Alpha Adrian parts 22-23

I’m a fucking idiot.

She couldn’t even blame the pain meds for her behavior anymore. It all came from her. The deep, raw, innate need to survive identified Adrian as a predator. He was scarier than the unnamed janitor, because he had more power.

A few days passed since she last saw her harasser. For some reason, the janitor hadn’t stopped by in a while. Adrian was more absent too, but his presence was still felt. Whenever he did show up, he looked sad.

It ate away at her. An irrational part of her wanted to comfort him— slide onto his lap and hug him tight because she knew he would like that, but she had bigger problems than comforting him for his loss.

She stared at the plain white walls and sighed. She was getting sick of the same scene. It had been about two weeks, and she still had no access to phones or the internet— only a pile of books. The same goons lurked outside to make sure she didn’t cause trouble.

The doorknob rattled, and the door opened. It was him. He pushed his cart inside, and Eva got a peek of a guard that was seated outside. He was slouched on a chair, asleep.

“Did you tell Alpha about me?”

“What?”

His clothes were wrinkled, but at least he didn’t look angry.

“Why did he order me to another location?”

“I said nothing.”

“Good, because if he found out you tried to escape…”

She touched her healing arm. “I get it. Are we doing it now, then? The ugh, the date? And you won’t tell me about me sneaking out, right?”

“Right. Sit down.”

She scurried back and sat on the furthest edge of the bed. This was the weirdest ‘date’ of all time.

“Is Adrian around?”

“Alpha is not at the territory. He is dealing with his dead bitch of a mother.” He intertwined his fingers and stared at her.

It was true, then. His mother passed. Eva’s shoulders sank with sadness, but she remained tense.

“Why do you call him Alpha?”

“You look just like her.”

Eva cringed. “I look like Adrian’s mother?”

“No. My mate.”

“Huh?”

“Mates. Soul mates. Werewolves have a half they can only reproduce with. A true love. You look like mine.”

Her brain worked overtime. If werewolves were real, they could only reproduce with their half?

That’s it, then. Adrian thinks I’m his mate.

“Humans are never mated with Alphas. You’re an odd case, which is why The Council will probably wipe your head and throw you aside.”

She inched away and regretted the movement when he covered her palm with his hand. When she tried to pull her hand away, he clutched on. Eva wanted to scream, but the last thing he wanted was Adrian’s attention.

“What do you want from me?”

“You look just like her, my mate. But you are not her. It is a shame. She was strong. You are weak.”

Maybe she was weak, but she was definitely a survivor.

“I fear Adrian more than you,” she countered. “That’s the only reason I’m letting you bully me. To keep you silent.”

“Stop talking,” he squeezed her hand. “Just let me imagine her for a second. I miss her.”

“Go after her. Go after the real thing.”

His gaze hardened, and he pulled her inches closer. “She’s dead. We could run away together, you know. I will treat you well.”

Seconds ago, he was insulting her. Now, he was inviting her to run off with him. Somewhere along his grief of losing his mate, he lost his mind, too.

“Hey!” the door was pushed open, and the now-alert guard stepped in. “What are you doing in here?” He reached for a device and pulled it to his ear. “I found the Luna in a compromising position. Send—”

“No!” Eva jumped away from the bed. Adrian could not be dragged into this, or he would kill them both.

“Send the Alpha in.”

Those words were the last nail in both of their coffins.

She jumped into action and opened the bathroom door. She knew just how violent Adrian got. As much as she hated this manipulative creep, she didn’t want him dead. Having him far away from her would do.

“Get in!” She shoved him in. She still didn’t know his name, but if she didn’t act quick, ‘deadman’ would do.

His face was pale as he recognized how deep in shit his obsession got him. He slammed the bathroom shut, and Eva stood in front of it.

“Tell him it was a false alarm,” she begged. “He’ll kill us.”

“Luna, please walk away from the door.”

“You’re here to protect me, right?”

“Of course.”

She scanned his build. He was strong. Could he keep Adrian back?

“Can you keep him from hurting us? Please?”

“He would never hurt you. I cannot say the same for your lover.”

Lover? The word nearly made her sick. “Fuck, no. That’s not my lover. He’s crazy, but Adrian is just as guilty. Just fire him and let’s leave it at that, huh?”

