***************
Through the daze I was feeling due to the anger fogging my mind, I vaguely heard my mom ask Jonathan who he was. He seemed proud, smug even, to tell her he was the alpha-ultra of the US.
You’d never guess what my dad did next; he asked him to stay.
Now, I’ll have to face him all through dinner? No way in hell am I going to let him get his way, I thought, my rebellious side taking over me. I certainly didn’t like being pressured into doing something.
“I’m sure he has other things to do.” I answered my dad sweetly, cutting right through his reply while sending him a pointed look.
“Nothing that can’t wait,” was his sugar-coated reply. He even had the nerve to grin at me, his eyes twinkling in amusement in an almost unnerving manner.
My glare intensified, but not wanting to make a scene in front of my parents, I forced a smile on my face. My parents exited the living-room by mutual agreement – no matter how silent it was, they probably just had to look into each other’s’ eyes, and probably sensed the palpable tension in the room.
“Why did they ever let you enter?” I bit out, the accusation clear in my voice as soon as I considered it safe to turn off the fake sweet mode.
“I told them I brought your assignments.” He shrugged nonchalantly while keeping a steady stare on me. His self-confidence would never cease to unnerve me – especially at moments like this when all I wanted to do was strangle him to death.
“You’re such a liar,” I had actually managed to keep myself from yelling at him. Not that I feared Mister I’m-a-powerful-alpha-ultra, but I did fear my parents’ reaction to the oh-so-special bond I shared with my supposed-to-be mate.
“But I did bring them.” He countered, giving me a sweet lopsided smile that was supposed to make girls weak in the knees.
Well, it doesn’t work on me, I internally snapped, my inner voice dripping with sarcasm, even though I did feel some unfamiliar emotion in the pit of my stomach. It’s just my frayed nerves’ doing, I tried to convince myself, thinking that one hell of a night awaited us.
Chapter 10
Game On
We sat in silence for many minutes before Celia attempted to break it off. “So... do you guys have classes together?” She asked in a soft voice.
I scoffed and averted my face some more, so that he was nowhere in my sight of vision.
“We have all our classes together.” He answered her, taking a light tone, and I could almost picture the smirk on his face.
“Wow, what a coincidence! That’s so cool,” I swiftly turned around and glared her way, she then hurried to add – sheepishly, I might add, “I guess.”
“It wasn’t a coincidence,” I couldn’t help but sneer “He transferred to all of my classes.”
“Jerk,” I added under my breath.
“I heard that,” he observed in a strangely calm voice.
I cocked my eyebrow and taunted him in a haughty tone that strangely enough – despite it not being a habit of mine – didn’t take all that much effort to come up with, “Does it look like I care?”
His lips quirked ever so slightly, and he soon averted his gaze and started taking deep breaths... surprise, surprise! Please note the sarcasm, will you?
Why, aren’t you a short-tempered little mutt? I wanted to say. I grinned, inwardly envisaging the possibility. Damn, he would be so mad. But even I knew when to stop – we wouldn’t want him to shift right in the middle of the living room. Mom would throw a fit, and dad would probably give me a speech on how to be a good hostess and whatnot.
Do I look like I need that? A bitter voice – that I almost didn’t recognize as my own inner one – all but snapped.
Nope, definitely not!
Celia and I started chatting, and even though she was continuously trying to bring him to partake, I would each time give one of my smartass remarks and he would just refrain from saying anything.
He was oh-so-obviously trying to keep his cool, it was almost funny. I didn’t go as far as to disrespect the almighty big alpha-ultra, but I wouldn’t say my comments were inoffensive either.
******************
Trying to be useful, I helped mom by setting the table. I was trying to get away from his narrowed stare that wouldn’t leave me for a second. Hell, I even went to the trouble of serving everyone at the table, which was not something one could see every day.
Anything to get away from him, I inwardly sighed.
Just when I sat on my chair which was conveniently just across his, my dad clapped his hands cheerily and said in one of those irritatingly light tones, “Let’s honor this dish, shall we?”
“Yeah, let’s start.” Jeremy and Jake, both of my brothers, instantly agreed.
Yeah, let’s start, I thought with a grin, the words taking a different meaning where I was concerned.
His very first mouthful earned him a coughing fit. I kept a very straight face and even mustered the control to say in a seemingly genuine – though actually fake – concerned voice, “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he croaked, throwing me a pointed look.
Ok, I’ll have to admit that the little stunt was pretty childish... but hey, some pepper won’t do him any bad! I inwardly argued with the mature side of me that found it puerile.
He grabbed his glass and it soon fell into pieces, slightly cutting his skin.
“Easy down there, boy,” I joked, and even winked for good measure.
My family gasped in stupefaction, whereas I felt like grinning, but couldn’t otherwise I’d be so busted.
He threw me an annoyed look. I could only guess he didn’t take a liking to that stunt either.
One could say, upon seeing that look he gave me, he had caught me red-handed... and he did, in a way. There was no one – present at the table – who would want to do him harm, besides me.
It was my own way of making my announcement – the tangible way: Game on!
