The Alpha’s Dark Revenge

Liyah’s POV

The smile dropped from my face as soon as I was safe inside my room. My hands slowly came up to clutch my shoulders as the memory of the last ten minutes started to replay in my head.

What the hell just happened?

I wondered if I had only be dreaming or if I actually caught Nikolai studying my face… staring at me, actually. If I didn’t know better I would’ve said he was checking me out.

And I was so clumsy and awkward as as usual that I hadn’t realized we stood that close when I looked up. I felt myself reeling when I realized that it would take just one small motion to have our lips touching. For some reason, the memory of the time when we had kissed at one of his business events came to mind, and my heart began to thump louder in my chest.

I couldn’t understand the way I had felt. It was both annoying and confusing. When I saw his gaze move to my lips, I couldn’t understand the goosebumps that quickly formed on my skin. Instead of the usual fear and anxiety I had always felt around him, it was almost… warmth.

Maybe it was because his aura was warmer. Or maybe it was the almost permanent wide smile that had come to be on his face a lot these days. Maybe it was the concern in his eyes when he rushed to my side to see if I was okay. Or maybe it was the fear that I might have gotten hurt.

Maybe it was all of the above.

Just maybe.

But for a brief second, I had felt a shiver of anticipation at the thought of our lips touching. It was surprising and strange, but not unwelcome…

My eyes widened as I caught myself. Why on earth was I even thinking about this? I facepalmed, slapping my forehead repeatedly. This had just shown that I needed a brain reset. And quick.

“Don’t be stupid, Liyah,” I chided myself, slapping my cheeks to awaken myself and then peeling my clothes off my body. When I was done I hopped into the shower.

A blast of cold water might do me some good, I decided, shuffling to the bathroom and trying to occupy my mind with something else. Anything at all.

***

I turned on my back for the hundredth time to try to make myself comfortable but to no avail. It annoyed me because I really wanted to get some sleep. But no matter what position I lay in, or how long I shut my eyes, I couldn’t convince sleep to come to me.

Great.

After a few more failed attempts, I grudgingly threw off my duvet and clambered out of bed. The only thing that could cheer me up right now was a steaming cup of coffee. And I was going to get it. It took me about twenty minutes to prepare my coffee just the way I liked it. When I was done I headed to the balcony. Over the past few weeks it had become my spot, as it was usually the most quiet part of the house. And quiet was what I needed.

I nearly cried in frustration when I saw that some people were seated on the large swing located a short distance from the balcony. Maybe I was just being grumpy but I really liked my solitude. And I didn’t think I would enjoy my coffee or my quiet time if I had to watch people having a conversation a few feet away.

When the pair who sat on the swing finally stood after a while, my eyes widened as I felt myself slowly drop into the bench.

The balcony was just fine.

I absentmindedly took sips of my coffee, looking up at intervals to drink in the sight of a shirtless Nikolai I knew I shouldn’t be so interested in but was anyway.

Technically, I couldn’t be blamed. I was just sitting on my own trying to enjoy the scenery. Who asked him to sit around shirtless anyway? I blamed my coffee for the heat that creeped on my face, and refused to listen to any other explanation there was for it.

Trying to keep my eyes off his sweaty abs, I focused instead on the interaction he was having with little Eve. From where I sat I could pick up a few words of their conversation, but nothing more. From what I saw and what I could hear, they were about to share an apple.

I couldn’t keep myself from laughing as I watched Nikolai awkwardly hold the knife to slice the apple. How did a man who taught me about guns and how to use a dagger not know how to use an ordinary kitchen knife?Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

It was surprising yet adorable to say the least. He looked like he had never held a knife in his life.

When he finally sliced the apple into two, I saw Eve pick up the bigger piece and speed away. Surprisingly, Nikolai chased after her, picking her up like she was a feather and placing her on his neck amidst her squealing and laughing.

Watching him with Eve was quite comforting. He really would make a good father, I decided, taking another sip of my coffee.

I chuckled, watching as he went on one knee when she asked for a piggyback ride. As he picked her up, I could see her lips move continuously as they plunged into conversation.

If I didn’t know any better, I would say they looked like father and daughter. It was shocking yet amazing to see him having so much fun that he grinned from ear to ear. Sometimes I couldn’t believe he was the same person I had known.

The darkness had gone out of his eyes, those frown lines were nowhere to be found, and his bright smile was enough to put anyone in a good mood. For me, it was like getting to see a new version of him, a better version. But for the everyone else it was just the old him come back to life.

And I liked this version.

I really did.