The Alpha's Villainess Wife-Chapter 21: Your Mate and Your Husband

"Sit," Malakai said to Eve who looked away from the screen of her phone to him.

"Why?"

"Sit, Eve."

She complied and sat down at the edge of the bed. Malakai squatted down and reached for one of her shoes that she’d picked out.

She blinked at him. "Malakai, I can wear my shoes. I don’t need you to..." Her words trailed off because he wasn’t even listening to her. He slipped the pair of black heels onto her feet and rose, grabbing her hand along to pull her off the bed.

Eve glanced at her feet and looked at him. "Thank you..." She mumbled, stifling the smile that tugged at her lips.

"Has he sent the address?" Malakai asked.

She shook her head. "No."

His eyes scrutinized her observantly and he muttered, "You’re nervous. Why?"

Eve hesitated, fingers fidgeting inside the pocket of the soft blue knee-length suit jacket she had on. "I know I said that Patro wouldn’t kill my father, but I’m not exactly hundred percent sure. This is more of a gamble. I’d go alone, but this is Patro we’re talking about."

"True." Malakai nodded. He added, "I wouldn’t let you go alone, by the way, even if you wanted to."

Eve’s brow rose at him. "I’m not doubting myself though. There is only a twenty percent chance that he might do it."

"Should I possess you?" he suggested.

She shook her head at him. "No. We need Patro to understand that you’re a part of this game he’s playing. He needs to be aware that I’m not alone anymore."

"And one more thing—" She stepped closer to him and interlocked her arm with his. "—We need to figure out if he recalls you being at the auction. Patro should be the last person to find out you’re a supreme alpha. So let’s test him."

Malakai eyed her and the only thing that caused them to break eye contact was the sudden ding of her phone.

A message had popped in.

Eve took the phone out of her pocket and browsed into the message.

[Houfet’s Fancy. 1 hour, Eve]

"A restaurant," she mumbled. "I expected some shady place."

Malaki’s expression stated he agreed. "Shall we?" he asked.

She nodded and they left the mansion together.

They were on the road, heading down to the location where they were to meet Patro.

"I would like you to control your temper," Eve suddenly spoke.

Malakai glanced at her. "My temper?"

"Yes." She met his eyes, expression soft. "Patro is going to provoke you, I know him all too well. So please...for me."

His lips slowly curved into a side grin. He didn’t respond to her words, but looked away, fingers steering the wheel as he took a drive off the road to park by the side.

He stepped down from the car and walked over to open the door for her. His hand reached out and Eve’s face flushed a light red the second she made eye contact with him.

She was quick to avert her gaze, hand hurriedly reaching for the seatbelt.

Why was he doing all these? Putting her shoes on for her and now opening the door for her, like some gentleman—not that she was saying he wasn’t.

It just...

There was hesitation in her movement as if she were afraid of taking his hand—as if the action would harm her, and Malakai who was watching her tilted his head to the side with a bemused expression.

"Patro never did this for you, or what?" he asked.

"What...?" She blinked. "I... T-that’s not—"

"I’m not Patro," there was a bite to his words as he grabbed her hand pulling her out of the car. He caught her carefully enough in his arms and kicked the door shut. "I’m your mate and your husband. Don’t mistake me for him."

His line of sight shifted down to her mating gland. The mating mark was almost gone, yet for some reason, his expression held some sort of irritation.

Eve’s breath hitched. She wasn’t even sure why she stood frozen, all she could feel being her hands that clutched against his suit jacket.

"Let’s go?"

She rapidly blinked, craning her head back to meet his gaze. She couldn’t speak, but could only nod, pushing herself off his body to take the hand he’d offered.

Was he annoyed by what had just happened?

Eve wondered as they headed for the restaurant.

It wasn’t that she’d...for some reason took him for Patro. No, Malakai was nothing like Patro. It was just...he’d caught her off guard. She didn’t think a man could be that sort of a gentleman to a woman, at least not an omega like her. Malakai was the kind of man who could have any omega he wanted, for goodness sake, he wasn’t just a multi-billionaire, he was a supreme alpha.

Any omega would kill to be with a man like him. They had eyes on him, and it wasn’t like this marriage wasn’t one of convenience. Yes, they were mates, but he could reject her just like Patro if he wanted to. He could go for any other woman just like Patro did, and she wouldn’t even be able to do a thing about it.

So why was he—

"Good evening, Mr. Basti," the sound of the restaurant’s security’s voice snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. "Good evening, Mrs. Basti."

She half-smiled at the man.

"Welcome to Houfet’s Fancy."

"Thank you," she responded and followed after Malakai who still held onto her hand.

"Malakai." She pulled at the hem of his suit jacket. "I think you misunderstood..."

Her words died in her throat the very second her gaze landed on him. Patro Zolotov, now on his feet, head slanted and peering at the both of them—precisely where Malakai held her hand.

His expression was murderous. But he was unmoving.

Malakai let go of her hand, and Eve was left confused, not until his palm came up to cup her cheek and she was left even more bemused.

"Malakai, what are you do—"

He nibbled her bottom lip first. Then he slanted her head, enough to perfectly align her lips with his in a slow kiss.