28

Word Count: 1784

~Sienna

The house is abuzz with activity.

People are frantically rushing in every direction for seemingly no reason. Everyone not directly dealing with Willow's body want to just be busy, although it's causing chaos.

I sift through the people, looking for Onyx.

It's only been an hour since he found the body. It sent a ripple through the manor and now everyone is involved. Lexa is panicking and Alex has locked herself in her room from fear.

Whatever happened to Elora happened to Willow, seemingly confirming my theory that something was wrong.

I snag Lilia, one of the maids by the sleeve as she rushes past me. "Hey, have you seen Onyx?"

"He's outside I think." She scratches behind her ear, looking anxious to keep walking.

I frown, glancing out the main hall's gigantic double windows flanking the door.

"Outside? Like in the rain?"

"I think so." She too looks out the window, probably wondering if she should have stopped him. "He said he needed time to think."

That's not a good sign.

With nothing more on than my sweater and some pants, I rush outside. The rain immediately dots uncomfortably against my skin as I bow my head and rush toward the barn.

It's empty, the light not even on.

Where could he be?

My feet start moving before my brain can catch up. I hurry out down the back path, around the garden and across the lawn to the top of the cliff.

Sure enough, in the darkness I can see his figure, gazing out into the empty expanse of grey cloud and misty rain.

"Onyx?" I call out.

He doesn't turn as I approach. "You shouldn't be out here. This rain could turn into a storm any minute now."

I come to his side. His hair is completely plastered against his forehead, watering dripping down into his thick lashes. His clothing is drenched, and yet, he doesn't look bothered in the slightest.

Something haunts him, though. I can see it in the tense lines of his perfectly sculpted face.

"Come inside with me." I snag the sleeve of his wet jacket. "There is no use standing in weather like this. We'll both get sick."

He looks down at his feet. "I can't."

"We will find who did this to Willow, alright? It's not your fault," I insist. This is hard for him, of course. I just had no idea the two were so close. Onyx looks heartbroken.

He sighs, looking back at the estate. The golden light from the windows cuts through the rain, giving the home a haunted, eerie look.

"This process was never going to work," he says, falling into step next to me as we make our way back to the manor. "How could anyone think I could fall in love?"

"You're more than capable of loving someone, Onyx. You're going to make an incredible husband." I wipe at my eyes, the raining gathering in my eyelashes starting to blur my vision.

"I'm tired of this game of pretend." His expression is tortured. "I'm tired of following rules set out by ancestors of mine that don't feel right."

"I know."

I was waiting for this moment, where it would all become too much. I can't even conceive of the sacrifices he must make for the betterment of his Pack. He's braver than anyone I know.

"How can my wife being of Noble birth matter? Is me having a wife I love, a mate I love not better?" He questions into the air.

"Look, I agree with you." My feet slosh through the puddles in the grass. "But things cannot change so easily. This Pack needs a strong, dependable heir. Most of what makes this Pack work is having people believe in the leadership, and if that heir needs to come from nobility to please them, then I'm afraid that's going to have to be what happens."

I hate having to say it because I disagree with the notion so fervently, but telling Onyx to give into his torment won't help him.

"Fuck tradition," he growls.

I pull him to a stop. I realise the entrance to the home is just around the other side of the barn, but I need him to see how serious I am about this now.

"Onyx...I know you don't feel that way." I squeeze his arm, giving him a hard look. "You're the best Alpha I know. You just need to get inside, get some rest and re-evaluate tomorrow."

He's emotional right now. After Elora died, it was him consoling me. Now, it's the other way around.

"I can't."

Even as I tug at his soaked sleeve, he doesn't budge. "Come on."

"You should go inside," he whispers, the sound nearly getting caught in the wind, in the rain that falls heavily against the grassy ground beneath out feet.

I huff out a breath. He can be so stubborn sometimes. He's looking at me with a gaze consumed by conflicting emotions. Sadness, frustration and something else I can't quite decipher....

"Why?" I demand. I'm not leaving him out here in this state.

"I feel like I'm about to be incredibly selfish."

He's breathing heavily, his chest shifting up and down. The rain flattens his dark curls against his forehead, somehow making him look even more stricken.

