SEQUEL: THIRTY-SIX

It had been three days since Alina moved into Roman’s mansion, three days since who she thought was her best friend had tried to murder her.
It had felt nothing like three days however because so much had happened in that span of time but the event that stood out the most was that she had signed the contract.
She had signed it without bothering to look at the clauses much to Roman’s horror, although he had told her that he had made some changes. She had laughed and told him that it didn’t matter, she wouldn’t change her mind about signing regardless so there was no reason to delay.
He had left shortly after with Lou on a business trip, leaving her and Iyla behiind. And it was only after they left that she read the contents of the contract.
It had none of the previous clauses and was just a little note from Roman asking that they forfeit the contract completely and try things out on their own terms without needing a contract to bind them.
She had sat down and stared at the note for hours wishing she had read it right in front of Roman. Now it was a new day and Roman would be returning after being gone for two days so she was really excited.
She hurried down the stairs with a bright smile on her face to find Iyla in the living room working on her laptop. Lou and Roman had been convinced that they would go for each other’s throat but they were too busy missing their counterparts to even think of doing that.
Iyla lifted her head at the sound of Alina’s footsteps. “Good morning-” She greeted only to pause at the werewolf Princess’ elated expression. “You’re so happy and I haven’t even shared my surprise yet.”
This caught Alina’s attention, “Huh? Surprise? Good morning by the way, leave breakfast to me.”
Iyla just patted the space beside her, “Don’t worry about that, I already ordered in, and yes, surprise.”
Alina sat down and expectantly waited, peeking into Iyla’s laptop out of curiosity only to do a double take. “Is that- Is that what I think it is?”
Iyla beamed and handed her laptop over to Alina so she could get a better look. “Yep, the announcement of your upcoming mating with the boss went up. The media is in flames.”
Alina just speechlessly scrolled through several articles in disbelief. While the contract would have essentially ensured that they would get mated, it was dissolved so she had expected that they would get into a relationship for a bit before the topic of mating would come up.
“I didn’t know anything about this,” She turned to Iyla, feeling a myriad of emotions.
Iyla leaned back against the couch with a happy smile, “I’m also just finding out, I had a feeling you didn’t know of it either. Congratulations by the way and I think our food is here.” She patted Alina’s arm before rising to her feet to leave for the front door.
She had spoken to Roman the night before and he hadn’t mentioned this, did it get leaked out? Iyla didn’t look too worried about it though. She spaced out as she stared at the articles who were clearly blindsided, a smile blooming on her face.
There was a slight stain in her happiness as she realized that there was no one she could call to share the wonderful news of her upcoming mating. She hadn’t spoken to her father in so long but maybe she should reach out to him, if anything else but that fact that she was obligated to inform her only parent.
But that could wait for later, for now, she needed to see Roman…
She saw him before the day was up but before then, a package had been sent to her from Roman. It held an outfit and flowers that had a note attached to it.
Alina huffed as she read it, a smile growing on her face. She was supposed to be the one to invite Roman out this time. She rose to her feet to take a scented bath although she still had a couple hours till Roman would come to pick her up himself.
The dress he had sent to her was unlike the one she had worn the for their first day and very much like what she usually wore. It soothed a part of her heart she didn’t even know was bruised that Roman was fine with her the way she was.
When the time drew near, she made her way down the stairs to find Iyla there as well. She was usually holed up in her room when Lou was still around but after the other left, she was always in the living room.
Iyla whistled as she came down the last steps, “You look gorgeous, who knew that the boss had this much taste.”
Alina smiled, unable to help herself. “Thanks but you have great taste yourself, we should go shopping together sometime.”
“Sure,” She agreed, glancing at her phone. “By the way, Alpha Roman is here, have fun!”
Alina flinched slightly at this before continuing to the door, her ringed fingers trembling from excitement. She had been waiting impatiently the entire time but now that Roman was actually here, she couldn’t handle it.
She got to the door as it swung open to see him standing on the other side with an awed expression on his face.
“Roman-” Alina started to say but before she completely got his name out, she was pulled into his arms and kissed for the first time.
Alina had a sublime smile when they separated, “That’s quite the welcome, I almost forgive you for taking my spot.”
Roman still had his arms wrapped around her waist, a proud look on his face at the sight of her wearing the clothes he got for her. “Your spot?”
Alina also didn’t untangle her arms from Roman’s neck, “Yeah, it’s my turn to invite you on a date.”
Roman’s slight frown faded away so fast, “What can I do to earn your forgiveness?”
“Another kiss?” Alina suggested bravely, feeling comfortable with Roman in a way that shouldn’t be possible.
They were still standing in the doorway so when they separated from their second kiss, a disgruntled Lou was standing behind Roman. “Some of use would also like to kiss our lovers.”
Roman chuckled and effortlessly picked up Alina to take her to the car. “Jealously doesn’t look good on you.”
