Alden.

XVI

Alden stood outside the café, glancing at Bell through the mirror. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw a boy talking to Bell, his heart raged as he saw Bell blush. He entered the shop and walked straight to the counter Bell stood behind.

"Good evening, gorgeous"

"Good evening, sir. What would you like to order?" "I'm confused between an Americano and regular milk one. What do you say, which one should I get?"

"Since you asked for my opinion, I'd say, both of your suggestions are bland.."

"Oh, really?"Bell nodded

"Then, tell me what should I drink today?"

"A mint chocolate chip iced coffee."

"Hmm... haven't tried that one before... I'll get that."

"Sure! It will take a moment. Please take a seat." Alden's anger melted away as soon as his eyes fell on the beauty. He turned around to look at the boy whom Bell had previously catered. His eyes widened at the sight of the boy in front of him.

"Atticus!"

"I thought you'd never turn around since you were so busy flirting with her." Atticus snickered.

" I was gonna strangle you for making my girl blush. You are lucky, you are you. If it were someone else, I wouldn't have thought twice before strangling them"

" Oh, shut up! I didn't know she was your mate. Since she bears no mark. Have you guys not mates yet?"

"No, she is underage. I don't wanna take advantage. She'll know when it's time."

"Hmm, taking it slow, that's nice. What happened to the Alden who used to say that he would fuck her mate the moment he meets her?"

"He's changed. Strange, right?"

" Not really, I knew you were a big softy inside. You could never do whatever you used to say back then. I guess those were your hormones."

" Umm... Sir? Your coffee."

" Thanks, Sweetheart." Bell just went back without any reaction.

" Damn! She is immune to your charm and shit! I like her already."

" Fuck off and Mind your own business."

" Ah... thanks for reminding me! Dad sent me to take some official papers from your dad. He could have sent someone else, but he said it was personal and I saw it as a great opportunity to see you."

" Shall we leave, then?"

" After you." Both of them left the café and went to Dimitri's Office. Boys had a lot to catch up. They had seen each other after so long. Alden knocked at the door and went in without permission.

" Boy, tell me again, why do you even bother to knock? After all, you just barge in without my consent."

" Dad, please... Atticus' dad has sent him to collect some papers."

" Oh, yes! Atticus, my boy! Didn't see you there." " Hello, Sir. How are you?"
" I'm fine, now leave the formalities, and sit down." Dimitri handed boy an envelope,
"Give this to your dad."
"Sure, what is it though?"
" None of your business, give it straight to your dad."
" Oh come on, uncle! You can't expect me to not open it now that you've told me off." The boy whined
"Atticus, give it back. Suddenly, I don't trust you."
" I was just kidding, jeez."
" I was not. I'd rather courier them." " Fine." Atticus handed back the envelope.

After visiting the office Alden took Atticus back to the packhouse where they bumped into none other than Bell. She sighed when she saw Alden but her eyes lingered on the boy from the evening.

" Hi, my name is Atticus. Nice to meet you." Bell bowed
" My name is-"
"Bell, I know. You're quite famous I'd say." Bell blushed and laughed a bit.
" Darling," Alden's deep voice caught her attention.
" We're are going to my room. Can you please bring something to eat?" "Yes, sir."
"The food she cooks is heaven." Was all Bell heard before leaving two men on their own?

She decided to cook a simple meal. She boiled water for pasta in one pan and kept the other one on low flame to prepare the sauce.

*knock knock*

" Come in." Bell held the tray in her hands. It was difficult for her to open the door and she struggled for about a minute or so until Alden opened the door.
"Sorry, for the trouble, Alpha. I couldn't put the tray on the floor." Alden moved aside to let her in and followed her. She stopped near a table.

"Shall I place it on the table, Alpha?"

"Yes, honey. Keep it wherever you like."

Alden's room, now don't mistake it for an ordinary room. It was more of an apartment inside a big house. There were three bedrooms, including the master bedroom. Two average-sized bathrooms and one gigantic bathroom joined to the master bedroom. A huge living area and a big balcony.

Bell's eyes roamed around the living rooms she stood beside the table. It was huge.There was a big flat-screen TV that covered the entire wall. Bell's eyes bulged a little. Alden's apartment had a white and grey colour scheme. "Wow," Bell whispered.

"You have a nice apartment. I'll leave... if you need anything, I'm in the kitchen." Bell fleed from the apartment quickly.

"Isn't she the cutest? She looked like she landed in her dream house."

"Yea... I can't wait for her to realise that I'm her mate."

"Bro, I think she sees you as a creep since you suck at flirting and other shit. All I am saying is, if someone kept a gun on your temple and told you to flirt, you'd be dead."

" Oh you're great at it, aren't you?"

" I have a mate for your kind information and I've practised a lot... on her. Let me tell you one thing, it's not easy. Cause if she on her periods, she is cranky, tired, grumpy and you say a cheesy shit instead of buying her chocolates and cute stuff... she'll castrate you."

"We are not that close, yet. Moreover when she is on her periods, how would I even know? Wait a minute, is that the reason she was grumpy today, cause she is periodising!""Why don't you go into the kitchen and ask her yourself."

"I'm not going into the den."