Chapter 8: Alone at Last

Chapter 8: Alone at Last
Sydney

“Thank you. Um, I know everyone has so much to go over, but could Silas and I have a moment alone?” I just needed a moment to process. I can’t believe I found my mate.
“Of course, you two just met. Silas, take Alpha Syd down the hall to the guestroom. You can talk there away from prying eyes.” Alpha Conor ushered us out.
“This way.” Silas retook my hand. His hand was so big and warm. It was ruff and calloused from years of training. I could tell because mine are the same.
As we walked down the hall, I couldn’t help but analyze him. He was taller than me by a few inches, with dark hair and dark eyes. His skin was sun-kissed for what I can only guess is outdoor training. He’s as big as any Alpha male I have ever seen. “Mate.” Thora just kept repeating it over and over.
“We found him, Thora. Now, what do we do?”
“We mate and mark him as ours.” Right when she said that, Silas pulled me into a guest bedroom.
Wait right now! I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to pull away, but I don’t want to embarrass myself because I have zero experience in this area. Silas shuts the door behind us and pulls me into him again. I don’t know where I should put my hands, so I just rest them on his chest. Oh, the feeling of his firm chest under his white button-up was making my mind go wild.
Silas buries his face in the crook of my neck. I feel his skin touch my neck, and my brain goes blank as the sparks dance across my body. “You are beautiful, and your scent is amazing.” His scent was amazing, sandalwood and lavender. It was the most calming combination I had ever come across. I close my eyes and inhale him deeply as well.
I feel his hand on my cheek, and I open my eyes to see he is looking straight at me. “Those amber eyes remind me of the setting sun.” His words are so sweet, but my mind is blank. I have never been in this type of situation before. What do I even do?
I open my mouth to say something anything, but my brain is blank. I close my mouth and open it again. The only word that is there is the one Thora keeps screaming, so I say it. “Mate.” It comes out soft, almost a whisper.
Silas runs his thumb across my bottom lip. Besides being punched in the mouth, no one has touched me like this before. My knees go a little limp, but Silas has me held so tight I don’t even budge. He presses his forehead to mine. He’s so close I feel his every breath and the warmth from his tanned skin. My pulse quickens, and I tighten my grip on his shirt.
He moves his cheek next to mine and whispers low and husky, “Mine.” I hold my breath and close my eyes as I feel his lips slowly, softly graze my cheek.
“Mine.” Slips out of my mouth. His lips gently touch mine. It’s barely a kiss, but it’s my first, and my knees entirely give way. Silas tightens his grip on me and, with one hand on my cheek, takes what he wants in full, and I am helpless but to give it to him. It’s soft but needy.
He pulls away and looks me deep in the eyes like he can see my soul. “Forever,” is all he said. I just nod slightly. His thumb is on my lower lip again, and he opens my mouth slightly and tilts my chin. Then pounces on my lips. His tongue is in my mouth, exploring every corner. His kiss changed. This time it’s hungry, and he is devouring me. I don’t want it to stop.
He has one arm wrapped around my back, and his hand is trailing up and down my side. His other is in my hair, pressing me forward into him. I move my arms around his neck and run my hands through his hair. What is this feeling taking over my body? My blood is pumping faster like I’m in a fight, but I have a need radiating from my core I’ve never felt before. I want more how do I get more?
I feel Silas’ hand come up under my shirt. Thora pushes forward to take control entirely, and I pull away to stop her. She’s too aggressive, and I don’t want things to get out of hand.
“I’m sorry, did I do something wrong.” Silas reaches for me, and I step back.
I take a breath. I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, but I didn’t even know anything about him, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself because of my lack of experience. “No, you didn’t, but I want to talk for a bit.”
Silas releases the tension in his shoulders and sits on the bed. He pats the stop next to him. “OK, let’s talk. Sit next to me.”
