The Alpha King's Series

CHAPTER FIVE

BRINLEY.

Julia and I spent most of the day in town, and she helped me pick out new clothes. Julia couldn't understand why I had brought so few clothes with me, and I didn't tell her that was all I owned. Some things are better left in the past. Darkness had already fallen upon the kingdom by the time I showered and slipped on a pair of jeans and a yellow striped t-shirt with a v neck. I followed Julia's instructions and slipped out the kitchen's back door. After five minutes, I found the greenhouse. The pond I am supposed to meet Thomas is a mile through the woods after the greenhouse.

The woods were dark; I could barely see anything. “Tap into my wolf sight," Sage tells me. I shake my head, “No, I will find it." I replied. 'So stubborn,’ Sage murmurs. Yes," I nod, “But you love me anyway,’ 'l will always love you, my little human,’ Sage purred. 'I love you too, Sage.’

After some time of walking through the woods, the sound of water in the distance caught my attention. So I walk my way towards the sound of the water. My father's words came to mind, and the horrible things he said to me. "No one will want to be mated to a pathetic human like you. Gabriel rejected you for it, and if you get lucky enough to get a second chance, he will reject you too. You are Nothing Brinley but the worst mistake I've ever made.”

I stopped walking; my father was right. Thomas will reject me. Why even get my hopes up? Just to be let down again. I turn to walk back the way I came to the palace. I didn't want to be rejected again. I was happy at the thought of a second chance, but at what risk? My sanity? Sage's sanity? It's not worth the risk. Someone grabbed my hand, and I knew it was Thomas when I felt the tingles. He turned me around to face him, "Where are you going?" "Back to my room, " I shook my head," "Why?" I inhaled, "I don't want to get hurt," I told him honestly. He frowns, "And you think I would hurt you?" I shrug, "Maybe,"

Thomas lets out a breath, "I won't. You have to trust me,” "I can't, I'm sorry.”

"Close your eyes. I wanna show you something before you go," I shook my head and removed my hand from his. "Please." What is it about his voice that I can't refuse? The way my body reacts and fights against my mind. I sigh and nod my head. I closed my eyes as he asked of me, and I felt him grab my hand. Then, using my free hand, I gripped his shoulder when he started moving so that I didn't fall. My clumsiness hasn't changed over the years. I was nervous, not knowing where Thomas was taking me. The sound of the water was louder now, and Thomas came to a halt. "Don't open your eyes," Thomas tells me and lets go of my hand. And I already missed the warmth of his hand, the way my skin felt from his touch. The bond was already substantial, but I'm not 100% sure how I will avoid the mate bond.

"Open your eyes, 508."

I slowly crept my eyes open, and they widened in astonishment. The pond was large, and the water poured from the rocks like a waterfall. The sound was soothing, and the scene was even more breathtaking than imagined. "Wow," Thomas chuckled, "I knew you would like it." "It's beautiful,” I told him. "Not as beautiful as you,” Thomas whispered, making my cheeks heat. I covered my face with my hand, a habit when I'm embarrassed. "Even more so. When your flushed,” Still hiding my face from him, I shook my head, "I have to go," I whispered. "What are you so afraid of?" I purse my lips, "Nothing. I have to go," I tell him again. I walk past him, but he grabs my hand. "Are you afraid of me?" Our eyes locked, and his silver orbs pulled me. "No. I...I have to go,” I say and move my arm from his grasp so that I can leave.

"You won't give me ten minutes?” I stop walking and glance back at him. Thomas had his hair fully down, no bun, and boy, is he sexy. I never thought long hair could be sexy on a man, but boy was I ever wrong. "Fine. Ten minutes,” I tell him and walk back over to him. I sit on the blanket Thomas had laid on the ground over, looking the pond. Thomas sat next to me, and I pulled my knees to my chest and stole a glance at his chiseled face. "How do you like living in the palace?" I shrug, "It's okay. How about you?" He smiles, "I never wanted to live in the palace. I always dreamt of building a house in living in silence,” "Why don't you?" Thomas inhaled a deep breath and stared out at the waterfall. "I have duties in the palace.” I nodded my head in understanding because I had duties to the palace as well.

"I don't like the idea of you being a slave. But I can't change it.” I frowned and looked up at him. "I've been a slave all my life Thomas. So it's Nothing new to me. At least we get paid wages here.” His forehead creased, "You were a slave before you came here?" I nodded, "Being a half-breed and a mistake. I was tilted Omega by my father and Alpha of the pack I lived in before I came here. I had to do everything at my house, and the Luna would make me do things at the packhouse,"

"I had no idea," I forced a smile on my lips, "It's okay. I always dreamt of getting out of that pack. It hurt when the future Alpha rejected me, but simultaneously. I was relieved.” "He was a fool," Thomas told me. I covered my face when I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Come on, let's go for a swim," I arched my brow, "Are you kidding?" Thomas stood to his feet and walked near the pond. He turned to face me and removed his shirt. "Doe's it look like I'm kidding?" My eyes dropped from his face to his nice toned chest, abs that looked like mountains rolling down his abdomen. And the V line, oh Goddess. I Involuntary accepted the knew feeling that was swirling in the pit of my stomach. My limbs trembled ever so slightly as Thomas took down his trousers, tossing them to the side.

His dark blue boxers clung tight to his thick muscled thighs. Thomas turned towards the water, and I noticed a tattoo filled most of his back. A dagger was piercing a heart. "Are you coming?” Thomas said, breaking me from my train of thought. I bite my lip and look away.

My body is urging me to join Thomas in the water. However, my mind is worried about what will happen if I do. "508. Come on." I shook my head, "I don't have a swimsuit," "Neither did I. I won't look."

"No," I shook my head, "I'm not going to strip in front of you,” "508. I'll come to get you and throw you in if you don't get in this water,” Thomas teased. "You wouldn't?" A smirk played on his lips, "Wouldn't 1?" I sighed, "You promise you won't look?"

"Promise," He said, "Look, I'll even turn around,” He told me and turned in the opposite direction. I stood to my feet and walked near the water. I stripped off my clothes and threw them next to Thomas's stuff. The water was warm as I stepped in, and once the water came to my knees, I dove under and swam past Thomas.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" I rolled my eyes.

I then realized Thomas had told me Nothing about himself. Other than he doesn't want to live in the palace. "Tell me something about yourself,”

"What do you wanna know?" Thomas said, swimming over to me. "How old are you?" "Twenty- eight,” "Your eighteen?” I shook my head, “Seventeen,” He ran his finger through his long wet curls. "Doe, 's my age bother you?" He asked. I shook my head, "No." Thomas grabbed my hips, pulling me closer to him. Even in the water, I can feel the tingles on my skin. "Doe,'s my age bother you?" Our eyes met, and I was lost in his silver eyes for a moment. "A little," He admitted.