Arranged To The Alpha
Chapter 39

Natalia:

I never thought that I would dread going back to my mate as much as I did today.

His conversation with Crystal played in my head, over, and over again, and regardless of how busy I tried to keep myself; I kept finding myself going back to thinking about it.

The way he looked at me, and the way he’s been speaking to me since everything has happened with Ryan played in my head, and despite trying to keep my thoughts positive, I couldn’t help but feel insecure.

I laid my head on my desk as I knew that it was time to go back home. Half the company’s employees left already, and those who stayed behind still had work to do; however, it was me who was unable to function as I kept getting distracted whenever I tried to do so.

“Boss…” Kylie said, entering my office. She also had work to finish and was required to stay back to complete it before going home and calling it a night.

“Yes, Kylie?” I asked, raising my head to look at her. She entered the office carrying a tray of food, slowly putting it on the table.

“I am heading home, but I thought to get you something to eat since you haven’t eaten anything all day” she said, avoiding my eyes. I smiled at her and nodded, looking down at the food that she brought. It was a cold chicken sandwich, a Caesar salad, and orange juice.

“Thank you, Kylie” I said, smiling at her. She nodded and walked out of the office, leaving me to my thoughts as I opened the salad. I put the dressing on top of it and grabbed my fork, mixing the ingredients before taking a bite of it. I looked at my closed laptop before taking another bite of the lettuce and opening it.

I had to find a way to clear my mind and get my work done, and getting worried over a relationship, marriage or not, was not going to do me any good. It was one of the reasons why I never wanted to get involved in any relationships.

Getting my emotions mixed up with my rationalism would not do me any good when it came to work, and this was one of those situations where I did get lost in my emotions, ignoring what was important. If he wanted his own space, it was his right as a person; however, that didn’t allow ME to neglect my own personal duties.

Therefore, taking another bite of the salad then a sip of my orange juice, I opened the laptop and got to work. I still had a lot to do, and the investors wouldn’t be wondering or caring about whether or not I had to get my feelings straight, especially when it was money talking.

Dialing the landline, I called Jason, one of my employees, knowing that he had his own share of work to do this evening. The man often stayed back until after sundown to get his numbers settled.

“Boss?”

“Jason, I need the latest calculations of our stocks, then the two of us would be discussing how things can become if we decide to branch into something new. I am still not sure what to decide on, but I have a few ideas in mind, and they would need funding; therefore, I want to know if we can manage to start with it or not” I said, reading through my emails. I frowned in confusion when I read the subject of the latest email that I got. The Survival Games.

I opened the email, frowning at the sight of what looked like some movie boot camp game. Elements, magic, dragons, wolves, and even vampires were drawn on a flier that was attached to the head of the email.

Welcome to the Survival Games…

“Yes, boss…” Jason said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shook my head at the email and deleted it. This must have reached me by mistake, and needless to say, I had no time to procrastinate over such foolishness, not when I just got my brain back in my head as to start working “is there anything else that you would like me to get you?”

“A mug of coffee would be fine” I said, opening my first email and reading through it. My cell phone beeped, revealing a message from Blake; however, turning the phone on the screen, not wanting to bother with it. I put the phone on silent, and looked back at my laptop “thank you, Jason”

***********************************

“Natalia, what if something happened to you? Do you realize how worried I was?” Blake snapped, entering the bedroom behind me.

“You would have felt if anything happened. Plus, you were well aware that I was at work, you could have come if you really were as worried as you claim to be” I said, putting my bag down on the couch. Blake let out a low growl of warning, not liking the way that I was talking.

“Out of decency, as my wife, you could have at least answered your phone” he said, glaring at me. I nodded, choosing to stay quiet, not wanting this argument to go any further. It was a while past eleven at night and I just wanted to take a shower and get some rest. My mind was already a mess as it was and the last thing I needed was a headache right now.

“I would be sure to keep that in mind next time. Please, Blake, if there is nothing that you would like to tell me, I want to take a shower and get some sleep” I said, looking at him. Blake frowned in confusion at my behavior and wrapped his hand around my arm, stopping me from going anywhere as he pushed back to the closet’s wall.

“You acting this way is not going to take you anywhere, princess” he whispered, leaning closer to me. His hot breath hit my face, momentarily distracting me, and seeing as his lips brushed against my own, I turned my face to the side, making his lips meet my cheek.