She really didn’t want to answer questions, because then Adrian would find out she nearly escaped his grasp.

“Whatever happens is out of my control.”

She pressed her back deeper against the door when she heard wheels squealing outside. Adrian was back in minutes. He likely drove at hundreds of miles per hour and destroyed everything in his path to get to her. It always came down to her.

Pounding boots were heard, and then the Devil dressed in a handsome disguise showed up.

He took her in, and she knew how guilty she looked— like she was defending her lover. She didn’t like her position either, but she didn’t know how else to stop Adrian from killing him.

Adrian charged, and the next thing she knew, she was tossed over his shoulder as he kicked the bathroom door down.

“Stop!” she fussed over his shoulder, but she was high off the ground and a hundred pounds lighter. She wasn’t stopping this man anytime soon.

“Please, please. I didn’t touch her. I swear I wasn’t—”

With one hand pinning her to his shoulder, Adrian single-handedly grabbed his neck and slammed him against the tiles. The sound of bone breaking made Eva gag, and she kicked harder.

“How long have you been seeing each other?”

She felt his chest rumble against her thighs as he growled the words out.

“Nev-er! I…” the man couldn’t speak with the hand that was suffocating him.

Adrian began to walk, but Eva couldn’t see anything from her angle. She could only hear him dragging the other man out while he carried her.

Adrian kicked the wall once, twice, until she was nauseous and a hole formed in the wall.

She reached for Adrian’s hand, but that didn’t stop him from tossing the man out the hole in the destroyed wall. He fell down two stories and thudded downstairs.

Eva’s throat clogged as she was spun and tossed on the bed.

It was her turn now.

CHAPTER 23

She scrambled up on her shoulders, and Adrian caged her in his arms. They weren’t touching, but she could feel his hot breath fanning like the smoke of a volcano ready to erupt.

“Where did he touch you?”

“I—”

“Where?!”

Her hand. He only touched her hand. Wanting to show him, she lifted her wrist so fast that she accidentally punched his chin.

She shrunk into the bed instantly. “I’m sorry!”

You really are weak. Just like you were accused. 

“Why don’t you get it yet?” he gripped her chin firmly and held himself up with a single hand. The sparks were back. “I will never hurt you!”

“Because you’re… violent…”

“It’s my fucking nature. I’m a goddamn Alpha, an animal that needs to protect what’s his or else I suffocate. Don’t you think I would become human for you overnight if I could? I would give you anything. I am trying so hard for you.”

She turned her face, so he was facing her cheek. His gaze was too intense. She couldn’t focus while staring into it.

“You would do anything but let me go? Anything but stop lying?”

“Let you go where? To the arms of another? Fuck, I can smell him all over you.” Before she could protest, he ripped his button-down off and began wiping her face to replace the scent with his.

There was no pain. He was gentle, even in this fit of jealousy.

“There was nothing there. He’s manipulative, but he doesn’t deserve death. Will you calm down?" she palmed his wrist to stop him from wiping her. “Get off me, please, and put a shirt on. You’re…” she glanced at his naked chest nervously.

Adrian pushed off her. He pulled to sit against the headboard and kicked his boots off. He was kneeling on the bed now, glowering down while offering only a foot of space.

“Tell me.” he tossed the shirt aside and lowered his hands beside her head. “Where do you want to go if not to that shrimp? To The Council who will do Goddess-Knows-What when they find out I was mated to a human?”

She felt like she was going to throw up.

“Those things aren’t real… you’re just crazy!”

He took her hand and pressed it against his chest. The electricity was back.

“Explain this, then. Go on.”

Her lips opened, but not much came out.

“I… Then…”

“Then… the man you were trapped with in that elevator runs a pack of three-hundred werewolves and bonded to you. It’s time to stop running from the truth.”

Her mind was scattering, because his truth was becoming more and more appealing. “But I am not…” she stopped. “Qualified for this. I’m nothing special.”

“I was with Zena tonight,” Adrian admitted, and her eyes widened.

“On business, as always. I’ve never fucked her, no matter how much she flirts. I’ve been waiting for you, my Goddess-given gift. I want to give you my everything. Why is that so hard to understand?”

”I’m nothing like Zena. You need her,” she dropped her gaze.

