The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 63: Give me a breather!

~Dahlia’s POV~

I brushed past the corridors with my eyes occasionally darting over my shoulders, because for some weird reason, I still felt like Sadie would do something, or tell someone about Madame Berlin’s near death experience, and the role I had played in it.

But apparently, she hadn’t.

No one spared me a glance. No one looked at me for a second longer, and no one talked to me— as per usual.

The heap of fine silk materials rested heavily in my arms, weighing me down as I rushed into the main palace— to the Alpha’s chamber— where I had been asked to deliver them; and as I went, I couldn’t help but feel squirmish. I couldn’t help but think back to the last time I was here.

My heat cycle.

My face flared up with heat at the thought of the Alpha’s arms around my body, and as much as I had tried to bury the events of that night at the back of my mind, walking down this path stirred up those memories I tried to suppress.

It made me remember just how perfectly his skin felt like against mine. How warm his tongue felt when he licked my body... how the action seemed to set me ablaze. I could even remember his pleasured grunts as he powerfully thrust into me. The sweet nonsenses he whispered into my ears... and how I had suspected he never lost his memories—

"Dahlia?" A deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I halted my steps just in time to see Beta Orion coming out of one of the rooms adjacent to me. He was clad in a deep purple regalia and had a strange look on his face as he regarded me.

Beta Orion stared at me as if seeing me for the first time; But there was something else in his eyes. Something that made my heart hammer frantically against my chest. Something that made me suddenly sweaty, and my palms clammy. I shifted uncomfortably.

Despite the heap of clothes weighing me down, I still managed to bow my head. I greeted; "Good day, Beta. How are you doing today?"

He didn’t respond right away but gave me a once over first before looking straight into my eyes and saying; "Good day, Dahlia." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

His tone was cold, clipped. It made me uncomfortable in a way that I have never felt before. It made me feel as though he was mad at me even though I had no idea what I must have done to him.

And then it hit me.

That night with the Alpha! He’d knocked! He had probably heard my wanton moans and may have heard the things that Alpha Zarek did to me— or what we did to each other.

Suddenly, an intense feeling of embarrassment engulfed me like the silk linens in my arms, and I shifted my weight from one foot to the other— not because the clothes weighed so much, which they did; but because the embarrassment in my chest felt too heavy to bear.

I dropped my gaze. "I need to have this sent to the Alpha’s chamber. I’ll have to take my leav—"

"I’ll come with you." He said so quickly, and so suddenly, I froze.

Naturally, I should tell him off. I should inform him about just how well I could take care of this myself, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do just that. I was tongue-tied. Stricken by shame. Too embarrassed to argue.

I nodded instead. "Okay."

And with that, I continued on my journey, whilst trying my hardest to ignore the looming presence beside me.

We made our way into the Alpha’s chamber, ignoring the weird looks that people threw at us, and after placing the clothes just where I had been asked to, I turned to leave but was suddenly slammed into a hard mass of muscle when Beta Orion gripped my wrist, using it to pull me into his chest.

I gasped as the breath left my chest in one smooth whoosh. But soon, I regained my composure and lifted my gaze to meet his, not at all surprised when I found his dark orbs glaring back at me.

I whispered; "What are you doing, Beta?"

"Oh, drop the formalities now, Dahlia! Stop pretending like you’re always so prim and proper when you literally spent some nights ago in the Alpha’s bed!" He barked, and instantly, I felt my face heat up in embarrassment.

He’s finally said it! He’s let the cat out of the bag.

Despite how deeply those words struck, I managed to keep my face neutral— or so I think— and I met his intense glare with one of my own, and said; "Oh, so this is what this is about?"

Beta Orion scoffed at those words but he said nothing. I let out a sigh of relief when he let go of me to rub his face in annoyance but my relief was short-lived because then he grabbed me once more, forcing me to look into his eyes as he snapped; "I asked you to marry me!"

"And I’ve not had enough time to think about it."

"But you didn’t need enough time to jump into Zarek’s bed!" He yelled in my face, causing me to flinch in shock... and maybe fear.

He seemed maniacal.

It took a moment for the insult to register and when it did, a deep frown made its way to my face. My chest squeezed with rage and I balled my hands into fists to keep myself from smacking him across the face.

I slowly drawled; "Maybe because I didn’t have any time to think at all..."

"Oh don’t bullshit me about just how nerve-wracking heat cycles can be!" He snapped, his eyes wild. "Don’t come to educate me about how heat cycles work because I know exactly how much I should know about it!"

Wow... rich.

Even though I was mad as hell by simply listening to him speak, I said nothing. I couldn’t argue with him. Not when I was the weakling and he was one of those at the top of the food chain.

As if sensing my anger or perhaps how I intended not to speak to him about this anymore, he dropped his voice and grabbed both of my hands in his in a pleading gesture. He muttered; "Dahlia, I know he’s your mate. I know the mate bond must’ve compelled you to act so callously with him, but you and I know that you have no future with him! He’s Alpha!"

"And you’re Beta... you both are the same in my eyes." I still do not know where I had the courage to say those words but when I did, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Beta Orion froze, his face contorting into a deep frown— but it was only for a brief second— as soon, his usual mask slipped back onto his face, and he shook his head.

"It is different for me. He’s betrothed to Jennifer."

I wanted to roll my eyes. I really wanted to, but I didn’t.

"Dahlia, once he gets his memories back, he’ll forget all about that night like it never happened—"

"Because it never happened." I said before I could stop myself; and to my surprise, he smiled—brightly. His eyes shone so bright, it looked like a dozen stars had been plucked off the sky and glued onto his face; And then he brushed a stray tendril off my face, his fingers intentionally grazing against my cheek, as he said;

"Good girl."

My stomach churned.

"I promise to take care of you. Just say the word, Dahlia and I’ll get you out of here. Out of this misery. I’ll make your life better..."

But I said nothing, not when my nostrils caught on one of the most tantalizing scents I’ve ever smelled... not when I could feel the intensity of its owner’s eyes drilling holes into the back of my head.

My breath caught when I heard the sound of approaching footsteps and I looked up just then to see Beta Orion glaring straight at something over my head, his body as rigid as a pillar.

"Why wasn’t I invited into this conversation?" Alpha Zarek drawled from behind me, his voice as silk as velvety thunderclouds before the storm breaks.

"Zarek..."

"I should be involved, shouldn’t I? Seeing as you’re proposing marriage to my mate, Best friend."

His words cut as sharp as a dagger. And I saw Beta Orion flinch, probably just as stunned as I was by Alpha Zarek’s clipped tone.

I stilled.