Daniella,
If you've read your texts or listened to your voice mail, you may know I feel terrible for what I did to you. Maybe you don't believe me, but I am and I want to make it up to you.
I'm asking you for one more chance. One last chance.
I hope you will join me at my place, 7 PM, the night of your birthday.
– Braxton
The note had haunted her the past eight days and she kept reading it, searching for a reason that made her mate out to be who she'd been convinced he was. An alpha, after his title, power, his pack. Braxton might have been full of himself but the note said less and less of that. He somehow made her feel like he cared. Like everything she'd pegged him as wasn't so true.
Running her fingers through her brunette waves, she adjusted and fixed the hair over her shoulders. At first, she had put on a pair of jeans and scoop neck top, but something had made her change... into a tighter, mauve shimmering dress that Abigail had bought her last christmas, one she'd yet to wear. Dresses were not her thing and as she stared at herself in the mirror, she was tempted to change back into her comfort-zone.
She pulled at the teasing hem along her mid thigh and sighed, “This is as good as it's getting.”
Stepping back, she grabbed her purse and coat from the bed and grabbed the door to reveal Janelle on the other side, reaching for the door as well.
Janelle gave her a sideways glance, “Where are you going?”
“Nowhere.” Ella brushed past her, “See you later.”
“Sure.” Janelle's eyes stayed on her as she walked the hall and disappeared down the staircase. She knew what her roommate was thinking. In fact, Janelle hadn't hid her opinion on her boy troubles, she'd made it loud and clear; she didn't think boys were worth any amount of time, especially over school.
The drive over to Braxton's house was absurd, she begun to shiver, twitch, her knuckles white as her grip continuously strained against the steering wheel.
It wasn't till she pulled to a stop across the street, that she really began to panic. With an erratic heart beat and a chill along her spine, she exited her vehicle and stepped out into the quiet street. Shutting the door, she took a moment to stare at the quiet nestled craftsman style home set amongst a few other well-built homes. The cool, damp wind wrapped her bare legs and urged her forward.
She wondered again, for the millionth time, if Cheri had told Braxton about her wanted rejection. Though, at this point, with the roses and the birthday invitation, she guessed she had and that made her more on edge. If Braxton knew that, then this was going to be a winning over of sorts, and part of her liked that idea but another part of her, the one she relied on to survive, didn't want anything to do with the winning over.
Walking the cedar porch steps, the door swung open before she could get to knocking and there he stood, in whitest pressed shirt she'd ever witnessed, tucked into a pair of fitted jeans. Staring at his outfit, she finally realized they hadn't said a word to one another.
“H-hi.” She finally got the words out of her parched mouth as their eyes fused together in an ignited glare.
“I'm so glad you came.” He stepped back and invited her into the house, though she'd been there before, it felt new, even different this time.
“You didn't think I would?” She bent over to remove her tall leather boots, for once, she'd worn the correct footwear for a evening out in Maine.
He waited as she pulled each boot off and then spoke, as she popped back up, “I wasn't too sure.”
The truth stung a bit, but it was true, even she couldn't believe she had taken the invitation in the end. She went to shrug her coat off but he stepped behind her and removed it with leisurely hands.
Another shiver slipped down her spine and she spun toward him, “So, what's the plan?”
His lips quirked into his daring smirk, “Dinner.”
“Oh,” She played along as he hung her coat up in the near closet, “How predictable of you.”
“It seems that being predictable is the only way to eliminate your need to flee situations.”
Her nose wrinkled in displeasure, “I don't run from everything.”
His smirk almost turned into a full out smile, “Really?”
She followed at his side as he walked down the hall, “Not things I like.”
“You must not like much.” He said in a playful tone, leading her to the back of the house.
“I like some things.” She snarked, “By the way, you're suppose to be wooing me, not pointing out my flaws.”
He let out a throaty chuckle as he stopped in the door way of a dinning room, set for two, at the oak table.
“We're eating here?” It had surprised her none the less.
“Like I said, I'm trying to eliminate your need to flee.”
