Page 100 of The Alpha

Pari didn’t know why she couldn’t stop crying and so let the sobs come, her body shuddering with them. She caught a glimpse of the handsome couple with them. They watched them warily yet with compassion, and waited patiently for her to calm. But she couldn’t.

“Kahtala Miah,” Melvale said against her hair. “Amin khan deloh.” He held her away from him and kissed her forehead.

Pari sucked in a breath as some unseen force surrounded her. It didn’t hurt her, on the contrary, whatever it was, was calming. She swore a golden light surrounded them, and figured her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Pari squeezed her eyes shut, sniffed back tears and realized his lips were still touching her as he spoke in what had to be his native tongue. The feathery feel of his lips against her skin also helped, and she relaxed enough to open her eyes and sniff back more of her tears. She also needed to wipe her nose, but didn’twant to detach herself from his moving lips. She enjoyed hearing him speak gently to her.

Exhausted, it wasn’t long before she was snuggled against him, her eyes drifting closed, her mind still insisting they were surrounded by golden light. He kept speaking, and she felt him stand. He really did do as she commanded.

But how long was this going to last?

He began to move, and after a few moments, Pari opened her eyes, saw the familiar red and yellow paint of the hallway, and cried fresh tears. “I’m home…”

“Just as you wished,” Melvale said and went up a flight of stairs. She noticed she didn’t hear any of their foot falls but didn’t dwell on it. She also belatedly realized that the tall black man looked human, while the woman with him had the same pointed ears as Melvale. But, but they were changing!

She looked up at Melvale, and gasped. “Your ears!” She studied his face. “What… you don’t look…”

“I am disguised,” he said with a wink.

Pari gaped at him. His eyes were still a brilliant blue, yet the other side of him, the Melvale side, seemed to be seeping through, blending with the side that could become a fanged beast in seconds.

When they reached her apartment, he stopped, but did not put her down. “Kwaku, the door.”

“Yes, Alpha Melvale.” The man pulled a key from somewhere in his robes and unlocked her door.

“How do you have a key to my apartment?”

The door to the apartment next to hers opened and Mr. Winston poked his head out. “Pari! Are you alright? We’ve been worried…” his eyes widened. “Why is he carrying you?”

Melvale looked at him and growled low in his throat.

“I’m fine!” she blurted. “Everything’s fine. This is my, um, boyfriend.” She gave Mr. Winston a cheesy smile just before Melvale carried her across the threshold and into the apartment.

“Did you all just come from a costume party?” Mr. Winston called after them.

“Something like that,” she called back. The woman brought up the rear and closed the door behind them, effectively cutting off whatever Mr. Winston was about to say next.

Pari looked at Melvale. “Now will you put me down?”

“No.”

She heaved a sigh.

“Kwaku…”

“Right away, Alpha.” The man called Kwaku swept into the room Raina stayed in while the woman went into her living room.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

“Making sure we are alone, that the apartment holds no danger.” He looked into her eyes and cocked his head. “I will not risk your safety.” He lowered his forehead to hers. “Know that if I deem anything here unsafe, we will return to the palace. Is that understood?”

Her face fell. “But… I asked you to bring me home. That means I stay here. And you…” she snapped her mouth shut.

“I what, Kahtala Miah?”

She swallowed hard. “Go home?”

His face softened. “Pari, my beautiful one. You are my home. How can I leave it?”

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