Chapter 18
“H–HUH?” Serena was caught off guard by his sudden confession, and she struggled to find a suitable response. She hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might be interested in her. Although she had a feeling he might, she didn’t want to he full of herself and just assumed that all his kind gestures were just out of pity for her.
“Believe me, I was genuinely drawn to you. So, don’t get the wrong idea that I’m only being kind and helpful out of pity, it would truly hurt my feelings if you thought that way” Alpha Perez said earnestly, trying to convey his sincerity in his voice.
Serena’s eyes widened in response as she gazed into his amber arbs, unsure of what expression she was making at that monsent. The lights in his office seemed to make his eyes glow a golden color, adding an air of intensity to the moment
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend you but, I mean… uhm, what is it about me that would attract an Alpha like you? I was not exactly in my best state when you first saw me.”
She struggled to make sense of the situation, her voice betraying a hint of insecurity, causing Alpha Perez to let out a sigh and casually trace a finger over her knuckles, sending a flutter through her stomach.
He had no intention of confessing the truth, but now that they were already having this conversation, he figured he might as well continue and see where it led.
To be honest, I’ve already met you long before the war. Six years ago, at the grand hunting event in the capital, I caught my first glimpse of you. I don’t know why but I felt a magnetic pull towards you. I even entertained the thought that you might be my destined mate so, I tried to approach but you were already making your way towards someone else, and it turned out he was your fated mate.”
Alpha Perez couldn’t help but laugh as he remembered his disappointment when he realized he would never get a chance to talk to Serena. Out of all the women present at the festival, she was the only one who caught his eye. She looked absolutely stunning that day, with her silver hair framing her face just right Her features were flawless, like a perfect work of art.
And when she smiled, her blue eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.
There was something about her that drew him in, beyond just her physical appearance. Since then, he kept finding himself in the same places as her, seemingly by coincidence, and his gaze would always be following her. But she never seemed to
notice him at all, not even once.
“It was somewhat frustrating, to be honest, but I suppose there was a right time for you to finally notice me,” Alpha Perez concluded after admitting how he actually met her and how his feelings for her developed into something much stronger than mere admiration.
Serena was taken by surprise, not expecting him to share such a personal story. After all, they were supposed to be discussing the details of their contract marriage, but somehow the conversation had taken a different turn.
Her heart raced with every word he spoke, and her stomach fluttered as he played with her hand while looking at her. It all felt like a blur in her mind. She didn’t know how to respond. It was already surprising that he was interested in her, but bearing the back story of his attraction was overwhelming for her to process at once.
“Was it surprising? Did I sound like a creep?” Alpha Perez asked, noticing her silence but Seretia immediately shook her head in response, not wanting to cause any misunderstanding
“No, it just surprised me…” she replied, finally finding her words. Her eyes followed the movements of his fingers as it continued to trace the back of her hand and then she locked her gaze with his, feeling a rush of warmth spread across her checks when she noticed how intense and focused, they appeared to be on her. “It’s just… you know… that I didn’t expect you to be attracted to me,”
“I must have been really a shock, it’s understandable,” Alpha Perez let out a light chuckle, relieved that she did not appear to be creeped out by his story. “Now that you’re aware, please don’t assume that everything I’ve done or will do was out of pity.”
-all right, Serena nodded, causing him to let go of her hand and reach for her hair, slowly patting her head with affection.
11:24 Thu, Nov 28 G.
Chapter 18
At that exact moment, their eyes locked again, and they both found themselves smiling at each other.
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Suddenly, the atmosphere changed slightly and became more intimate, more serious. Serena felt a wave of heat rush to her cheeks as she blushed and looked away, suddenly feeling shy and unsure of herself. Her heart fluttered inside her chest, making it hard to stay focused, and the warmth radiating from las body sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t explain why, but she was incredibly nervous.
“Why are you averting your gaze?” Alpha Perez reached out with gentle touch, his fingers grazing her chin as he turned her head to meet his gaze once again. Serena’s heart raced as she locked eyes with his handsome face, feeling an instant connection between them. Her breath hitched in her throat, not daring to say anything, afraid that she would say something stupid
She couldn’t deny that she was starting to feel a strong attraction towards Alpha Perez As a result, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of attraction he felt towards her. Was it purely sexual or did it extend beyond that? Did he feel emotionally attached to her or was it a romantic connection Part of her wanted to ask him directly, but she feared that doing so would put her in a vulnerable position. So, she kept her questions to herself and shook her head.
“Nothing. I felt like we’re going to be intimate if we continue staring at each other,” Serena responded and swiftly shifted the conversation. She couldn’t let herself become too attached to him at this point, no matter how strong their connection may be. There was still much she needed to learn about him, just as lie had yet to discover more about her.
Plus, a romantic relationship was not something on her mind at the moment; she was determined to keep things strictly professional.
“Should we continue discussing the contract now before we lose track of time?” she asked, eager to change the subject. Alpha Perez could tell she was getting uncomfortable, so he nodded in response, not wanting to rush things. He was already very satisfied with the progress they made so far, and that was enough for now
