Chapter 8 Looks

Alpha Aric Darkclaw As soon as Elowen noticed me, she immediately turned around, and, when our gazes met, I saw her eyes widen. She seemed to have been startled; after all, it was just the two of us there. Let out a long sigh, trying to disguise the way I had stared at her. Damn it, shouldn’t look at it this way, mesmerized like a fucking idiot. I looked away, and I looked at the floor, and walked slowly to the central table, where I had a bottle of wine and a glass. I poured myself a glass without hurrying, without looking at the elven woman again. I couldn't look at her again, not now. I focused my eyes on the glass and filled it. ''Not sleepy?'' I mumbled, staring at the full bowl. Did not want to be bewitched by the princess. I held the cup gently and then started walking towards the sofa. I sat away from her, turning my attention to the fireplace. The fire danced lazily, illuminating the room with a soft light. As I took a deep breath, I heard Elowen sigh slowly, her heart beating slowly, and her scent permeating the room. Damn, I don't understand why I'm feeling like this because just hearing her heart and her breathing, bothers me like this. I stared at the cup until I heard her voice. ''I couldn't sleep… Well, this is a different place for me,'' her voice sounded low. Of course, it was. She was in my city, in my castle. Finally, I looked at her. I saw when she looked away from the book and met mine, something about the way she hesitated before making eye contact bothered me. It irritated me. I looked away first, taking a long sip of wine. ''I understand… But you'll feel sleepy soon, I'm sure,'' I spoke seriously, drinking more of the wine. ''I don't want to disturb your reading time.'' I finished drinking the wine and stood up. ''Well, good night, Princess Elowen.'' My voice came out louder than I had intended. Before I turned to go, I added, ''If you need anything, my servants are at your disposal; I'll return to my chambers now.'' I saw her nod softly, her hands resting on the book she was no longer reading. ''Good night, Alpha Aric. Thank you so much!'' Even the way she said my name bothered me. I gave a brief nod and headed for the stairs without looking back. I walked quickly and went up the stairs, then passed through the corridor and entered my room. As I turned the knob and entered, I closed the door more tightly than necessary. I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated with myself. I walked over to my bed and sat on it, running my hand over my face. The irritation spread. Why did I stay there? Why didn't I just ignore his presence and go back to my room? I knew what everyone said about her beauty. I'd heard stories about her unusual eyes, delicate skin, and hair that looked like living silver, but hearing wasn't the same as seeing. And seeing… was proving to be a problem. A big one. But no. I wouldn't look at her like that anymore; this marriage was just an agreement. One year was all I had to endure. There would be no touching, no closeness. Because my Luna was yet to come, and I would wait for her. I lay down, still frustrated, and hated myself for being attracted to the elven girl. I looked at the lamps and then said. ''It's not going to happen anymore,'' I whispered to myself, huffing loudly. Princess Elowen Starfire. I hadn't been able to sleep; I was tossing and turning in bed. Something was strange. I wasn't in my home, my city. I did not feel comfortable there. Even if the place was lovely, cozy. So I got up and went to a suitcase next to me. I took out one of the books I liked and decided to read it. I thought I'd go into the living room to read. Everyone was asleep now, so it would be quiet in the living room. I put a long coat over my shoulders because of the cold. Opening the door slowly, I looked out into the corridor, which was lit by a few torches. I began to walk slowly and then carefully descended the stairs. When I arrived in the living room, I looked at the lamps and the fireplace, which was lit. I approached the sofa and sat down, as elegantly as ever. I crossed my legs and leaned my back against the sofa, relaxing a little. I just wanted to read a bit, and then I'd go back to my quarters. I started reading the book, trying to focus, and when I did, I got into that fantasy story I liked so much. But as I read a few more lines, something caught my attention. I closed my eyes slightly; I had heard a sound. It sounded like footsteps… Was it a servant of Alpha Aric? I didn't know. I just focused on the book without turning around to see who it was. But as the seconds passed, the footsteps continued, and then I looked over, and who was there? Alpha Aric himself looked at me in a different, even intense way. He then scratched his throat and walked over to the center table, poured himself a glass of wine, and asked if I were sleepy. He walked over to the sofa and sat down, away from me. Alpha Aric wasn't looking at me; he was staring at the fireplace. I turned my attention back to the book. Was he trying to be polite? Was that it? Why was it obvious that he didn't like being around me, being an elf, so why did it seem like he was being… nice? Or was it all in my head? I decided to answer. ''I couldn't sleep… Well, this is a different place for me.'' I confessed to him. I felt him turn towards me, so I looked away from the book and met his eyes. He was staring at me intensely, but suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly as he took a deep breath. He looked… irritated, something like that. And then he looked away, taking a long sip of wine. ''I see… But you'll feel sleepy soon, I'm sure,'' he said, and then sipped more of the wine. ''I wouldn't want to disturb your reading time.'' ''Well, good night, Princess Elowen.'' The alpha's voice came out hoarse. ''If you need anything, my servants are at your disposal; I'll return to my chambers now.'' I nodded slowly, my hands now resting on the book I was no longer reading. ''Good night, Alpha Aric. Thank you very much!'' He only nodded briefly and headed for the stairs without looking back. I wondered until I heard him coming up the stairs. What had happened here? He seemed to be being kind, and then he seemed angry. I really don't understand the Alpha. I repeated in thought. I snorted quietly, looking down at the book. ''What am I doing here? Did I really accept this?'' I asked myself in a low voice.