It was like a bucket of cold water, her brain became painfully aware of the situation. The moment Elena realized that Riccardo was hugging her, she had pulled his arm away, as if it had been made of ants.

When did he start to hug her anyway? Elena glared at him and frowned at his innocent stare. Surely it didn’t mean anything, the hug was friendly and casual. Elena had reflected about Riccardo for just another 2 microseconds; all her attention was turned to her broody mate. He was livid, and for the first time ever his rage was directed at her….and well, at Riccardo.

“What’s wrong Ely?” The latter whispered in her ear in a worried tone, grasping her hand.

Before Elena could reply, a loud and ferocious snarl echoed through the cafeteria and everyone silenced instantly. Elena had never witnessed a crowd that went so quiet so swiftly. It looked like a scene where a powerful witch had paused everyone with her superpower. A neighbour guy was left open-mouthed with a spoon full of food, still halfway.

Elena stiffened and had goosebumps, as always when he was near. She dared to peek back at Mirko and her heart fluttered.

Breathing heavily and shaking, her mate seemed to be about to pounce on Riccardo at any moment. His eyes were a world of darkness and Elena shivered.

“What’s wrong with this Black Alpha dude?” Rex asked puzzled, while Riccardo was glaring daggers at Mirko.

“I’m confused…” Giulia spoke to herself.

Then it was Elena’s turn to growl. There she was, the same dyed blonde who attacked Elena on their first day at school, when Marco found his mate.

Elena had thought that the Hussy was not even worthy of being beaten up. But at that moment she had reconsidered it.

The hussy was whispering something on Mirko’s ear and, at the same time, running her right hand over his muscular left arm. Even though he didn’t seem to notice her at all, who did she think she was to afford to touch her Alpha like that?!

Then Gamma Rolando intervened. It seemed that they were speaking through mind-link, as they both dazed away for a few instants. Eventually Mirko took a deep breath shutting his eyes, and, without taking another look at Elena or her group, went to sit far away.

To Elena’s disappointment he hadn’t moved the hussy away. She leaned towards his tense posture and spoke too close to his ear, with one of her dirty hands on his shoulder. It went on for while, until Elena angrily clenched her jaw.

That was enough.

She rushed away, with a “I need to take a book, I will return” whispered to her friends, who had not noticed her black mood.

‘How did he dare to let that slut touch him like that?!’

If you paid enough attention, you could see smoke coming out of Elena’s ears at that moment.

Maybe, after all, it could be true … that Fake Blond was the actual Luna of Black Devil and they were having some sort of relation, despite the fact that dumb Mirko had found his real mate. Maybe, nobody cared about mates in the lands of Black Devil, considering that for decades only a few had found their true mates and even fewer had accepted the bond. Perhaps it was for this reason that Mirko had so easily agreed to keep their mate’s bond a secret.

Thinking back, Elena was glad that at least she had beaten Fake Blondy / Hussy.

Her brooding was interrupted by a warm hand that grabbed her wrist and pulled Elena into a firm chest. The sparks told her exactly who he was.

“Leave me alone!” She roared and shoved him, ignoring the feeling of his muscles under her fingers. Not only he didn’t back down, but he even took a step forward.

“Go back to your girl, she is probably wondering where you are!” Elena hissed, trying not to get distracted by his proximity.

“My girl?” He growled, towering her small figure even further. Elena was so angry that she had barely noticed his glowing eyes and swollen veins.

“Yes, the one that was touching you everywhere, YOU sac of poo!” She snarled, pointing a finger at him when she uttered the word YOU.

“Sac of poo.” He repeated in disbelief. Apart from his Beta, Gamma and the pack house’s chef, no one in his entire life had ever dared to call him in a way other than Alpha or Alpha Mirko. At least not in front of his face. Ever since he met Elena, she had addressed him with so many sweet nicknames that he had lost the count by now.

Mate.

He still couldn’t believe he had one in the first place. One who had too many males buzzing around her, apparently. With that thought in mind, a new charge of anger pumped into his veins.

“How about that puppy toy of yours? Mhm?” He countered with equal frustration.

“He is just a friend from childhood!” She exclaimed, exasperation dripping from all the pores. “And, for your information, I can have as many male friends as I want!” The little minx even stomped her little foot. If it hadn’t been for her impertinent words, Mirko would have laughed at her.