I know if I sit on the bed, Thora will take over, and I’m done for. “I’ll stand. I was sitting all day on the car ride here.”
Silas grabs my hand and pulls me between his legs. He wraps his arms around my waist. This clingy man. “Mine.” His one-word triggered my Alpha aura. He had said it before, but this time it didn’t sit well.
I pull away. “I don’t belong to anyone. I’m an Alpha.”
Silas stands, “that’s not what I meant.” He takes a few steps toward me. “I don’t own you. I never could.” He reached out to touch my cheek again. I don’t want to lose myself again. I turn away. I need to stay clear-headed and keep Thora under control.
“I haven’t accepted you yet. Watch your manors.” I say that, but I really wanted to feel the warmth of his touch on my bare skin again.
He takes a few more steps to me. The look of determination on his face surprised me. He gently takes my hand. He places my hand on his chest where his heart is, and it’s pumping as fast as mine. I feel a slight heat rise in me again. “You complete my soul. I know you feel it too. I don’t want to own you or dominate you. I want to be part of you. I’m yours, much as you are mine.”
His silky words send my heart and mind fluttering as fast as a hummingbird. I turn away. I know my face is flush, and I don’t want him to see the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. “I’m not rejecting you; I just need time to get to know you is all.”
He tips my chin up to face him, and a single tear escapes. He wipes it away with his thumb. “That’s fair. We can take all the time you need to feel comfortable.” He just stares at me and pulls me back into his arms. He was already a master at getting me in his arms. “I don’t get it. How could anyone call you vicious? I can already see how tender-hearted you are.” I giggle like a little girl. “What’s so funny. Why are you laughing?”
“No one has ever called me tender-hearted. You haven’t seen me in a fight. I’ve never been beaten.” I’m confident in my fighting abilities.
“I’ve heard, but you’ve never fought me before. I got a perfect win record.” Now my blood was pumping again but not for the same reason. Could this male be my equal? If he was, he would be the best training partner.
Our excitement is electric, and he pulls me in for another kiss when there’s a knock on the door.
“Yes, who is it?” Damn mood killer.
“Alpha Sydney, it’s Beta Davy. Silas’ older brother. I have your bags. I was wondering where to take them?”
Before I could answer, Silas interjected. “Take them up to my room, bro.”
“Don’t answer for me.” I pull away.
“You don’t want to stay with me?”
“Maybe I should stay in a guest room. I don’t want to impose in your space and make you uncomfortable.”
“You could never make me feel uncomfortable.”
“I insist.”
“Are you going to reject me?”
“I… No. I just…” How do I tell him I have no romantic experience without coming across as pathic? I turned my back to him. I just needed to get my head clear, and looking at his handsome face was not helping.
He comes up behind me, enveloping me in his arms again and resting his head on my shoulder. “I would never do anything you didn’t want me to. I don’t want you to push me away.”
I sigh. I might as well own up to it. He would figure it out. “It’s just that…ummmm… I aaahh… I don’t have much experience in that area.”
He chuckles and kisses my shoulder. “Not much or none at all?”
My blood started to boil. That was hard for me to admit, and he was going to poke fun at me! “Watch yourself. You are not my Lumiere yet!” I storm out of the room and make my way back to Alpha Conor’s office.
“Go back. I want our mate.” Thora was acting like a damn lovesick puppy, and it was getting on my nerves.
“Get your head in the game. We have work to do.” I was in control, and I would learn how to be the best damn Alpha if it was the last thing I did.
“Sydney, I’m sorry.” Silas runs up from behind and grabs my wrist.
I pull it from his grasp. “It’s Alpha Syd. If you will excuse me, I have work to do.”
I leave Silas standing there in the hallway. Was he, my mate? Yes. Did I want to spend time with him? Yes. But right now, I needed to help my pack, and he was nothing more than a distraction.
I reach Alpha Conor’s office again. I knock on the door. “Alpha Conor, I’m ready to go over the training agenda.”