Terran’s POV
“The kiss, I don’t regret it one bit,” I said to her. Her face looked a bit flustered. I finally said it. The thing that had been on my chest for a while now. It might be too soon, but I want her to be aware of my feelings. I won’t let Vixxen take her from me. I can’t be the only one that felt that little spark when our lips met. I wish it wasn’t in public, I wouldn’t have let her go. Alpha duties have been taking a toll on me, longer than usual, but Zeph never left my mind. I thought I was thinking like a protector, with her just getting to know the pack. But it has been way more than that. Seeing her getting close to Vixxen doesn’t sit with me at all. The way he hovered around her, always teasing, always finding ways to make her laugh—it drove me insane.
I looked at her, waiting for her response. I’ve fought battles, led warriors, and faced enemies without fear. But standing there, watching Zeph process my words, I felt more nervous than I ever had in my life.
She looked away, biting her lip, and damn, that only made things worse for me. If she knew the effect she had on me, she’d probably run for the hills.
“You don’t have to give me a reply.” I said, noticing how nervous she looked.
“I just wanted to tell you how I felt. The kiss felt real to me.”
Finally, she responded. “Terran…I…don’t know what to say.”
“It’s fine.”
“But…the kiss felt real to me too…”
I felt like I could burst into happiness, but I maintained my composure.
“But I don’t think I am ready for this…” she added. “I don’t want to get your hopes up. Right now, all I think of is getting stronger and being a better version of myself.”
At least she didn’t reject my feelings. That’s a good thing.
“I love that you want to be the better version of yourself.” I replied as I held her palms.
“I am not asking for a relationship. I just want you to be aware of the position you have in my heart.”
“That…really means a lot, Terran.”
“Good.”
“What?”
“You didn’t address me with Alpha.”
She shrugged. “I guess I don’t have to address you that way. Did I fail to mention that Karex talked to me earlier.?”
What did that brat say this time?
“Did she threaten you?”
“She tried to. Basically, she said that she is the ordained woman to marry you, because her father is some kind of top-notch elder.”
Karex never ceased to say that all the time.
“She is right. About her father I mean. He is one of the reasons the pack is super strong.”
“So it’s…true…you will get married to her?” she said I'd as a joke, but I didn’t fail to catch the hint of jealousy in her voice, which made me happy anyway.
“No,” I said firmly. “Just because her father is a high-ranking elder doesn’t mean I’m going to follow his orders like a mindless pup.”
Zeph smirked. “Wow, such rebellion, Terran.”
I rolled my eyes. “If rebellion means not marrying a self-entitled brat, then yes, I’m the leader of the revolution.”
She chuckled. “So, you don’t like her at all?”
I gave her a deadpan look. “Zeph, I’d rather wrestle a rabid boar covered in honey while standing on an anthill than be anywhere near Karex.”
Zeph snorted. “Okay, that’s extreme.”
But I am saying the truth. Karex is as delusional as there can be. Though she is quite useful…when it comes to making her dad make some demands. As long as I tell her, she always convinces him. Tell her she was ‘valuable to the pack,’ and suddenly, she was singing my praises to her father like I’d just handed her the moon.
I had lost count of how many times she had paraded around, acting as if our so-called ‘destined’ union was set in stone. If confidence could shape reality, she’d already be Luna.
“Every single time she speaks, I lose a brain cell.” I remarked.
Zeph burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. “Terran! You can’t just say things like that.”
I crossed my arms, unfazed. “I just did.”
She shook her head, still grinning. “I swear, you’re terrible.”
“Honest,” I corrected. “And let’s not pretend you don’t agree.”
She bit her lip, feigning innocence. “I mean… I won’t confirm or deny.”
I smirked. “That’s what I thought.”
I enjoyed having a conversation with her. I know anytime now, someone will call me to fulfill my Alpha duties. But for now, I wanted to savor this—her laughter. And the way she looked at me sometimes—like I was just a Terran, not the Alpha—made something feel so light inside me. It was dangerous. How much I enjoyed it. How much I enjoyed her presence.
“I unlocked another power”
“That’s good. What is it?”
She suddenly held her head, which got me worried. She then looked at me with widened eyes.
“There are intruders…inside the pack.”
“What?”
“I can hear people’s thoughts. Apparently, just people with bad intentions, unintentionally.”
Thoughts? Mind reading is her new power? Does that mean…
“No. I didn’t invade your thoughts,” she added, noticing my expression. i felt relieved, but it didn’t last a second when I finally understood her first sentence.
“Intruders are in the territory…and they are after you. Terran.”