Chapter 6: A Hate for Alphas.

(Haisley’s P.O.V)

It was late in the evening, and the flicker of moonlight caught the obvious smirk plastered on his lips, closing the little distance between us.

His head shifted to the side, clearly feigning ignorance. “I thought you hated Alphas,” he said, his tone dripping with amusement. “But here you are, always running away like a scared little pup. Or should I…”

“You came here to mock me?” I said sharply, regretting my words instantly.

“Tough,” he shrugged, ignoring my disrespect. “So, what are you doing here?”

I kept silent, not wanting to speak, especially with him of all people. It’s because of him that the maids always made fun of me.

Most especially Erica, who has a weird crush on him and I think that’s why she hates me. That I took her man.

He was never hers to even begin with.

“What are you thinking about?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to face Luka staring at me, his green emerald eyes, so familiar with his sister, the Alpha, locking with mine.

I shook my head, thinking of a suitable lie.

“I wasn’t thinking about anything,” I lied after not finding anything suitable to counterpoint, my voice steady despite the tension running through me.

Luka raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by my words. He stepped closer to me, almost face to face with me, and I instinctively took a step back, my lower back hitting the cool stone edge of the garden fountain.

“Liar,” he said smoothly, his voice deep and mocking, sending shivers down my spine. “Even a deep man could sense your lie. You’ve always been a terrible liar, Haisley.” He laughed slightly.

“So, what’s really on your mind?”

“Nothing. I’m just enjoying the wind and nature.”

“Something has been bothering you to zone off like that. Or maybe…” He leaned closer, his emerald-green eyes narrowing as he studied me. “Maybe you were thinking about me?”

I scoffed, walking over to one of the chairs and sat, watching him as I shot him with an intense glare. “Get over yourself, the world doesn’t revolve around you, Dear Alpha Luca. Not everyone is obsessed with your…”

“My…?He chuckled, a low rumbling sound that made my pulse quicken against my will. “You said the world doesn’t revolve around me, oh, but it does.”

“And why is that?” I shot.

He crossed his arms, stepping closer to the chair. “Because from where I’m standing right now, you seem awfully…affected by my presence.” his eyes dropped to my clenched fists before meeting mine again. “Relax. I’m not here to bite.”

They all do. All their kind bites at lower ranks, I thought, taking a deep breath, refusing to let him get under my skin. “Then what are you here for? If you don’t bite, then you came here for something!”

Luka tilted his head, considering me for a moment. “Maybe I was curious,” he admitted, his tone softer now. “You stormed out of the dining hall like the world was ending. Thought I’d check if you’re okay.”

I frowned, caught off guard by his concern. “You were watching me? Why would you care?”

“And why wouldn’t I?” He said, the usual smirk on his lips fading into something more serious. Gone was the playboy I once saw.

He sat beside the chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’ve been here for two months, Haisley, but you keep everyone at arm’s length. You’re always guarded, always sad, always angry. You don’t trust anyone—not even yourself.”

I clenched my fist as his words struck me harder than I thought, and I hated how accurate he was being. I looked away to the side, staring at the fountain as the soft sound of trickling water filled the tense atmosphere and palpable silence that suddenly engulfed us.

“With due respect, it’s none of your business. You know nothing about me,” I said quietly, my voice laced with bitterness.

“Then let me know you.”

I didn’t say anything, instead focusing on the trickling water from the fountain.

“You don’t want to let anyone in. You said I don’t know you, but I know enough from what I’ve watched in the past few weeks,” Luka said. “You’ve been hurt.

Badly. And that’s why I think you’re using that to push everyone away from you. To protect yourself.”

I couldn’t stop the drop of tears that freely slid free from my eyes. I clenched my jaw, refusing to look at him, refusing him to see me like that. I have put up a strong facade ever since I came to this pack, to push anyone away from thinking I am weak, but now, I’ve broken in front of the kind I swore never to show them my pain.

“You’re wasting your time, Luka. I don’t need your—“

“Help, I know. But opening up could do something you’ll never imagine. Try it and whenever you need someone, I’m only a call away,” he said, standing up from the chair and walking away.

Before he could go far, I said something that made me freeze. “I miss my brother and parents.”

Shit.

Dammit.

Luka stopped mid-step, his back straightening as if the weight of my words had struck him like a blow. He slowly turned to face me, his face scrunched up in confusion and his emerald-green eyes softening in a way I hadn’t expected.

“You miss them,” he repeated, his tone low and careful, as though afraid to break the fragile moment.

I closed my eyes, holding back the tears. I hated how vulnerable I felt.

I swallowed hard, clenching my fist on my lap to the extent my claws dug into my palm. “Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No,” Luka said, walking closer. “You need to say it. And for what it was, I’m very glad you did.”

I stood up from the garden chair, looking down and unable to meet his eyes. “It doesn’t change anything. Drop it okay,”

Before he could say anything, I bowed my head to him. “If I may take my leave, Alpha.”

He was silent, not uttering a word. But I didn’t move nor look up.

Luka coughed. “You may,”

I nodded and rushed out of the garden like it was on fire. When I reached inside the chamber, I rested my back against the door, my heartbeat erratic.

What the heck is going on? I thought, closing my eyes and trying to get my heartbeat back to normal.

“Are you going to stand there or come get me dressed for the night,” a voice suddenly said.