THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

There was a knock on the door.

Derek soughed, glaring at Clem and Shane.

“Did you tell him that I was here?” He asked them. Currently, they were sitting down on his bed, forming the structure of a tripod stand, or a triangle, if seen from high up the ceiling.

“No, of course not.” Clem replied, taking his gaze away from Derek to the door.

“I had told him that you were with your mother.”

“Okay then, if you say so. Check out who is there.” he stated, sitting upright on the bed. He had been reclining at the bed board since his two friends had come to drag him into a party he wasn’t sure of the outcome. What was the essence of going to the party when Emma hadn’t come? It was dangerous-and that’s why he hadn’t faulted his parents when they had told him an hour ago that he wouldn’t be engaging in a combat if it should ensue between them and their foes tonight. They had mentioned the beast as their concern. They couldn’t risk having it controlling him, as it is also triggered by the sight or scent of blood.

He had understood them. He had understood them completely and well enough, but it hadn’t taken away the bitter aftertaste in his mouth and mind. What kind of Alpha doesn’t fight in an ongoing war? What would the pack members and their visitors think about him? Won’t they see him as some kind of weak personality, since they didn’t know what was wrong with him at the moment? His father didn’t want to create some sort of panic in the pack by letting them know about his situation, but if Anthony’s prediction came to pass, they would receive more than a panic anyway. He hoped that there won’t be any fighting tonight. Either that, or Emma comes back before it starts.

He lifted up his eyes as he watched the new set of people walking into the room through the door held ajar by Clem. A short smile cut across his lips as his gaze met Leo’s and his cousin, Curtis. It had been a while.

“Hey, big man…how have you been?” Leo greeted, shaking hands with him after a short hug with Shane.

Curtis did the same, although a muttered hello had suffixed for Clem and Shane. He didn’t know much about them, only that they were Derek’s closest friends and subordinates.

“Curtis, Leo…How are you guys doing? Did the others come?” Derek asked, gesturing with his hand that they should sit on the bed. Maya sighed, seeing that the duo wouldn’t be doing the job of talking him into going to his own party. She shrugged, for what could she do? She rather, found her way to a small couch nearby, letting the guys share the bed. She was the only female there.

“Yeah, they did. They couldn’t miss it for anything. Alpha Arnold allowed it too.” Leo replied, his gaze wandering from Derek to Maya who was a few feet away from him.

Derek, noticing this small motion, smiled, forgetting his own problem momentarily. He could bet that these two wouldn’t last long before falling into each other’s arms, or was it beds? He smiled wider at the thought.

Shane noticed it, but refused to call him onto it. It was good that he was smiling again that evening. He thought, remembering the happenings of the few days, since they had lost contact with the redhead. At first, Derek had refused to speak with/to him and Clem, had blamed them for the loss of the redhead, not until Eva’s dream. Yes, Maya had told them all about it, including Anthony’s strange gifts. Well, since after Eva’s spoken dream, Derek had called for them and apologized for his misconduct. There had been hope shining in his blue eyes, hope that had been built and held after his little sister had assured him that Emma would be coming in today. But as the day had been going down, the hope had been diminishing. Now, he didn’t want to go to the party, for fear of the beast taking control. Shane felt annoyed, not at Derek of course, but at whomever had done this to his best friend. He was already threatening fire and brimstone if he handled the person.

His attention was brought back to the circle, when Clem tapped him on his thigh. He had zoned out whilst ruminating on those thoughts.

“What is the problem?” Derek asked him, and he shook his head.

“Nothing, just stuff. What were you guys discussing?” He queried, taking note of the frown on Curtis’ face. Had they thrown him a jab already? He remembered that the Curtis from when they had been young had a saucy personality, never liked jabs and plays, and preferred staying alone. He wondered if that personality still stands now.

“Well, Curtis here has a mate.” Leo taunted, his wide smile showing off his full teeth.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Maya’s heart ached, watching him banter. Would he ever notice her? She thought, wishing to sink her fingers into his dark wavy hair which she was sure would be soft.

