WINONA
Outfits… Check…. Food… Check… Décor… Check!
"How’s it going?" I turn when the deep, powerful voice of Alpha Marcel comes from behind me. My heart skips a beat as I watch him tie the top of his hair back into a hair tie as he walks in, his top rising a little and showing off the sinful V of his Adonis belt. I quickly look away just as he places his hands on the top of the sofa rest behind me. He is an incredibly handsome man, and when he looks at me, I feel very self-conscious, half of it due to the fact that I walked in on Leo and Azura in the kitchen making -
My cheeks burn as I try to get rid of the image from my mind of Azura bent over, with Leo right behind her. Oh, Goddess!
Alpha Marcel chuckles, and I feel my cheeks heat further. To make matters worse, I had slammed right into him, only to fall flat on my behind, and then my gaze fell to the front of his pants, noticing the rather obvious well-endowed package that he was blessed with. I had gotten to my feet and ran from the mansion as fast as possible! He is still finding it amusing, although I had no option but to return when I collected Corrado. After all, I am helping him with arranging the Alpha and Luna ceremony, something which is a first for this pack, considering this is the first time the title will be passed down.
"It’s going well. I’ve ordered the clothing you wanted me to. I hope they all like them," I reply, not daring to turn and look into those warm brown eyes. I can smell his appealing scent and feel he is far too close, feeling the heat of his body as he leans over, looking at the laptop screen I am working on. It makes my heart race, though I try not to pay attention to him.
"I'm sure they will. You should have taken me up on my offer and gone to my office." He frowns as he walks around and picks up a list of things we have to take care of. Half are already ticked off.
"I'm okay here, thank you," I reply. My only wish is that he doesn’t make me go to the kitchen today. I need time to recover from that!
"Did you order yourself a dress?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. I brush a strand of my hair back, trying not to pay attention to the few strands of his that refuse to be pulled back into the hair tie.
"I have the black dress from last time, I don’t need another," I reply with a small smile.
I place the laptop in my lap and quickly skim through the sexy lingerie I am purchasing for Azura from a risqué designer store. Oh, and some fishnet tights. I think Leo liked those on her. My cheeks burn in embarrassment once again, and I quickly push the thought away.
I love clothing. I love buying things for others and getting to dress them up, but not when it comes to me. I like to blend in. I hit the purchase button, entering Leo’s card details when I’m sure I have everything covered.
"I really don’t want to say that’s an order… so could you please order yourself something? This is a joyous occasion. My son is finally becoming Alpha."
Smiling softly, I watch him. I am happy, too. Leo was the one to find me and give me a home, and seeing him become the man he is today makes me happy. He has always been a good man, but he wasn’t happy. Today, he has found happiness with Azura.
"He will be an amazing Alpha," I say, smiling gently.
"He will. I'm proud of him. Despite lacking as a father, myself, he still turned into a man worthy of the title," he says, looking out towards the dark window.
"You are a good father, Alpha Marcel. You remained patient with him, and you tried your best. You weren’t put in an easy position either. Your life has been full of trials, too," I say quietly, unsure if I have overstepped my boundaries.
"Not an excuse to fail as a father…" He gives me a half smile before looking at his watch. "Want a drink? I think I could use some coffee."
"I’ll make it," I say, standing up until I remember the fact that to make coffee… I will have to enter the kitchen. My cheeks burn with embarrassment, and I wish the ground would open and swallow me up! It only gets worse when the Alpha smirks, clearly amused at my expense. I am certain he knows what is on my mind. "Um..."
"I’ll go make it," he says, not removing that rather cocky smirk from his handsome face as he heads to the door. He pauses when he reaches me and taps my nose gently. "Ah, you’re so innocent."
My heart skips a beat as our eyes meet, and I see the way his eyes flicker to my lips, making my stomach flutter nervously. I may be a virgin, but I know the look of a man who wants something. His smirk vanishes, and he frowns deeply, leaving swiftly. It confuses me on so many levels. I am just a plain Jane and there are so many women in this pack wishing to get their hands on Alpha Marcel…
I know it’s because of that stupid black dress. That night, he had looked at me as if it was the first time he was seeing me. I know that men, especially Alphas, have a high sex drive, and whatever it is that the Alpha wants, it is probably only something casual. But casual or not, that is never something I’ll entertain; it is wrong on so many levels.
First and foremost, after everything Leo has done for me, I would never do that to him. I would never betray him or be an insult to his mother, the Luna who had died far too early. I would never try to take her place, not even as a one-night stand. Secondly, I am turning twenty-seven next month, while Alpha Marcel is sixty; not that age is ever an issue for our kind, but this is something I would never encourage. What would Leo think?
It's getting harder, as we have now moved to the mansion, and I’ve been given a room beside Corrado’s, right opposite Alpha Marcel’s. Seeing him daily doesn’t help, and we are often left alone, too. He makes me nervous… in a good way, but it is still wrong.
I hear footsteps, and quickly focus on pulling open the website to the bakery where I will order the cake for the Luna ceremony. The Alpha places down two cups, and I realise he has made me tea.