"What's going on?" Concern has knotted itself in my chest.

"I really don't want you to go, Sienna."

I smile gently. "Look, I'm going to miss you too. I promise I won't be gone forever."

The thought of leaving here hurts me too, but I've shoved those feelings aside. Onyx doesn't seem to be as willing to do the same thing.

"I want to marry you," he insists.

The breath that leaves my lungs is long and aching.

He's not sharing his romantic feelings for me. He thinks upgrading my position to wife may make me more willing to stay, but that doesn't change the platonic nature of our relationship.

"You can't marry your best friend. And even so, we talked about this...I can't give you heirs without having to sleep with you," I remind him, feeling my cheeks heat.

He shakes his head, like I'm not understanding. "I want to marry you."

I frown. What is he talking about?

"You're upset because of Willow," I say breathily, taking a step backward. "You're not in your right mind-"

"I've never been more right in my life," he exclaims desperately, closing the gap between us again. "I know I love you, and I want you here. Whatever that might mean."'

My entire world feels like it's tipping over.

I can practically see the different versions of my life flashing before my eyes. A life with Kayn, a life with Onyx...One I thought was my only option, and one I've only ever dreamt of.

Onyx has feelings for me. He wants me.

This can't be real.

"I like Kayn. I want to give him a chance," I force out.

It feels like what I have to say. Were Onyx able to pledge himself to me fully, damning all obligations, I would fall into his arms in a heartbeat.

He takes my face into his hands, brushing away the rain that gathers on my cheeks.

"Stay, and I'll give you infinite funds to pursue your dream. You can illustrate your own book on botany, you can travel and make clothing...anything."

"That's really sweet, but I have no real place here. Not anymore." Regardless of feelings, he must marry someone.

"You're my mistress," he breathes.

"Except I'm not actually."

My throat is now raw and aching, tears threatening to slip from my eyes down my cheeks. It makes me grateful for the rain. I don't want Onyx to see my pain.

"Don't you get it?" His voice cracks a touch as anguish rips his expression apart. "I fucking want you, Sienna. Badly. Every part of me yearns for you."

I can feel my heart breaking. The pleasure of hearing him finally admit his feelings with agonising intensity is hindered with the pain of knowing they have nowhere to go.

"What are you saying?" I breathe.

Onyx's fingers are warm compared to the icy rain as they settle on either side of my face.

"It may not be confirmed yet, but I know in my heart we are mates. We have to be. You're too perfect for me not to be," he laments.

My breathing harsh as my gaze finds nowhere to be but on Onyx. Being his mate has so many more implications than just a silly crush.

A mate is a raw, inexplicable connection between two individuals that signals a bond that can't be broken. If Onyx and I are mates....I don't know what I would do.

"You know what it would mean to be mates, right?" Everything would change.

He nods fervently. "It has only ever been you, Sienna."

I've spent a decent chunk of my life dreaming about hearing those words. All I've ever wanted was his undivided love, his attention and his devotion.

Now he's standing here, offering it to me, and I don't know what to say.

"I..."

He brushes his thumb over my lips, ceasing any protests I could conjure. Not that there are many to be had now.

"Tell me you want me," he encourages breathlessly. "Tell me the truth."

The truth. The truth is too damning, it's something I dared only keep to my chest for the rest of time.

"Onyx..." I can't escape the intensity of his gaze, his mind-melting proximity.

"Say it," he whispers.

I can't do it anymore. I can't hide that fundamental part of me who has only ever dared imagined a moment like this.

"I want you."

He pauses, almost like he can't quite believe I finally uttered it. Then, his face breaks out into the most true, beautiful smile I have ever seen.

He slides his fingers down until they brush against the nape of my neck, his thumb dragging across my jaw in tender strokes.

I wait with bated breath as his thumb brushes against my lower lip, his gaze captivating me.

"Finally," he breathes.

My heartbeat stutters as he slowly leans down. In this moment, I'm reminded of the million questions I've asked the universe about us. He kisses me, answering them all.

❤️••❤️

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this story over on Inkitt! Over there, you can read 15 chapters ahead!

If you would like to read more of The Alpha's Mistress, you can read over 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading (:

~Midika 💜🐼