Chapter Seventeen

“I said, you look adorable when you’re begging and pleading, not otherwise,” Alexia expatiated.

“How do I look…otherwise?” Hayden asked, snuggling closer to her.

“Oh, your face has a certain appeal to it, from certain angles, in certain lighting,” she conceded.

“Certain angles in certain lighting, Alex? Really?” he chuckled.

“Yuppity yup, sweetheart,” she quipped.

Hayden sat up suddenly, “D…did you just call me sweetheart?”, he asked, wide-eyed. He had a grin on his face.

Alexia rolled her eyes and smiled, “Don’t you have work to attend to? Or are the other clans not leaving today? Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to the new members of your clan?”

“I was going to, but then you were still mad at me. So, I told my dad and Ace to handle it. I’ll get acquainted with them later. I just want to spend time with you,” he said and laid back down.

She turned and shoved him. “Now is a good time as any. It will show that you are a dependable leader who is always there for his subjects, not one who goofs off and delegates his responsibilities to his second-in-command and his father who was the former Alpha,” she said pointedly.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s actually a good idea. Damn, you’re smart.”

Alexia preened and smirked, “I guess I am. And one more thing. Dress casual. Going in that shirt and formal trousers will make you look unapproachable. Stoic. Stone-cold.”

“But that’s what I am; formidable and stoic. I’m only silly and soft with you,” he argued.

“That’s sweet. But you have to look casual and relaxed, and show that you are happy to have them here. You have to show no hostility,” remarked Alexia.

Hayden pondered on that for some time, and then he concurred to her logic, “You’re right. We’re trying to unite the clans again. I shouldn’t appear hostile. Thank you,” he said sincerely.

Alexia smiled, “You’re welcome. Now hurry!” she snapped and returned her attention to the movie.

Hayden took off his shirt and his underwear. He opened the wardrobe and selected two t-shirts. One was black, and the other was grey. They were both plain.

He turned to Alexia, holding up the two t-shirts, “Which one makes me look more relaxed? Grey or black?” Alexia made a sound in her throat and two red spots appeared on her cheeks.

Hayden was still inspecting both t-shirts. He did not see the expression on his mate’s face.

“Which one?” he asked again when he heard no reply from her. He raised his head and focused his gaze.

Understanding dawned on him and he decided he would tease her a little. He transferred both t-shirts to one hand and stretched, then he rubbed his hand up and down his chest. He saw her pull her bottom lip into her mouth as she followed the movement of his hand with her eyes.

“Eyes up here, Alexia,” he said with a slight smile. Her neck snapped up to look at him and she hurriedly answered, stammering, “Yeah…yes..the uhm…the grey one is good, yeah.” Her face turned redder.

Hayden said nothing and pulled on the shirt. Before he left, he moved to the side of the bed she was closer to, leaned in and kissed her soundly. “You can check me out all you want, Alex. I’m all yours,” he said and smiled.

He left the room without another word. Alexia buried her face into the pillow and screamed.

***

When Hayden got downstairs to the Great Hall, his father was giving a speech to the members of the other clans who were to stay in the pack.

“—the packhouse will always be open to you all, however, you will be living in town with other werewolves. This is to ensure that you will be properly integrated into the pack, and accepted by everyone. That way, our objective for this exercise will be fulfilled. Who knows, in light of the current Alpha having a Huntress for a mate, maybe some of you will have werewolf mates—”he said to the Hunters and the warlocks, “—or soulmates,” he said to the vampires.

Some of them chuckled while the rest grimaced.

“Anyways,” continued Henry, “Please introduce yourselves, so that we can all get acquainted.”

“Sean.”

“Adrian. We’re Hunters,” he said.

A slim woman with straight white-blond hair and a severe expression on her face spoke next, “I am Vanessa, and this is Rodney—” she pointed to a short and stocky man with black hair and beady black eyes.

“—Zuco,” Zuco was tall and reedy, with pale skin and brown, almost yellow eyes.

“—Richard,” Richard was tall, and buff with strong handsome features and a ready smile.

“—and Cole,” Cole looked the youngest, not older than 20. He looked like a surfer with his lean wiry body, beachy blonde hair and blue eyes.

