Alex had returned home from his journey. After dropping the body off with Alpha Jayden he found no other reason to remain there and turned down the old Alpha's offer for him to stay the night at his palace.
His men were clearly disappointed by his refusal. They had quickly forgotten that they were there for a mission and were engrossed in the dance show Alpha Jayden had prepared for their entertainment after their meal.
Alex could not stand the man. He was a quiet man but it was clear that he had a lot he was keeping under sealed lips and the portrait was a clear example of it.
Alex had asked his father about the portrait years ago but had gotten a response similar to that of Alpha Jayden, and just after Alex was made the Alpha before his parents' travel, the portrait had mysteriously dissappear.
Still wondering about the mysterious portrait and what it could mean, Alex deliberately avoided passing by his room just to avoid Mia in case she was there waiting. He had to focus his mind on the series of events that had been happening in the pack. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow connected to everything, and he was determined to find out more.
He made his way to the inner library, a place that contained classified information that only the Alphas had access to. He had never really seen the reason the Alphas of the past had decided to keep it restricted, yet they took time to build it luxuriously and fill it up with every possible book and journal.
If he needed to find out anything then this had to be the best place to look. His hopes to find anything useful went down the drain after spending hours, thumbing through ancient texts and documents, searching for any clues that could lead him to the answers he sought but he found nothing.
Frustrated, he closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. His mind drifted to thoughts of Mia. Her warm smile filled his head, and her soft laughter ricocheted in his mind. Everything about her seemed to pull him in. She was like an ocean and he was a small raft trying to escape her waves.
It was impossible.
He couldn't point out when but somewhere along the line it had become too hard for him to deny–to himself at least, he wanted her. He craved the softness of her lips that she would always push out in a pout when he wasn't giving her the response she demanded.
He ached for the feel of her touch, her small hands reaching places of him that no one had ever dared to. He could feel his body instantly reacting to the idea of her touch. He had to stop but the harder he pulled away the more he craved her very essence.
***********
Mia was carefully trying to avoid any guard and wasn't careful, while walking up the stairs. Antsy and constantly looking behind her, she missed her step causing her to twist her ankle.
"Ouch!" She yelped subconsciously and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth as she realized what she had done. She had just announced her present location to the guards around.
She mentally knocked herself on the head for her clumsiness amd quickly limped to a small space behind the stair case. That was the only place available for her to hide. She bent there, cradling her feet and trying her best not to cry from the pain shooting through her ankle.
Everything was Alex's fault, she thought angrily. If he wasn't desperately avoiding her then she wouldn't have to go to such length just to see him. They were complete strangers even though they were married now. Everything still felt surreal to her.
As she hid, she heard the commotion just above the stairs. Mia frowned, wondering if the guards would send her back if they caught her. Of course they would! Luna or not, no one else other than the Alpha was allowed to enter these restricted areas.
Mia got up from her hiding place and peeked out to check where they were.
"It came from down here Claron," one guard told the other, looking to her direction. "I'm sure I heard a scream this way."
Mia put on her dark cloak, hoping that would further aid her attempt in hiding. The guards moved through the passage way. They still had no idea who they had heard but this was the Alpha's quarters so they couldn't be too careful.
Trying to avoid making any noise, Mia squeezed her eyes shut hoping to some how reduce the loud pounding of her heart before they heard it.
She watched the two guards walk closer to her hiding spot, scanning the area with their eyes.
"Did you see anyone come in here?" One of the guards asked the other, who was stationed just by the entrance.
Mia had been able to enter the Alpha's quarters because the first guard stationed there had left when it was time to change shift and the current guard had delayed a little giving her the window she needed to come in.
The other guard shook his head. "No, I haven't seen anyone. But we need to make sure no one's here who isn't supposed to be."
They were certain that they heard a sound and started checking the passage leading to the staircase, moving closer and closer to where Mia was hiding.
Mia stayed quiet, holding her breath as the guards approached. They looked around the passage, checking rooms and passing by the staircase but didn't find anything out of place.
After what felt like an eternity, the guards left the stairway, finally leaving Mia alone.
"That was close," Mia whispered to herself, her voice shaking.
Still feeling the adrenaline pumping through her veins, she said, "I need to get out of here before they come back."
The fact she was almost caught was evidence that she was loosing her touch. Back at home, she had slipped through many guards without anyone knowing. She shook her head, making her way to the library, feeling relieved to have escaped without being caught.