[6] Nyah: 'Fluttering Hearts.'-2

Estevan Pineda. My brother who abandoned me. The one whom I'd been searching as much as I could in the last year since I became Alpha. The search which I'd given my everything for, which was also the reason why I'd forgone college for a year and joined now. I obviously haven't given up on my search, but I could no longer spend days and nights over something I couldn't find the slightest clue about. My best men are still on the look for any hints as to what might've happened and where he might've gone, but we'd come up with nothing. Nothing. Six years of radio silence and now he contacts me? I get that he was kicked out, it was the most ruthless thing I've ever seen my father do, but Estevan could've contacted me in the least. I mean, I always knew he was gay and he knew that I fully supported him. He knew that I would never betray him. For six years, I've been worried sick. Worried whether he was safe. Whether he was alive and well or just hanging on for life, because although the family link tells that he's breathing somewhere on earth, there's no guarantee that he's fine. Worried what leaving the Pack and the severing of the links did to his mental health. Worried if he is alone. This same text, six years before, heck even five or four years before, would've made me fly over the moon in happiness. A sense of betrayal and hurt hits me so hard I feel like I might be knocked over. My breath comes out shuddery and I put my hands on the table, resting my forehead on my arms as I take in deep breaths, trying to calm this overwhelming emotion threatening to overtake me. I realize that I'm about to have a panic attack. This can't be happening to me right now. Not in public where everyone can see. Just no. There's a touch on my back that jolts me out of it-mainly because it fracking tingled like someone sent a small voltage of electricity-and I look up with bloodshot eyes to meet a pair of cerulean orbs that are looking down at me worriedly. Worried? Since when was he worried for me? "Nyah, I've been calling your name for a while. Are you alright?" Ezra Harland questions as he withdraws his hand quickly, clenching and unclenching his fingers as he swallows, seemingly very uncomfortable to be speaking with me. "Uh," I exhale, clearing my too dry throat, "Yeah, I'm not feeling well, that's all. You can go." I mumble, trying to grab my phone with shaking fingers and just send that stupid text I wanted to send to Alessia in the first place. "You sure?" Ezra asks as he slides into the seat opposite to me comfortably, grabbing my phone from my hands. I open my mouth to protest when he raises an eyebrow, silencing me effectively, "Just tell me whom to text. I'll do it." "No-you don't have to-" "I felt it, Nyah." He jaw clinches, dark brows push down and blue eyes turn icy as shoots me a look of stubborn resolve, "We are barely Mated and I could feel you hurting. I'm not letting you stay here alone. Just tell me." "Fine." I sigh in defeat, reaching forward to put my thumb and unlock the phone carefully, without touching his fingers, "Text Alessia that I'm at this café." He types for a couple of seconds and places the phone on the table, looking up. "Done. I'm not going to ask what that was. I know I have no right. Just let me stay here until she comes." I nod mutely in response. A few minutes pass by and we sit in awkward silence, none of us having a clue as to what to say. My breathing gradually slows down and I feel myself returning to normal. If anyone asks me if the reason why it subsided was because of my Mate's presence, I'd deny it till my dying breath. Finally, Alessia shows up, rushing to the table with her arms full of books. "I'm so sorry, I'm late! I had-what the fuck happened to you?" Alessia exclaims in horror as she drops her armload of books unceremoniously on the table, not caring that the hit the wood with a thump loud enough to get everyone's attention in the tiny café, and not even conscious that Ezra was sitting right there, when I know very well that she must have noticed him the moment she entered. She pushes into my side of the booth as she grabs my still pale face, looking it over. She then turns to Ezra with a glare that could melt the Arctic, "I swear if you did something-" "No, no. It wasn't him." I hurry to cut her off, before she says something like she'd stuff his own balls in his mouth. Alessia is colorful like that. "Nice to meet you, too, Alessia Clarke." Ezra smiles as he stands up, and my Wolf, that betraying beast, howls at me to ask him to stay. I ignore the traitor, and wave at him as he gives us both a grin and turns around, walking away. "Did you tell him my name?" Alessia looks at me in confusion. "I did." My brows wrinkle in confusion, "Not your last name though." "Huh. We'll come back to that later." She shakes her head, "Now tell me what the hell happened." "Estevan happened." I say gravely, and Alessia pales. ~ By the time I reach home, I've exhausted myself by just overanalyzing the whole 'Mated to my tormentor' concept. It was either focusing on this, or 'the brother who almost gave me a panic attack in the middle of the day'. I'd pick bad boy Mate over that minefield any day, because I still haven't decided what to text in reply, or if I should even reply. Back to the point, I've now made a mental pros and cons list which will no doubt put me in a huge mess if it's ever written on paper, considering all the similar scenarios I've seen in movies and TV series. A huge example? Remember, when Rachel sees Ross' list? Not that I'm implying that me and Ezra will get together someday and he'll feel all betrayed when he sees it-you know what? Never mind. Bottom line is, it will stay mental and never see the light of the day. Cons: 1. I can't even WRITE my pros and cons list to analyze this and that's the biggest con. 2. He's my frenemy at best, and bully at worst. 3. He's always mean and has never shown signs that he is capable of treating me like a princess (okay, I really don't want to be treated like one, but still, a girl can dream). 4. He's from the Mordecai Pack, whose Alpha is rumored to be ruthless and hence, what if he's bloodthirsty too? (Okay, that's a big IF 'cause I've been around Alpha Seneca plenty of times in many events and am yet to see her "thirst for blood") 5. He's Alpha Seneca's Beta and would NEVER leave her side to come and be my Aleph. (Although I have other plans . . . never mind) Pros: Well, I haven't really gotten to that part yet. Alright, that's a lie. There's only one pro. He's Ezra Anthony Harland; the guy who chased me across the campus and found me when he realized something was happening. And that was NOT my heart fluttering at his name. I'm definitely screwed. ~ * ~