“Of course you can, baby!” He couldn’t help but grin like a jack-o’-lantern.

“If they are gay, relatives or in pieces… inside a plastic bag.”

“Then that also applies to you, baby” She clarified, with fake sweetness and big eyes.

“You can start preparing the plastic bag for Fake Blondy and I will grab a knife to tear her into pieces... since it didn’t really seem like she was gay! And I’m sure you two aren’t relatives!” She snapped and then theatrically paused, with her fingers tapping on her chin, in the action of fake-thinking. “On second thought, she could be your grandma… it’s quite difficult to determine her real age under all that make-up and cement on her face!” She blurted out.

Mirko’s eyes flickered from aggravated to playful.

His little mate was so jealous!

He had never understood jealousy before meeting his mate and he hadn’t been with any woman long enough to make them possessive towards him. Cornelia alias ‘Fake Blondy’ included. But his feisty mate didn’t need to know that they had slept together a few times. He cared too much about his jewellery...plus, he was no longer interested in other women.

God, if someone had told him that he would have been so crazy about a girl and in such a short time, Mirko would have laughed so hard and then killed that person!

“You are so jealous...” He murmured with his sexy tone, a wicked gleam in his blue eyes. Elena turned red, from head to toe.

“Get over yourself! I’m far from jealous.” She retorted, failing badly to cover her embarrassment.

He smiled ear to ear. “If you weren’t blushing, I’d almost think you were telling the truth, beautiful.”

Mirko had managed to cage her between his arms and the lockers. He was too intoxicating for her mental health. Elena couldn’t really manage the embarrassing closeness with her delicious mate, being angry at his possessive behaviour and the desire of jumping on him, all at the same time.

“Don’t worry, little mate. Since I’ve found you, I’ve had eyes for you only.” He winked at her. “Cornelia and Rolando were just trying not to make me kill that dork and excuse of an Alpha.” He explained, with a growl towards the end.

“I’m not surprise her name is Cornelia…wait! What were you doing before you found m-“ Her accusing words died on her throat when he nestled his face into the crook of a very embarrassed Alpha daughter’s neck. He couldn’t resist anymore.

“God you smell so f*ing good.” He rumbled lowly. Elena gulped nervously; her breath accelerated. She couldn’t speak anymore, all she could do was to inhale his wonderful odour. Her knees tottered, feeling like jelly. He rapidly grabbed her, making her shiver at the physical touch.

“I’ve barely contained Craken back there, when I saw that filthy mutt touching you.” He gritted through his teeth before inhaling her scent again. “Next time I see you so close to a male I will mark you right away.” He took another deep inhale from her neck and hair before leaning back to stare at her. A fire was cracking in his burning eyes.

“And then I will slaughter him with my bare hands.” He whispered, tracing her cheek with his elongated claws, like she was a delicate flower. Elena was in awe, lost within his masculine scent and wild rawness. Black Alpha had been nothing but sweet with her, but a male had dared to roam on his property, unleashing the legendary beast.

“Did I make myself clear?” He said painfully plainly. His voice was so deep and irate, demanding authority. Elena found herself nodding, as under a spell from a magical predator.

She gasped as Mirko took her chin to lay a cast kiss on her nose, then leaned close to her ear. “And Elena, don’t forget...” He found her eyes. “You are mine.”

Then, with deliberate slowness, he loosened his grip, turned and walked away.

Wow…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Elena was returning from the library ~ with no books, of course ~ she was totally distracted, reflecting on the newly discovered side of of her mate. Possessiveness and fury had dripped off his eyes and Elena felt too excited about it. It was wrong but she couldn’t contain herself at the effect she had on that beautiful creature that was her mate. The only downside was that Elena had forgotten to investigate Fake Blondy’s identity and what type of relation Mirko and her had had.

But she forgot to ask him about that girl...damned him for distracting her!

Her bubble of love was abruptly broken by suffocated sobbing. Her questioning look replaced by a furious one.

“Whaaat!?” She snapped, fuming at the sight in front of her. Her fists clenched in rage. How could he have done something like this!?

A heavily injured Riccardo was being transported away, his bloody face full of bruises and his legs bent at an unnatural angle.

Speaking of possessiveness…and madness.

~~~~~

Next update on tapas next Monday!

Up to episode 26 already available on Patreon ~ link below

https://www.patreon.com/ladytrex

Thanks for reading!!