Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

NIRVANA

The tasting room was newly renovated and had a contemporary design perfect for the weather. Clients and guests had begun arriving, occupying some chairs and tables. There were great appetizers, fruit and cheese boards, sandwiches and wraps, and Charcuterie boards.

“Just call me if you need any help, okay?” Haylo did a great job. She was a sommelier and managed the tasting room.

I just met her this morning, and I thought she was fantastic. She was in her early thirties but hadn’t found her mate.

“You’re going to be busy. Kailin and Heartley are here to help me.”

“And thanks for being here.” She smiled.

At least there was no bitch around her who was secretly in love with Knight, and if I was being honest, he was the epitome of a man with power and wealth, and the Moon Goddess showered him with so many blessings on the good-looking part.

“No problem, and if I sell some bottles, I’m getting a commission.”

She chuckled. “Right. Good luck, Vana.”

“Thanks.” I instantly saw a middle-aged man checking out the Pinot Noir. I went to him and said, “Hello, sir. Let me help you with that.” I tried my best to remember what I had learned at the restaurant and not to look like an idiot. I poured the dry wine into the glasses, swirled the liquid a little bit, and gave it to him. “Can I be honest with you?”

The middle-aged man looked confused, but he remained interested. “Of course.”

“I’m Vana, by the way.”

“Jared.” He shook my hand with his left hand.

“I’m not a wine expert. My only experience is what I learned from my Grandfather’s restaurant. You probably know much better than I do, but our best-seller is Cabernet from the Blackwell Winery. The climate and their unique way of processing gave a very distinct special taste.” I poured a Cabernet and gave it to him. “Are you an old client? Forgive me. It’s my first day.”

“Thank you for your honesty, Vana.” He sniffed the glass. “It’s my first time here in the Blackwell Winery.”

“I don’t wanna look like an idiot in front of clients, but I’m learning. What do you say?”

He took a sip of it. “It’s around five. It’s good for collection. I admit, I was having a doubt coming over, but a friend of mine told me that I should check this winery one out.”Owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

“Oh, my God. Did I disappoint you now?”

Jared smiled. “No, dear.”

“I couldn’t help but notice your accent. You’re Greek.”

“Yes.” He picked up the Pinot Noir and tasted it.

My toes curled as I waited for his verdict. He hadn’t said anything but picked an appetizer, ate it, and grabbed the Pinot noir again.

“I want fifteen of Pinot and ten Cabernet. Send it to Artino Enterprises.”

“Fifteen bottles of Pinot and ten Cabernet to Artino Enterprises. Got it.” I wrote it down on a pad of paper. “Thank you, Jared.”

“Cases, my dear.” He smiled when he saw my eyes widen.

It took me a while to react. I giggled before him. “Oh, my God. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And the wine is excellent and will be fantastic when it ages. And if your work bores you, come to Artino, and I’ll give you a job in marketing. I appreciate your honesty.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

I watched him leave, and then a man in a dark suit came to him. That man must be Artino. “Holy crap, Haylo. I just sold some bottles to Mr. Artino. And I didn’t know he was rich.”

Haylo laughed. “His assistant will settle the bills. How many bottles he ordered?”

“Fifteen cases of Pinot and ten for Cabernet.”

Haylo had the same reaction as mine. “What did you do? You didn’t show your cleavage, did you?”

I look down at my white sundress. “No. I was just honest that I’m a newbie.”

“Congrats! You will have a commission and a gift from the owner.”

“Wew.”

“Not bad for a newbie, Vana.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll process his order right away.” When she left, I took the dirty glasses and brought them to the kitchen.

I almost bumped into a beautiful woman with silver-blonde hair, reminding me of the mother of dragons from Game of Thrones, and she had beautiful misty gray eyes. She looked like an heiress, with her luxury bag and clothes alone worth half a year of my apartment rent.

“Oh, hi. Can I assist you to the table?”

“No. I’m looking for my boyfriend. I can’t find him anywhere?” She scanned her gaze around the room.

“Your boyfriend? Did you try calling him?”

“Yup.” She was still finding the boyfriend in the crowd. “I went to his house, and he wasn’t there. We’re supposed to meet there, but he’s gonna ghost me again.”

