Chapter 11

SYDNEY'S POV The cold night air hit my face as we both burst out of the door, and the hairs on my arm stood erect. I was still grappling with the information that the bar owner was the one I had seen in my villa. I had every right to call the gamma right now and maybe get this place searched. I mean, he had been injured that day, and I had no evidence of what had truly happened. I shivered, shaking the feeling that swept through me as I remembered the metallic scent of blood and the faint growl that had echoed in my mind that day. Still lost in my thoughts, Alexander pushed me into the car. He hastily and roughly fixed the seat belt around me as though I was some pup he needed to take home with immediacy. "Where are you taking me?!" I clumsily pulled at the belt as I threw the question at his moving figure. He went around the car. The car slightly shook as he climbed in and slammed the door closed. His face was set straight, staring ahead as he blatantly ignored all the questions I threw at him. "Where are you taking me, Alexander?!" I asked deadpan. "I'm taking you home! We're going home!" He growled. Just then, his phone lit up, and the seat I was in vibrated. 'Bella' was the name on display. I noticed that he stopped moving, and I looked up to find his eyes on me. We were like that for several seconds, the vibrating hum of the phone the only sound in the car. I broke whatever trance we were both in and scoffed, "Do you need me to get out of the car?" He did his favorite thing since I've known him; he ignored me. He snatched the phone and fumbled with it for a while before he finally picked the call. He put the phone on speaker. I wondered why and rolled my eyes. To spite me? For an Alpha who had his wits about him and was raving mad just a moment ago, he sure was acting awkward. "Hey…" My head whipped to his face at the sound that came out of his mouth. I didn't think I had ever heard Alexander speak so softly. It was almost like a breathless whisper. Wow. This was more than I thought it was. He was seriously whipped. "Alexander…" Bella's weak voice boomed through the phone's speaker. "Are you okay?" Alexander half rose from his seat, his back rod straight. "I'm not, Alexander," her response was accompanied by a sob. "I just woke up. I was unconscious for a while, and there was no one to tend to me." Alexander met my eyes then quickly looked away. "Look, Bel. I'm-" "Bel!" I scoffed, interrupting him. "Are you with someone?" Her voice suddenly sounded like steel. "Bel, I'm busy. Can you reach your phone? Call the pack healer or-" he was explaining softly, but Bella's cries interrupted him. "Alexander. You have to come!" She whined. "I'm all alone in this lonely house, and my chest hurts. I can barely breathe," her breathing suddenly sounded raspy. "Please, Alexander. I need you here." She added after a second's silence, "I want you here. I want you to be the one to take me to the pack’s doctor." "Be-" "What if I die here before the doctor get here?!" Her voice was sharp. "Are you already tired of me? Have you found another mate?" "Shh. I'll never tire of you." "Then come! Promise me you'll be here." Alexander ran fingers through his hair and let out a deep sigh. "I'll be at your door in…" he trailed off as he checked his watch. "Give me ten minutes." "Hurry, babe. I feel like I'm dying. Your presence and arms around me will make a huge difference." "Sure. I'll be there. Just hang on." He had barely ended the call when I let out a loud hiss and removed the seat belt from around me. I turned to open the door, but Alexander's hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Come on. Stay. Let's go see Bella together." Was this a joke?! I whirled around. "Over my dead body!" I spat in his face. He flinched back, seeming surprised. "She's your sister! And she is sick." I met his gaze head-on, "She might as well be dying," I gritted out. "I don't want to be involved in your sick and twisted relationship." "This isn't about our relationship or differences. This is about your sister's health." I fully turned to him, but my hand was still on the car's doorknob. "You know the world doesn't revolve around you two, right? No one wants to see your disgusting lovey-dovey acts." His phone lit up, and Bella's call came in again. His hand left my shoulder as he immediately picked up the call, and that was my cue to leave. I stepped out of the car. Through the car's winded-down mirror, I saw him trap the phone between his ear and shoulder and simultaneously inserted the key in the ignition. A few seconds later, he dropped his phone and faced me, his hands already gripping the steering wheel, ready to zoom off to his lover. "This Sunday is your father's birthday party. Wait for me at home; we'll leave together!" He finished. Then he wound up his mirror and sped off. I watched in annoyance, irritation, and disgust as his car swiftly disappeared into the dark of the night. "Get lost, you asshole!" I flinched as Grace's shout suddenly resounded in the night. I couldn't stop the grin that marred my lips as she came forward and continued to curse at him. "You're disgusting! Go on. Go to your lover's bed!" Grace screamed into the night. By now, Alexander's car was just a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. "Relax, girl," I giggled and shook my head, "he definitely cannot hear you." "He can," she murmured, then turned to me, concern filled her eyes. "Are you okay?" I scoffed, "Why wouldn't I be?" "Don't be fooled by his sweet talks, okay? He'll only break your heart." I laughed, "Alexander doesn't sweet talk." I remembered the way he had gone mellow when he was speaking with Bella. "At least not with me," I added. "So you don't have to get all sentimental. There's no way he would break my heart with his sneers and shouts." "Then he should keep sneering." We both laughed. She wove her arms around my shoulder, and we both strutted back toward the entrance of the bar. Grace sighed by my side, her warm breath softly tickled my ear. "It's a pity we didn't get to see that handsome Italian guy again." "Hmm…" I murmured. Then she chirped, a hopeful rise to her tone, "But it doesn't matter. I asked the bartender about him, and he said the guy owns this bar, so we'll definitely see him if we frequent here." I skidded to a stop, almost causing Grace to stumble forward. I had been half-listening to her talk about the Italian guy, but my ears had perked up when she said he owned the bar. I turned to her, excitement built in me, overshadowing the glint of fear. "The Italian guy is the owner of the bar?" Grace bobbed her head, "Yes, what's up?" "I got his card," I blurted without any preamble. "Shut up!" Grace's eyes widened, and she drew back. "I'm serious," my heart was beating faster than normal, and my hands shook, whether from excitement or fear, I couldn't fathom. My shaky hands slid to my skirt's back pocket, and I pulled it out. "Are you talking about this owner?" Together we examined the card.?Luigi Matteo. His name, an Italian name, was right there along with his contact information. Was he from an Italian pack? The look of disbelief on Grace's face as she gasped caused my heart to swell with pride. "Babe," she drawled loudly and punched me lightly on the shoulder. I wobbled back a little, grinning. "How did you pull that?" Yeah, how did I pull that? No. The question should be 'how did he pull that?' I shrugged, my lips curled into a smug smile. "I underestimated you, girl. You still have it in you, huh?" She wiggled her brows, "Hooking such a handsome hunk so quickly." I giggled as she put her arm back around my shoulder and pulled us toward the bar. "Now let's go see if your catch is still in there." My steps were hesitant. Grace was this excited because she didn't know what I knew. I wondered, as we strolled back in there, if I should tell Grace what had happened the first time I met Luigi. How he had pressed his claws against my back, his wolf's growl echoing in my mind, and made me take care of his wound. But I decided against it. Though I made a mental note to always stay alert. For me and for Grace. He might seem like an ordinary guy who owned a striving bar, but he was much more. An ordinary bar owner wouldn't be sporting a wound from a fight or breaking into people's houses with the scent of danger clinging to him. Aria, my wolf spirit, stirred in my mind, her voice a low growl.?"Be careful, Sydney. He’s not what he seems." I nodded inwardly, my grip tightening on the card. Whoever Luigi Matteo was, I wasn’t going to let my guard down. Not again.