“Braxton.” She sighed, turning with a roll of her eyes and coming nose to chest with his frame.
He stepped back, ignoring the desperate pull between them, “I'll go get the food, sit.”
She watched as he walked away and began to nervously twitch again, the truth was, Braxton made her nervous and it wasn't a bad nervous either.
Biting at her lip and wringing her fingers together, she took a tentative step toward the dinning table and finally, sat.
He returned within minutes with two small bowls of soup, “First course.”
“Course?” She echoed, “Braxton, I'm from Texas, we're sort of one course people.”
He put her bowl in front of her, “It's not a lot of soup.” As if that was suppose to bring her comfort, but all it did was make her more nervous, more paranoid about Braxton Hall.
He sat and picked up the soup spoon, but he didn't eat, and she didn't speak. Leaning forward, his eyes caught hers, “Daniella, I was hoping this wouldn't be so awkward.”
She snatched up her spoon with two fingers and took a bit of the orange soup up, looking it over, she didn't know what sort of soup it was suppose to be.
“It's squash soup.”
She tried not to wrinkle her nose before she took a tentative sip, and was surprised, it actually tasted very good. Soon they were both eating and not much else had been said, she had started to think, he wasn't saying what he wanted to so badly say to her.
He brought the main dish and she was surprised to see a lobster tail on her plate.
“I don't think, I can eat that.” She looked up to him as his sitting slowed.
“Are you allergic to sea food?” He asked out of concern.
“No, it's not that, well--” She didn't have an excuse other than, she'd never ate lobster.
He once again waited for her answer before starting his meal. Had his good manners just flown under her radar this whole time or was it he was on his best behaviour for their date?
Ella stared at the red shell and claws waiting for her, “I've never ate this before. It has legs.”
He burst into a laugh and it made her angry.
She shoved her plate away, “Just forget it.” Throwing her legs out, she shoved the chair she was in back and went to stand but his laugh halted and his hand caught her near wrist.
“I'm sorry.” His face wore panic, “I didn't mean to offend you. I just think it's funny, I mean, don't you live on a cattle ranch? Don't cattle have legs?”
His touch burned and scorched through her, making her legs weaken, it screamed don't leave your mate. She withered back to her chair, “We eat them once they don't have legs anymore.”
He kept his hold on her, his fingertips rubbing the soft underside of her wrist, “You don't have to eat it, Daniella.”
“N-no.” She shook her head, staring at his thick hand on her, his hands were rather burly and this was the first she was noticing it. The longer he kept hold of her the more her body went rigid. She could not deny, she liked his touch. “I'll try it.”
He lifted his hold, his fingers extending out and away from her as he picked up his fork and knife, “I really am glad you came. I know, I didn't sound too interested in getting to know you before, Daniella and that's not what I wanted. I do want to know you. I pushed you, I was dumb and I'm sorry about the mark. I really am, sorry.”
It was one of the sincerest apologies she'd ever been given and it made her want to forgive him, even if the bite on her neck was still aching, it had only begun to burn being in his presence again.
“So, will you let me get to know you?”
Her eyes darted up to his and she gave him a weary but accepting nod.
“Thank you.” He seemed relieved as he let out a tense breath.
She picked up her fork and poked at the lobster, “How do you eat this?”
He smiled, giving her a demonstrative instruction and she tried to copy it.
A few tight minutes passed as she ate the rather good lobster, “You didn't cook this, did you?”
“Actually, I did.” He said between bites.
“Really?” She was stunned, she'd been expecting his maid to be the one responsible.
“My mother's a really good cook, she taught me.”
“Oh.” Her belly fluttered with butterflies that turned into knots of jealousy, “So, it just you?”
“What?” He looked up to her.
“You're an only child?”
He paused, “Yeah. Are you?”
“Yep.” She looked back down to her food before he could ask anything more, because she felt it coming.
“Something we have in common.” He commented in a soft voice that lingered in her head, making her anxiety spike. “You must have decent parents though.” He tried to reason with himself maybe more than her, “You have that new car and you're in the dorms--”
“My parents are dead.” She cut him off and the quietness in the room hit a new level.
