THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

After Zoe left, Leo breathed easier, taking in the environment and the beauty of the ballroom, and of course, Maya. At the moment, she had finally unentangled her arm from Derek, and was talking with some other girl he had seen in the pack.

“You know you are making it obvious.” He heard Derek say, and soughed, wondering what his friend was thinking of now.

He piqued his eyebrows, as Derek stepped closer to his side, taking a look at the banquet from his angle.

“What?” He finally asked out aloud, when he was not able to take in the mischievous look on the latter’s face any longer, or his pregnant silence too.

“You’re blatantly staring at my cousin, for someone that claims to wait till he feels the mate pull.” Derek muttered, with a smirk, when he saw that Leo wasn’t even trying to deny it.

“She’s attractive.” Leo said flatly. “Of course I would stare. The others are looking too.” He mentioned, already feeling his anger rising for no just cause other than the fact that some other males are also staring at Maya.

“And you feel okay with that?” Derek asked, hiding his grin with an inquisitive innocent face.

“Of course.” Leo replied, although through gritted teeth.

“I see then.” Derek muttered, turning away to smile bashfully, having noticed that his friend’s fists had tightened, and his face was all scrunched up. He didn’t think the latter had noticed yet; his body’s reaction to his cousin.

Putting his hands in his pockets, he scanned the room for the umpteenth time, looking for any odd one out. Nothing seemed out of place.

Well, you never can tell. He thought, still skeptic about this particular ball.

He wondered when the party would start in earnest. People were just getting acquainted, getting to know each other. He could see some girls watching, and pointing at him. He didn’t care though, as far as they wouldn’t approach him.

Ever since the incidence with Cassie, he had become more wary with girls, human or not. They were very unpredictable and bound to be successful in whatever plot they would ever hatch, provided that they put their minds on it. He didn’t want to be a plot to them. He didn’t want to hurt Emma. And so, that’s why he clinged a little bit to Maya, not wanting to create any space at all for an acquaintance. He wasn’t interested.

But his cousin had betrayed him. He mused, as he watched glide through the ballroom greeting people, old allies perhaps. He wondered where they had been when Zoe had been putting her name in the mud.

Fake friends. He thought. He was sure that they were hovering around her, so that they could get closer to her or Leo.

“Wimps.” He muttered. He had always thought that human girls were emotionally excited easily, but these groupies here made him rethink his theory.

“Who?” He heard Leo ask, and shrugged.

“Those girls flocking around your mate. They are not in the least interested in her. They are just trying to build a bridge though her, taht would get them to us.” He answered, staring at the four to seven that gathered around his cousin, while intermittently, throwing backward glances at he and Leo.

” Their bad then. She’s not my mate either.” Leo mumbled, knowing that there was no way he would stop his soon to be alpha from referring to his cousin as his mate.

“If you say so.” Derek said.

“When is the dance and celebration really going to set in? Where is your other cousin, Curtis, and your Uncle?” Leo asked. ” We’ve been here for long now, just getting acquainted.” He said.

” I don’t know. I guess we will just have to wait and see what they have in stock for us.” Derek answered, before taking up his hand to his tie to loosen it. For some reason, he felt hot.

“I need a drink.” He said, before walking towards the bar, knowing that Leo would follow him.

Getting to the bar, he requested for a shot mix, which the bartender obliged.

After taking two shots, he felt slightly better.

“What’s wrong?” Leo asked him, having noticed his discomfort.

“I don’t know. I just feel hot.” He replied.

“Perhaps it’s the suit.” Leo opined.

“Yeah, maybe.” He agreed. Curtis’ suit was a lesser size for him. But still, he felt that something was wrong. Was it Emma? How was she doing? Or was it something else.

A step at a time. He thought, ritually putting his hand inside his pockets as aforetime, to retrieve his phone, but he didn’t see it. It was then taht he remembered that he had left it in his room back at home.

“Shit..” He cussed, digging his fingers roughly into his hair.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“What is that?” Leo asked.

“I forgot my phone at home.” He answered.

“You want to call her?” Leo asked, referring to Emma.

“Yeah. I just feel that something is wrong. But I’m not sure what. I wanted to confirm first from her if she was okay, so that I could narrow down my scope of thoughts.” He stated.

“Let’s ask Maya then. She might be with her phone.” Leo suggested, already standing up from the stool he had been sitting on while they stayed at the bar counter. He noticed that Zoe wasn’t here. He couldn’t help but wonder where she had gone off to. She had told them some minutes ago that she would be coming here to have a drink. So where was she? He thought, scanning the bar area, hoping that she wouldn’t do something stupid.

“You’re right. Let’s ask Maya.” Derek said, standing up too, and walking out first, with Leo, after him.

But when they got to the ballroom, they saw Alpha Arnold and Curtis on the large stage; while the guests had stopped their ramblings, and were now all focused on the two males in the spotlight. It was like they had just stepped in recently, since Derek was sure that he hadn’t heard anything from the bar area.