Forever My Alpha

Ch.13

The next morning, Elias cooked breakfast in silence as if nothing happened. He slid my plate across the counter to me.

The scrumptious food didn't stand a chance. I finished my breakfast in record time; I scarfed it down, spying the square-folded, white box on the counter. I licked my lips.

Elias' eyes caught mine, a smile enveloping his lips. I knew exactly what was inside, and the thought of it made my mouth water. Elias had always known how much I loved the holy sweet taste of doughnuts, and I could tell from the way he was watching me that he had made them as a peace offering.

My eyes never left the box as I waited for Elias to give me the go-ahead to open it. He finally nodded, and I eagerly tore into the box, my fingers brushing against the warm, soft dough. I took a bite, and it was like heaven in my mouth. The perfect combination of sweet, the glaze melting in my mouth, just the way Elias knew I liked it.

I looked up at Elias, my mouth still full of glaze, and our eyes met. A smile spread across his face, and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. It was as if all the tension from last night had disappeared, and we were back to our normal, happy selves.

"I'm glad I'll never get that wrong," the words rolled off his tongue. "You've always loved them."

"Always will," I finished the donut. "Thanks, Ellie."

"Mhm," Elias nodded. The comfortable silence in the kitchen was short lived, for the gears in my brain began to turn.

"Hey, Ellie," I started. Elias was seated in front of me, his eyes on the newspaper, sipping on his glass of orange juice.

"Hm?" He gave me a short glance before resuming his reading.

"You can tell me you hate it," I whispered.

He laid the newspaper down, his face puzzled. "Hate what?"

"Everything. I don't know why all of this happened to me," I lamented.

"It's fine," Elias said, his face relaxing.
"It's not," I argued. "Now I'm feeding from you. I know that's a problem. And not just for you. It'll be a problem for the entire pack."

"You think too much," Elias rubbed my head, his fingers gliding down my brown coils. "Pretty sure it wouldn't matter what you are. They know who you are. That's all that matters."

"So you don't hate that I have this craving for blood?" I asked, the sarcasm thick in my voice.
I was patient, my eyes taking notice to his every reaction.

"Not at all." He smiled. "As long as it's mine and no one else's." He winked, gulping down the last swallows of his orange juice. He picked up the newspaper, and I figured that it must have been something intriguing, for he was focused and gave small hums as he read. I just watched him; my eyes were glued to him. I probably glared holes of fire into the newspaper. Suddenly he looked up, "Did Aurora say when she would visit?"

"Nope."
"Mhm," he folded the newspaper. "Well, shall we have a fun day? Like we used to do?"

I was in shock, my mouth slightly agape. "Yes! Yes! Oh my god. Let me get my shoes."

"Okay," Elias chuckled, his dazzling cerulean eyes glued to me as I stumbled upstairs for my shoes. I was out of breath when I ran back down. Elias was by the door, his head on the knob. "The day is young, what's the rush?"

"Aurora," I answered.
Her voice rang out abruptly supreme, "You rang?" The air blew, a tunnel of air enshrouding Aurora.
When the air died down, she glanced at us. "Where are you two going?"

"We were going to the mall," I said.
"I never said anything about a mall," Elias muttered to me.
"You did," I whisper-yelled.
"I didn't," he refuted.
"You did." I argued.
"I never said that," he denied.

"Sorry to interrupt," Aurora interjected, "Can we get a hold on the power grip? You think it's safe to take her around people when she craves people? Dangerous game, mister alpha."

"Well what else do you suggest for some normalcy?" Elias patiently waited for her response.

Aurora sighed after a moment, "Don't stray too far away from Elias. Stay away from masses of people, or you'll be overwhelmed. Promise me you will stick with him."

"I promise," I swore.

"Fine. Have at it. What's one more day without training? Just means I get to train you harder." Aurora pat my shoulder. "Don't have too much fun."

"I'll try not," I winked.

*
"It's so good to see you again, Miss. Kennedi," Rick hugged me, my breath taken away by the tightness, but I hugged him back even so.

When he pulled away, his smile reached his eyes. He was more worn. His hair was mildly gray and so was his beard. He even had wrinkles under his eyes now.

"Good to see you too Rick. And you look fantastic!"

"You always say the nicest things," he laughed; he opened the door for us, "So good to have the pleasurable honor of being your chauffeur again. It didn't feel the same without you."

"Thank you." I slid into the backseat ahead of Elias.

"So where do you want to go first?" Elias asked when the door shut.

"The mall," I grinned.
"You deserve it just this once," Elias playfully teased. "To the mall," he announced to Rick. Rick nodded and gave us our privacy.

The car ride began awkward. Elias wasn't saying anything, just looking out of the window. I got tired of looking of the window and instead laid my eyes on him.

So blatantly obvious, he caught my gaze. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Nope. Just wondering when you'd talk to me. When I was younger, I couldn't say anything, but I always found it meaningless to be head first into something else when you should be enjoying my presence. Life's short. And crazy. And very unpredictable."

I watched his face react to my words. "As if I don't know that already." He blew a breath, the silence growing again. "What happened to you?"

"I told you."

"No. I mean what really happened," Elias pleaded with his eyes. "It's like.." his blue eyes stared into my soul. "I can't explain it. It's hard to put into words, but I can tell. I can."

"Do I look like such a sad case?" I felt so small when I heard that.

"No," he pulled my arms into his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It came out wrong." He swallowed, "What I meant was you shine. You used to shine so bright and now your light is a little dim. That's all."

"So I've changed?"

"Everyone is suppose to change," Elias replied. "I just wonder what made you change." His thumb wiped a single tear. I sobbed again, this time fully relieved as I shared my past with him.