He stared at her, “I'm sorry.”
She gave a half-hearted shrug and looked down to her food.
“I didn't know.”
She smiled, amused, “How would you know?”
“I--” He sighed, “Cheri--”
“She doesn’t know.” The topic, though hard from her, was actually easing in a way, “I don't really talk about it.”
“When did they die?”
“My mother died giving birth and my father was killed.”
Braxton stared at her, his brow creasing, “Who would let that happen to your parents?”
“It's not that simple.” She poked her food with her fork as she tried to think of a way to tell him more.
“It's not?” His voice grew agitated, “They have a pack for a reason. Where were they?”
“My father killed my mother. My uncle killed him for it.” That was the short, sweet version and she hoped it was good enough.
“Are you serious?”
She smiled, because he sounded so utterly dumbfounded, “Not everyone has a perfect life, Braxton.”
His eyes stayed on her, “Is that why you think, I have less than honourable intentions toward you?”
His words made her heart speed and as the seconds passed, she felt herself breaking.
“I don't trust easily and I though, I want to, I really struggle with it. I know it has to do with what happened to my mother. My father was... a power hungry alpha and I think, that's putting it lightly.”
Braxton suddenly reached out again, taking her hand, making her tense, “I won't mate you, not until you tell me that's what you want.”
Her eyes stung with the promise of tears, “Thank you.”
“I was just really...” He trailed off, his eyes falling to where he had her hand.
She waited in the silence with him, trying her best not to cry as he finally got the rest of his sentence out.
“I was just really excited to have a mate. I didn't stop to think about your side and I'm sorry for that. I really was an absolute idiot.”
Her eyes flashed to his, the moment between boiling, she could feel herself wanting more from him, what the more was, she wasn't sure she was ready to explore.
He sniffed the air, dropping his eyes back to his plate and taking his hand back. Picking up his utensils, he started to eat.
Ella watched him, not sure, if she was suppose to say something back to him or not, but she took the hint to finish her food. With neither of them talking, the meal went rather quick and as Braxton stood to clear the plates, so did she.
He reached out as she picked up her dish, “It's okay, I'll do it.”
“I can help.” She offered, “I don't like feeling useless.”
He smiled briefly, “That's the last thing you are.” Taking her plate with him, he walked out of dinning room and she sat back down with a thump, crossing her legs.
She almost felt she'd upset him, all of a sudden he seemed quiet and reserved.
“I hope you like ice cream.” Braxton rounded the entrance of the dinning room with two bowls.
She uncrossed her legs and smiled, “Did you make this too?”
He dropped the bowl in front of her with a smirk, “Unfortunately, no.”
“How sad.” She grabbed her spoon as he sat back down, smiling at her. Her heart rate sped again, the way he looked at her made it involuntary and she couldn't help but return his flirting eyes. Catching herself liking her mates natural way of seduction, she forced herself to start eating the desert.
“Are you enjoying Maine?”
She swallowed the cold cream before speaking through her amusement, “Honestly, it's sort of cold here.”
He laughed, deep in his chest like he had before and she was starting to notice a pattern, her wolf liked it. A small bud of something erupted in her tummy, making her uncomfortable.
“I think that's obvious, Daniella. I meant school though, do you like it?”
She swirled her spoon around in the melting ice cream, “Actually, my grades aren't that good and I'm worried about telling my aunt and uncle, I don't want to disappoint them but I am.”
“I can help you.” He sounded serious with his offer, “I might look like a total idiot but I'm actually pretty book smart.”
She giggled, turning her chin up to him, “Umm...”
“I know, it's hard to believe,” His smile melted into some form of egotism, “under all of this, I'm more than hot.”
She stared at him, opening and closing her mouth several times.
“But then again, you must be smarter than me, you hide under all this innocence but you're a lot tougher than I ever figured.”
“I'm from Texas.” She corrected him proudly.
His eyes glinted with amusement, “Alright,” Leaning forward he took her empty ice cream bowl, “Movie?”
