Alpha - Forever #1 (Complete)

Chapter 15 - Part 1

Scarlett

When I managed to calm down, I went downstairs. I was hungry and I needed food. As I made my way downstairs, I couldn't help looking for Cade as I walked to the kitchen.

I hadn't seen nor heard from him since our argument a couple of hours before. He was probably giving me time to cool off, which had probably been a good idea. Conflicting emotions raced through me at the thought of Cade; I'd never wanted to kiss and slap someone at the same time before.

Gary was sitting at the kitchen table and, at the sight of me, his eyes brightened and he smiled. He stood up and walked over to me.

"I'm so glad you're feeling better," he said as he pulled me into a hug and I hugged him back. I had to remember that as hard as it was for me to adjust to this new world, Gary had to adjust as well and it had to be pretty scary for him.

"I'm fine," I assured him as he released me and scanned my face.

"Are you sure?" he asked, still looking concerned.

"Yes. No more thoughts invading my mind," I assured him as I went over to the food spread across the kitchen counter.

"Where are Cade and the rest of his guys?" I asked, pretending to be interested in the food I was looking at, but I was dying to know where Cade was.

"He went out with them a little while ago. He said something about checking to make sure the surrounding area is safe," he explained as he went to sit back down at the kitchen table.

It was a reminder that my life was still in danger. Also, the thought of Cade actively searching for the rogue that had tried to kill me made me worry about his safety. As much as he wanted to keep me safe, I wanted to do the same for him.

"He said he wouldn't be long," Gary offered.

I tried to act relaxed as I sat down to have something to eat, but I couldn't help the growing worry that settled in my stomach. Eventually, halfway through my meal, I pushed my plate away. I was too wound up to eat.

"I'm going to have an early night," I informed Gary as I got up to leave. Getting an early night was probably a good thing because I had school tomorrow.

"Sure," he said as he watched me leave.

Upstairs in my room, I tried to keep myself busy with the task of getting ready for bed. I still had no idea where Cade was going to sleep. He had told me that he would be sleeping in my room, but I wasn't sure if he would be sleeping on the sofa or in my bed. I couldn't help the flutter of apprehension in my stomach at the thought of sharing the same bed as him.

My attraction to him was undeniable and when my eyes settled on my bed, I couldn't help but think about Cade without his shirt on and how I wanted to run my hands across his well-defined chest.

I bit my bottom lip as I let my fantasy continue. I wondered if his skin felt as soft as it looked, as soft as his lips were. Just remembering what his lips did to me was enough for my teenage hormones to go into overdrive.

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the thoughts of Cade.

I glanced at my beside clock and it was nine in the evening already. I had no idea how long Cade had been gone for and I wondered when he would be coming back.

I'd showered and changed into my pajamas. My room was slightly darkened, with only my side lamp lighting the room.

"Did you miss me?" Cade asked with a smug grin as he strolled into my room an hour later like he owned it. I narrowed my gaze to glare at him, signaling I hadn't forgotten about our earlier disagreement or the fact that he'd been out for hours and I'd been worrying about him.

"No." I issued the lie with a straight face, but his grin just widened.

"You do realize that when you became a member of my pack, I can hear your thoughts," he revealed smugly.

Ah, crap! I'd forgotten about that. Besides, even if I was aware of it, I had no idea how to stop my thoughts from filtering to him.

His smile widened as he stood with his arms crossed, watching me realize that he'd heard my thoughts all day. I couldn't stop the red tinge to my cheeks when I remembered some of my thoughts about my attraction to him.

I could glare at him all I wanted, but he knew exactly what I was thinking. It was so annoying.

If the werewolves in his pack could block their thoughts from me, then I should be able to block my thoughts from him.

"You're right," he confirmed.

"Will you teach me how?" I reluctantly asked. I wanted my thoughts to be private, so at least then I could decide what thoughts he would hear and which ones he wouldn't.

"I thought you were mad at me," he reminded as he watched me squirm. I was tempted to switch off my bedroom light and ignore him, but the need to keep my thoughts private made me soften my glare slightly.

"I still am, but I'm asking you nicely to teach me how to block my thoughts from other members of the pack," I said, and I may have fluttered my eyes a little. All was fair in love and war, wasn't it?

"You know I'll do anything you ask," he said as he walked over to the bed. I was already tucked into my side of my double bed and he sat down beside me.

"Anything?" I asked, thinking back to our argument over his unwillingness to allow me to fight.

"Anything but that," he said as his eyes held mine. He wasn't backing down, but I was stubborn enough to keep at it until he compromised.

"Fine," I stated with a sigh and crossed my arms.

"I'll teach you how to block your thoughts," he offered in consolation. I studied him for a moment before I relented and smiled at him.

"Okay," I said.

It was disconcerting that he was able to know what I was thinking without me saying the thoughts out loud. Maybe it wouldn't feel so weird if I could at least hear his thoughts, but just remembering the pain I'd gone through when I'd overloaded on the thoughts from the pack was enough for me to hesitate.

"Think of something," he instructed.

Trying to keep my thoughts clear of Cade, I thought about my car that had been totaled.

"We'll get it replaced," he assured me as he caressed my cheek. I knew it was replaceable but it would take time and I wasn't the most patient person.

"The next time you think about it, imagine a wall around the thought," he instructed as he dropped his hand from my face so I could concentrate. His touch was always so distracting.

Naked chest.

He gave me a smug, knowing smile. Annoyed with myself, I pushed the thought from my mind and thought about my car again. But like he instructed, I imagined a tall wall that protected my thought from prying eyes.

He watched me for a few moments and I got distracted and my wall around my thought disappeared.

"You need to hold the wall because otherwise I know exactly what you're thinking," he said.

"Okay, let's try again," I said, determined not to let him distract me. It was going to be a lot harder to hide my thoughts around him because he had a way of making me think of nothing else but him.

I repeated the exercise and watched as his forehead creased and then he smiled.

"And?" I asked, waiting to find out if I'd managed to succeed.

"I don't know what you're thinking," he revealed. Not entirely convinced, I thought about the two of us on my bed, making out, and I watched him for the smug smile that never appeared.

He had no idea what I was thinking.

"That is awesome," I said, excited at the fact that now he wouldn't be able to tell what I was thinking.

"I think I preferred to know what you were thinking," he said as he trailed his knuckles down my cheek.