Our walk back to the room was silent. As soon as we were inside, Carina let out a deep breath.
"You were amazing out there" she said with a smile.
"How?"
"The way you spoke up for yourself. I never knew you had that in you"
"I...I..."
I didn't know what to say so I just kept quiet.
"You have to show them you aren't scared of anything and maybe they will start respecting you"
Maybe.
Did I want their respect? Yes. For the first time in my life, I wanted to be seen as something more and not a fragile human.
"Thank you Carina. I want to rest now"
"Are you dismissing me? What about your plans to leave the pack?" She raised a brow.
"I still have plans to leave the pack but I don't think it'll work now. I'll let you know when I want to. Thank you so much for your help" I forced a smile.
"If you need anything, just let me know. I'll leave now" I nodded.
When the door closed, I let out a sigh. I was exhausted and I needed to rest. I laid on the bed and soon I was fast asleep.
When I woke up, I wasn't sure about the time and when I looked out of the window. It was dark. My stomach rumbled signaling hunger. I needed Carina and since there was no way to contact her. I had to go look for her.
I used the path Carina had showed me. People barely passed there and I was happy I wasn't going to bump into anyone. A place where I could breathe freely without eyes on me. The moment I turned to another corner I felt that pull. My breath caught.
"No..." I whispered.
Not now.
My heart began to race and my body already reacting before my mind could catch up. My steps slowed but it was already too late. Alpha Hades stood at the far end of the corridor. And he was watching me.
Like he had been waiting. I was tempted to turn bank and run away but with the way my stomach rumbled, I couldn't.
"Good evening, Alpha" I bowed.
"Why do we keep bumping in the corridor?" My heart rate tripled.
"I—I w-was looking for Carina"
"Carina? At this time?"
"I was hungry" my voice echoed down the corridor.
"Hungry. By this time?"
"I missed dinner. If it'll offend you I'll just go back to my room" I said quietly and turned around, my legs already moving.
"Stop!" His voice was sharp and it made me freeze. I said a silent prayer in my heart and turned slowly.
"Are you avoiding me?"
That question made me shocked.
"N-no Alpha" his gaze was assessing and my chest rose and fell. I looked everywhere else except at him.
"You're definitely avoiding me"
Shit, I thought. How could I deny that now?
"Umm...I don't have any reason to avoid you"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Do you know the one thing I hate the most?" I shook my head.
"Lies." He said coldly. Goosebumps covered my arms. Now, I was really going to get punished.
"Because you don't want me to."
"I don't want to be mated to you."
The words came out before I could stop them. When I realized what I had said, I wanted the ground to open up. I was expecting his anger but he laughed. I stared in confusion until it finally died down.
"The feeling is mutual. We don't have a choice though" I suddenly seemed to find my voice.
"You're an Alpha, you can do something about it"
"The only way out of this is death"
So I was going to die either way. I was stuck. But I believe something could still be done.
"But I'm a mere human. I can't possibly be your other half. There's a mistake somewhere"
"Even I am confused but the moon goddess paired us. I'm sure she had her reasons" I shook my head in disagreement.
"She paired us so I could die? That doesn't make any sense"
"If you have any questions you should direct them to the moon goddess but since you can't see her swallow them. You think I brought you here to die?"His voice was low.
"I don't know why you brought me here" I said with honesty. "That's the problem"
"You'll know soon enough"
"I dont think I'll ever know. The truth is that I'm tired"
"So you can talk like this. I never knew you had it in you. You've behaved like a timid girl since the first time I saw you" I drew my lips together.
"I'm sorry for speaking out of turn" I said with a bow.
"No. You have to speak your mind when something bothers you" he moved closer until he was just an inch away from me and that's when I smelled it. He had been drinking. That would explain the reason he was talking to me.
Alpha Hades has never spoken more than a few sentences to me. That was my cue to leave.
"Thank you Alpha. I'll return to my room now" I turned quickly and was about to start running when a hand grabbed my arms.
I couldn't explain my body's reaction but I was spurned around until I was facing him and that was when I saw how dark his eyes has become.
"A-Alpha"
"Shhh!" He placed a finger on my lip. "Don't say anything. Just look me in the eye"
"Y-you're d-drunk" he shook his head. My hands trembled. My entire body felt too tight.
"You are my mate, so your place is beside me. Your job here is to support me and stand by me. And do whatever I tell you to do" his eyes raked over my body and I saw his eyes darken. His eyes rested on my lips and for a moment I thought he was leaning in. I pulled away immediately.
"You are drunk and saying things you shouldn't say" he laughed at my words.
"You know much about me now? I don't get drunk. I know exactly what I'm saying. Now leave before you become the hunted" his voice sounded dangerous.
I turned around and fled but not without a last look at him. The moment I was inside the room, I locked the key. My heart raced and I thought it was going to jump out of my mouth.
I was still confused and still trying to process what just happened. Did Alpha Hades say all those things to me? Did he want me?
"No, no" I shook my head. I was just being delusional and that was not what he meant.
I climbed the bed and curled into a fetal position. I had forgotten about my rumbling stomach and the last thing on my mind as I slept was a certain dark eyes.