And hey, don’t blame me for that little prank, he started it when he decided to come in here like he owned the god damned place, make himself comfortable in my home, and then tell my parents that he was my mate when he definitely knew I wasn’t exactly thrilled or eager to admit that.
“Come, I’ll show you the bathroom so you can clean it off.” I softly offered.
A fake smile came upon his face and he was soon following me in silence.
You will so regret whatever it is you have planned for me – trust me on this one, I, once again, made him a silent promise.
Chapter 11
Not Immune
“Just tell me, Jasmine,” he started in a matter-of-fact tone, not even bothering to give me a glance, while vigorously washing his hands, “What are you playing at?” The cuts that had briefly adorned his hands were now completely gone.
“The real question is,” I smirked slightly, giving him an annoyed look, “what are you playing at?”
A small smile made its way onto his face, and, for some interminable seconds, he stared at me intently before averting his eyes and telling me softly, “I just want to get to know you.”
“So, you just barge in here and tell my parents I’m your mate?” The edge in my voice was quite distinct, even though I tried to keep it neutral.
He shrugged nonchalantly and it just made me so mad at him that I couldn’t help myself; I pushed him a little by his shoulder and yelled in a whisper. “You’re such a conceited, arrogant bastard!”
In a heartbeat, he had my back against the wall. “I’m your conceited, arrogant bastard,” he countered intensely. He was so close I could feel his body heat, yet not close enough to touch. I dampened my lips mechanically and his eyes followed the gesture hungrily. He closed the gap between us and leaned in a little so that his breath caressed my cheek, “I’m also very persistent. I always get what I want.”
I saw the unveiled determination in his eyes and my throat suddenly felt really dry; I gulped down nervously as a shiver of pure, unadulterated, unw
anted want went down my spine. My heart was drumming against my ribcage, and I was soon taking small shallow breaths. “You’re not unaffected by me,” he whispered against the soft skin beneath my ear, while smothering it with butterfly kisses, “that’s good to know.” I could almost feel the smirk in his words.
I tried to deny what he said but my voice failed me, and I couldn’t utter a single word. A blush crept under my skin, and the bathroom seemed to have gotten ten-degrees hotter. I had to dig my fingernails into the palms of my own fisted hands so as to keep myself from reaching out to him.
Traitorous body! I sighed accusingly, feeling kind of pathetic. And then, as suddenly as he had backed me up against the wall, he freed me of his gaze, of his mouth, and of his almost unbearably arousing closeness.
“Let’s resume our dinner, shall we?” He suggested in a husky tone, his eyes darting to the corridor leading to the dining room. I nodded numbly and then followed him in silence.
He was playing a game of seduction — according to what I just experienced — and, even if it saddened me to say it, the truth was I was not immune to him.
I came to the conclusion that I’d have to make him give up on me somehow. The war won’t be as easy as I’d have thought, but it wouldn’t be half as enticing if it were too simple anyway! A grin took over my mouth and I was soon planning my next move.
Chapter 12
Let the Game Begin
“So, what are you planning to do for your birthday, Jas?” My little brother Jake asked me after a while, trying to break the deafening silence.
I stared into his sparkling grey eyes and answered him smugly, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth, “Seth, Carla, Tim and I are going to the movies then probably dinner,” I threw a pointed look towards Jonathan before adding in a flat tone that was slightly bordering on the smug, “On a double date.”
Our dear alpha-ultra choked on his water, and he was soon glaring at me while gripping the glass really hard.
Oh well, if it breaks this time, it won’t be my fault – so to speak, I smiled at him sweetly, widening my eyes for a more innocent look.
“Maybe you should...err, think about it, honey,” my mom looked almost desperate to make Jonathan relax as she gave me that little advice.
He was taking deep breaths – again – and I couldn’t help but internally sigh in dismay. This was seriously getting old. Did I really have to get a mate; and with anger issues, no less?
Damn it, life really sucks. I inwardly groaned.
“Mom, it was planned two weeks ago,” I whined, “Besides, Tim will be devastated if I bailed on him now.”
“He would probably understand, you barely had two dates before.” She countered; the warning almost palpable in her voice.
"Besides, I already bought the dress," I reminded her, still using that sweet tone of mine. “You know, the off-white one, a little past mid-thigh, with a cute black ribbon?” I clarified, more for Jonathan’s benefit than hers.
“You wouldn’t anger your mate like that, honey?” My father asked rather than stated.
Are you serious, dad? I wanted to scoff but refrained from doing so... I could get away with making Jonathan jealous and angry, but I wouldn’t – not in a million years – want to face the wrath that could be my parents’.
“You see, we agreed to be friends as a start; so it shouldn’t bother him,” I looked at Jonathan, batting my eyelashes in a supposed-to-be innocent way but I was pretty sure he saw right through the act, “Right?”
If his briefly darkening eyes were any indication, I’d say he didn’t like my taunting him very much. He noisily cleared his throat then grumbled a “right”. His posture was stiff, his features all taut, and his smile most definitely not convincing – but hey, who was I to complain? I was doing this my way.
