Alpha Alden ✔️

Chapter Ten

This banner is so awesome, thank you so much KaiyaLove for sending this in!! (:

If you would like to send in your banners, my email is open (: Midika36@gmail.com

Word Count: 1679

~Kezziah

Exhaustion assisted me in sleeping that night.

The chemicals from the cream have sunk deep into my brand like sharpened claws, scrapping away at the magical bond slowly and surely. It's excruciating, which is why I'm grateful for the lack of sleep I've had earlier. Unconsciousness carried me from the pain until morning, where I opened my eyes to see something questionably more excruciating.

Alden stands at the foot of my bed, staring down at me.

Flinching, I sit up, glad my bare legs are covered under these crisp sheets. That's not my biggest concern, considering the Alpha is in my room, and I'm hardly prepared.

"Is this a drug induced hallucination?" I ask into the air, rubbing my right temple. I wouldn't be surprised since it feels as though I've woken from a coma. I can't even perceive the time, no windows allowing me to see the sun. Only a bright light swinging above me lets me see.

Alden sits down on the side of my bed. "No. I'm here to speak to you about your brand, Kezziah."

I freeze, suddenly feeling brilliantly bare. My brand feels hot, and not from the cream that was smeared on it yesterday. I'm unsure of what those hidden muscles and large hands could do to get me to reveal my brand to him. I'm surprised he still sits there, staring at me. If he expects me to pull my shirt up for him, he is mistaken.

When I don't speak, he continues. "I apologise for waking you so early in the morning, and intruding. But I needed to speak to you."

I'm unsure of how early it is, but I feel it in my weak limbs, and heavy eyelids. Alden looks blissfully untouched by the hour, skin bright and fresh, eyes keen, demeanor proud and ready. He smells delightful also, like sweet vanilla. How does he manage to remain so put together at all times? I won't admit he's handsome. No way.

"I'm really not interesting in speaking," I mutter, massaging a knot in the back of my hair. I slept rough last night, that's for sure.

"I understand you're not very talkative," Alden says smoothly, brushing a piece of lint off the knee of his black trousers. "I simply don't understand why you're so adamant that I want the worst for you."

My eyes narrow on him.

He clears his throat, casting his gaze down to the floor. "I mean, you've never shown compliance. I don't understand why not."

"For someone who is the Alpha of Wisdom, you're not very bright, are you?"

I've never spoken to anyone like that, let alone an Alpha. I don't regret it, though. Alden's expression remains subdued, impassive. Words never seem to touch them. I assume he has already estimated what I would say, despite the time he is taking to reply. It unnerves me, but I refuse to let Alden intimidate me anymore.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry he did this to you," he says gently, and for a moment I'm convinced he's telling the truth.

The white linen sheets crunch within my fists. "You don't know anything about me. You sent your simpering fools after me until you got their way. And now you're drugging me. Give me a reason to trust you."

Alden sighs deeply, but doesn't take his gaze away from mine. It's so intense, I contemplate breaking first, but I don't. Letting him see weakness means he won. I can see him chewing the inside of his mouth, considering what he is about to say to me next. I won't show him my brand, and I won't relay that night with Time.