Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 78

Day

==Olivia==

30.

At long last. Finally.

I woke up with a blank expression, not knowing if I should jump, spill tears of joy or be sad. I didn't know the reaction was give. And I didn't feel like leaving the bed.

The morning was born with a bright light. It flooded my room, almost hurting my eyes. I should have seen it to be a good sign. My mood should have mirrored it, because...yay, I was free at last. However, nothing moved me. I was completely hollow. Matteo had come into my life in such fierce manner that made me wanna smash my head in the wall. He'd handled me with carelessness, had hurt in me in a ton of ways. Yet, he was my first of many things. My first real obsession. My first real kiss. My first real s*x. I couldn't exactly point out when I first fell for him. It could have been the time he'd crept in on me in the nondescript room and had asked me that deeply aggravating question: you are a virgin, aren't you? It could have been the moment I'd shared a kiss with him in the mace, all soaked up as the sky rained on us. Or it could have been when I'd come upon his library. Oh wait, maybe I had fallen in live with him because of his love for books.

I couldn't deny it any longer. I loved Matteo. So much. Maybe it wasn't love. Maybe love wasn't the right worse to use since...we weren't meant to be in the first place.

I rolled out of my bed to sit. I'm coming home.

Two months ago, I'd have jumped to the sky as I said this. I'd have leapt for joy, screamed on the top of my lungs in excitement. But that was two months ago and this was now. I was not certain of what my feelings were, especially now I couldn't forget about two nights ago. I'd let Matteo take my virginity. Why, the hell, I had asked. The answer was clear now.

He... I bit my upper lip. He had always been in my fantasies. Hadn't I jerked off with his name in my lips? So, definitely, when he had mistakenly said those words: I think I've fallen for you, I just lost it. I'd throw into the towel, completely ignoring any consequences that would result from my action. I latched onto Matteo, demanding...lowkey pleading he f****d me even when I hadn't known what it was like to be f****d. I'd always been scared. I mean, back then in high school when we sixteen-year-olds were getting a feel of adult stuff, I'd been so freaking scared of trying out the s*x part. My cycle had been irregular, hence the scare. I hadn't wanted to have a baby issue.

I smiled as I thought about that. Even when Leah had broken her virginity, her story wasn't at all pleasing for me to hear. The whole tales about being sore and all. It'd left me shuddering.

But last night was something totally different. I'd been prepared to take the pain, just to show Matteo how much I felt for him as well.

A sigh left my lips and I shut my eyes. I don't know if I did the right thing. I don't. I cued my finger around my hair, biting my lower lip. One couldn't have it all after all. I'd never have Matteo as he was never mine to begun with. All I had to do was go take a shower and get ready to return home.

***

==Matteo==

As I walked down the hallway that led to Olivia's room, my heart burst with excitement that I knew would be transient.

True Olivia was leaving today, true I might never get to see her again. However, the recently called curfew meant she'd stay here till night time. I'd get to spend one last time with her.

Initially, I'd wanted to curl up in my bed and shut my eyes to this harsh reality, but then I couldn't. Her image wouldn't just leave my mind.

Stopping in front of her door, I knocked. Her footsteps shuffled close and she opened the door. Her delicately beautiful face stared back at me. What a fool I'd been for denying the fact that she was gorgeous. A natural beauty that didn't need makeup to look good. She blinked slowly, running her tongue across her lips. She was nervous just as I was.

"Hi."

"Hi," she replied and then my brain went blank. I'd suddenly become this tongue-tied dolt.

"Uh..." My gaze stayed fixed on her face for some time before gliding down her form. She had on a blue floral dress. Her hair was pulled up in a loose bun. "You must be ready."

She took her gaze away from me, and I wondered: was she...sad? But then, the emotion was fleeting because she quickly said, "Yes."

It hit me on the chest. I nodded slowly. "Uhm. See, uh...there's a bit of a challenge." Which I'm so grateful for! "There's a curfew in town, meaning we won't be able to leave till 8 tonight."

Her brows lifted slightly, her lips parted. I couldn't really tell what she was thinking, as there appeared to be a mosaic of emotions.

"Oh." Then, her brows pulled up in a faint frown. "Anything the matter?"

"Well...nothing that you should worry about," I said, hoping she didn't probe further. She gave a faint nod and I stood watching her. My God was she pretty. I could see why I'd been blind all along. She was of subtle beauty. Her eyes were pure. A pair of yellow-greens that didn't seem to harbour any hate or secrets. Her neatly brushed brows matched her hair. The same shade of blonde. Her nose pointed straight downwards, such that I couldn't fully pick up her nostrils. Lips were bare, but glistened from a balm, possibly. Time stretched on. I didn't want to pull away. Something pulled me towards her. It drew me so close. I tilted my head, wanting to get the perfect angle that'd enable me claim her lips well. My eyes were partly open, as I went closer and closer reaching just few centimeters off her lips.

And then she breathed. Light, minty. It tickled my nose and I froze. I remained fixed in the position till I spotted her bobbing throat. I drew away from her. I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to kiss her. Doing that would only leave me miserable and unwilling to let her go. I had made a promise to her, and I wasn't one to break promises.

Olivia's dazed eyes soon regained composure. She tucked her hair behind her ear and to save her from further embarrassment, I said, "Lemme take you on a tour."

She stared at me. The surprise in her eyes epic.

I had nothing to hide. This was the last time she'd be here. And because she had until 8 to leave, she should sure busy herself by touring the mansion.

"If that's okay by you."

I could see the tiny smile playing on her lips. "Okay," she said.