“Fine. I’ll go get her.” He turned as if to leave, and Eva’s glare burned brightly.

Adrian stopped with a chuckle. “Look at that.” He touched her chin. “Furious at the flip of a switch. You don’t see it, Eva, but are a leader.”

“No,” she pulled away from his touch. “None of this makes sense.”

“Stop retreating to your safety bubble of ignorance. This is real.”

“I’m exhausted of getting lectured by the guy with anger management issues.” She looked at the hole in the wall and slid off the bed.

“It is culture. Humans see violence, and werewolves see nature.”

“I don’t like it. You scare me when you’re like that.” Her eyes locked on the bits of concrete on her bare feet.

“We can work on a protocol, then. For control when I get angry.”

“And… and I want to go home.”

“You can’t, and you know it. Not until I have everything under control.”

“That sounds like an excuse. You can do more than keep me locked away here.”

He observed her for a few seconds and then reached for his pocket. He paused. “Right. I broke my damn cellphone when I found out you were with another man.” He kept his eyes on her as he walked away. “We still have to talk about that one.”

“Gomez!” he roared down the hole. “How is he?”

“Alive,” a woman replied from outside.

“Keep him tied and throw me your phone.”

Adrian caught the unlocked phone and punched a number in. “Kevin, it’s Adrian. I need an island.”

Eva frowned. This seemed like an odd time to re-decorate his kitchen.

“No, not a kitchen island. Get me land, and call me to complete the transaction. Yes. Goodbye.” He pocketed the phone and faced her. “There. Now you have space. What is next?”

Eva took a step back. Maybe he was a little crazy, after all.

“You bought an island?”

“A new one.”

“What do you mean, a new one?”

“I share the other one with the family. This one will be a gift for you.”

“Adrian,” she sighed shakily. “I don’t want your money.”

“I am fixing whatever makes you uncomfortable.”

She pointed outside. “The thought of your janitor getting killed makes me uncomfortable. Forget about the island. This is insane.”

“What did he want?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “We just talked.”

“Talk about what?” he paused to pick up an incoming call. “What is it?” He lowered the phone and turned to Eva. “What continent do you want the island on?”

“I don’t want an island!”

“I’ll call you back,” Adrian hung up and took a step closer, undisturbed by the rocks stabbing his feet.

“What did you talk about with him?”

The moonlight touched his skin. The soft glow that formed around him almost looked angelic, but she knew better.

“He told me I looked like his mate.”

“Go on,” he urged. “There’s more that you’re not saying.”

“You’re going to get mad.”

“Probably,” he shrugged. “And I’ll likely put another hole in the wall, but I won’t touch you.”

Eva looked at the wall warily. “He said I looked like his dead mate, and asked me to run off with him.”

His fists clenched and relaxed, and Eva felt an odd spark of pride that he didn’t lose his shit.

“How did he convince you to be alone with him? Did he touch you or not?”

“Just my hand, and I really don’t want to answer that other question.”

“I need to know for your safety, Eva.”

She hesitated, but delivered. “I tried to run away, and he threated to tell you.”

“You feared me more than him? You trusted him more?” he gritted his jaw.

She didn’t answer.

Adrian raised a fist and turned. Instead of ramming it into the wall, he paused.

”Excuse me.”

He walked into the bathroom and picked up the broken door to position it against the frame. Based on the sounds that came from inside that room, he was violently redecorating.

“So,” he pushed the door aside, looking calmer although his fists were covered in white dust from the walls he rammed into. “About that island…”

“You’re not mad?”

He stopped in front of her, looking wild with his hair sticking in random directions and paint dusting his pants and clothes.

“You could shatter the moon and I would still smile at you in the darkness.”

She blinked.

"I want to touch you. Badly. Will you let me?" he asked.

Eva appreciated that he asked, but wasn't ready. Her brain didn't work too well when they touched.

Her fingers twitched as she raised a hand and touched his chest. Adrian closed his eyes, and produced a growl-like sound that scared her off.

"Sorry," he grumbled. "Nature. I won't do it again."

She hesitated, but touched him again. Adrian looked so relaxed under her fingertips. Like a tamed weapon of mass destruction.

Was it really this simple?

Who wants beach sex? Someone tell me which continent to get this island on