Part 64

"He will come around, Em." My brother patted my knee as we both stared at the black screen of the phone. I decided it would be apt to call our father and inform him about Abel. As expected he did not have a pleasant reaction to it. When I mentioned visiting him he said he would let me know about the appropriate date. 

"When?" I sighed, looking at my brother, exhaustion marring his face as he sagged further in his seat. He has been having a tough time dealing with Allie's side of the family as it is. The least he expected was some kind of support from our father. In the end, he proved it would just be Edward and I against the world.

"I wish I knew! I am so sorry, Em. I know you wanted this to happen.”

“We always knew how he is. I just thought he would finally step up.”

My mother passing away—his mate was not an excuse for our father's addiction or his lack of affection towards us. He simply stopped caring at one point and heavily relied on my brother to take charge and care for us. 

Edward has always been a pillar of strength in my life. The gap year I had on my CV was the turning point of my life, also when I realised I could trust him blindly. There was a guy I was seeing but he started getting abusive a few weeks into our dating—something I endured. My brother noticed the signs and pulled me out. He beat him up in front of his friends and warned him to stay away from me. Since then I have not seen the guy around. I shuddered at the memory. 

“Hey…” He touched my elbow which made me jerk. “You alright?”

I hummed. “H-How is it going with Allie's parents? Any progress?”

"We talked again last night..." Edward made a noise, staring at the wall in front of us. 

After our talk a week ago at Allies apartment which unravelled a lot of secrets between us, things were calmer now. My brother extended his leave from the military, focused on securing his future with my best friend. Allie when confronted about the beginning of the relationship told how it all started. 

The summer before I started college, Allie had come to live and help me pack. She said that's when her inner wolf felt the mate pull and for the longest time they decided not to act on it. Then there were nights she couldn't sleep and had to see my brother. I heard it all while keeping a straight face, feeling heard for the first time. She had kept in touch with my brother even when he left for the military. They were on and off for a while which made sense on the nights she insisted on getting drunk. 

Finally when he took his days off from the military to come see that's when they truly decided to move forward with their relationship and completely commit to each other. Allie also opened up to him about her forced engagement with Abel and how she had no intention of marrying him. They were struggling like we were but kept it hidden. 

My brother cleared his throat, "They do not seem keen on our bond, Em. Her mother was sobbing and calling me names for ruining her daughter." He tugged on the roots of his hair before slamming his fist on the table. "What am I supposed to do?!"

I chewed on my bottom lip, my heart clenching at his state. My best friend was also not faring well. We insisted on her joining us for lunch but she wanted to rest at home. Her schedule has been filled with crying while trying to talk to her family. 

"Her father...How is he taking?"

"He threatened to cut her off if she didn't leave me. Believes I have no right to court his daughter since my family is poor and I work for a living. Can you believe him?!"

I winced at that. Her parents have always had that quality about them, looking down on people. I never imagined they would act that way about their daughter's mate too. My heart suddenly felt heavy for my best friend who was torn and suffering. 

"I am so sorry Edward. I wish there was something I could do." I squeezed his hand lying on the table. 

He sighed. "I am hoping maybe if we talk in person things might change. I don't know but I am trying to convince Allie."

"And what does she say?"

"She thinks going to her parents is a bad idea. They are very heated right now and might shut us out."

I twisted my lips, "Well she knows them better. Maybe let them calm down?"

"I can't extend my holidays furthermore, Em and there is no way I am leaving Allie on her own." He said with a glint in his eyes. 

A smile touched my lips. He has always been like that. My brother. I thought proudly. 

"What more can you do Edward?"

"I don't know but I'll figure it out."

"Alright. I hope you do."

***

As I caught an empty elevator car, I ripped open the chocolate bar and bit viciously into it. My eyes rolled at the comfort of dark chocolate and caramel melting over my tongue.

Edward dropped me off at the entrance of the building and rushed to get some takeaway for Allie. 

The doors slid apart and revealed Edward talking with two other men. On the 1st floor. Huh.

As usual, I lost my breath at the sight of him, which reignited my irritation. Why did he have that effect on me? When was I going to become immune to his hotness?

The Alpha glanced over and his lips curved into a slow, heart-stopping smile when he saw me.

"We'll finish this later," He murmured to the people next to him without looking away from me.

As he stepped in, the doors shut and the elevator glided smoothly into motion.

"Hey."

He caught me by the upper arms and searched my face with that vivid gaze. "Something's wrong. What is it?"

The now-familiar electricity crackled to life between us, the pull made fiercer. "Nothing. You." I teased, not wanting to rehash my lunchtime talk with Edward. 

"Oh? Me?" His thumbs stroked over my shoulders.

He was wearing black, with fine grey pinstripes, shoulders appearing broad, emphasizing his lean waist. The silky strands of hair falling over his collar tempted me to clench them and pull. 

Abel stepped closer, his hand lifting to my face. His thumb brushed over the corner of my mouth; then lifted to his own. Holding my gaze, he sucked on the pad and purred, "Chocolate and you. My favourite."

A shiver moved through me, followed by a heated ache between my legs as I imagined licking chocolate off his lethally sexy body.

The Alpha's gaze darkened and his voice lowered intimately, as if he could read the thoughts running in my head. 

Panting softly, I licked at the chocolate on my lips. The action caused him to let out a groan, he tilted his head and sealed his mouth over mine. I was shocked by how soft his firm lips were and the gentleness of the pressure he exerted. His tongue dipped inside, tasting me in long leisurely licks. 

The kiss was confident, skilled, and just the right side of aggressive to turn me on wildly.

I distantly registered my bag hitting the floor; then my hands were in his hair. I pulled on the strands, using them to direct his mouth over mine. Abel growled, deepening the kiss, stroking my tongue with lush slides of his own. I felt the raging beat of his heart against my chest, proof that he wasn't just a hopeless ideal conjured by my fevered imagination.

Abel pushed away from the door. Cupping the back of my head and the curve of my buttocks, he lifted me off my feet. "You drive me crazy, baby. I want you so much..."

I was pressed full-body against him, achingly aware of every hot, hard inch of him.

"Then do something about it..."

***

As we stared at the ceiling in Abel's room, bodies sweaty and snuggled in the sheets, he pulled me closer. The Alpha talked about his biological mother and how he truly missed seeing her every day. I knew this story—having heard from my brother when we were young. 

Abel's parents were married because of their elders, and never truly loved each other. Thomas—Abel's dad cheated on his mate with someone from another pack and knocked up the omega—Leon's mother. That was it for Abel's mother and she decided to break their marriage and took Abel with her. It was when Abel and Edward met and became best of friends. Things fell into place for Abel, adjusting to his mother and the new life they were building in that small city. But his mother fell in love with a foreign Alpha and he wanted to marry her and take her away from the city. Not wanting to burden his mother and the new life she was about to embark he chose to return to his father. 

My heart ached as he recalled how difficult he found going back. He was alone despite being surrounded by so many members of his pack. Growing up it hurt him how indifferent his stepmother treated him and that's why he changed his surname to his mother's. Abel wanted to break free from them as soon as possible. He talked about how he felt the only reason his father tolerated him was for the bright mind he had. After some witch's prediction on his future, his father had high expectations of him and reminded him every day.

I could see his eyes turning mist as he tried not to look at me and instead at the ceiling. 

"I would have died before going ahead with the arranged marriage and bringing a life in this world and putting them through the same." He turned to me. 

I stroked his arm, "I love you."

He pressed a kiss on my cheek, "I love you. And my father has to accept that fact if he wants me to stay in his pack."

***