeks flushed, a mixture of irritation and embarrassment heating her skin. "Why would I be jealous?" she snapped, though the slight waver in her voice betrayed her. "I just don't see why you'd bother coming here if you've got some reunion with an ex planned."
His smile widened, his gaze dropping to her lips for a brief moment before returning to her eyes. "Well," he drawled, "I came here because I knew you'd miss me too much. And it looks like I was right."
Elise's lips parted in indignation. "You—!" she started, her tone rising. "You're so full of yourself, Dietrich! Maybe I should've smashed that vase over your head after all!"
"Well, you would have if I didn't hold it." Dietrich laughed, a deep, rich sound that seemed to vibrate through the air between them. It was so rare for him to smile yet he was laughing. "Alright, alright, calm down, Sunflower," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just messing with you. I wasn't meeting my ex."
Elise's glare didn't soften, her eyes still fixed on him suspiciously. "Then what were you doing? And why are you here?"
He sobered up, his teasing smile fading into something a little softer. "Mom asked me to come over," he admitted, his voice more sincere now. "She wasn't comfortable leaving you here alone, especially with everything that's been going on lately. She wanted to make sure you were safe, so... here I am. Playing the role of the responsible big brother."
Elise's defensive posture relaxed a fraction, though she still held onto a bit of her irritation. "So this was all Mom's idea?" she muttered, half to herself, as she looked away. The jealousy still simmered beneath the surface, but knowing the real reason behind his visit made her feel a little less... vulnerable. "You are not my brother. Don't call yourself that."
"Okay, my lovely mate." Dietrich leaned in closer again to a pouting Elise, his voice dropping to a low, almost tender tone. "Don't be mad, Elise. You know I can't leave you alone like that now. I'm here for you." His hand reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending a warmth through her. "And, I never considered you my sister anyway. You kept running around me going 'Brother! Brother!'."
Elise's breath caught at the gesture, her earlier anger dissipating into a mix of flustered confusion as a weird pull towards him courses through her veins. Was this how mates felt? She tried to hold onto her annoyance, but Dietrich had a way of breaking down her defenses with just a look or a touch.
She sighed, her eyes reluctantly meeting his. "You're impossible, you know that?"
His lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "But you wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"
For a moment, Elise didn't respond, her heart pounding as she searched his face for any hint of his usual teasing. But there was a sincerity in his eyes, a softness that made her feel both vulnerable and safe.
"Maybe," she whispered, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Maybe not."
Dietrich chuckled softly, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "That's my girl. Have you eaten yet?"
"No…"