Red stared at me for a few seconds. Then he looked away. “I don’t know where I should start.”
“How about from the beginning? What do you want to tell me?”
“It’s about my Alpha.”
I nodded. “Okay, what about Ethan?”
“As my Alpha said to you when he introduced me to you, I’m his best friend and his man. In our world, we have a function and a level. Alpha is in the highest position. He is our leader. At the same time, I’m the Beta, second in command. So, you can say that I’m the vice leader in our p—” Red stopped for a second, then continued, ‘—world. But more than that, I’m also my Alpha’s best friend.”
“I see.”
“So, it’s hard to tell you this. In a way, I have violated his command by doing this. Yet, I can’t shake the bad feelings I have. You can call it instinct or intuition, whatever.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“Our Alpha is the center of our world. He has the highest authority. Yet, after he knew you, he prioritized you.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk with Ethan about it.”
Red shook his head. “No, don’t do it, please. Well, it’s normal, actually, considering he has a mate-bond with you. Yet, you don’t come from our world.” He glanced toward the direction where Stacy walked and let out a long sigh. “I feel like a hypocrite now to tell you this since I feel a sudden and strong attraction toward Stacy.”
I stared at Red. “Do you think you and Stacy have the mate-bond too?”
“How do you know?” Red glanced at me. It seemed he was shocked that I could guess about it. But then, even the blind could sense the intense attraction between them. It was so clear!
“A hunch, maybe. Well, Stacy is an attractive woman.”
“Well, I agree, but it’s more than that.”
“Oh?”
Red looked away. “In our world, each w—” He stopped again then continued after a few seconds, “—male has a strong instinct, intuition about his mate. So, maybe it’s like something planted within us to find our mate.”
“Ah, your Highest One did it to you all.”
“How do you know?”
“Ethan told me about it.”
Red nodded. “Yes, it’s true. But so far, I haven’t found any of our males have a mate-bond with the outsiders. Until our Alpha and you.” He shook his head. “Now, I and Stacy.” Red let out a long sigh. “It makes it harder for me to say it.”
“Please go on.”
“I won’t say it if it’s not because I’m worried about our community and our Alpha.” He glanced at me. “I am also concerned about you.”
“Me? Why?”
“I have thought about it numerous times, and still, I think I need to say it to you.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“You should stay away from our Alpha.”
I blinked. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. You should stay away from our Alpha,” Red emphasized the second sentence. “It won’t do any good for both of you if you persist in being with him.”
“Why?”
“It’ll only lead to suffering: for our Alpha, you, and our community.”
“But why?”
“Our Alpha should say this directly to you. Yet, I’ll take the risk.” Red took a deep breath. “Our Alpha’s mate before you was dead. So, if our Alpha has another mate, she will be dead too.”
I was shocked to hear that. My hands were cold suddenly. “H-how did she die?”
“Unable to breathe in her sleep.”
“Did she have asthma or any breathing problems before?”
Red shook his head. “Not that I knew of.”
“So, it’s a sudden death?”
“Yes. In the morning, a day after the marking ceremony.” Red looked away. “It was after the mating time.”
“I see.”
“Then you’ll understand that it’s for your good too. You should stay away from our Alpha.”
“Why did you dislike me?”
“Sorry?”
“It seems you have disliked me from the first time we met. Why?”
“Helena, it’s nothing personal.”
“Please, tell me. I know I’m not from your world. Accepting people from outside of your community is more difficult than a mate from your people. I get it. But then, you haven’t known me yet.”
“True. Yet, no matter who is our Alpha’s mate, she will be dead too.”
“Why?”
“I have no right to tell you this. You must ask our Alpha. Yet, he will know that someone has told you about it if you do.”
“So, if I came from your world, would you be against me too?”
“Yes, but it might be different.”
“How?”
“If you came from our community, you would know everything. So, for sure, I wouldn’t need to tell you the risk you should face regarding having a relationship with our Alpha.”
I said nothing. My tears threatened to flow from my eyes. “Is it only for Ethan? Does it apply to you too?”
“What do you mean?”
“Having a mate from your outside world and then she would die later after mating time, does it only apply to Ethan? Or you and other males from your people too?”
“It only applied to our Alpha.”
“But why?”
“I can’t tell you the reason.”
“Is it the truth? Or is it because you don’t like me, so you make up lies?”
Red’s face was red as if I had just slapped him. “I won’t lie for something related to life and death! Do you think I’m an idiot?”
I was grasping both hands together since Red’s anger was scary. He radiated a cold and threatening aura. I reflexively hugged myself and rubbed my upper arms. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“So, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave him.”
I took a deep breath. “What if I don’t want to do that? What if I insist on staying beside him?” I let out a long sigh. “It’s hard to meet our soulmate, and I think Ethan is mine. I won’t let him go so easily without a good fight and reasons.”
“Do you love him?”
I bent my head. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you want the best for him?”
I didn’t hesitate to say it. “Yes.”
“Then you will leave him. If you love our Alpha and want the best for him, please leave him.”