Page 118 of The Alpha

Her jaw dropped, but still no sound came. She was turning into a puddle and feared she’d slide off the edge of the bed! As if sensing her dilemma, Melvale put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Pari Mae, I will make a believer out of you.”

She swallowed hard, trying to get her brain to work. All she could manage was turning her head to look at him as he drew back, a gentle smile on his face. He was right; she didn’t believehim. How could she? What was the likelihood of someone like him telling her she was beautiful? That he… good grief, desired her?

She sat and realized there was another presence in the room. Something… alive. “Wh-what…”

He leaned closer again. “That, my beauty, is my other heart. Feel it. Know it.”

She sucked in another tiny breath as the presence surrounded her. It was familiar, and Pari realized it was indeed Melvale. Yet, it was also Bondrah. It took some effort, but she managed to force the word out. “Bondrah?”

“Yes, Kahtala Miah. I am here.”

She noted the blue of his eyes and realized the presence was holding her. “Bondrah?” she mouthed this time.

He nodded. “Yes, little Pari. It is I.”

His voice had lowered, and his eyes were becoming a brilliant blue. “Bond…”

“Shhh, do not say it again, or I may be tempted to mark you right here and now.” He pulled her into his arms. “I will mark you, then claim you. But you are not ready.” He rested his forehead on hers, as he’d done before. “I must wait.” He lowered his face and gently rubbed one cheek against hers. “Then when the time is right,” he whispered. “You will be mine.”

She stilled. What? She blinked once, twice. “Y-yours?”

“Yes, Kahtala Miah.”

Pari looked at him. Melvale was gone. Well, maybe not, but the eyes and the voice told her this was the other side of him. “Melvale?”

He brushed some of her hair across her forehead. “The other name you call me is a private name, little Pari.”

“Y-you use that word a lot.” She swallowed hard. “Little.”

He gave her another gentle smile, which seemed significant considering the side she was dealing with at the moment.“It describes you. Small, innocent, vulnerable, in need of protection. Like a lovely flower.” His eyes roamed her face, and she caught the look of awe in them.

Pari stared back unable to believe such a look. “Why do you look at me like that?”

He cupped her face with one hand. “Because you are my heart.”

She could still feel the presence of his second heart and noticed how relaxed she was. As if someone could take peace, turn it into a blanket, and swaddle her in it. “I… this… feels nice.”

He nodded and whispered, “As it should.”

She nodded back, and noticed her eyelids were growing heavy. “Um… I…”

“Shhh, Kahtala Miah.”

Her breathing slowed, and she was vaguely aware of movement. Pari tried to open her eyes but couldn’t. “What…”

“Rest, my heart,” he whispered in her ear.

She couldn’t open her eyes and didn’t care. The peace surrounding her was like nothing she’d ever felt before. Pari also swore she was in his lap at this point, but also didn’t care as he put her head against his chest and held her in his arms. Okay, she could get used to this. But it still didn’t answer the question of…

Wait, what question? Did she have a question?

“Shhh, Kahtala Miah,” was barely a whisper against her hair. Was he shushing her thinking? How could he do that?

“Shhh…”

Every sound was gone. There was only the quiet and the blissful peace she was wrapped in. Pari began to drift off to sleep as one sound managed to penetrate the silence. A heartbeat. His heartbeat. Bondrah Miah.

She wished this blissful state would never end but knew it would. Be it minutes or hours, she wanted to enjoy it while shecould. Who knew if she would ever have this again? Because somewhere along the line, she would screw this up, just like she always did. It was only a matter of time.

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