“It was you who wanted his space from your wife, remember?” I asked, using wind to push him back, I walked past him, heading to the bathroom.

“Are we going to keep acting like this, Natalia?” Blake asked, stopping me. My chest ached, and turning around to face him, I waited for what he was going to say “are we going to keep acting like complete strangers while living under the same roof?”

“We are not acting like strangers, Blake. It was your choice to distance me from you, and as your ‘wife’, I am respecting that. Yes, I want to be by your side, and it kills me to know that we have been fighting nonstop, but it is YOU who doesn’t want my help, not me who doesn’t want to be there for you” I said, looking him in the eye. His emerald green eyes met my blue ones, making me fall for him more than I already was, mesmerizing me, reminding me of the feelings that I had for him “I am not mad at you, Blake, if that is what you’re worried about. But you want me away, and you are choosing to speak to a dragon instead of your wife. Sure, I agree that she may know more…”

“Do you really believe that’s why I was speaking to her? Hell, the dragon is a part of you, baby girl”

“And yet, you are choosing her over your wife. I don’t mind, the thing is my guardian, I understand that; but since you chose to tell her that you wanted me, your wife, away, I am giving you that”

“I do not want you away, I just need to clear my mind, baby girl. I have so much going on, and…”

“And that is why I am giving you your space, Blake Knight” I said, stopping him “I would be around if you want me to be, and I would fight to protect this house with my life if I have to. This pack is my mate’s, my Alpha’s, and my love’s; but you need to understand that I am doing it because I want to be by your side, not because I want to stick my nose in everything that you are doing”

“Natalia…”

“Please, Blake, don’t give me excuses. Ryan needs you by his side, and I’m guessing that you’re yet to find out what happened or how he was hexed. You have more important things to deal with and arguing with me is not going to solve things” I said, stopping him from trying to explain himself. I could easily get in his head if I wanted to, but I knew that it wouldn’t be doing me any good to do so anyway. The man had his own thoughts and he had his own way of thinking, and I, as his wife, was to respect and not try to change that for him because it wasn’t convenient for me at that moment.

“Nat, it is not about excuses. Look, I am not used to people doing things with me…”

“Blake…”

“Natalia, for f***s sake, just listen to what I have to say for once” Blake snapped, stopping me. I frowned in confusion, but chose to stay quiet, allowing him to speak as he pinched the bridge of his nose “I want you to be by my side, okay? I don’t want you thinking that I don’t; but things are just a little complicated lately. Drake is playing games, and I suddenly had to deal with the Sasha situation which reminded me of a past that I am trying to forget, do you understand me?”

I froze, not saying a word, allowing him to vent despite the clench that I felt in my chest, knowing that the past that he was referring to was Myla “I loved Myla, okay? I could still love her too, I don’t know. Her place in my heart was and is still different, and no, I am not saying that I am using you to forget her or that I don’t love you. F*****g hell, I am deeply in love with you, Natalia that it is hard to explain; but her place in my life and heart was different…”

I looked down at my feet, not saying a word as I allowed his words to sink it, and I had to admit, I couldn’t help the clench and f*****g pain that followed his words as my heart throbbed “Sasha reminded me of that, she reminded me of so many things that had me doubting myself. With everything that Drake is doing, I doubted being able to keep you safe, and the fear of losing you like I lost her filled my chest…”

“I am not her, Blake” I said, stopping him.

“I never said that you were” Blake said, avoiding my eyes, and noticing how cold my tone was, he toned himself down.

“You are comparing me to her, but I am here to remind you that I am not her. My words may not make a difference now, but I want them drilled in your head. I am not Myla, and do not appreciate being compared to her or anyone; therefore, if I am respecting you enough not to question your love for her and am respecting you enough not to ask you to remove a picture that makes me feel like I was competing with a person that is dead…”

“Competing?”

“Yes, competing” I said, wiping a few tears that fell from my eyes “if I am fighting to keep myself in your heart and earn your love, then I would appreciate it if you don’t compare me to anyone, yeah?”

Blake stayed quiet before he took a step toward me, wrapping his arms around my body as he hugged me tightly “never, baby girl, never in your life feel threatened by anyone taking me from you, do you understand me?”

His voice was above a whisper as he spoke, and kissing the crown of my head, he laid his cheek on it before running his hand up and down my arm “if that was how I was making you feel, I am so f*****g sorry, baby”