The Supreme Alpha - Chapter 122

Author’s note: this is from Seraphina’s point of view

—

I was unexpectedly nervous about my dinner with Nox.

Part of me felt like I’m cheating on Duke by doing this, and another part was telling me that Nox and Duke are one and I should stop separating them.

I repeated in my mind that if Duke was not poisoned as a child, Nox and Duke would be best friends, collaborating and enhancing each other.

The best thing I could do was to help them establish that connection the two of them should have. It was logical.

Duke will be watching us, and I knew that will keep Nox on the edge, but there was no way for Nox to suppress Duke fully without Duke’s consent and I didn’t want that to happen anyway.

I hoped that I knew what I was doing, and I prayed that this will work.

The moment I told her how Duke and I want to have dinner in private, Maria told me not to worry and that I should entrust her with setting up a table for two on the rooftop terrace. She is dependable.

I didn’t want to eat with everyone else watching us. This was time for me and Nox.

Technically, a romantic dinner date should be in a fancy restaurant with candles and roses and soft music, but I didn’t want to risk adding more variables to this event. I will share a meal with Nox, and I needed him to focus on me, without distractions.

If this works well, we can think about the next steps.

Since I returned from Vesper, Duke clung onto me like a spoiled child. He was adorable, but I couldn’t work.

In the late afternoon, Duke grumpily agreed to let Nox take charge of preparing for our date as I took my things and went into a spare bedroom to shower and dress up.

I hoped that Duke and Nox won’t end up fighting. Their fights are not physical, but the mental scars are there and they need to learn to compromise or one of us will go crazy, and it will probably be me.

Once I managed to see beyond my anxiousness, I realized that I was trembling from excitement, like a teenage girl who was going on her first date.

Going on a date with Duke was natural. We knew each other for years, and I knew what to expect, while Nox is a new existence that is keeping me on the edge.

When I confirmed that my hair and makeup were spot-on and that my dress hugged my body just right, I made my way to the rooftop terrace.

I tried imagining Nox’s reaction to my appearance. Was this too much? Will he like it?

Duke told me that he showed Nox most of his memories about us, and that meant Nox saw me in many gowns, but this time I dressed up for him and I hoped that this will push our relationship in the right direction.

What direction was that? I was not sure.

I loved Duke because he was reliable, and his embrace felt like home, and I couldn’t imagine that Nox will make me feel the same. At least not at this time.

…

— This work is published on WebNovel (w e b n o v e l . c o m). Don’t support illegal copies! Read from the original site to support the author —

…

I reached the end of the stairs and pushed the door open.

In the middle of the terrace was a table set for two with silver coverings, a vase with fresh flowers, and candles in long glass containers. The three-layer cart next to the table held additional dishes. Maria thought of everything.

I spotted Duke standing next to the concrete rail with his back facing me. He was looking into the distance where the sun was kissing the mountaintops while dressing the world in hues of the golden sunset.

Duke’s broad back was majestic, and it looked like he can brave any storm.

Duke turned toward me, and his intense gaze told me that was not Duke.

My heart skipped a beat.

The left side of his face was nearly glowing from the sunset, while his right side was in the shadows. I thought that it perfectly symbolized two personalities that were clashing within that handsome body.

“Hi, Nox”, I greeted him and forced my legs to move. It’s not that I didn’t want to approach him, but I could stand there forever and just look at him.

Nox met me halfway and offered me a red rose which he definitely took from the garden. I appreciated the gesture.

“You are beautiful”, he said and stood there awkwardly.

I knew that he wanted to touch me, and probably embrace me, but he didn’t want to move too quickly. His insecurity warmed my heart.

“Thank you.”, I said while putting the rose under my nose and giving it a sniff. “It’s lovely. Shall we eat?”

Nox nodded, visibly relieved that I told him what to do.

I stood next to the chair and glanced at Nox. “Duke would pull the chair for me to sit.”

Nox blinked and he swiftly moved to hold my chair. “I apologize.”

“Don’t.”, I said lightly, hoping that I won’t make this more awkward than it already is. “It’s your first date and it will be my honor to tell you what’s expected. You did well with the rose.” I ended with a compliment.

Nox smirked and removed bells from our plates, revealing fish and Mediterranean salad.

He sat on the second chair and spoke in a business manner, “Since you are experienced with this dating thing, I hope you won’t hold back on information.”

I didn’t like the insinuation behind his words. “I am not really experienced. The only dates I had were with Duke.”

“What about Lazarus?”, he deadpanned.

I frowned. What about Lazarus?

It took me a moment to realize that Duke either told him or showed him the memory of me sharing a meal with Lazarus when I was negotiating for Lazarus to help us with reviving Duke’s wolf (aka Nox). Duke showed up as a waiter and ruined Lazarus’ clothes.

It was funny at that time, and it still is whenever I remember how shameless Duke can be just to get close to me.

“That was not a date.”, I responded. “It was a business meal.”

Nox tilted his head as he regarded my thoughts. “And how was that different from what we are doing here?”

“It’s about the purpose of two people meeting for a meal. With Laz, my goal was to get him to offer his assistance in reviving you. As for this…”, my voice trailed.

What the heck was my goal? This was not about Duke and Nox getting along, but about my relationship with Nox and Duke being OK with it.

“What about this? What is your purpose of having a date with me?”, Nox continued asking, his blatant way of talking made me flustered.

“You know.”, I said. It was my turn to be awkward.

“No, I don’t.”, he said matter-of-factly. “Why are we having this meal, Serina? Why did you ask Mateo to watch as we…”

He stopped talking when I put my hand over his.

I knew it was not fair to use sparks of our bond against him, but I needed him to shut up.

I didn’t know how to respond to his questions. What should I say? That I want Duke, Nox, and I to get along and have a threesome? No, no… it shouldn’t be a threesome because Duke and Nox are one and the same. Damn it!

Nox stared at our hands and his hand moved slightly, allowing my fingers to intertwine with his.

I did this many times with Duke, and it didn’t feel any different from doing it with Nox, but Nox’s eyes were open wide, and I could see his chest moving rapidly as he savored this simple touch of our hands.

My heart cracked at the thought of how deprived of touch he was.

He was experiencing the sensation when Duke and I touched, but this was not through Duke. This was Nox, and he could feel the sparks of our bond.

I really wished to be able to feel those sparks werewolves are talking about because Nox’s expression was priceless.

Nox raised his gaze to meet mine and I forgot how to breathe when I saw his deep blue eyes darkened with endless lust. He wanted me. Badly.

There was nothing soft and tender behind the gaze that was raw and full of unspoken promises that once he was done with me, I would be walking funny.

A mental image flashed in my mind… Nox ravaging me on this table where plates with fish and Mediterranean salad were.

I pressed my legs together. Was it wrong to get aroused like this?

This was Duke’s body, and it was Nox’s as well, and I was utterly confused.

I could see Nox’s nostrils flaring and he licked his lips in slow motion.

Oh, boy… he definitely picked up the scent of my arousal. Duke said that he could smell me from a mile away, and those sharp senses should be elevated by a few levels when Nox was in charge.

Wait, wait!

Duke was in there, watching us, right? Ah! If Nox can smell my arousal, Duke knows about it!

Now I felt like a cheater who got caught!

I released a shaky breath in an attempt to compose myself.

“We should start eating… before it cools off.”, I said that but I made no effort to pry my hand out of Nox’s hold.

Somehow, I wanted him to hold me forever. And I wanted him to hold much more than just my hand.

—