Chapter 23 For My Sake
“Let’s not ruin the moment, Alara.” Russell chuckled softly, turning to Mia.
“I am sure you and my sister will get along so easily. She is a wonderful soul, and she has been hoping to get someone to be friends with. Everyone feels intimidated by her charisma and poise.”
Mia turned to Alara, struggling not to diminish the brightness of her beam.
“I hope we get along easily, Alara. I would love to have you as a friend.”
“Certainty.” Alara nodded, and then she turned to Russell.
The Alpha was silent, but it was very obvious that he knew what Alara was up to.
Alara cleared her throat, and then she turned to Mia, forcing a smile.
“Mia? Could you let me steal my brother for a minute?” She chuckled, and seeing the twisted expression on Mia’s face over her awkward request, she continued with a lower tone.
“I just need to have a word with him over something that I just remembered, something very important.”
“Right.” Mia nodded, looking her in the eyes.
“I will bring him back to you as soon as possible.” Alara grabbed Russell’s hands, pulling him as she made a move for the staircase.
“Come on, Brother.” She grunted, her eyes pleading that Russell follow her.
Eventually, the Alpha agreed to go with Alara, but that was after he assured Mia with his eyes that he was going to come back.
Mia was forced to stand by the corner and watch as they both left for the living room.
Soon, she returned to the room and shut the door.
Russell sighed the moment Alara let go of him, his eyes staring with inquisition.
“Are you going to tell me what this is all about or are you going to continue staring at me like you have never seen a handsome Alpha before?”
Alara scoffed, placing her hands akimbo.
She stared at the Alpha, and after a while, she took a deep breath.
“Your mate?” She pointed to the staircase without taking her eyes off her brother.
Russell nodded, his smile evergreen and confident.
“You don’t seem excited for me...”
“That is because I think this is ridiculous, Russell!” Alara cut the Alpha short, taking a deep breath.
Realizing that her tone was too loud and could draw the attention of anyone like the guards, the maids, or even Mia, she decided to speak with a loud whisper.
“What’s going on, Russell? We talk every day, yet you never told me that you have a mate. A whole freaking mate!”
“Relax, Alara,” Russell said casually, his expression unexpectedly calm.
Alara couldn’t do as he wanted, besieged by the pensive feeling that gripped her.
Buried deep inside her eyes were intense concern and nervousness, and it was hard to tell if it was for the Alpha, or Mia.
“Where is she from? Where did you guys meet? I need details, Russell.” Her patience was slowly slipping away, her gesture showing no signs of composure.
Russell pointed to the couch behind them. “We should take a seat.” He sat down, and then he waited for Alara to join him.
As soon as they were both seated, the Alpha sighed heavily like he was about to get rid of a thought blocking his ability to speak.
“Her name is Mia. She is from Willow Pack, but originally from Moonstone Pack.”
Alara’s countenance contorted, begging for a more detailed explanation.
Soon, lines of intense bemusement veined up on her face, her eyes sparking with inquisition.
“What does that even mean, Russell?” She questioned, giving up on her attempt to make sense of everything the Alpha said.
Russell grunted, and then he cleared his throat, looking around like he was in search of someone.
“I would really appreciate it if you don’t make this more difficult than it is for me, Alara. I already told you everything you need to know. The least you can do is to be happy for me and accept Mia as a new member of the family.”
Alara stared at the Alpha with wide eyes, and after a while, she scoffed.
“Just like that?” She waited, but the Alpha only gave her a look.
She took a deep breath, attempting to get a hold of herself.
“How certain are you that she is your mate, Russell? Do you even know anything about her? If she has bloomed. If she is ousted. Do you know if she has the dark blood in her?”
“I know everything that I need to know, Alara.” Russell debunked the arguments she was about to set up, crashing them into pieces.
He took a deep breath, and then he adjusted, grabbing Alara’s hands.
He looked her in the eyes, his crimson pupils piercing like they were about to compel her.
“I know that you are worried for my sake, Alara. But I assure you, Mia is not like Kamari.”
“She could be worse.” Alara huffed, and then she looked at the staircase for a few seconds before she continued.
“I saw what happened to you, Russell. The severity of the bond broke you, it almost killed you. I was there, I stood by you throughout.”
“I know,” Russell muttered, letting go of his sister’s hands.
He tried to speak, but his heart had become too heavy, burdened by the memory that crashed into him.
“I will be careful, Alara. And I feel very responsible for Mia. I owe her two lives.”
Alara paused, and then she took a deep breath.
“What lives are you talking about?” She waited for a response, and when she saw the reluctance in the Alpha’s eyes, she persisted.
“Talk to me, Russell. I am listening.”
“I will tell you when the time is right, Alara. For now, just get along with her and treat her nicely, okay?”
Russell stood up, adjusted his velvet shirt, and was about to walk away when he saw Mia standing a few meters before him, eyes fixed on him.
The Alpha was frozen, and then Alara’s voice broke through the silence.
“Does she know about the curse?”