“See?” I turned to my parents, my stare lingering on mom, finding the disapproving look in her eyes quite annoying.
Let the game begin.
Everything was at stake; my principles, my present, my future — my whole life, god dammit!
I have to fight, I thought, my resolution definitely made, I can’t lose this perilous game, I need to win.
He took me by surprise earlier and even scored, thanks to my stupid body and irritating hormones. His closeness was one hell of a challenge to my senses; I couldn’t even bring my brain to function correctly. I was practically ashamed to admit I couldn’t think straight at the time.
The thing is, I need to keep a coherent mind at all times, and that is exactly the reason why I won’t be letting him approach me like that anytime soon, I inwardly nodded at myself in approval as if sealing the deal.
The feeling he gave me might be great, but the chaos in my mind at the time was a disaster. I can’t have a relationship based on lust and carnal pleasures – no matter how good they are; it has to be reasonable. Everything must be rational for me. I can’t possibly allow myself to get emotionally involved for that would only lead to trouble.
I just need a guy who understands me, likes me for me, and respects me. I don’t think I can manage with a loving, protective, and jealously possessive alpha-ultra, now can I?
Ugh, seriously. I don’t know. I’m not even sixteen... Just let me be!
I sensed a frown making its way on my face. Damn those musings! Quickly recomposing my features, I stared at my discreetly fuming mate. He was not going to make it easy for me. Good thing I was tempted to go to any length to have it my way.
Chapter 13
Nostalgia
Just as we stepped inside the house, I heard Karl whisper from beside me, “Home sweet home.” It was easy to take note of the adoration in his voice.
He was my cousin but, to me, he was the best brother I could ever ask for. When my aunt, after years of solitude, and a seemingly never-ending mourning over the loss of her beloved husband, passed away in a car accident, my dad had done everything he could, the fastest he could, in order to become his legal guardian. The day he arrived, the sky had been of a stormy gray and raining cats and dogs.
Since he had been drenched from head to toe because of his little, slow, insouciant-like walk from the car to the house, it was difficult to say whether there were tears or not among the droplets of water trickling down his face. His green eyes were sad though; everybody could see that, even little me – I was five at the time, he was ten.
As his blond locks sticking to his grim face and his lifeless pools of green had come into sight, I had run towards him, held on his shirttail and tugged until he bent over my little form.
In that bubbly, innocent and oh-so-endearing manner children only could talk, I had asked him to smile, my forefingers tugging at the corners of his mouth. He had knelt on the floor and then forced a smile on his face. Had I been older, I would have seen that smile for what it had been – a rueful one. I was, however, only five at the time and just as I thought that maybe I had been able to bring some much needed joy into his saddened self, his eyes allowed the tears he had been desperate to hold to make their way down his cheeks.
I wasn’t even given the time to wonder why he was crying – though, admittedly, the reason was pretty obvious – that he was already engulfing me in a bear hug like I had never had before. I had awkwardly hugged him back for what seemed like hours but were probably only minutes, under the curious stares of my family.
That had to be the start of our unshakable bond.
At those memories, I felt all warm inside, my whole being overflowing with fraternal love for that man who was striding in the house, eager as he was to feel at home.
It was finally Sunday. It was finally Karl’s letting out day. It was finally my sixteenth birthday.
I had been more than excited to wake up this morning, desperate to feel any change in me –on the outside or within me, whichever it be – that would tell me I had finally grown into a real witch... I neither saw nor felt any. I was sure the change must have happened some time during the night; or to be more precise, at exactl
y midnight; yet there was no evidence of it. I was kind of frustrated with that, but decided not to dwell on it too much, and let it go for the time being –admittedly, it was Karl who convinced me. He had told me that it wasn’t something tangible per se – at least, not for a little time – and that I would have to make use of my powers to see the change.
The only problem there was that we weren’t allowed to go all witchy in the house. The last time my brothers and I did, we had almost burnt down the house – among other things. Needless to say, our parents had been furious.
**************
We enjoyed a familial lunch, chatted and had a good laugh together. All in all, it was a sweet, enjoyable, long-awaited reunion. Even though Karl had left when he graduated and went to college, he was staying at our house for the time being since we wouldn’t let him go back to New York just yet – I wouldn’t actually... And since I was the birthday girl, and it was not an everyday occurrence that his favorite little cousin turned sixteen, he couldn’t help but sigh in surrender and agree to come back home with us.
Deep inside, I could tell he wanted nothing more than to come home. Although He had been in a coma for nearly one month, he had missed no more than one week –and for good reasons too– I was sure he would be having no problem at college. It was only one week but he was so conscientious in his studies, it must have felt like too much to him.
I can barely believe it. I’m sixteen! I was mentally squealing in delight while letting a wide grin show on my face.
“So, Jas,” Karl brought me out of my reverie, “I hope there will be no April’s-Fools’-Day-like activities this year,” he teased, his eyes twinkling at me with unmistakable mischief.
The Alpha's Seduction (The Forbidden Mates Book 1) Page 4
