Alpha Alden ✔️

Chapter Thirty

Word Count: 1611

~Kezziah

Understandably, Alden looks confused.

It slipped out of my mouth before I had time to go over it in my head. Beforehand, I had planned to walk in and approach this casually. Now I've stunned Alden, and left me raking my mind for a way out of this. I'm unsure of how I'm going to take a few steps back from what I've already said.

I shouldn't have come up here...I shouldn't have thought it would be a good idea to approach Alden with this idea. I shouldn't-

"Could you say that again?" Alden asks. The creases in his forehead that have suddenly appeared show me enough how little he understands the situation. His eyebrow is raised, his shoulders taunt. I don't think he likes being interrupted.

My knees feel as though they are about to collapse. "Can we sit down?"

Alden seems wary of doing anything I say, however, graciously leads me into his living area, letting me sit down. While he is occupied, I use the time to run through my mind quickly, looking for a reasonable excuse. Nothing seems to come to mind, so when he sits down, I let him speak first.

"Sorry, I'm confused," he tells me, to which I wince within the privacy of my mind. "What did you say about the mate bond? Something about me and Time?"

Did he not quite hear what I said? Was he that distracted by the strange girl named Melia? There is no way I could get that lucky, so I smoothly play it safe, hoping it wouldn't come off too suspiciously.

"Sorry. I was flustered. I didn't mean to interrupt you and your friend," I say.

Alden blinks a few times, as if he's trying to make sense of it in his own mind. I feel foolish for lying to the Alpha of Wisdom. Surely it will come out soon, but I can't help the embarrassment that hangs over me. What if he isn't my mate? He would never look at me the same, nor feel comfortable helping me.

But what if he is my mate? The idea scares me so much, I don't even want to consider it. There is no way I could handle an Alpha as my mate.

"Oh, Melia? She works for me," Alden explains, to which I nod blankly. He seems truthful, but it didn't take the strange feeling in my chest that crept in the moment I saw he was alone with a female. I feel guilty for feeling that was, after all the fear at the idea of him being my mate.

"Whoever she may be, I didn't mean to intrude," I insist, getting ready to stand to leave. The quicker I get out of here, the less questions he will be able to ask.

Alden holds out his hand before I make it anywhere.

The way he looks at me pins me to the seat, all hope of escaping washing away with his demands. "Is everything okay? I highly doubt you would just stumble up here so late at night for no reason. Are you worried about your mate bond with Time? I promise you, I'm doing all I can..."

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Guilt runs thick through my veins from hiding this from him, but I'm unsure what the consequences will be if I speak. Right now, he's completely unbeknownst.

"Thank you for helping me," I say quickly, "I should go. I didn't mean to disturb you, I'll talk to you tomorrow, if you would like to see me."

Once again, Alden stops me from standing.

I'm not sure how he manages to give me a single look that has me questioning everything I thought I know. The large window lets in a brilliant amount of light from the winking stars and the blinking lights from apartment complexes nearby. It reflects in the darkness of his navy eyes and steals the shadows that lurked around his features.