Chapter 13 Crossing Boundaries I
He was breathing heavily, as though something had chased him down.
I watched, utterly perplexed, as he moved straight to the window and peered outside.
"W-w-what is going on here, Alpha?" I asked, my voice unsteady.
He didn't respond. Instead, he crossed to the mini bar, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and filled it gingerly.
"Alpha, what are you doing here? How did you even get here?"
"Hiding," he finally answered, taking a slow sip before settling onto the bar stool.
"How did you find this place? This is more like a hidden basement in the building. Did—"
"I picked out this place for you, Bambi."
Something in the way my name rolled off his tongue made my chest tighten, but I forced myself to ignore it.
"What do you mean?"
"Look over there." He jerked his chin toward a corner of the room.
It was just a wall. Nothing more. My confusion deepened.
"What exactly am I supposed to be looking at?"
He let out a long sigh, slid off the stool, and strolled over to the wall.
I held my breath as he placed his hand against it. The surface brightened, forming a perfect circle. A glowing symbol of the Pack lit up, and the wall slowly parted.
My mouth fell open as I watched it reveal a much larger, hidden room.
"This is my room," he announced.
"H-h-how—?"
"I told them to prepare this room specially for you," he said evenly, "because I knew it was the easiest access to mine."
He stepped inside, his eyes fixed on me, waiting for me to follow.
I did. With my lips still parted in shock, I crossed the threshold—out of my room and into his—just as the wall sealed itself shut behind me.
If one of the servants came by and didn't find me, I'd have a lot of explaining to do.
His room was an absolute sight. Almost the same size as mine, yet so different—astounding, breathtaking. A dark-colored platform bed dominated the space, centered perfectly in the room. The walls, ceiling, and floor blended into a seamless, contemporary design. Soft ambient lighting cast shadows that highlighted the sleek lines and textures of the space, adding warmth despite its minimalist style.
A few throw pillows were scattered across the bed, a magazine abandoned on the floor. Soft lighting glowed from beneath the platform, bathing the room in an intimate halo.
Simple. Breathtaking. Cozy.
There was a drawer, a bedside table, and a three-seater couch. That was all. But the understated coziness made it perfect.
I turned back—and caught him discarding his shirt on the couch. Now shirtless, his bare chest was streaked with blood.
"W-what happened? Why is there blood—?"
"Normal day," he said casually, downing the rest of his whiskey.
"Are you—are you hurt?"
His gaze fell on me, filled with amusement and something warmer. Adornment.
"Are you worried about me?"
"No, no. I just—I'm just curious."
"Well, thank you for being curious." He moved closer.
My heart thundered as he closed the distance, every step heavier than the last. Dressed in only his pants, his masculine scent grew stronger, intoxicating. Finally, he stood in front of me, so close my chest heaved faster than normal. His fingers brushed my cheek, featherlight.
The tension. His intense gaze. My breath quickening. My chest rising and falling as he leaned in closer.
I stared into his eyes. Beautiful. Mesmerizing.
His fingers lingered against my cheek, tracing lightly.
"Your freckles are beautiful," he murmured.
I swallowed hard. "I—I have to go, Alpha."
"You are staying with me tonight."
I blinked. "That is not possible. The Luna will arrive soon."
He looked around with a faint smirk. "What Luna? It's just us."
"Alpha, this is your matrimonial bedroom. I shouldn't even be here to begin with."
"This is not my matrimonial bedroom, Bambi. The Luna and I don't share one. We have a timetable for that."
I frowned, confusion prickling through me. "That's strange. I thought you—"
"Shh." His index finger pressed against my lips. "I have something for you."
He smirked, then turned to the drawer beside his bed. I watched the slick motion of his arm pulling it open before he returned, a book in hand.
He placed it in my palm—a drawing book.
It took all my courage to tear my eyes away from him and look down. My breath caught. A portrait of me, sketched perfectly from my head to the swell of my breast. Even the scar beside my nipple was there, etched in delicate detail.
I looked up. His eyes burned into mine.
"Thank you," I managed.
"No. It's not for you." He took the book back. "I want to stare at it whenever I miss you."
I glanced around again, realizing there were no windows. Only the hum of the full-blown AC chilled me to the bones.
"Uhm… I think I should leave now."
He sank into the couch, gaze locked on me. "To where?"
"Where I came from?" I pointed toward the wall we'd passed through.
"You can't go back."
"What?"
"There's only access in. No access out."
No way…
"Please, tell me you're lying."
"Why are you so scared of the idea of spending the night with me?" His voice softened, his arm draped lazily over the couch.
"Can't you see? You intimidate me. You're the Alpha and I'm the…"
Omega. A fucking Omega. And if you find out, you'll kill me.
"Anyway, I just want to do my job as a breeder, as the rules state. I don't want to cross my boundaries."
"Do you think I want boundaries?" His voice sharpened, his gaze suddenly colder.
I shifted uneasily.
"It's not—it's not about what you want. It's about the rules for a breeder."
"And who made the choice to make you my breeder?"
Oh God. He was getting pissed.
"I-I—"
"It is I!" His voice snapped like a whip, making me flinch.
"I chose you. I set my eyes on you and decided I wanted you to be part of my life." He rose, closing the gap between us.
"I saw you that night, and for the first time in my life, I saw the most beautiful creature ever." His palm cupped my cheek, firm yet tender. "I want you, Bambi. Don't you understand?"
"T-thank you."
Shit.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
The question blindsided me. But I answered. "Yes. Ian. We've broken up—but only because he went to work in another Pack."
His expression fell, disappointment clouding his features.
"Did you promise to wait for him?"
I shook my head, memories tugging at me. We had broken up when I told him I was leaving the Pack. He had gotten angry, said he wanted nothing to do with me.
"No. We…" My words faltered when I caught the seductive way he was staring at me.
He was going to be my downfall.
I cleared my throat. "We broke up. Officially."
"Which means you don't have any man in your life, right?"
Why was he asking me this?
I nodded slowly.
"So…" His voice dropped, deep and deliberate. "Can I be your boyfriend?"