“Since when?” Shane asked, getting the drift of the conversation. They were trying to lighten up the atmosphere for Derek’s sake. He was sure that Maya had already briefed the duo about his condition.

“Don’t listen to them. Penny is not my mate. She is just a clingy female.” Curtis retorted, folding his arms across his chest.

“I’m not seeing it that way.” Leo taunted, wagging his eyebrows so funningly that Maya giggled, watching his face and her brother’s irritated face.

Then Curtis, seeing that his sister’s laugh seemed to have pleased Leo, as the latter’s eyes were now dancing with more happiness and mischief, decided to throw in his own towel.

“Whatever that floats your boat.” He started, with a shrug as if not in the least affected by what they were saying.

“But what about you? Weren’t you acting all cozy with Zoe today? I heard you both spent the night together yesterday?” He asked, smirking in victory as he watched Leo’s expression switch from a jubilant one to that of annoyance.

“That was because she hadn’t been feeling well. Nothing had happened.” Leo replied, and Clem and Shane took it upon themselves to ooooh and ahhhh, forgetting at that moment that the former was Maya’s mate, until they saw an angry Maya stomp out of the room.

“Am I missing something here?” Curtis asked, noticing the deadened silence in the room, and the deadly glare that Leo was giving him.

“Leo is your sister’s mate.” Derek replied tentatively as if knowing what would ensue next, shocking Curtis who instantly got up from his position on the bed, and yanked Leo’s tie, a surprise to the others. They hadn’t seen it coming.

“You are my sister’s mate, and you are frolicking with that impudent Zoe? I thought you were reasonable huh? How dare you?” he was ranting, about to throw a blow at Leo who sat still, not moving, when Derek held his hand.

“You should have let me complete my story.” Derek muttered, pacifying Curtis who didn’t stop glaring at Leo even as he got back to his position. Leo looked crestfallen. He wasn’t really concerned about Curtis’ anger, but at Maya’s. The latter had found another reason to stay away from him tonight and he didn’t like it one bit.

Derek told Curtis about his father’s wicked act and his consequences, to which Curtis had mentioned that he had already known about it, reason why he was ready to disagree with his father at any point. The man was up to no good.

But he asked Leo why he was withholding himself from his sister, since he knew of the full story.

Leo had no answer.

“… and then you brought Zoe to the party, knowing how it would irk out my sister…” Curtis seethed, still angry with the guy whom he had come to take as a good friend. He hadn’t been expecting this.

“I didn’t want her to come, but she insisted.” Leo replied, knowing that his answer was lame.

“You should have told me then. I would have forbade her from coming; and you even walked together with her into the party hall, arms wound together…not minding the pain it would cause my sister? You have no stupid excuse for hurting my sister!” Curtis shouted, and Derek sighed. Here he was, trying to figure a way out of his own problem, and these two big heads were about creating another one.

“Curtis, calm down. I get that you are angry. But don’t worry, I trust Maya. She would give him a taste of his own medicine soon.” Derek replied, smirking as Leo sharply turned to face him, his eyes glowing with curiosity.

“What do you mean by that?” He asked, taking note of the fact that the boys were nodding in agreement to Derek’s words. What the hell are they agreeing to? He thought, staring at each one of them.

“You will know soon.” Derek mumbled with a short smile, sighing the next minute, when he heard his father call onto him through the mind link.

“Where are you?” His father asked.

“With mother. We will soon be back.” He replied.

“How dare you lie to me, boy? I just spoke with your mother, and she said that you are not with her. So, where are you? I ask again, and if you lie to me again, you wouldn’t like the punishment you would receive.” His father stated, anger coating his voice.

“I’m in my room.” He mumbled.

“In your room, leaving your party? In the next five minutes I want to see you down here, or else…” his father was saying, when suddenly he stopped.

Derek wondered why, not until he heard his father’s next statement.

“Is that not Emma? Who is that by her side?”