"Oh, thank you," I say. I’m rather surprised that he remembered I like tea. He takes a seat on the sofa, not too far from me. Goddess, don’t leave us alone; please, someone come in. He doesn’t speak as he watches me fill in the details for the cake.
"You would make a good event planner," he remarks while drinking his hot coffee. I look at him and blush lightly at the compliment.
"Thank you. When I was younger, that’s what I wanted to do."
"You still can. You’re still pretty young." I look at him, my smile faltering, and shake my head.
"I won’t. I'm happy doing this just for this family. Besides, I don’t think I could focus on anything other than Corrado. He’s my priority and my happiness."
He nods, and I place my laptop down to pick up my cup of tea. It is still piping hot as I take a careful sip. Oh, it is really good. I never knew the Alpha could make such tasty tea. I think it is one of the first times that someone has actually made me tea. He sighs as he sits back.
"Understandable, but with Leo having Azura here, too, then there’s me, Rosaline will be moving closer, too, and there are others here, too. You’re a young woman, Winona, and you deserve to do whatever you want. There’s no crime in building your own life and following your dreams, too."
Nervousness flits through me and I quickly drink my tea, not knowing how to reply. My eyes sting at how hot it is. Ouch! I cough lightly when I have downed it all, only for Alpha Marcel to slap my back lightly, rubbing it as I cough. I feel my tongue and throat, which I have scalded, heal slowly. My heart is pounding, and it isn’t because of the hot tea. I am very aware of Alpha Marcel’s hand massaging my back, right over my bra strap.
Kill me now, Goddess.
"I never realised I made such bad tea," he jokes lightly.
"Oh, no, it was absolutely delicious! I never knew Alpha Marcel could make such delicious tea. It really was tasty," I refute, feeling guilty. He smirks as he slowly removes his hand from my back.
"At least the tea appeals to you." I thought I heard him murmur, but I’m not sure. I frown slightly, but he simply drinks his coffee and places his cup down. "Leo wouldn’t want you to hold back, Winona. If there’s something more you wish to do, do it."
Our eyes meet, and I nod slowly, not knowing how to refuse him. I look down at my lap. My pleated black skirt and white blouse are simple; looking at me, one wouldn’t think I love fashion or art. I can’t refuse the Alpha’s suggestion anymore, as it would be disrespectful, but it doesn’t mean I’ll follow it.
"I know. He’s a lovely person who has always been kind to me and taken good care of me. Given me a home, and a purpose when I had nothing and no one," I reply, not wanting him to feel bad. He nods slowly, and I feel the lounge is suddenly far too small. His eyes are on me, and I can feel their intensity.
"Was the relationship between you two always... platonic?" He asks quietly. I freeze, my heart thundering as I realise what he has just asked me. I don’t know if I should be shocked or hurt. "Shit, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean it -"
"Alpha Leo and I simply have a relationship built on trust, gratitude, and above all, respect. He gave me a life. He’s an Alpha, and I’m an Omega. I have never considered him anything more. How could you ask me that, Alpha Marcel, especially since Azura is here?" I whisper, horrified, as I stand up, my heart thumping at what he has just insinuated. What if Azura thought the same? How do I tell her there was never anything? "Why would you even think that? Have you seen me?"
"Winona, I'm sorry, I was just asking because…" He stands up, towering over me. His Alpha aura make it so much harder for me to focus or breathe.
"Because what, Alpha? Your words have upset me, and I know I'm no one and I shouldn’t say this, but how could you think like that of Leo and myself? I'm just Corrado’s nanny, nothing more. When he asked me to take care of Corrado, I felt like I had found a purpose in life," I whisper, trying to fight back my tears.
"I know. Like I said, I'm only asking for my own knowledge." He speaks firmly, his voice deep and serious, making my heart flutter nervously.
He closes the gap between us, and I feel trapped, my chest heaving as he gazes down at me with eyes that no longer look soft or warm, but instead deep and mesmerising, laced with a hunger that suddenly makes everything so much clearer. He wanted to know if there was anything between Leo and me so he could… he could…
He raises his hand, brushing a few strands of my hair off my face, making the pit of my stomach flutter and twist. My beating heart only races faster.
"Alpha, stop," I command in a shaky voice, with all the courage I can summon, and to my surprise, he blinks and tenses as if realising what he has just done. His frown returns, and he turns his head away slightly.
"What am I doing?" He mutters, turning his back on me. "I'm sorry, Winona. I misunderstood..."
"I can never hurt Alpha Leo like this," I whisper before I quickly leave the room as fast as I can, not daring to look back as I break into a run. What have I done?
"Winona!" I hear him call just as his phone goes off. "Shit!" I hear him mutter, but I know it is the alarm for the meeting. He won’t come after me. He has to attend it. Thank the Goddess…
I never meant to entice the Alpha. If Leo knew… he’d hate me. What if he makes me leave the pack? Where would I go? The relationship between the father and son is only on the mend now, I can’t be the reason to ruin it all.
I rush into the night air, my heart thundering as I hurry away, letting the tears fall. Deep down, although I had refused him, it confuses me. The way he makes me feel is… exciting, different even. But he is an Alpha, and I am just… me.
I'm sorry Alpha Marcel, but I can’t give you what you want. Ever.