The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 184: I love you.

~Dahlia’s POV~

"No." I forced the words out of my dry lips even as my face lit up with a flame hotter than a molten magma. "I cannot share a bed with you. In fact, I do not consent to sharing this room with you."

Alpha Zarek tilted his head to the side as he regarded me, his expression solemn but mischievous— if that was even possible. He leaned away from the wall he’d been watching me from and stalked closer— too close that I instinctively took a step back.

"I’ll never touch you without your consent." He drawled, his voice washing over me, and cooling my nerves in ways that I do not care to explain.

"But that is not what I’m talking about!" I snapped, throwing my hands up. "This isn’t even about touching me or not—"

"Then why are you so bothered by the prospect of sharing a bed with me?" He asked coolly, interrupting me, "...if you’re not scared that I’ll do something to you... if you’re not afraid that you’ll like it."

I gulped, my ears burning up.

Because goddess he was right.

He was fucking right.

The gods knew how much I dreaded being in the same room as him, and this has nothing to do with whatever hatred I try to fool myself that I have for him, and everything to do with the fact that I knew my body would betray me.

In fact, it was already betraying me as we speak— my pussy walls were already clenching and unclenching with the idea of having him inside of me.

With the idea of having his hot hands caressing my skin.

...his warm tongue sucking me up.

And his lips, pink and plump devouring me like I was his last supper.

Dahlia, focus!

"I’m bothered because I don’t trust you!" I snapped, and that wasn’t entirely a lie. I didn’t trust my safety to him, and I didn’t trust that I wouldn’t wake up later tomorrow to find my hands and legs bound together.

"I don’t trust you to not treat me like a prisoner."

"You’re not a prisoner." He drawled, trailing his finger over my chin... down to my lips. I shook my head, stepping back. "You’re Dahlia, my Dahlia... and trust me when I say that I will not touch you if you do not consent to it. The only reason I’m keeping you here is because I do not trust you not to leave in the middle of the night."

"Alpha—"

"Zarek." He corrected gently. "Zarek. I can sleep on the couch if that will make you feel better. I just want to go to bed certain that you’re here and certain that you’ll be here by the time I wake up."

Now, I didn’t know whether to feel pity for him or mad at myself for making him so paranoid. And maybe it was the both feelings I felt as I nodded, my throat tight.

"Okay."

"Thank you."

"But just so you know, even if you had given me a different room, I’ll not leave. I promised."

Alpha Zarek didn’t respond to that but simply nodded, before stepping away from me to go stand by the window. As soon as he moved away from me, I let out a sigh of relief, but that relief was short-lived when I realized that he had taken his body warmth with himself.

I frowned. "Do you have clothes I can change into? I didn’t bring any of mine."

"I have a tunic..." he drawled, and then stopping to rove his eyes over my body, he continued; "but I guess it’ll look more like a dress on you, seeing as you’re so small."

The blush that crept up my face was laughable. I ducked my head shyly, whilst letting out the filthiest string of expletives under my breath, all directed at Zarek for making me feel so jittery, and so hot... and so whatever this was that was happening to me.

As if noticing my discomfort. He walked away from the window and soon began searching through his closet, only to come up minutes later with a grey tunic made from the finest fabric and designed with an embroidery that was so intricate, it had me gasping in awe.

"This is the tunic," he drawled, "I’ll give you space to change into it."

Alpha Zarek didn’t wait for my response. He didn’t even stop to give us usual snarky comments as he strode out of the room, all the while leaving me staring at his retreating frame in both embarrassment and confusion.

Something felt really off about him, but I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that he now seemed so gentle, especially since I’d been told he was showing signs of going feral. Or maybe because my body still clamored for his touch like it used to.

"Get yourself together." I sighed, shaking my head as I quickly shimmied out of my clothes and wore his just as quickly before he decided to return to his room.

But he didn’t return.

He didn’t even return an hour later, and I was forced to remain in this cold, large room whilst staring at the large ceiling as I prayed to the heavens to send me some sleep.

—

It was way into the night when I heard the door creak open, but I didn’t react because just as soon as it opened, Zarek’s tantalizing scent filled the air, almost making it impossible for me to breathe.

I snapped my eyes closed but now, because I was well aware of his presence in the room, I couldn’t fall right back asleep. I couldn’t even breathe properly anymore, as it felt as though he’d stolen all of my oxygen.

"I’m sorry I woke you up." He drawled into the darkness, but I didn’t even need to look at him to know that he was staring at me. "I didn’t mean to."

"It’s fine."

"Also, I wasn’t ignoring you earlier..." he continued without missing a beat. "I had some paperwork that I needed to sort."

I nodded, and when I suspected that he probably cannot see me, I said; "Okay."

"Is the bed to your liking? Do you like the linens? Are they comfortable for you? Is the tunic soft enough?" He continued rambling, blissfully ignoring the frown on my face caused by my inability to return to my peaceful sleep.

"I have one work finer fabric that should suit your skin bet—"

"Do you want me to return to bed or not?" I snapped impatiently, sitting up to glare at the dark space I knew he occupied.

Now, I didn’t miss the smile that crept into his voice, or the way the said voice shook with amusement as he said; "No, I don’t want you to return to bed. I want to have a conversation with you."

"What about?" I asked, my voice coming out snappy even though that was the least way I wanted to sound. "It better be something worthwhile, otherwise I will..."

"Strangle me?" He teased, his tone mocking. "I’d love to see you do that... and I mean it. I want to see you choke me."

"Alpha Zarek.."

"How many times do I have to remind you that we’re now on a first name basis?" He snapped, interrupting me, and making a sudden warmth creep up my face. "I don’t care what Alpha I am, as long as you get to be very informal with me."

Silence.

I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t respond; not when my heart was thumping wildly against my chest. Not when my blood was roaring loudly in my ears.

"But that’s besides the case. I really do not have anything to talk to you about. I simply just wanted to talk to you."

"I was hoping that if our communication skills get better, we could be able to talk, and I will be able to convince you not to leave again."

"Zarek... I have to. I didn’t even come back with Amara." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"And I can send for her!" He refuted quickly. "I can send someone to bring her back... all you need to do is talk to me.. I know I was an ass to you. I know I hurt you in ways that I cannot explain, but..."

"I now have a family." I whispered, my voice breaking.

I wish he was like this before I met Kai. Wish he was this gentle before everything...

"Dahlia..."

"I discovered recently that I am not an orphan. I have a father, a daughter, a grandmother and a..." my voice trailed off as I wondered who Dr Ava was to me. I shook my head. "Nevermind."

"But Dahlia..." his voice cracked now. "I could be your family too."

"I am not making it up... they’re really my family."

"And I never said you were making it up. I just want to be a part of that family. I want to be a part of you... and that’s because I love you."