Chapter 17 - 017

Chapter 17: 017 Tristan stiffened as happiness bubbled within him as the pair of black eyes landed on him with mild intensity. "You are awake," Gale’s voice interrupted everyone’s thought. The silence in the room was heavy and tense. He had a lot to say and wanted to ask the Alpha some urgent questions but with the way his eyes lingered on the Omega he had no choice but to leave quietly after the maid slipped out. "I need to go," Tristan murmured with a hint of awkwardness and rose from the ground. He had sat close to the bed because he wanted to be closer to him but he wasn’t expecting him to wake up suddenly and stared at him from such close proximity. It was like he was staring into his soul and could see what’s in his mind. That made him feel exposed and naked under his gaze. It was as if what had happened between them yesterday was a vivid dream as he could not hold his gaze for a fleeting second. He hadn’t risen fully to his feet when he was suddenly pulled forward by the hand and he fell onto the bed with a muffled scream when his face met with the rigid wall of the Alpha’s chest. He was too stunned to scream in shock or yell and he could only lay down stiffly as his heart beat wildly against his ribcage. "Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Alpha Mitch asked in a hoarse voice as he wrapped his arms around his small frame. Burying his whole body in his embrace. His nose finds its way to his hair and he takes an addictive sniff. The sweet scent of the Omega suddenly filled him with sudden need that surprised him. Even if they were pressed against each other in an embrace, he could feel an invisible wall between them and he would give anything to crush the wall and also his resolve. Tristan’s wildly beating heart picked it race, he had spent yesterday thinking the Alpha was done with him and ready to discard him but now he was safely tucked in his arms. His thoughts turned wild and his skin was growing warmer from the overwhelming closeness and the pheromone of the Alpha that circled him like a big bubble. He moved back and turned his face up to look at him and their eyes met as the Alpha was also looking down at him. Tristan’s breath caught in his throat and he forgot how to form words to address the issue eating at his gut. Has the Alpha accepted him for who he was? Is he showing a farewell affection? What does he think of him? Does he...like him? Tristan thought in a frenzy as his eyes glazed out while staring at the Alpha’s face. "Are you mad at me?" Alpha Mitch asked again and that finally registered with Tristan and his eyes widened as he noticed the Alpha’s gaze on his face. He looked away and moved to get out of his hold but that only made the Alpha’s arms tightened. Making an escape impossible as he could never match the Alpha’s strength even after ten lifetimes. They stayed that way for a few more minutes and Alpha Mitch felt the Omega beginning to relax in his arms. He had acted like he saw a ghost when he woke up earlier and that tugged at his heart and made him worry. While they stayed still, Alpha Mitch’s mind was occupied with more urgent worries. Even if Gale had pretended and acted casual he knew things wouldn’t have been that simple when he passed out. Even if it was for a few seconds he felt it before the darkness overtook his consciousness. Something was wrong with him and there was now fear and doubt hanging over his head like a shadow but there were so many things at stake at the moment that he could not lie still even if he wanted to. "I can’t breathe" Tristan ’s strained voice suddenly broke the silence and his arms immediately relaxed when he noticed he had almost smothered the Omega to death. "Are you okay?" He asked and Tristan nodded, sadness seeping into his mind as he missed his arms around him. A rapt knock sounded on the door and Gale walked inside without waiting for a response with an urgent look on his face. "You have a guest," he said with a deep frown. Alpha Mitch looked at him and bit down on the urge to cuss at him. "Can you fucking leave?" he said through gritted teeth. Gale’s frown relaxed and he looked down at Tristan with a new sense of annoyance. He seems to be the reason for so many things going wrong. Wordlessly, Alpha Mitch rose to his feet and held his hand out for Tristan. With little hesitation put his hand in his larger one and let him pull him up. Gale watched them with a pointed look and rolled his eyes before walking out ahead of them. "Stay close to me" Alpha Mitch ordered softly as Tristan tried to evade his touch and moved a few inches away. He obeyed him and walked close to him, his head barely reaching his shoulder. He looked small and vulnerable beside him. Alpha Mitch’s gaze suddenly hardened as he paused a few steps away from the living room. He smelled him, the repulsive and distinct smell of the Alpha King he hated the most. How dare he walk in here? Alpha Mitch thought as he pulled Tristan closer to him in a protective manner. Inside the living room, Alpha Raul stood in front of an oil painting of an Alpha and Omega under a full moon. The painting held a strange energy and he observed it with a frown. "Why would you own a piece of art that contains magic?" He asked as he sensed Alpha Mitch walked in behind him. "I don’t remember ever asking for your opinion" Alpha Mitch fired back in the same manner but with an underlying warning. His dark eyes suddenly flashed a distinct gold colour. His wolf was on edge and ready to fight.