Chapter 26 Confrontation
TARA:
"Why are you surprised?" He asked. He cupped my cheek, rubbing his thumb over it.
"Alpha, a week. Just seven days." I pointed out.
"Six, if we're counting."
My mouth dropped open. But why was he telling me all this?
"I think she's a wonderful person. Calm, reserved, and friendly."
Alpha Lucian laughed out loud.
"Do you know everything you just said is a lie? Diana is the opposite of everything you just said. I'm not trying to badmouth her but that's just how she is."
"You didn't come out for the training like we planned. I'll pardon you for today. Make sure you attend tomorrow,"
"Yes, Alpha,"
I noticed he was still rubbing my cheeks. Why wasn't he leaving already? I just wanted to fall on my bed and sleep.
"Thank you so much, Alpha. I don't know how to pay you back for everything you've done for me."
"When the time comes, I'll decide how you'll pay me back. But for now, focus on the tasks ahead." He patted the top of my head before exiting the room.
Sometimes I wonder why he is being so nice to me. I was just a slave he picked up and now, he had given me a life that would have taken me years to achieve.
If we were mates, the story would have been different.
I dragged myself to the bathroom to bathe and change into my nightwear. I didn't bother eating the food and just fell asleep.
I heard some rustling that made me shift in my bed. I wanted to ignore it but the sound kept coming. It made me uncomfortable.
I finally sat up and after wiping my sleepy eyes, I got out of bed, trying to locate the sound and where it was coming from. I opened the door, drawing closer to the sound.
The noise led me further away from the house. There, I saw a pool. It shone bright blue, almost blinding me. And someone was in it.
Unafraid, I stepped toward the person. The sleep cleared from my eyes when he splashed some water over my face.
I shrieked when the cold water touched my skin.
"Do you know what the time is? Aren't you afraid?" He asked.
"I heard some noise and wanted to find out what it was. And I think it's 9 pm or so." I replied, slowly approaching the edge of the pool.
"Madam, it's past 2 in the morning."
"Really?" I looked around before gazing back at the pool. I dipped my fingers inside. It was cold but very tempting.
"Wow..." I marveled at the blue color that came from underneath the pool.
"Since you're here, why don't you swim with me? Come on in,"
I wanted to object but I found myself sitting at the edge. My feet finally entered the water, the coldness traveling to my brain. I breathed sharply, enjoying the feel of the water on my feet.
He swam toward me, held my waist gently, and pulled me into the water completely.
"It's so cold," I laughed nervously. His hand didn't leave my waist, instead, his grip tightened, pulling me closer to himself.
"Alpha, what—" He took my lips in his before I could complete my question. He kissed me like his life depended on it, his tongue visiting every corner of my lips. I struggled to keep up. I had never kissed anyone before.
But when I looked from the corner of my eyes, I saw the Alpha standing beside the pool, his cold gaze boring into my soul.
How was he there? Who was with me in the pool?
I looked at the person's face to see that he had turned into a monster. When he opened his mouth to swallow me, I screamed.
I sprang out of the bed, my body slick from excessive sweat. I felt myself gasping for air.
"Yeah, she has dream sight." I heard Mason's voice. I didn't know there were people with me. Mason stood while the Alpha sat beside me.
Dream sight? What were they talking about? Why were they with me?
"What's going on?" I held my head, trying to remember what happened.
"I couldn't wake you up when I came in. So I called the Alpha to help out. He has dream sight too."
The Alpha stood and walked to the door. He hadn't even said anything to me.
"What's dream sight?" I asked the question directly to him.
"You're late for class." He simply said and left. I ran out of bed, rushed to bathe and clothe myself, grabbed yesterday's food, and scurried out with Mason.
"Shoot. I forgot my textbooks." I slapped my cheeks. "What do I do now?"
"I'll get them for you later." Mason offered. I mouthed a thank you and as soon as his car came to a stop, I ran out. I was one hour late. A whole hour. What would the headmistress and my homeroom teacher think of me now?
I stood at the door, a bit embarrassed. All eyes had turned to me. A chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t even bring my eyes to meet anybody.
“Oh, dear. Tara,” My class teacher frantically walked over to me and grabbed my shoulders. “Are you alright? The Alpha called. Are you sure you can study today?”
I just smiled and nodded. I didn’t bother asking what the Alpha told them. I just walked to my seat and settled in. I was able to follow up on the classes more today.
When it was lunch break, Mason came to the school. I had almost forgotten he offered to bring my books.
The girls in the hallway were gushing over him, each of them trying so hard for him to notice them. I saw how some lowered their tops so that their cleavage would be visible.
Our eyes met and I quickly looked away.
‘Please, don’t call my name. Please don’t call my name.’ I begged within. I wanted to take a detour when he shouted my name from across the hall.
“Tara!” He waved at me and began walking over. I wished the ground would open up and swallow him, then spit him out in a desert.
“I don’t like the attention you’re pulling toward me. I already have a bad reputation.” I whispered. The looks of admiration had suddenly turned into glares of jealousy.
“How do you have a bad reputation already? You just started yesterday.” He raised a brow, his arms folded against his chest.
“I’ll explain later. But please, can you leave? I don’t like these death glares I’m getting.”
“It's normal. I mean, you are talking to the Gamma of the North. What did you expect?”
“Thank you. Bye.” I ran before he could utter any response.
I found myself back in the empty class. I let out a short breath of relief before settling into my seat to study.
“You’re not only throwing yourself at the Alpha, you’re now going after the Gamma? How shameless can you be?” Diana's sister spoke. This was exactly what I was trying to avoid.
“I’m not going after anybody. Can you leave me alone? I’m busy.”
“Did you know she’s been fucking the beta and gamma? Such a whore!” They whispered among themselves.
I stood up, hoping to put them in their places.
“Only whores know who another whore is, don’t you think so? Why don’t you find something worth doing rather than wasting your time telling me about yourselves?”
Diana's sister's brows furrowed into annoyance.
“I’ve not started with you, Tara. I’ll make sure you pay for all your crimes. A nobody like you doesn’t fit here at the North. I’ll make sure you go back to whatever hole you crawled out from.” She flipped her hair and walked away with her minions walking beside her.
I was already used to demeaning words like that. I used to be called and seen as a nobody.
But why did it hurt differently all of a sudden?