Alpha Knight’s Cursed Mate

NIRVANA

I checked the time on my phone- it was supposed to be lunchtime on the reservation. I had already been in the restaurant since morning, but Kailin hadn’t arrived yet, nor did her grumpy hot biker cousin.

To be honest, I was excited to see his annoying, handsome face, so I sent a quick text to her.

“Mara, has Kailin arrived yet?” She’d been working here for five years and knew my best friend.

“Yes, and Mr. Blackwell.” A small smile appeared on her lips. I knew what it meant. Even the blind could see how attractive Knight was. “I saw them went to your grandfather’s office and the beautiful woman.”

“Beautiful woman?” My brows knitted. A sliver of jealousy pierced my heart.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” That was all I could say before I went to knock on my grandfather’s office.

I still felt the pang in my chest when the door opened wide. Grandpa, Kailin, Knight, and the beautiful woman Mara talked about were there. She was indeed beautiful in her thirties, but I’d seen her before.

“Oh, is this a private meeting?” I looked at them one by one, and none of them moved or replied but stared at me as if I had caught their hands in a cookie jar. “I can come back.”

“No.” One single word came from Knight, and all ears were on him.

“Look at you.” The beautiful woman said, but I couldn’t remember her name. “You look just like your mother.”

I smiled the moment I remembered where I last saw her. “You were on my 18th birthday.”

“Yes. You remember.” She came to me and hugged me. “Good to see you again, Nirvana.”

“Yeah, me too.” I finally joined them. “Are you here meeting Grandpa?”

“Not exactly. Knight invited me.”

“Oh, okay.” Maybe he was into older women. Knight was definitely younger than her, and now I just felt the clenching in my chest.

“I invited her to join us over lunch.”

“Of course. I’ll go check the table.” It was my excuse to get out.

“You’re joining us, Vana,” Kailin said. “Zarah and Grandpa Case are joining us.”

“Sure.” I smiled tightly.

“Shall we?” Grandpa said.

We went up and settled into the VIP area. I suddenly felt the tension in the room. I felt like something was going on between all of them. They wouldn’t just talk in the office if it wasn’t important.

I sat next to Kailin while Grandpa and Zarah sat beside each other. Knight was on my left, looking all mighty.

“So, you’re helping Case run the restaurant?” Zarah finally broke the tension.

“Yes. Since college, I have been trying to help him with bookkeeping.” I was still curious about why she was here and how she knew Knight. “How do you know my mother?”

“I’m a friend of your mother’s friend. I met Case a couple of times. We are both into food. I met Knight through a friend, as well. Through Califf. He invested in winery business.”

“My parents died when I was just a baby. Aside from the pictures that Grandpa had shown me, I can’t remember their faces.”

She reached out for my hand, squeezing it. “I’m sorry to hear that, but they were good people. Your mother was your father’s light and your grandpa’s world.”

“Thanks. That means a lot. I never met any of their friends but you.”

“If you need anything, I’m just a call away. I’ll give you my number.”

“Thank you.” I turned to Kailin. “Are you ready to order?”

She smiled. “Yes. I’m starving.”

I didn’t pick up the menu as I told the waitstaff. “I’ll have what Kailin has.”

Grandpa and Knight chose the red meat while Zarah went for seafood.

“How did you know each other?” Zarah asked me.

“Kailin is my college roommate, and we went to the same school together. And Knight, I just met him days ago.”

“What a twist of fate,” she said with a smile- a meaningful one.

“What made you say that?”

“Well, our world just gets smaller, my dear.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“Why are you so silent, cousin?”

“Excuse me. I’ll be back.” He suddenly rose to his feet. “I need some air.”

His action suddenly confused me because I didn’t think I was at fault. I followed my gaze until he left the room, leaving me dumbfounded.

“Should I leave so he can enjoy the lunch?”

“No. He’s just being him.” Kailin looked apologetic.

“Is he always like this?”

