Chapter 31

Alpha Arlo Bianchi - POV

I heard something beeping next to me, which made me open my eyes to see that the sun was already out. I slowly turned around and turned off the alarm before I wrapped my hands tighter around my mate who was fast asleep. 

It has been years since I last had a good night's sleep and woke up way after the sunrise and I was still surprised how it was possible. "It's our mate. She is helping us." Leo said, but I ignored him. 

Bella's face looked so peaceful as her warm breath touched my bare chest. I looked down at her flimsy nightdress as I lightly traced my finger along her back, memorizing every scar and burn mark.

When she hesitated to remove her dress yesterday, I thought that it was because there were strangers with us, but when I saw her body, I had to control my anger as well as my wolf. The anger inside me was still brewing while Leo kept urging me to find those who were responsible for Bella's condition and give them a slow and painful death, but I knew that I could not react right now. 

Bella was still a little apprehensive about me, and if I asked her where those scars came from, I knew that it would only push her further away from me. "Isn't that what you wanted in the first place?" Leo mocked, and I had to put my block up. 

I will admit that I initially wanted to push her away, and I was doing everything I could as well. But the day I first slept with her, I felt something serene within me. And being a greedy man, I wanted that to last. I wanted to have a more peaceful sleep like this, but the fear also lurks in the corner. I can feel the darkness consuming me, and I am afraid that one day, I might lose control and kill her just like how I killed my…

I was broken out from my thoughts when I felt Bella move underneath me, and a few minutes later, she opened her eyes and stared at me. For the first few seconds, they held nothing but confusion, when she finally registered our position, her eyes widened in surprise as she pulled away and moved to her side. 

"I am so sorry, I…"

"You do not have to apologize," I told her in a gruff voice as I got up and sat against the bed. Being so close to my mate a few moments ago had woken up my little friend, and I know that I cannot just walk like this to the bathroom when I am fully aroused. 

"You can go to the bathroom first, but come out fast, all right?" I told her, and she got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom while I leaned my head against the headboard and tried to think of other things to calm myself down, but my mind was soon clouded with what happened at the ritualistic bath yesterday. 

It felt so fucking good when I was inside her, and I wasn't even all the way in. "We should just mate with our Bella." Leo managed to slip through my block and this was getting me worked up. 

"Would you shut up? I will decide what to do." I yelled at him.

"I don't think you will be able to hold in anymore when she goes into heat," Leo suggested, and this made my eyes fly open. 

Shit! I forgot about that.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and called the pack doctor. The phone rang for a few minutes when he finally picked it up. "Alpha, do you need anything?" 

"I want to know when would women typically start their heat cycle?" 

"Um, that is quite hard to say, Alpha Bianchi. It varies from woman to woman. But generally two weeks after any sort of intimate contact between the couple."

"Great, thank you," I told him, and before he could question further, I disconnected the call. As I was scrolling through my emails, I got a message from Jacob. 

The ball is tonight. Are you going? - Jacob.

I have been trying to avoid this, but I guess I might have to go to this shit to start forming alliances. The elders are trying to overthrow me, and if I do not have anyone to support my case, I know that they could easily strip my position as alpha. 

I will be going. Tell Sofia to contact Bella and ask her what dress she wants and place the order with my designer. - Arlo.

Great, I will make the necessary arrangements. But I think you might have to ask your mate yourself since she doesn't have a phone, nor does she have a mind link with any of us. - Jacob.

Click. 

I looked up when I saw Bella walk into the room freshly showered. I completely forgot that she didn't have a phone with her, and she never even bothered to ask me one at all. "We are going to a ball tonight. What color do you like?" I asked her, and this made her raise an eyebrow at me. 

"Color? For what?" she asked me, sounding confused.

"Your dress. Now don't waste my time." I told her. She stared at me in horror for a couple of minutes when she finally let out a sigh. 

"I like purple, but…" Before she could finish, I texted Jacob the color and got up from the bed. 

"Sofia would be here to help you dress, and if you need anything else, let her know," I told her as I walked into the bathroom. 

After taking a shower, I wore a dark blue suit since I still had a few elders to take care of. After combing my hair, I walked into my kitchen when I saw Bella making something. "What are you doing?" I asked her, which made her look up at me.

"Making breakfast," she said in a duh tone. I am a person who enjoys food, and personally, I think my mate is ruining that. 

"I am heading downstairs to have breakfast," I told her, and when I turned around to leave, I heard her voice. 

"But I made some for you as well." 

"I don't want it, Bella."