The Alpha’s Little Rogue (Alessia)

Chapter 137

Raphael's POV I want to crawl into a hole and never resurface.

Where did all my years of finesse and seducing skills go to? They all deserted me when I needed them the most. Those bastards.

I groan again as I remember the scene that took place a few hours ago.

"Date me," I breathe out with my heart in my throat.

Daphne's eyes bulge out of her head, making her surprise evident.

Those were not the words I had wanted to utter, but I waited with hitched breath for her response.

"You want to date me? Why?" She murmurs, her brows set in a furrow.

To someone else, it might seem like she's fishing for compliments.

Now, why I barely know this woman, I highly doubt that she can be categorized as one of those people. She is genuinely curious and wants to know why I want to date her.

I take in a deep breath and start talking. "When I first saw you under that tree and surrounded by those kids, the first thought that flew into my head was 'Damn. She's beautiful." I let out a soft chuckle as I remember the moment I first saw her.

I was awestruck and unable to comprehend a sentence that came out of Henry's mouth. Al I could see at that moment was her, my mate. The person that I have searched the surface of the earth for.

My mood dampens as I remember that she doesn't even realize that we're mates.

"You have created this little cave in my head, burrowing yourself into my every thought and I fear I might run mad if I don't do something about it." A pause where I take a deep breath. "I know that you might surely see me as a creep or a stalker and you wouldn't be far off your mark."

She stares at me blankly.

My voice turns low, barely above a whisper. "Please, give me a chance to prove that I'm more than a creep." It's a lame punchline but it will have to do.

She gives me a dry look, not a crack in her impeccable facade.

Eventually, I'm going to have to get a reaction out of her...right?

"So what do you say? Wil you go on a date with me?" I ask expectantly, my chest wringing my heart as I wait for her answer.

"I don't want to date you," she states in an even tone. "And I would appreciate it if you would stop coming over to my place of work. It makes me uncomfortable." With that said, she turns on her heels and walks back into the classroom. Another groan escapes me.

The situation is far worse than I ever expected. Aside from not knowing that we're fated mates, she also finds my presence...uncomfortable.

Her words replay in my head like a broken record. She asked that I let her be, but how can I do that? How can I turn away from what's destined and meant to be mine?

"Enough of this," a gruff voice yells, interrupting my circle of thoughts.

I turn to face Alex with a deadly scowl on my face. My thoughts might not lead me to a solution but that doesn't mean I want to be interrupted midway.

"I can't continue down this path with you anymore. You're driving me mad with your groaning and whining!"

Actually, now that I'm taking a good look at him, I have to admit that he looks half-crazed. "What's your problem?" I haven't really been paying attention to what has been occurring around me so I'm kind of lost here.

We are currently on our daily border checks and well, it's a good thing that rogues have decided to stay clear of our pack because I wasn't giving this activity an ounce of my attention.

"You!" Alex stabs a finger into my chest and I move away from his assault. "You're my problem." Then his crazed looks calm down and his face softens. "What is it? I know something is bothering you so just spill it out already."

I look towards Caden, expecting him to put an end to this harassment and tell him to focus his attention on what we're doing. He keeps mute. Actually, he looks at me curiously.

"I'm fine," I answer in a monotone tone, not in the mood for an intervention. I had been contemplating telling them about Daphne but after what occurred today, I'm thinking of taking this secret with me to the grave.

That crazed look is back on Alex. "No, you aren't fine." He sighs. "I know we have this unspoken pact to let us stew over our issues and come clean when we feel like talking about it, but I've had it with you." Another shove at my chest, flaring up my anger.

"I said I'm fine," I grit out through clenched teeth. My hand fists into balls that are ready to pummel Alex into the ground if he doesn't cut this out.

Besides, weren't they the ones always trying to get me to shut up?

I'm finally reserved and keeping to myself but suddenly, they have an issue with that too. Make up your goddamn mind people.

"What is it? Are you going through some mid-life crisis shit?" He ribs. "Maybe some ED?"

I don't pounce on him to shut him up like he's probably expecting.

I'm calm as he lays in on me.

"Which is it?" He asks after an elongated dialogue about all the things that could be wrong with me. He didn't come close to actually ticking the box. Not even by an inch.

I close my eyes, preparing to bare my soul. "I met my mate."

My friends aren't the sort to gasp and clutch their pearls, but that's exactly what they're doing.

Caden eyes are saucer-shaped, his mouth open wide enough for a family of flies to take habitation within it. Alex isn't in a better shape.

My happiness at their dumbfounded

expression is short-lived as they start talking at the same time. Their words muddle together, putting me in a state of confusion. I catch some words like 'when' and 'how' But neither of them was letting the other have the loudest voice so + can't make sense of what they're both saying.

"Quiet down," I groan, holding my palm in front of them. It proves to be effective as both Caden and Alex stop their yapping. I drop my hands to my side. "One at a time. I can't make sense of what either of you are saying." Caden goes first. "When did this happen and why are we just hearing of it now?" He shoots with an arched brow.

"It didn't feel like the right time to tell you guys," I admit.

"Why?" Alex asks incredulously. "Why did you even feel the need to keep it a secret?" He actually looks a little hurt.

"Because she's wolfless and has no idea that I'm her mate." I drop the bomb with a straight face. Caden's and Alex's gazes fly over my face, trying to decipher if this is just one of my crude jokes.

"Wow," Alex finally settles on.

Since I seem to have swallowed a truth pill, I decide to just lay everything out. "She also hates my guts. Told me so herself." I give a pitiful sigh. "So there it is. That's the reason why I've been reserved and closed off all week." Caden and Alex exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, they turn to face me.

"What are you going to do next?" Caden asks and I have to stop myself from gaping at them in shock and blind rage.

I poured out my heart and soul to

them and yet their brilliant idea is to

ask me what I plan on doing next. If I had the answer to that question would have been sulking and groaning for the past thirty minutes? Aren't they supposed to magically give me solutions to my plights?

Defeated, I turn away from them, ready to call it a day, and head back to the pack house to sulk some more.

"Don't give up on her," Alex calls out to my retreating figure, halting my escape.

I turn around, hoping I don't look as dejected as I feel. "She doesn't want to even share the same space as me. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Tell her that you're fated mate," Caden suggests, practically brimming at the notion of suggesting what he believes to be a brilliant idea.

I shake my head. "I don't think it will change anything." If I tell Daphne that we're fated mate, I fear she might just reject me on the spot and push me to the curb. She feels no bond towards me and her every sense is telling her that I'm a creep.

She will definitely run in the other

direction if she finds out that the

a

moon goddess destined us to live life together. If I do bring up the fact that we're mates, it needs to be at a time when I can be sure that she'll

stick to me and won't harbor any

plâns of rejecting me.

To do that, I need to spend more time with her and shower her with flowers and gifts to weave my way into her heart. I need to stay in her space no matter how much she begs me to stay away.

Eventually, she's going to begrudgingly accept my advances and spend the rest of her life with me.

Ok, so...maybe I can see why she feels uncomfortable in my presence.

But she's just going to have to accept me this way because I don't think it's something I can put a lid on.

"I'm going to make her fall in love with me," I state.

Caden blinks and Alex tilts his head to the side.

"Ok..." Caden draws. "It's not what we meant but do what you think is best."

Alex opens his mouth like he's about to say something but he snaps it shut when Caden gives him a look.

I ignore them, preferring to focus my attention on how to make my ma te mine.

I'm going to make sure my mate begs for my company and hurts when I'm away from her. She's going to redraw those words she uttered to me today.

Newfound determination resonates within me. And it's all thanks to these men who can surprisingly be good advisors.