Alpha Malik (Published)✔️

Chapter Eighteen

Thank you for making this beautiful banner for me Maria! You're adding to the list of those who didn't leave their username :p

Word Count: 1801

~Aria

Again, Zariah had to pick Malik's lock. As I watched her do it, I wonder for a brief second if I should warn Malik to invest in a better lock system even a Wisdom Pack member wouldn't be able to crack.

The movement of her swinging the door open mirrored the wave of fear that assaulted my heart.

"You search the left side, I'll search the right," Zariah said fleetingly before she wandered straight into the room without a hitch in her step. Swallowing, I took a few moments to get myself together, before I followed her inside.

The first thing that struck me, was how his room heavily smelt like him. I should have expected the rich yet subtle spicy scent of Malik. It sunk another bout of guilt onto my shoulders, making me inwardly curse myself as I close the door behind me. Yet all my worry evaporated suddenly, as I took in the Alpha of Love's room.

He hadn't bothered to make his bed - his white sheets rumpled around his mattress. Wouldn't someone make it for him, or does he not let anyone in his room?

His room is rather magnificent though. His bed is situated close to the door, which probably isn't the most ethical decision. The rest of his room expands, furnished with a chaise lounge and a few side tables, with plants that don't look very alive. Two large glass doors framed by thick curtains show a small balcony area outside, that is caked with snow.

I exhale slowly.

Why am I so surprised that Malik is living in utter luxury? Zariah doesn't seem to care, as she walk directly to his desk pushed against the left wall, immediately opening the draw to rustle through it. I took a moment, trying to force my body to commit to this.

"Aria," I Zariah snaps, making me jump back into reality. "We don't have much time?"

Clenching my jaw, I walk toward his bedside table. Two books are piled atop each other, with one being a bland hardcover with no title to be seen. I lift it up, to see the exact book Malik had told me to read the first time we had met. That trashy romance story I had deemed too inappropriate for anything I wanted to read.

My eyebrows furrow. Why does he have this?

I set it back under the hardcover quickly, not wanting to tell Zariah, who still doesn't know about Malik and I's library meetings, that recently haven't been happening. I don't want to risk offending her.

I move on to his other bedside table, while Zariah continues searching the desk. He has a half filled cup of water, and a pair of glasses on the stand. Seeing the black spectacles, I have to smother a giggle - I can't believe Malik wears glasses! He hasn't worn them outside of this room, or at least around us just yet.

Opening one of the draws reveals a small book, with a leather cover. Picking it up, I realise it's a diary.

A flicker of conflict passes through me.

Should I open it? No, that's his private property. I place the diary back. But I've already broken into his room. I pick it back up again. What am I thinking? I put it down again. Aria, this might have clues to do with the necklace, which is what you are here for. I pick it up again. I can't, that's way too-

The diary is suddenly plucked from my hands by a curious Zariah.

"Oh, this is perfect!"

Just as I had convinced myself that I wouldn't invade his personal thoughts like that, Zariah took it upon herself to check it out. Her clinical way of viewing things made it easy for her to flick through the first pages of his personal writing. She is here to find out if there is something behind this competition, and she thinks I am too.