“Never. Knight’s always focused and a little bit aggressive, but he’s respectful, protective, and loyal to default. Forgive his manner, Grandpa Case, Zarah. My cousin is a lot, but he’s very respectful. Lately, he’s been temperamental.”

“I completely understand, honey.”

“It’s all right, Kailin. Your cousin is under a lot of pressure,” said Zarah, agreeing with Grandpa.

“Excuse me for a moment.” I got up. “I’ll go find him.”

“Good idea,” Zarah and Kailin said in unison.

“He’s probably in the parking lot, honey.”

I went out towards the parking lot. He was there pacing before the rental car. I hadn’t got closer, yet he somehow sensed me. He stopped and turned to me, still wearing a confused look on his face.

“Look, I know you hate me, but you can tell me now if I shouldn’t join you over lunch. I don’t want to make it more awkward than it already is, and I don’t want you to look disrespectful in front of Zarah. I will understand.” I stopped before him, and he just stared at me, motionless, until I almost quivered with the intensity of his gaze.

“You know, you can tell me whatever is going on with you. I promise not to judge, and you know why it’s good to share your problems with a stranger? Because there is a possibility that you might not cross paths again.”

He blew a deep breath. “Let’s have lunch.”

“Are you sure you want me around you? I may not have an infectious disease, but I’m not blind. You don’t very much like to be around me.”

“It’s not you.”

“Oh, don’t give me that crap, it’s not you, it’s me. You’re not quoting me a Taylor Swift’s song, Knight.”

He chuckled as he opened the door and let me go in first. Wow. He could be a gentleman if he wanted to be. I didn’t know he had that in him.

“I take it you’re a fan.”

“I’m more of a Black Sabbath kind of guy.”

“Got it.”

The food just arrived, and we settled back to our table. We ate in silence for a while until Kailin just cursed.

“Language, Kailin,” Knight chided her.

“I’m so sorry.” I had a feeling her apology was intended for my grandfather and Zarah. Then she stared at her cousin as if having a secret conversation. “How did I miss it?”

“What are you talking about?”

Kailin smiled at me and shook her head in amusement. “Oh, my God.”

“Kailin, can we just eat in peace?” asked Knight politely.

“Of course, cousin, but you have a lot of explaining to do.”

“This is amazing, Mr. Woodrow. You definitely deserve the Michelin star.”

“I’m glad you like the food.”

“Where do you get your wine supply?” He picked up the bottle of Blackwell Cabernet.

“Stone Distributor,” Grandpa said.

“Califf’s new venture,” Zarah affirmed as she picked up her wine and sipped it. “Yeah, this Chardonnay is to die for.”

“I thought Sebastien has the biggest winery in Italy,” said Knight. Who was Sebastien? Her husband? But I didn’t see a ring around her finger. Boyfriend, maybe?

“Yes, but your wine and his have distinct tastes. I both love them.”

“To be honest, your wines are one of the best selections in the restaurant, Mr. Blackwell,” I told him the truth.

“Cuz, don’t start talking about business right now.” Kailin literally rolled her eyes at Knight.

I hid my smile when Knight looked at me. “Don’t look at me like that. I bookkeep.”

My phone just vibrated, interrupting him before he could say something.

“You can answer that, best friend. That could be important.”

“This could wait.” I fished it out, and it was Axell calling. I pressed the silent button before I slipped it back into my pocket. “So, Knight Blackwell, how’s the firm?”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Fine. I just went there to check the first quarter report. Boring stuff.”

“Hmm.”

“Nirvana, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Zarah.”

“Do you believe in dreams?”

“Um.” I dabbed my lips before answering. “I think it has something to do with our subconsciousness and brain activity. Why?”

“Have you had weird dreams lately?”

I laughed softly. “Funny you asked. I just had a weird dream last night. I was in the middle of the woods. It was dark and chilly. I was barefooted, and I saw a gray wolf-”

They all coughed simultaneously, except Knight, who stared at me. They all stared at me, and I almost squirmed.

“Did I say something wrong?”