The Alpha's Rebel

Chapter 8

"Harper," Thay says when I walk into the room.

"I don't. . .I don't want to talk about it, alright," I say quietly, not meeting his eyes as I crawl back into his bed. I snuggle into his side, laying my head on his bare chest. I hear his heart beating, and the steady thud of it starts lulling me to sleep.

"Then we won't talk about it," Thay murmurs, running one of his hands through my hair. I have a feeling that he means we won't talk about it now, and it'll be a conversation we'll have when I'm ready to have it. It's one of the things I love most about Thay; he doesn't make me talk about anything if I don't want to talk about. He mentions it, drops it, and waits for me to come to him.

Like I said, we don't beat things around the bush. I'm not going to sit here and play games and be dramatic and say the opposite of what I want. When I say I don't want to talk about, I one hundred percent mean I don't want to talk about it. There's no point in make anything petty. It's annoying. I don't have time I feel like wasting on it.

I fall asleep minutes later, Thay's heartbeat like a lullaby in my mind.

~~~~

The next morning, I wake up alone. The sun is creeping around the sides of the curtains, lighting up the room just enough for me to see without having to switch on a light. I can smell Thay cooking in the kitchen. I know whatever he's making isn't done yet, so I don't move to get out of bed.

I lay there and think about what happened last night with Maddox. I don't want it to happen again. I don't want him coming to wherever I am to try and talk to me about us. There is no us. It doesn't matter if him saying my name gives me goosebumps or the thought of his body pressed up against mine causes a shortness of breath.

I don't want a mate.

I get to choose who I want to be with. I love Thay, and I choose to be with Thay.

Maddox needs to understand that. He can't make me bend at his will. I do what I want to do.

My built up frustrations escapes in a sigh. Why did I have to meet my stupid mate at the stupid mate ball? It's making everything difficult.

I heard that, Thay mind links me. Is everything all right?

Just peachy, I respond.

He doesn't reply. A few minutes later, he comes in with two plates of steaming french toast. I beam at him, sitting up and leaning back against the headboard. "Breakfast in bed?" I ask.

"Anything for my girl," Thay smiles. My smile grows, because what girl wouldn't be elated when the love of her life refers to her as "his girl"? Exactly. The answer to my question is zero.

Thay sits down on the bed and sets the two plates down in front of us. The smell of the french toast is sweet as it meets my nose. There's a fork laying across the plate, and I pick it up. I cut a piece off and take a bite. It's heaven to my tastebuds. He added just the right amount of cinnamon to my pieces.

"Mmmm," I hum. Once I swallow, I say, "That really hits the spot."

"It really does," Thay says through a mouthful of chewed up bread.

"Hey," I warn, pointing my fork at him and narrowing my eyes. "Don't talk with your mouth full of food." I'm smiling before I finish talking, though, so it ruins the effect of pretending to be mad.

He makes a point of swallowing before saying, "Okay, mom," rolling his eyes for an extra effect.

"Really? Mom? That's the best you got?" I tease, already planning my next move. I move my plate to the side, and his eyes quickly glance down before looking back at my face.

"Yeah, mom," he replies, his voice lower than it was a second ago.

I move closer to him, tucking my legs under my body so I can rise up on my knees. Thay moves his plate out of the way as well, and then his hands find my hips. My hands find their way where his jawline meets his neck, and I say, "Would a mom do this?"

I kiss him passionately, losing myself in the way he kisses me back. It makes me forget about the way Maddox unwillingly affects me, and I'm able to focus only on how much love I have for Thay. He's the only person I want to focus on.

His fingers start to lift the t-shirt of his I'm wearing over my head, but a pounding on the front door interrupts this. As our lips part from each other, Thay groans and I feel anger surge inside me. For a moment, I think Maddox came back and I'll have to send him away again, but one quick sniff tells me that it's not him. It's one of our beloved best friends.

"Open the door, you two!" Vinnie calls, and I crack a smile as I hop off the bed. I grab our plates that we pushed aside and head down the hall, setting them on the counter as I walk by. I hear Thay's footsteps behind me. I open the front door and Vinnie walks right in.

"Hello to you too," I grin, closing the door.

"We're having a party tonight," he declares.

"Here?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. I walk into the kitchen and grab another slice of french toast, hopping up to sit on the counter. The granite is cold against the backs of my thighs.

"No, dumbass." Vinnie rolls his eyes and helps himself to the french toast. Thay comes and stands between my legs, and I loosely cross my ankles around him.  "At mine and Molly's. It's super last minute, I know, but it's gonna be a rager."

"Of course it's going to be a rager," I agree, smirking as I rest my chin on Thay's shoulder. "I'll be there."

Vinnie's grin is wicked, and I know that this party is going to be more than just a rager. We love strongly by the saying "Go hard or go home". A party is no exception.

"So, why did you have to come here to tell us?" Thay asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

"I'm sorry I interrupted your morning sex," he says sarcastically, still sporting his grin, "But I need you guys to help me set up. I'm dragging you back with me at Molly's request."

"Do you realize that she's got you wrapped around her little finger?" I tease.

"Of course I do," he scoffs. "I will proudly say that I am whipped to anyone who cares to listen."

Thay and I laugh at the truthfulness and irony of Vinnie's statement. The amount of love and adoration he has for Molly after being so stubborn about not wanting a mate is enough to warm even the coldest of hearts.

"Give us a few minutes to get ready," I laugh, hopping off the counter. My body is right up against Thay's, and I can feel in the air how sexually frustrated he is right now.

Vinnie must feel it too, because he narrows his eyes and says, "I'm staying here so you guys don't get distracted."

"Whatever," I tease, leaving the kitchen and heading down the hall. Thay's right behind me, leaving Vinnie alone in the kitchen.

Shower? Thay mind links me.

Absolutely.