Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Six
She giggles as she heads out into the hallway. That girl is going to be the death of me, I have never wanted anyone this badly. I wait about five minutes before returning to the party. There are pack members talking, laughing, and dancing no one seems to know what we were doing just minutes ago.
From across the room Amara spots me and rushes over. Why did Tiberius have to invite her? Maybe I can get rid of her before Leilani comes back downstairs. “Malakai, I have been looking everywhere for you!” Amara says touching my arm. “Where have you been?”
“Busy.” I say coldly as I pull her into the kitchen.
“Well, now that I found you, how about a dance?” Amara asks with hopeful eyes.
“No. In fact I need you to leave.”
Amara frowns. “But why? Tiberius invited me here as your date, and I dressed up.” Amara motions towards her red shiny dress with a sweetheart neckline.
“He invited you without my permission. I would like you to leave.”
Amara grabs my hand and tries to pull me to the dance floor. I yank my arm away as I smell Leilani’s sweet vanilla scent. Shit. Leilani stands beside me looking between me and Amara, her facial expression is unreadable.
“What’s going on?” she asks, staring at me.
Smiling I say, “Amara here is just leaving.”
“No, I’m not.” Amara shrieks. “Why are you even here?” she asks, staring at Leilani.
My inner wolf growls, no one talks to my mate like that.
Leilani scoffs and starts to answer but I cut her off. “She is here because she is my mate. Now it’s time for you to leave.”
“Your mate?” Amara laughs. “You’re kidding right.”
“No, he’s not.” Leilani snaps.
Amara glares at Leilani. “There is no way a man like him would ever want to be with a little girl like you. The only reason he is even entertaining the idea is because he doesn’t want to get on your daddy’s bad side.”
Leilani growls. “Malakai does not want to be with you! So, leave. Now.”
“He can tell you he doesn’t want me all he wants but if you hadn’t walked in on us at the New Year’s Eve party, he would have been deep inside me, and I’m not talking about his tongue in my mouth.” Amara laughs maliciously.
Leilani’s eyes fill with tears, making me angrier than I already was. “I don’t want you now, and I didn’t want you at that party either.” I growl.
Amara grabs my arm again. Before I can pull away, I hear the loud clap of skin against skin. Leilani slapped Amara across the face, leaving bloody claw marks on Amara’s cheek. “Leave now.” Leilani screams with eyes as black as night.
Amara cups her cheek as blood trickles down her face. Tears fill her eyes, and her mouth opens in a surprised O. Amara turns and runs towards the front door.
I am shocked, Leilani has never hit anyone. “Is what she said true?” Leilani asks, expressionless. “If I hadn’t walked in, you guys would have had sex, wouldn’t you?”
“No Leilani. I was trying to get away from her that night. Just like I was trying to get her to leave tonight. I don’t want anything to do with her.” Leilani nods slowly but doesn’t say anything. “Leilani, you have to believe me. I only want you.”
“I do.” She says slowly, remaining expressionless. “I’m going to bed.”
“Leilani, wait.” She doesn’t stop, she doesn’t even bother to turn around.
Can this night get any worse? If Amara would have just left when I asked her too, Leilani wouldn’t be upset. Why can’t Leilani understand that I just want her. Everything about her is perfect, her laugh, her smile, her sweet, caring, loving personality. I never imagined she would be my mate, but now I can’t imagine not having her in my life.
Tiberius taps me on the shoulder pulling me away from my thoughts. “Have you seen Leilani?” His jaw is tense, his eyes are dark, and his tone suggests he is pissed.
“She just went to bed.” I say arching my brow. “Why what’s going on?”
Tiberius storms off without another word, taking the stairs two at a time. “Tiberius what is going on?”
Silence again. He knocks on her door once, Leilani doesn’t answer. Tiberius lets out an angry sigh as he flings the door open. “Leilani Grace get your ass out of bed.”
“Leave me alone.” Leilani says pulling the cover over her head.
Tiberius growls. With one swift motion he yanks the blankets off the bed, throwing them on the floor. “That was not a request it was an order. Get your ass out of bed now.” He bellows in his alpha voice. Making everything shake.
Leilani gasps at her father’s rage and scrambles to her feet. “Would you like to explain to me what happened tonight?” Her father asks in a slightly calmer manner.
Leilani glances at me, with a confused expression. “What are you talking about dad?”
“I’m talking about Amara downstairs bleeding from your claw marks on her face. I’m talking about the fact that you are acting like a spoiled little brat not the future alpha. Maybe I should find someone more mature and responsible to take over this pack. A real alpha would never assault one of their own pack members for no reason.”
“But dad.” Leilani tries to talk but Tiberius cuts her off, continuing his rant.
“A real alpha would never resort to violence for anything. Your mother would be so disappointed in you. I know I am.” Tiberius shakes his head in disapproval as he slams her bedroom door.
Leilani’s eyes fill with tears, her jaw drops in shock. She stands there staring at the door her father slammed. Tiberius has never spoken to Leilani like that, I don’t think he’s ever even got mad at her before. I’m not sure what version of the story Amara told him but I’m sure it’s not the full story.
“Leilani, he didn’t mean that. Just let him cool off. He is just stressed.” I pull her into my chest. Her tears quickly soak through my shirt, as she sobs.
“My dad hates me. He doesn’t even want me to be the alpha.” She chokes out.
“Shhh. He didn’t mean it. I will talk to him. Okay?” I kiss the top of her head.
She nods into my shirt as her tears flow freely. My wolf whimpers at her pain, if he wasn’t her father, I would kill him for causing her so much pain. I stroke her hair trying to comfort her. A loud bang followed by glass breaking comes from down the hallway.
“What was that?” Leilani sniffles, pulling away from me.