Refusing my Alpha mate

Clair

I woke up still not understanding what had happened the night before, Arthur appeared completely upset, afraid that something had happened to me, and I had never, ever seen anyone in my life with that fear. I never needed protection, I was raised to protect myself and to fear for my own life.

That he did all this just to see if I was okay, stirred something inside me that I had never felt before, I couldn't even understand this feeling, it was new and good, and maybe that was what led to the kiss, my first kiss, and now I understood everything they said about it, my heart accelerated more than in any training I had ever had. But that simply couldn't happen again, I had to shake my head to get those thoughts out of my mind.

I got up and changed before going downstairs for breakfast.

But as I walked out my door, I stared for a few seconds at the brown door at the end of the hallway.

Should I call him?

Without thinking I walked there and knocked once on the door, when my fist went to give the second knock it opened. And now, the sunlight came through the window and hit Arthur full on, making his green eyes even clearer, the sun's rays drew stripes on his face, and now, looking at him up close, it became even more difficult to resist the fact that my whole body just wanted to kiss him again. The sun's rays fell on his body, and the fact that he was wearing a uniform from my guard made him even sexier. I took a deep breath, calmed down, and said looking down.

Maintaining eye contact with him now was simply impossible.

Damn, Clair.

"Breakfast is served, if you would like to join us," I said and my body was faster than my mind and I looked up at him. Arthur nodded and his eyes were so bright that I suspected his wolf was close, but why?

"Thanks, Clair," Arthur replied and followed me, we went down the stairs and my father was already sitting at the end of the table.

"Arthur?" My father's voice was loud and thick, he was polite to just call Arthur's name, normally he would freak out. "Did you come here early?" He asked, raising his eyebrow as he finished buttering his slice of bread.

Arthur opened his lips, he was going to start talking, but at that moment I was afraid he would say something wrong, or tell about the kiss and make the situation worse, but I simply couldn't lie, the guards would tell him later anyway.

"Arthur showed up here in the middle of the night, thinking I was in danger." I wanted to continue but my father cut me off by asking.

"In danger? Why?" His voice had an acidic tone that I wasn't used to.

"I dreamed, sir. A very real and disturbing dream. I just couldn't help but come here. My wolf came and…" Arthur started to speak and ran his hand through his hair nervously, I even started to find it funny that he was nervous to explain to my father.

"Did you respect your wolf's opinion and run between two packs in the middle of the night just to check if Clair was okay?" My father asked, raising his eyebrows.

I didn't even know what he could respond to, I looked at Arthur and he swallowed and sighed. Hearing it from my father's mouth the whole attitude seemed a bit stupid, but before Arthur responded, my father completed it.

"I like that, Hausen. Nothing impresses me more than a man honoring his wolf, and I would do exactly the same if I dreamed that Clair was in danger. You slept in the guest room so you wouldn't come back in the middle of the night, didn't you? Neutral zones are no longer safe at night." The relaxed tone he used to speak made me release my shoulders that I only later realized I was holding, I pulled out the chair next to my father and sat down while he spoke.

"Yes, I didn't let him back, I didn't think it was safe," I said, already helping myself to toast and coffee.

"You did good daughter." My father smiled at me and then made a movement with his hands towards Arthur. "Sit down son, have coffee with us."

Arthur hesitated for just a second, I could see his shoulders relax and he pulled up a chair next to me to eat, he pulled out two slices of bread, and put coffee in his cup. I expected it to feel awkward after the kiss we shared yesterday, and as nervous as I was in his presence, it was comfortable being around him.

"You guys should have everything organized for tonight already, right?" He asked as he spread the butter on the bread, starting a conversation.

My father was still preparing his sandwich, and without taking his eyes off the slices of bread he said, smiling.

"Of course, Clair organized everything practically by herself. And magnificently as always." Now my father looked up at me and I received it with a smile.

"I imagine."Arthur said, taking his slice of bread. "So you spend today getting ready with the girls?" Arthur asked me directly, still with his mouth full.

I just opened my eyes wide and swallowed suddenly, Arthur's gaze was fixed on me, and I didn't even know how to respond.

"Not really, I'm just going to take a shower and get dressed, and I don't even have friends and…" I said shrugging. But the truth is that I felt a twinge of pain in my heart, my friendships were always in training, and my father, raising me as a boy, made the little contact I had with other children, be with boys too.

"No." Arthur said, still chewing, but it sounded firm like an order, making me turn to him completely. "You need to get ready with Mo then. She always says that getting ready with the other girls is even cooler than the prom." Arthur said laughing.

"Mo?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Monica, our Beta's daughter, she is my childhood friend and an incredible person, you will love her." He told me so excitedly that I didn't even know what to say. I turned to my father who just nodded.

"Come on daughter, it will be good for you, maybe relax a little before the ball." My dad said and for the first time he told me to relax, I took a deep breath before saying.

"I think it might be cool," I said turning to Arthur.

"Great, I'm sure she'll love it," Arthur said smiling.

Okay, what do you think about this? Tomorrow's chapter will be the first about the ball. Excited?