He was inviting her to stay longer and she answered, before any rational thought could try and stop her.
“That sounds nice, but what kind of movie?”
“Whatever movie you want.” He took the bowls in one hand and her hand in the other.
She couldn't help but adjust her fingers through his, following him away from the dinning room and into the kitchen.
“I thought other guys lived here with you?”
“Two other guys, yeah.” He took his hand from her slowly and put the bowls in the dishwasher.
“Well,” She smiled, “Where are they?”
He shut the washer door and turned back to her, “I kicked them out for the night.”
“That's sort of mean.” She teased him and he stepped a tad closer to her, smiling at her.
“Nah, they're used to taking orders.” He winked.
“Ah.” She gave him a big nod, playing along, “From their what?”
“Gonna-be-alpha.”
She felt his pride again, he wanted to be an alpha, and maybe he had his whole life. Maybe being the only son in his family's line meant more to him than she thought.
“Do you want popcorn?” He went to turn away but she caught his arm.
“I'm so full.” She admitted, looking his chest over in the white shirt. Her memory jaunted to the times they'd been closer than close and apart of her began to crave it. Being around her mate had effects on her, there was no denying it, especially when he was being charming and respectful.
He tilted his head, lifting his hand to her neck, “Is it always that red?”
“What?” She blinked, she'd been distracted by his gentle touch.
“The mark. Is it always this red?” His voice got stern.
“It's not healing that well.” She breathed, stepping back from him, till she bumped into the island, “But it's not really red anymore...”
“It's bright red.”
“W-what?” She put her hand to the mark and it seared beneath her touch, she dropped her hand away, trying not to cry out in pain.
He came toward her, caging her against the counters but she put her hands to his chest to stop him. The look in his eyes gave way to his much deeper and darker thoughts.
“Braxton.” She ran her hands up his chest to his muscled shoulders, the fabric of his shirt smooth and soft under her shaking fingers.
“I'm so sorry.” He growled, “It looks painful.”
She lifted her chin to look away from his slightly exposed chest, “It was the first week.”
He tensed against her, “I should have been there to help it heal--”
“No offence but I wouldn't have let you anyway.”
“It makes me angry to know you're in pain, though.” He raised his hands to her cheeks, taking each side of her face, “I can make it better.”
Her eyes fluttered, his breath on her near lips became excruciating and she tried to pull back. Things between them escalated quickly it seemed. They became needy fools the second they were close enough. Which made her start to think, the marking might not have been just Braxton's fault.
“Can we watch that movie?” She got the words from her lips but it had taken all of her concentration.
“You're beautiful, Daniella.”
Her cheeks in his hands reddened, “Braxton...” She tried to find reason and strength in herself to push him away but all her self-control had seemed to vanish.
“So beautiful, I keep tripping over myself and trying to impress you.”
“You don't need to do that.” She pushed her cheek to one of his hands, wanting to feel more of his gentle touch.
“I can't help it.” He growled in the back of his throat, and she felt the vibrations resonate through her. “Can I kiss--”
She grabbed his collar and pulled his mouth to her before he could finish his sentence. His hands scooped and tangled themselves in his hair as his kiss on her kept. She hadn't made out with many boys, but Braxton made the lead easy to follow and she did. Parting her lips more and more as his tongue coaxed her into the perfect kiss. Slow, lingering, hungry, all the possibilities of what she thought kissing should consist of, Braxton accomplished.
She moaned when he drew back, opening her eyes to the sight of him staring down at her, their noses still touching, “Wow.”
He smirked, “What's that?” Dropping his lips against hers, he teased her with the promise of more.
“Nothing.” Unconsciously, her hips rocked against his pelvis and he dropped a hand to her waist, pulling her tight against him. He made her feel drugged, euphoric, and never in life had she felt those things, let alone from a boy.
“Do you like me now, Daniella?” He asked with his enamouring smirk still present.
She giggled, snuggling herself into him and letting him kiss her again. “I like you a bit more, yes.” Their mouths were something of an exploration, leaving them breathless, panting and eager.