Huh. “Try calling him again. If he won’t answer, maybe he’s ghosting you. And maybe he’s not good for you.”

“What made you say that?” She arched a perfect brow at me.

“If a guy is committed, he won’t be late to your date, and he will come and pick you up. Maybe you should do the same.” I shrugged. I didn’t know why I was wasting my time, but it was probably because she was a client.

“Damn it, Knight. Where are you?” She fished her phone and checked for the call, maybe.

Wait. Did she just say Knight?

“What?” She suddenly turned into a mean girl and just snapped at me.

“Nothing.” I swallowed hard. It wasn’t nothing because jealousy was a bitch. It hurt even if I just met that manwhore days ago. What hurt the most was he never mentioned he was dating someone.

So he did have a girlfriend, and he didn’t tell me.

“Are you okay?” she asked, using her sweet, annoying, rich girl tone, but I was sure she didn’t care.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I hope you find your boyfriend. I have to go back to work.” I dashed away from her before she thought I was stupid.

It just hurt, and I never felt like this before. I felt like my chest was crushing, and I couldn’t breathe.

“Hey. Where are you going?” That voice. That son of a bitch. “Nirvana.” He was fast to hold my wrist. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

I lifted my gaze and looked at him. “I’m fine.”

“Where are you going?”

I looked around. I didn’t know where I was but saw the exit sign. “Stock room.”

“Stock room is that way.” He pointed to the opposite side. “Just ask a male attendant if you want some bottles.”

“Yeah. I’m lost.” I pulled my wrist, and he let it go.

“No. You’re not. Something upsets you. I can feel it.”

I dropped my gaze because I couldn’t lie to him, and this mate thing was really beginning to infuriate me. “I’m good. I have to go back inside.”

“Don’t go until you tell me why you were running absentmindedly, Nirvana.” He used that bossy mafia tone on me, and I hated it.

“I’m fine. Anyway, your girlfriend is looking for you. She said you’re ghosting her again. You didn’t show up in your house.” I walked away while he was confused.

“Nirvana, what girlfriend are you talking about?” This time, he managed to hold my arm before I could bolt out.

“How would I know? Maybe your number eight, or is it twelve?” I shot him a death glare.

“I don’t date. I don’t have a girlfriend. What does she look like?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. Daenerys Targaryen?”

“Huh.” A slight curve appeared on his lips, his eyes dancing with humor. “Tall, gray eyes, silver blonde hair, looks like a princess?”

“Whatever. Let me go, Knight.” I twisted my arm around his grip.

His lips finally formed into a full-blown smile. “You’re jealous, my little pretty mate?”

“No. Why would I? I just thought we agreed on no secrets between us, asshole.”

“I’m true to my words, Nirvana.” He groaned. “I swear to Goddess, Shadow will pay for this. She just pranked you, and she thought it was fun.”

“Shadow?”

“Yeah. Alpha Califf’s mate. Can we go back? They’re probably waiting for us.”

“You go ahead. I’ll follow you.”

“No. We go together.”

“Fine.” I was still slightly upset but let go of a shuddering relief breath.

As soon as we returned to the room, Shadow was already there, grinning.

“You, little witch. What did you do?”

“I’m so happy for you.” She gave Knight a bear hug. “Congratulations, handsome.” Then she came to me. “I’m so sorry about earlier, Vana.”

“It’s fine.”

“Welcome to our crazy world. Zarah told me a little bit about you. I hope you’re not having nightmares.”

“Not yet.”

“Is he already giving you a hard time?”

“More like she’s giving me a hard time, princess,” said Knight.

“Oh. You’re a princess,” I whispered, making her laugh. “Should I curtsy?”

“Hell, no. And you’re a future Luna.”

Then, a tall, handsome man in his early thirties walked in and shook hands with Knight.

“Cal.” Oh, the infamous Califf. Well, damn. He looked like a prince in a fairy tale book.

“You must be Nirvana.”

“Nice to finally put a face to an infamous Califf.”

“I have something to tell you. The last time I met Knight. You know what he told me?”

“Do tell.” I smiled at him.

“Really, Cal? We’ll go back there right away?” Knight just blushed. I couldn’t believe he blushed before his friends.

Califf was amused with his reaction. “That’s all I wanted to see. To make you blush, my friend. I’m happy for both of you.”