Love portion
Love portion
Flora's POV
I had been sitting in Alpha Malcolm's living room for what felt like hours, my hands tightly clasped together as I stared at the door.Every sound outside made my heart jump.I had tried to convince myself that I wasn't afraid.
If the elders had agreed that I could remain in the pack, why had it taken so long? And if they had refused, what was Alpha Malcolm going to do?
I didn't know what frightened me more, the thought of being forced to leave or the possibility that staying would make everyone hate me even more.
I stood when I heard footsteps approaching.
The door opened.
Alpha Malcolm walked in, looking exhausted.
His shoulders were tense, and his expression was unreadable.
For a moment, he simply stared at me.
"Flora?"
I swallowed.
"You're back."
His eyebrows drew together. "What are you doing here? Why were you waiting for me?"
I opened my mouth, but the words came rushing out before he could even put down his jacket.
"How did the meeting go?"
He blinked.
"Good evening to you too."
"Malcolm, please."
The desperation in my voice made him stop.
He looked at me more carefully. Only then did I realize how frightened I must have looked.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing. I just..." I struggled to breathe normally. "You were gone for so long."
He walked toward me.
I stepped backward without realizing it.
"What did the elders say?"
He didn't answer immediately.
That silence made my stomach twist.
"Malcolm."
He reached for my hands.
"Flora, look at me."
I forced myself to meet his eyes.
"Don't worry."
I almost laughed.
"How can you tell me not to worry when you haven't told me anything?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Because everything has been sorted."
I froze.
"What?"
"Everything."
My heart began racing.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you can stay."
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what he had said.
"Stay where?"
"In the pack."
I stared at him.
He squeezed my hands.
"You don't have to leave, Flora."
My lips parted.
"The elders agreed?"
"They did."
I felt something inside me break loose.
It was a relief. Pure, overwhelming relief. I covered my mouth as tears filled my eyes.
"And..." His voice softened. "You can stay here too. In my house, if you want."
I stared at him.
"You mean... I can actually stay?"
"Yes."
A sob escaped me before I could stop it.
I threw my arms around him. He stiffened for half a second before wrapping his arms around me.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Flora..."
"Thank you."
I held him tighter.
I didn't care if I was embarrassing myself.
I had spent so much time believing that I would have to leave the only place I knew. I had prepared myself to walk away from everything again.
And now I don't have to.
When I finally pulled away, I wiped my tears.
"You did this."
He frowned.
"Did what?"
"You convinced them."
"I did nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
He looked surprised.
I smiled through my tears.
"You're Alpha. They might sit around that table and pretend they have more power than everyone else, but they won't go against you."
His expression changed.
"I only made my position clear."
"Exactly."
He sighed.
I could tell he didn't want praise. But I knew him better than that.He had used his authority for me.
And that meant more than he realized.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.
"But there's something I want."
His smile disappeared.
"What?"
"I want to stay in my house."
He stared at me.
"No."
I blinked.
"You didn't even think about it."
"Because I already know the answer."
"Malcolm…"
"Flora, it's not safe."
"I'll have Lucy with me."
"That doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything."
He folded his arms.
"Someone has already tried to make you believe you're not safe in this pack. You think I'm going to let you stay alone in a house where anyone could walk through the door?"
"I'm not alone. Lucy will be there."
"Lucy isn't an Alpha."
I almost smiled.
"Neither am I."
"Exactly."
I sighed.
"I appreciate that you're worried about me, but I can't stay here."
His expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because this is your home."
"And?"
"And I need mine."
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
"Malcolm, I've already lost so much. I can't lose the little independence I have left."
His jaw tightened.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he asked quietly, "Is that the only reason?"
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you uncomfortable staying here because of me?"
My heart skipped.
"No."
"Then what?"
I looked down.
Because the truth was complicated and sometimes safety could become dangerous when your heart started confusing protection with something more.
"I just need my own space," I whispered.
He studied me for several seconds.
Finally, he sighed.
"Fine."
I looked up.
"Really?"
"Yes."
I smiled.
"But I'm not happy about it."
"I know."
"And I'll have guards around your house."
My smile disappeared.
"Malcolm."
"Flora."
"You're impossible."
"And you're stubborn."
I laughed softly.
For the first time that evening, the tension in my chest eased.
Then he surprised me.
"You're staying for dinner."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You're ordering me?"
"I'm inviting you."
"You don't look like you're inviting me."
"I'm the Alpha. I can look however I want."
I laughed.
He walked toward the kitchen.
"Sit down."
"What are you doing?"
"Cooking."
I stared at him.
"You?"
He looked over his shoulder.
"Yes. Me."
I followed him.
"I didn't know Alphas cooked."
" You said this yesterday, but we do when people refuse to stay where they're supposed to."
I laughed.
"Are you trying to poison me?"
He gave me a look.
"After everything I just did for you?"
"That's exactly why I'm suspicious."
He shook his head.
I sat at the kitchen counter and watched him move around the kitchen.
There was something strangely comforting about it.He rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and began
preparing dinner.I watched every movement.
He was careful,focused and somehow... gentle.
"Do you do this often?" I asked.
"Sometimes."
"For whom?"
He paused.
I noticed it immediately.
"For myself."
Something about his answer felt incomplete.
"Only yourself?"
He glanced at me.
"Why are you interrogating me?"
"I'm curious."