“We’re vampires,” she said.

“I am Romulus, and this is Celia, Lykiaos, Athena, Stephan and Augustus,” said a tall man with brown hair and one brown eye. His other eye was covered with a leather eyepatch, “We are the Warlocks.”

“Okay, good. Now, the current Alpha, Hayden Lockwood will address you guys now,” Henry finished and winked at Hayden.

Hayden rolled his eyes and began to speak, “I won’t be formal. I’m Hayden and I would like you to address me as such. You’re welcome to the White Flame pack. We’re here together because we have been attacked consistently by some unknown forces for some reason. We have to work together to defeat them…bla bla bla. Anyways, make yourself comfortable. You’re always welcome in the packhouse. This Great Hall will be transformed into a common room of sorts, so that you can all come here at one point or the order to hang out, or just to chill and relax. Uhm…we will he having training sessions 3 times a week—Ace will be getting back to you on this—and I would like to discuss with the…team leaders of each of you guys, but that will be tomorrow,” he stopped and exhaled loudly, “I’ve been rambling.”

Everyone chuckled, but Vanessa rolled her eyes, “Pathetic,” she muttered under her breath. Hayden fixed her with a pointed look.

“I heard that, Vanessa.”

She rolled her eyes again, while everybody glanced between him and her.

“Anyway,” he said with a bright smile pasted on his face, “I think that’s all. Feel free to see me, Ace or my dad for anything at all, any kind of questions or difficulty that you might have. Thank you,” he finished.

***

Alexia was standing out front with her parents. Her father had his arms around his wife.

“I am going to miss you guys,” said Alexia sadly.

“Oh, my baby, I’m going to miss you too,” said Cynthia.

She broke free of her husband’s hold and squeezed Alexia’s cheeks. Alexia smiled, but she removed her mother’s hands from her cheek, “I’m no longer a baby, Mum.”

“You’re still my baby,” said her mother indignantly.

“Who are the Hunters that are staying back?” she asked her dad.

“Sean and Adrian,” replied Arthur.

Alexia pondered on that, “Hmmm. Those are our best Hunters after me…and you…Why would you leave our best Hunters here? You need all the help you can get back home…unless…” Awareness dawned on her.

“Don’t let it be what I’m thinking, Dad. Don’t tell me that you left your best Hunters here, because I’m here to protect me or to watch over me like a little girl!” she snapped, raising her voice at the end.

Her father simply shrugged, “Okay, I won’t.”

“Dad!” she shrieked, “I don’t need watching over or protecting. I am fine on my own! You need those guys more than I do!”

“I know you don’t need watching over or protecting. I know you can defend yourself. I know you can take down Hayden and Henry if you need to. I trained you, and I trust you. But I will still worry, because you’re my little Lexi, okay? It’s a father’s duty to worry about his child. Let me worry. We can manage on our own,” said Arthur gently, stroking her hair.

Alexia sighed heavily, “I still think they should be with you there.”

“We’ll be fine, Lexi. Don’t worry,” her father reassured her.

Alexia hugged her father, “Take care, Dad. I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

“I love you too, baby girl. Be good to Hayden, okay?” he said, smiling. Alexia blushed slightly but she nodded.

Her mother put her arms tightly around Alexia. She was shorter than her daughter by a few inches, so Alexia had to bend down a little when Cynthia wanted to whisper something in her ear, “I see you’re wearing Hayden’s t-shirt. I’m guessing all is well, right?”

Alexia nodded sheepishly. Her mother smiled and continued, “That’s good. Just don’t take things too fast. Get to know each other better. I’m not ready to see a mark on your neck, okay? And one more thing, relationships are a give and take. Give as much as you get from him. That’s all.”

“Thanks Mum,” she said and hugged her mother again. Suddenly, her father honked the horn. They sprung apart, and her mum entered the passenger side of the car.

The car started to drive off, and Alexia’s eyes misted with tears as she waved until the car was out of sight.

Hayden walked out at the precise moment that the tears dropped from her eyes. He pulled her close and she turned sharply into his arms, burying her face in his chest. Hayden tightened his arms around her and patted her hair.