She stepped out of the room and shut the door behind her. Side my side, we walked down the hallway. We took the stairs by our right.

Olivia loved books. I'd caught her the other day in the room taking a book from a shelf. And me being the jerk I was, I had lashed out on her. My chest tightened as I thought about that. I'd really been a jerk.

We reached the top of the staircase and walked down the hall by our left. Getting to the door leading to the library, I pulled it open.

I stole a glance at her, watching her eyes gleam. The amount of satisfaction I felt couldn't be quantified.

"Ladies first," I said. She glanced up at me, I knew, having a hard time controlling her excitement, and stepped in. I closed the door behind us. She looked around, taking in the scene before her.

"You have a thing for art?" she asked.

I looked at her, an amused expression on my face. "What makes you say that?"

"Well...look." She moved her hands around. "The furniture, the architecture, everything points at antique. Possibly that of the Elizabethan era."

I smiled, following her gaze to look around. Olivia was right, everything spoke of antique. There were two tables. One at the centre and the other beside the French window. Both rococo-styled, brown and gleaming from being freshly polished. The walls and the slaves were made of redwood. Same thing with the chairs and the chandelier that stood above.

"My mom was an art professor," I replied, trying not to flinch at the memory. "She had a way of influencing my dad who wasn't quite keen on arts."

I could remember how Mamma teased him for not appreciating arts.

"What kind of Tuscany native doesn't like art? Florence to be precise!" she would say. Papà would then go on with his sarcastic response of "the type that's tired of stereotypes and wouldn't want to conform."

I didn't know I was smiling until I met Olivia's gaze. I slowly killed the smile. "Go on, have a look."

She attempted walking towards a shelf but her eyes caught something on the table. A horse-ridden cart. A miniature model. She looked up at me with amusement.

I could feel my cheek burning with embarrassment. I didn't like she'd come across one of my childhood memories. But somehow, I wasn't mad either.

She leaned towards it. "This is so cute."

"Thanks."

"Any sentiment attached to it?" she asked, her eyes still fixed on the object. Her words rang in my ear. A lot, Olivia. A lot.

The cart happened to be one Papa's presents for my tenth birthday. That particular birthday was one of a kind as it would be my very last celebration, and one that I would only enjoy with my parents. On the positive side, it had coincided with my graduation from elementary school.

As it stood, I had been so f*****g overjoyed as I looked at the boxes and boxes of presents my parents got me. But this particular present-the car-was of so much value because...well, for a somewhat messed up reason. As someone who had been bullied to death in school, I had the consolation of the cart as it helped me dream and imagine being a prince, while my bullies were the horses that pushed the cart. Like I'd said, it was quite messed up.

I realised I had yet answered Olivia's question. And she had a look of concern on her face.

"I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry." she said. Her eyes bore fright in them.

"You didn't. And, yes, the cart has got a sentimental value. It was a present from my dad for my 10th birthday."

Her smile returned. "That's so sweet." A little silence sat between us. Then she said, in a low tone. "I'm sorry."

I didn't need to be told what she meant by that. I simply pinned my lips. "Yeah. He's in a better place now." I like to believe. She gave me a smile that didn't reach her eyes and turned towards a shelf. She walked and picked up a book. Her eyes was fixed on the book, but I could tell her mind wasn't.

"I like to think the same about my parents. Housed in a place free from all the troubles and worries." She placed the book back to the shelf and faced me. "Free from an insanely cheeky daughter."

The strain in Olivia's voice was palpable. From what I'd learnt, Pete had been her stepdad, taking on the mantle of fatherhood when she was twelve. The man had told me that, as well as the school records he'd given me. Her birth father, Werner Schumann had passed on when she was just six. Funny how I remembered all that. Funny how my once muddled up memory had improved magically. Everything was coming back, both the good and the bad, and now I was stuck with the knowledge that Pete, a man who although had sold his stepdaughter off was dead. Wasted by a werewolf. Wasted by my kind. There was no guilt worse than that.

"You're right."

My parents didn't deserve me either, but then, I couldn't help but wonder the true meaning behind Olivia's words. Did she hold herself accountable for her parents' death?

"What happened?" I found myself saying and mentally scolded myself. Olivia breathed out slowly and turned to the bookshelf, picking up another book. Embarrassment crowded my face as she flipped through the pages. I'm a dumbass.

"Dad had a tumour. Can't remember the specifics as I was only a kid then." She looked up at me. "And my mom..." she nodded slowly and I had the urge to tell her not to continue. "She, uh...she-"

"Don't," I said, walking towards her. "You don't have to say it." And that marked the end of the touchy topic. I could see the look of relief on Olivia's face.

We walked round the ground floor as she scanned through the books, asking me a couple of questions. Then, her gaze happened upon the balcony.

"That's where the encyclopedias are kept," I said. "Come have a look." Leading the way, I climbed the spiral staircase that led to the balcony. She stepped in, heading straight for a shelf. "This is a sea of knowledge," she said, giving a side glance with a smile. "Have you gone through everything here?"

"Not one bit." I said which made her chuckle. Her laughter were like music to my ears. Melodious.

Done with the tour in the balcony, we descended the stairs. I noticed the smile playing on Olivia's lips. Out of curiosity, I asked, "What's amusing?"

She snapped her head to me, her cheek burning red. I had made her embarrassed again, for the second time. I got this sting in my chest. But before I could right my wrong, she spoke. "Nothing, just a crazy thought." She looked away from me. And I stood, suddenly becoming this curious cat that wondered what that thought was.

Then, she stunned me by asking, "Ever had s*x in the library?"