Chapter 13 Get A Grip!

Chapter 13 Get A Grip!
Azrael’s Pov
That’s weird.
I stared at my phone like it had insulted me. A missed call. From her. Then nothing. I’d called back. Once. Twice. But neither got a response.
“Probably a mistake,” I muttered, dumping the phone into my pocket.
It was 11:00 p.m.
Late dinner. Again.
The dining hall was too big for one person. Too quiet. Plates laid out like they were waiting for someone who never showed. I sat at the head, jacket off, sleeves rolled, staring at food I wasn’t hungry for.
Then my eyes drifted.
The other side of the table.
It was empty. Not because of the late dinner, It had always been empty and who knows how long that will continue.
Till I die?
‘It’s no new story that the very handsome Alpha Azrael was yet to find his mate, yet he refused to take up a chosen mate.’
Many people questioned my decision, many tried to make me pick them as chosen mate, but I knew exactly why I had waited and I’d keep waiting if that was what it took for me to finally meet her.
Despite that strong resolve, my mind didn’t agree. It had been playing tricks on me lately, going places it shouldn’t.
And there at the other end of the table, I saw her.
Alpha Lani.
She had her normal expression on, one that most times gave not chalant enough to give a fuck. She wore a fine red strap hand gown, similar to the one she had worn on the night of the dinner.
She noticed me staring.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, cold toned, her guard always up.
I scoffed softly, ready to reply when…
“Your majesty?”
I blinked.
Rick stood a few steps away, brows pulled together. “Is everything alright with you?”
“I mean I’ve been calling you for the longest and you just seemed so lost.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly.
The words felt familiar. Too familiar.
I frowned.
I’m already sounding like her.
Rick took a seat, tablet in hand. “Look What’s been going on, online.” He said, turning the screen to me.
I sighed before he even finished. “What is the matter this time?”
I said, almost rolling my eyes at him.
“You and Miss Brenda have been trending really wide.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“Of course, these guys always know how to look for stories to make their pages keep booming.” I said, stabbing into the meat on my plate like a child being forced to eat.
“You need to see this one… It’s gone farther than anyone would expect.” I took the tab finally, scrolling through the pictures.
“You might need to say something about it, so no one gets a wrong view. Some are already thinking she’s your missing mate.”
“Well… they won’t be the first to assume that, neither will they be the last.”
“Your majesty?” He dragged.
“Are you new to this?” I cut in, pushing my plate away. “I said I’m not making any public appearances to clear the dispute this time. I honestly don’t want to clear anything anymore. I’m done trying to explain my whole life to these people.”
He stayed quiet for a while, then he stood. Of course he wasn’t happy with my decision, but I certainly wasn’t in the mood to give a fuck.
“Alright then… If you say so!” Rick said, already retreating. “Alpha Lani is wishing you a happy life with Miss Brenda.”
At the sound of her name, my ears shot up.
“Alpha Lani?”
“She commented?” I asked, eyes wide as I grabbed the tab from him and began scrolling to find her comment.
“How could she have fallen for this?” I sighed, running my hand over my face. I stared at the comment a little too long.
Is she possibly making a joke of me? Or could it be that she honestly fell for that.
“Your majesty, is there a problem?” I shook my head quickly.
“Section out the files for tomorrow,” I said. “I’ll start work earlier.”
Rick blinked. “Earlier than five?”
“Yes. After that, I’ll organise a little speech to address the whole scandal going on.”
He nodded, surprised at my sudden change of heart, but pleased. “I’ll have them ready.”
When he left, the hall felt empty again.
I stood, pushing my chair in, and headed for my room. Halfway down the corridor, I ran into my mother.
She stopped short when she saw me. “Late dinner again?” Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall.
“I had a lot to do,” I said.
She studied my face. Mothers always see too much. “You look tired.”
“I am.”
“It’s all part of the Sacrifices I have to make for the pack.”
She reached out like she wanted to touch my arm, then stopped herself.
I didn’t wait for her reply. I couldn’t. I left her standing there, worry following me down the hall like a shadow.
In my room, I stripped out of my clothes and stood under the shower, maybe a little longer than necessary. Water beat against my skin, hot enough to sting, but my thoughts were louder.
Her face kept coming back.
When I finally lay on the bed, sleep didn’t come. So I did the one thing I told myself I wouldn’t.
I picked up my phone.
Alpha Lani.
I typed her name into the search bar, thumb hovering like I was about to cross a line I couldn’t step back from.
Information flooded the screen. Titles. Achievements. Old photos from official events. Always composed. Always distant.
I had scrolled for the longest, and the more I scrolled, the more I wanted to dive deeper into her personality.
I clicked a video without thinking.
An interview.
She stood before reporters, calm as always.
“So, your majesty,” the reporter asked, smiling too wide. “Any special person in your life?”
Lani didn’t hesitate.
“Special,” she repeated. “I have my old man, Cyrus. My Beta, in fact everyone from my pack has a special place in my heart.” She said, trying to sound like she didn’t know what the reporter meant.
“I know that ma’am,” the reporter said with a smile. “But I meant, are you in a relationship? Or would I rather say, do you have a love interest?”
“Oh… love?” She replied, “That shit is not for people like me.”
Something tightened in my chest.
The reporter laughed awkwardly. “Wow… But why th
ough? Why do you say so?”
“Story for another day.” She said dismissively.
The video ended.
I stared at the dark screen.
Not for people like me.
I sat up slowly.
Who hurt you? The question formed before I could stop it.
My phone buzzed suddenly, making me jump.
A message notification.
For a split second, I thought it was her.
It wasn’t.
I rolled onto my side, exhaling slowly.
Get a grip, Azrael.