He took her waist, breaking their lips, “Please, don't think I'm just doing this because I want something.”
“Well, don't you?” She tried to catch her breath.
He blinked, watching her a moment, “I want to do whatever you want.” His fingers dug into her waist and hips.
She thought as her neck throbbed, the pain starting to make her head ache, “M-maybe, you could try making the mark feel better?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the kitchen and into the living room with big brown leather couches and a huge flat screen television.
She sunk down into the luxury leather and looked to him as he sat next to her in the dimly lit room.
His eyes fixated on her tender neck, and with a careful hand, he drew his fingertips along the mark.
She winced away, “It hurts, Braxton.”
He dropped his hand and replaced it with his mouth, his clean shaven cheek still a tad rough as it scrapped against her neck, finally came in contact with her stinging mark.
She was washed in a stronger euphoria than what his kiss was capable of, and with each flick of his slick tongue, she felt less and less pain. Her hands navigated his chest till her hand buried in his thick hair and the other grabbed his cheek, coaxing him to keep doing what he was.
She sunk into the couch and Braxton followed atop her, sucking and licking at his mark till she was purring beneath him. She shifted her legs and accidentally rubbed her thigh up against his pants, which she could feel, plain as day, a solid hardness.
It scared her and she drew away, pushing him off, “S-stop.”
He moved off her right away, “Did I hurt you?”
Her eyes darted down to his crotch, where what she had felt, now proved her right, “You're...”
He glanced down to where she was looking, “Oh.”
That's all he had to say on it and she shot up.
“Daniella, where are you going?” He reached for her hand but missed.
She shook her head and walked toward the front door, and he called after her. “Daniella!”
She found her boots in her fluster of emotion.
“Whoa, wait.” He walked up to her without hesitation, “I'm sorry. It's not really something I can control.”
“I just can't deal with this.” She told him, trying to zip up her boot.
“There's nothing to deal with, though.”
“There is, Braxton, a lot.” She felt her tears, looking up to him once she'd become frustrated with her stuck zipper.
He brought his hands to her shoulders, “Don't go because you turn me on. That's just stupid!”
She held up her hand, “I can't--”
“Are you a virgin?” He shot, stepping up close to her.
She choked back her embarrassment, “How dare you ask--”
“Why don't you just tell me, so I know?”
She stopped even her breathing as he stepped into her.
With a flutter of her heart, she admitted the truth, “Yeah.”
He sighed, “I didn't mean to come on that strong. I'll keep it in check, I promise. Plus, I still haven't give you your birthday present, at least stay for that.” He reached out and took her hand tempting her playfully back into the living room. She followed, maybe reluctantly at first, but he was convincing and that's why she still felt a tinge of fear toward Braxton Hall.
He sat her to the couch and she removed her boots from her feet.
“Okay, don't go anywhere.” He smirked, obviously it was turning into an inside joke at this point. “I'll be right back.”
She went to speak in protest but he walked away and she turned on the couch, watching him walk down the hall toward the staircase. Her heart thudded in her chest as she waited again for him to return.
He did quite quickly, though a bit out of breath, “I thought, I lost it in my room, but then I remembered; top drawer.” He held out a neatly wrapped rectangular box. “Happy Birthday.”
She stared at it and it's white stain bow against the black matte wrapping paper and took it gently, “What is it?”
He laughed as he sat, having a good chuckle over her as he waited and watched her pull the bow free. Picking at the neatly tacked tape holding the paper together, once open, she was face to face with a bright turquoise box and silver inlaid logo.
She read the engraving on it and looked up to him, “Is this expensive?”
“Daniella, it's a gift. Isn't that rude to ask?” He teased and still waited, “Open it, babe.”
The nickname caught her off guard, but this time she didn't bother correcting him and instead, she flipped open the lid. It revealed white gold bracelet inlaid with diamonds. She sucked in a breath, “Wow, that's--”
He leaned forward, “Do you like it?” Prodding at her without much patience.
“It's beautiful.” She breathed.
