Page 198 of The Alpha

“What does that mean?” Dallan asked.

Kwaku sighed. “It means dat he will go from one end of de extreme to de oder, rapidly now.”

Melvale looked at them as he backed himself and Pari to the wall. “She accepted me.”

Kwaku nodded absently. “Yes, pup. But de timing is off.”

“Are you sure I didn’t do anything wrong?” Pari asked, worry in her voice.

Melvale sat on the floor and pulled her into his lap. “Shhh, kitten. Rest.”

“Oh… oh no…” Pari’s eyes lids grew heavy, and she went limp as a rag doll in Melvale’s arms, making it impossible to make sense of what was happening.

“Will you stop doing dat!” Kwaku snapped.

Melvale growled, presumably at Kwaku, and adjusted her in his arms so she was sitting up more.

“Dere, dat is better,” Kwaku said.

She finally managed to open her eyes and drew in a breath. “What was that?”

Kwaku sent a dagger of a glare at Melvale who smiled at him.

“Pari,” Dallan said. “We leave in the morning. Ye can tell yer uncles goodbye then.” He eyed Kwaku a moment, then Melvale, and left the room.

She put a hand to her head. “What happened, did I pass out earlier?”

“Yes, little treasure.” Kwaku glared at Melvale again. “But it was not your fault. You are fine. Do not blame yourself for de actions of anoder.” He turned on his heel and left the room.

Pari gazed at Melvale confused. “Wh-what did I call you earlier?”

He looked at her. “You addressed me as Master.”

“But… what does that even mean?”

“That I am at your command.”

She rubbed one temple with her fingers. “But that doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand.”

He held her closer. “You will. When the time is right. I… may have… pledged myself to you sooner than…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Pari, I did not wish to make you uncomfortable.”

She looked into his eyes as his face hovered over hers. “What happened?”

“My heart now guards yours. But perhaps before you were ready.”

“What does that mean?” she whispered.

“That it will be more difficult for the two sides of me to merge. For my heart is now trying to merge with yours.”

She gasped. “That sounds bad.”

He gave her a tiny shrug. “I don’t wish to scare you, but… it is the equivalent of me asking for your hand in marriage. My heart took over, and I got ahead of all this and…”

“Marriage!” she blurted, cutting him off. “But we’ve only had two dates!”

“I am sorry.”

She scrambled out of his arms and stood. “What happens now? What does this mean?”

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