Jamal's POV
I Waited outside the apartment building where Methis lived. It was a nice place. It was tall and it looked artlessly done from the outside though it was nice to see. I wondered why most houses in this human world looked so alike. It was as if all the designers had gotten lazy and decided to just copy each other’s work. In the human world, I saw less statues, less paintings, and every other thing that linked to the ingenuity of art. Maybe they just loved to keep their stuff simple. Regardless, I loved the general scenery of the city. What I loved the most was their technology. They had the ability to integrate their technology into their architecture which made up for its boring appearance. Even the building that Mehtis lived in had an electric signboard that stuck out from one side advertising something they called Shampoo.
This also was probably one of human greatest undoing. Their need for something they did not need. While waiting, I had read that advert a million times and all I could think of was what the hell, why would you want to buy a product that some doctors claim to have fantastic effect on your hair. In what way does it even help your life? well, I had had enough of thinking about human life. I just had to accept it the way it was.
I was sited in my car as I looked on as the people of the city carried on with their work. The engine purred as I turned it off. "Right on time," I said as I took a look at my watch. I took in a few deep breaths and got out of the car. The door sounded with a thud as I shut it. I adjusted my black suit and walked into the apartment building. It was quite large. You certainly would see some buildings this tall in the whole wolf realm.
Anyway, I walked in and looked around for the elevator. It took me a while to spot it and when I did, the doors were just about to close shut.
"Wait, hold up," I beckoned to the people in the elevator going up as the doors were about to slide shut. Someone held it open for me and I got in. "Thank you," I said to the person without looking. I was feeling a bit giddy riding on an elevator. I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of being in a box pulled by ropes, but then again I had no choice but to comply because afterall, it seemed like a necessity in the human world. As the elevator began to move up, I could here whispery chatters and looked to my right only to see about four young girls of Methis age probably, all taking sneak peeks at me. Their occasional glances and unending whispery chatters, coupled with my hatred for elevators almost drove me nuts! But I kept my cool and simply wished for the ordeal to end.
Ting! the elevator sounded as it reached my stop – which just happened to be the first stop. I quickly got out and watched the door slide shut as the girls inside waved at me, giggling weirdly.
Weird, I thought and then walked away and up to Methis apartment. "Hwweewww" I exhaled from my mouth as I stood right in front of her door. I was a bit nervous. I wasn't supposed to come and pick her up, rather she was supposed to come and meet me at the location I gave her. But Autumn advised me to take this approach. "You better be right, boy," I muttered and then pressed the doorbell. Lately, Autumn had been giving me loads of advice I was to consider when relating with Methis. It was not until now that I realized that I had been taking relationship advice from a kid.
Methis POV
The sound of water spraying me from the shower pervaded the bathroom. In a few minutes, I was done with taking my bath and walked out of the bathroom with my short white towel wrapped around me.
"Brrrr," my lips vibrated against each other as the cool air from the fan touched my wet bare skin. I quickly walked towards my wardrobe, took out my bathrobe and put it on. Then I went and stood in front of the mirror. "What am I even gonna wear?" I thought and took out a couple of clothes from the wardrobe, checking them out in front of the mirror.
My phone beeped on the vanity table. I picked it up and looked at the latest notification on the screen. It was Xander. My heart thumped against my chest on seeing his name. I hadn't talked with him for while so I was quite surprised that he suddenly texted. So I opened the text and read it.
"Are you busy this evening?" the text read. Talk about between a rock and a hard place. I had already agreed to meet Jamal this evening, so what in the world was I supposed to tell Xander now.
"Yeah, I got plans. Why?" I asked.
"It's nothing important. I just wanted to talk to you" he immediately replied.
"Oh, how bout we make it tomorrow then?" I suggested.
"Aiit, sure" he replied.
I placed my phone back on the vanity table, now feeling kind of confused and guilty. "I can't believe you'd pick a contract husband over your friend," I muttered in my mind. Anyway, I picked up a dress and put it on, did my makeup and got ready to meet him. I could feel butterflies in my stomach as thoughts of my dream last night flooded my mind. "Get out!" I ordered them as I shook my head a bit violently as if that would actually chase the thoughts away. I was still trying to chase the thoughts away when…
Ding! dong! the doorbell rang. My eyes widened in surprise. Who could it be? I thought. I wasn't expecting any visitors and I am not social so no one knocks on my door. Ding! dong! it rang again.
"I'm coming!" I responded this time around and walked over to the door. Taking a peek through the fish-eyed lens, I saw Jamal standing outside. "What the fuck?!" I cussed silently as I saw him through the lens.
What's he doing here? I thought. I thought I was supposed to go meet him, I wondered. I was a bit indecisive and thought for a while about it. Then, I suddenly unlocked the door and swung it open.
"Hello," he said with a smize as he waved a little.
"Why are you here?" I asked, looking perplexed, " I thought you already sent me the location," I said.
"Yeah I did," he said, "but I figured it would be more convenient for you if I picked you up instead," he explained.
I beamed, "Well I guess you do have a point. Come on in. I'll be done in a minute," I said as I opened the door wider, leading the way in.
"Wow, quite the cozy apartment," he said as he walked in, looking around and appreciating the interior decor before sitting on the couch.
"Pffft," I scoffed, "it's nothing compared to your palace," I said.
"True, but it is really nice and comfortable," he said, "Unlike the cold dark palace. It's not easy being Alpha. Your life is threatened if any member of the pack thinks he is strong enough to dethrone you. So you've always have to strive to be the strongest," he explained his eyes filled with mixed emotions. "It kinda makes you turn cold, you know? It's almost like you don't know who to trust," he added and for the first time.
While looking and listening to him, I felt a level of vunerability in his words. Deep down he was just a regular guy – well, okay, a regular wolf – who just had to keep up with the gruesome burden of being an Alpha.
"I can imagine," I said nodding slightly as I thought deeply about what he had just said. He didn't answer a word but just kept staring into the distance, lost in his thoughts.
"Jamal?" I called. He turned to look at me in response.
"Yeah?" he answered in a gentle deep voice.
"Let's go have some fun okay? I'll show you the best places this city has to offer," I said to him with a smile on my face. For the first time, I kinda understood him. He wasn't cold, he has just been on the defensive all this while.
"Okay sure," he responded with a smile as he stood up from the couch and stretched his hand to me. I took the hand with a smile. I could feel some sort of bliss bubbling within me as I gazed upon his perfectly chiseled face, "Let's go," he said as he gently interlocked his fingers in mine and led me out of the house, shutting the door behind us.