Blacken Alandra Rankin (the alpha prince and his bride full story free TXT) 📖

stern face melting back into a smile, “Thank you, Owen, thank you, thank you!” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing the lanky man.

They returned to the sitting area, finding the truxen sitting patiently and reading a book.

“I suppose you have some questions for me,” he stated without looking up.

Sitting down, they returned to their previous seats, “I suppose you should have some answers,” Owen said, eyes meeting Rhulle’s as he finally looked up.

Despite conversing in another room, his feathered self could hear the exchange, taking in every word. It seemed that they did not even try to be as quiet in some parts. Avie may trust him, but he would be keeping his eye on Owen.

The tension would not budge in the room. She knew him, this male did not. And Rhulle most certainly did not know or have an interest in the annoyance. The stars above knew how long it took for the truxen to warm up to her, and then in came this male to his property; interrupting, cutting a feeding short and waving a gun at him... Not the best first meeting.

Owen asked about what he was:

“By your terms, I believe it was ‘alien’?” His cool, smug tone was back, having a bit of fun while Avie observed the conversation. She asked all of the basic questions previously, already knowing each answer. Her eyes never wavered while locked with his.

Why was he here:

“Just felt like leaving, and this was the place that I could function on that was the closest.”

What he was called:

He looked over to his friend and smirked, “Only a select few I deem worthy may have that privilege.”

What he does here:

“Reading, mostly. Painting, sketching, creating. I have found a pastime in movies that I also quite enjoy. Oh! And dancing.”

That earned a doubtful look cast to her, with her shrugging in response, a light nod accompanying.

Why he doesn’t need to eat every day:

“I do not eat as you would, I only need the blood. My system is a bit more complex than yours, but I too need to feed for energy to keep my body going, much in the same way.”

Owen turned green at the thought; it was an amusing sight.

Avie interjected, changing the subject, “You know, Owen, he actually really helped me out a few weeks ago.” She fiddled with her ring; an eyebrow raised from him for her to elaborate. “When the police were scouting the area, he kept my jacket hidden. If they found it, there’s no way I wouldn’t have been viewed without partial involvement.”

“But you were involved, he was using that man as a meal when you got there, wasn’t he?”

“No,” Rhulle interrupted, “that man escaped, I never got to him.”

“He was found dead, bled to death,” Owen spoke coldly, his head snapping in his direction instead.

His friend piped up, “We discussed this, the police didn’t find a struggle, you know he had nothing to do with it.”

They both looked at Avie while she continued, “We don’t know why Garret did what he did, and I can’t speak for him, of course, but maybe he felt it like I do, every time. And if he was experiencing anything like this, his mind and body would have been exhausted from the constant drumming inside. If he was out here to do what he did, he must have been terrified at what he accidentally found. He didn’t know if you were going to chase after him, if he was going to have to be on the run, if his body would even carry him any further... It’s just a theory, anyway.”

“So, what you’re saying is that Garret was so scared of what was chasing him, he would rather die instead?”

Rhulle shuffled, “No, he could not withstand the pursuit, unknowing if his pain would ever stop. It is probable, I have read about humans doing that.”

Owen turned back to him, “You can’t possibly understand humans or what we think and go through. We aren’t your kind.”

Rhulle laughed once, a coy smirk gracing his features, “Then you could not possibly understand mine.”

The male stood up with intent and he was quick to follow.

“Stop it, stop! Hey! We were just getting somewhere!” She blocked Owen, moreover, used her body as a buffer between the two once again, “Look, it’s late, we’re all tired. Why don’t we get some rest and pick this up another time?”

They both agreed without hesitation.

Owen went to leave but hung back in the doorway when he realized Avie was not following him. He turned to watch her interact with the creature, she was smiling up at him with the expression mirrored back at her. They were close, talking about something he couldn’t hear, seeing the sight caused a pang of disgust to twang in his core.

“Aves, we should go.”

She turned to him, looking sheepish, “Could, umm, could I have a moment? Just to say goodbye?”

It rubbed him the wrong way to see her so friendly with what was essentially a serial murderer. But he nodded regardless, crossed his arms and leaned into the door frame, watching intently. If that thing tried anything to hurt her—well he may not be a fighter, but he wasn’t a coward.

The creature straightened up; eyelids lowering, brows raised with his stare locked in his own. The blond recognized that look… it was almost a challenge, an act of superiority. It was waiting for what move Owen would make next.

“Uhm, I was hoping for a moment alone.”

His eyes snapped back to her… Damn it… On one hand it was fair because they had conversed alone, but on the other, he couldn’t trust the bastard-no-name.

“Right, right, yes I’ll just wait in the other room,” he said, speaking slowly.

Owen did his best to make it sound as if he moved far away, absolutely certain that thing had super hearing. But he remained a few steps away after backtracking nearly silently, hidden by the pony wall, intending to listen carefully.

“Thank you, oh my