“It's nothing fancy but...” He shrugged, “I don't know you that well yet. I just thought it was nice.”
“Nothing fancy?” She echoed, “Are those real diamonds?”
He took the box and removed the gorgeous bracelet from the box satin, “I think so.” Taking her near wrist, he wrapped the delicate jewellery around her and did up the clasp.
She stared at it, as it sparkled against her tanned skin, it made her look fancy and sophisticated, all the things she wasn't.
Braxton, on the other hand, looked pleased with himself.
If they were real diamonds, the bracelet must have run in thousands of dollars and why he'd spent that kind of money on her, didn't make sense to her.
“It's too much, Braxton.”
His brow furrowed, “I think you make it look good.”
“I just don't--” Her words fell apart.
“Daniella,” He turned into her, “We're mates and I don't think I need to put a price to that.”
“I know but, this is really too much. I can't accept it!” She was wired up now on that fact that she was wearing thousands in diamonds.
“Jeez.” He exasperated, “I just can't do anything right.”
His words caught her off guard and she blinked, “What do you mean?”
“I just keep screwing things up!” He exclaimed and it scared her.
She inched away from him, “No, it's--”
“It's what?” He snapped, “Nothing's going to change your mind, is it?”
“What are you talking about?” She breathed.
“I'm talking about what you told Cheri!” He shouted, getting off the couch.
“Oh no.” She sucked in a breath.
“I just can't be rejected by my mate, Daniella, I don't think you get it but if that's what you want to do, do it now.” He stood a few feet from her, awaiting his fate.
“I was angry about the mark.”
He rolled his eyes and looked across the room, “Are you still?”
“N-no.” She sputtered the words from her quivering lips and stood, “Look, thank you for the bracelet, I really like it. I'm going to keep it.”
He looked down at her as she stepped up in front of him.
“But, right now, I think it's probably better if I go for the night.”
He sighed and gave her nod, “Sure.”
Making no gesture toward her escape, they both stared at one another in silence. Studying him, she noticed the worn expression he had, she was good at putting others through blenders though and this she knew.
She felt remorse for him and stepped toward him, raising her hand to his cheek and kissing his other, “Good night.”
He stiffened as she turned and grabbed her boots, walking to the front door. She was so quick out the door, he didn't join for the departure.
She fumbled with her purse as she found her car keys and stopped at the driver's side door. Her new bracelet catching the soft moonlight around her.
Pausing for a moment, she looked over the gift, he had been rather well-mannered and charming the whole evening and she'd short changed him. Big time.
She turned back to his house, forming an apology in her head and as she stepped out into the street, she was shoved back into her vehicle by a tall, rather burly man.
Her heart sped as his sideways glance morphed into a malicious grin.
“Such a nice night.” He came toward her and she screamed, throwing her purse at him, if that's what he wanted, but she knew deep down it wasn't.
He threw the bag out of his way and reached for her wrist. Grabbing her in a swift movement, she was pinned against him faster than she could comprehend. He wasn't human, he was full on twisted wolf and she wouldn't be a match for him, so she screamed again, this time for help.
He cupped her mouth though, “Shh. I just wanted tell you something...”
She stilled against his relentless grip, waiting for his next words.
“Happy Birthday, baby girl.”
She began to scream through his hand as the man and her were thrown, full force to the ground. Braxton grabbed her up and shoved her away, “Get in the house!”
Not knowing what was going on, she took the offer a flee and ran toward his front door. Only then, once she was inside, did she scrambled to look out of the front window, only to see moving shadows as they shoved, pushed and punched each other in the street.
She bit her lip, feeling a need to run out to her mate, who she now felt wasn't winning. It made her adrenaline spike and wolf come to life and the sudden silence didn't help.
She put her hand to the glass and searched the shadows, “Braxton...”
The front door flew open, slamming against the wall and she spun toward the intruder, sniffing the air but only smelling the thick smell of metallic and dirt. In other words, blood.
She stepped back in apprehension, her bare shoulders meeting the cold window as he walked in, bloody and limping.
“Braxton!”