Lou just scoffed as she stepped in through the front door only to nearly loose her balance as Iyla rocketed into her arms.
Alina let Roman practically place her inside the car, immediately attaching herself to his side the moment he got in as well.
“How was your business trip?” She asked softly, looking up at him with tenderness in her big dark eyes.
Roman took a deep breath, one that felt like he had been holding in ever since he left the mansion. He had half expected to return and find that Alina had gone back to being who she was before but it seem like she was even nicer than when he left.
“Endless and busy,” He murmured, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“You seemed to find the time to announce our mating though,” She scolded him, not sounding the least bit upset.
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” Roman replied, trailing his fingers down the side of her face. “I don’t want people to get the wrong impression when they see us out together.”
The restaurant was different from the last one, and it was evident that Roman was going out of his way to show her off by choosing that particular restaurant.
Something unprecedented happened however, just as they stepped out of the car, they were swarmed by paparazzi who had somehow found out that they would be having dinner there. No doubt, the restaurant had sold out the information.
That was all fine and good but Alina didn’t appreciate how a particular reporter came for Roman like they were past lovers.
“Your Highness, the people wants to know, this is such a shocking outcome, is there any reason you chose Princess Alina?”
Roman’s brow dropped low on his head at this.
“Surely there are thousands of eligible women willing to throw themselves at your feet, was your hand forced by any chance?” The reporter went right on without giving Roman the chance to even reply to her first question.
Alina placed a hand on Roman’s chest and leaned closer to the reporter, her dark eyes blazing. “You’re asking a lot of questions without even waiting for answers, what kind of shitty reporter are you?” She said bluntly, scowling at the lady.
“Not to mention the shitty questions you’re asking, it almost sounds like you have a problem with me…” She trailed off to glance at the badge on the reporter’s blouse. “...Sonia. Do we have a problem, Sonia?” She asked with a tilt of her head.
That was enough for the reporter to back away quickly, the others doing the same without even bothering to ask whatever questions they had prepared, clearly terrified of Alina.
Alina smiled harmlessly up at Roman before they continued up to the restaurant amidst camera flashes. Before they got to the steps of the restaurant, lady broke out of the ranks of the paparazzi, dashing for them with tears streaming down her face.
“How could you do this to-” Alina didn’t let her get all her words out, the moment she noticed that the stranger was going for Roman, she whipped out her longer slender leg and caught the newcomer on the side of the head with her designer heels.
Without letting go of Roman, she stomped a foot on the downed lady. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She half growled.
Whatever the lady had been trying to achieve was immediately abandoned as she scrambled away as fast as she could.
Alina returned to Roman’s side without breaking a sweat, “Ready to eat now?”
Roman lifted her hand to press a kiss to it and made sure to check her leg, “I don’t want you getting hurt,” He murmured, his voice heavy with disapproval.
“Oh, this is nothing.” Alina beamed, unfazed, used to people hating her.
Roman didn’t appreciate his people forcing his mate to have to lift a hand to protect herself from them, he was going to fix that.
After their meal, the paparazzi still hadn’t left and were waiting patiently for them outside the restaurant, whose only redeeming point was that they didn’t allow paparazzis inside their establishment.
It looked like it was going to be a peaceful walk to their car, amidst camera flashes and the sounds of shutters as usual when someone rushed up to them again. This time, they were plainly headed for Alina.
It would seem that Roman saying nothing out of surprise at the way his people were acting had given some of his fangirls courage to attack Alina believing that their Alpha King was forced to mate Alina.
The fangirl intended to slap Alina and humiliate her in front of the paparazzi but she didn’t get far because Roman caught her by her hair and pulled her away from Alina, his eyes two shards of ice.
“What do you think you’re doing?” He asked darkly with the most emotion the public had ever seen him show.
The fangirl was already a trembling mess, quickly realizing her mistake. “I-I… A-Alpha Ro…”
He tossed her to the side with a dark scowl. “Leave my sight.”
Alina glared at the opportunistic rat, wishing she could kick her but with how close Roman immediately held her, she knew he wouldn’t let her do that.
“Don’t be mad,” She murmured softly on their trip back to the mansion.
Roman had been lost in thought for a while, deeply troubled about the actions of his people. He would have to take prominent steps and make sure that Alina never went out without appropriate protection, although he doubted that he would let her leave his sight after what happened.
“I’m not mad,” He said lightly, focusing on his future mate. “I’m really sorry about what happened,” He apologized, cupping her face with both of his hands.
Alina giggled at this, “It’s fine-” She started to reassure him again.
“It’s not.” Roman said tightly, visibly upset. “Them disrespecting my mate is the same thing as them disrespecting me…”
“I’m happy enough that you’re upset for my sake, kiss me?” Alina said to distract him.
Roman dropped his gaze to Alina’s eyes that reflecting the city lights, all of his self righteous anger seeping out of him as he slanted his head to the side and claimed her lips.