Word Count: 2162

~Sienna

A hand on my shoulder jostles me from sleep.

"Sienna," Onyx's soft voice urges. "Wake up."

The world is tilting and undulating around me, Onyx's strong grip keeping me straight. We are in a transport, heading toward a surprise he has refused to elaborate on.

"Hmm? Where are we?" I ask, rubbing my bleary eyes. I don't even remember falling asleep — I can only recall my head laying on Onyx's shoulder, the world passing by through the transport window.

It suddenly rocks to a stop and Onyx smiles. He looks tired, but content.
 
"We've arrived." He pops the transport door open. "Take my hand."

Sliding my hand into his, I let him guide me down onto solid ground. The sunlight high above is bright, and I'm struck for a moment that there is sand and tussock grass beneath my feet, heat pressing in around me.

After a few blinks, my eyes adjust to the light, showing off an impressive home yet to be weathered by sea air. The cedar exterior of the house boasts wide windows, puncturing the façade with a glimpse inside.

It looks pleasant and homey, and right out of a collection of old drawings I did when I was younger. I always dreamt of occupying a place like this...

"Wow, what is this place?" I marvel, looking around. "I can smell the sea."

I can't see it due to the sloping dunes, but I can hear waves lapping against a shore, the scent of salt brining the air. It tickles all of my senses, so familiar and yet I've never experienced this in my life.

Onyx gazes down at me, his adoration palpable. He squeezes my hand, the edges of his mouth softening.

"This is a home. For you."

I blink, surprise blowing all the air from my lungs. I look up at the house, then at him, then back at the house again.

"I...what do you mean?"

"I had this built for you," he admits softly. "The moment you told me wanted to see the sea, I put the plan in motion. I wanted you to have somewhere safe to visit whenever you wanted to get away."

My lips part, my mind reeling. This place is too beautiful, to perfect to be real. I want to rush inside, to see if the interior is exactly as I imagined as well.

"Onyx...I don't even know what to say," I admit, my trembling hand finding my mouth. No words seem apt enough for this moment.

He smiles knowingly, understanding my shock.

"Come inside. Let me show you my favourite part of this home."

He leads me under the above veranda and to the front door. Potted ferns are everywhere, brushing my shoulders as we walk inside.

The lower floor is open and light. I take in the beige furniture and brightly coloured cushions, the stone fireplace and decorations scattered everywhere. On the wall, he's hung some framed paintings of plants that I've done over the years...where did he get those? How did I not notice he was doing this?

"You never told me you were doing this," I breathe as he leads me upstairs. My head is tilted back as I look through the roof window that casts down bold shafts of sunlight. They caress Onyx's dark hair as we walk upward.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," he responds.

"This is beautiful." We make it upstairs. "It's like you looked inside my brain."

Everything is open and connected. The living space and the kitchen and even a work nook already set up with a desk for drawing and an easel.

Onyx looks at the side of my face as my gaze travels around. "I know you better than I know myself."

He truly does, and I've never doubted it. He's clearly taken inspiration from my drawings and all my nonsensical utterings I did to him over the years.

And to think, he started having this built for me while we were just friends. I think had I seen it then, I wouldn't have been able to deny how he felt about me a moment longer. This is like a detailed love letter, bearing Onyx's heart to be completely.

"Come this way. You haven't seen the best part," he says warmly.

I can't wipe the smile from my face as we weave around furniture. "I'm not sure it can get better than this."

He looks over his shoulder at me. "Are you sure?"

He lets go of my hand only once we are in front of glass door. He pushes aside the gauzy curtain before opening the doors, leading me out onto the balcony.

The warm breeze brushes my hair back off my shoulders as I take in the view. The sea is flat, the turquoise surface bathed in pale light from the sun. When I look below, the sea meets sand, the foamy white edges of the waves brushing upward toward the dunes.

"Wow..." I whisper. "It's as beautiful as I've always imagined."

I've never encountered a more peaceful sight in my life. Not a single soul dwells on the beach below, and other than the waves, everything is perfectly still and content basking under the sun.

"You are free to visit as often as you would like. We can even live here, if you like." Onyx turns, leaning his back against the white balcony railing.

"I love our home, it's always going to be special to me. It's where Diane is, where my mother is buried." I sigh dreamily. "But I would not complain about visiting here often."

Onyx looks beautiful with the sea as his backdrop. He has unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. All his stress seems to have lifted, leaving my mate content and peaceful.

"Are you happy?" He asks gently.

"Immensely. I can't believe you did this." I shake my head in disbelief. He did all of this just for me, and I had no idea. Even when I was living with Kayn, he held out hope I would return.

"I've been anxious to show you," he admits. "You fit in here perfectly. The sea and the warmth suit you."

He brushes my hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear with perfect gentleness. He's taking in none of this extraordinary view — he is just gazing at me, taking in my reaction, my elation.

"Thank you for this. You have no idea how badly I needed this moment."

He dips his head, understanding.

My time in Zion's manor will leave me with scars, and memories I cannot so easily shake. Being where my mother and I were abused for many years, where I was trapped and at the mercy of two Alpha's was something I do not wish to experience again.

But here...those memories have backed off for now, and all I can concentrate is this moment of bliss.

Onyx and I stand in silence for a while. I can feel his eyes on me as mine close. I draw in a deep breath of the salty air and smile. This is what peace feels like.

"I am so unbelievably in love with you," he murmurs after a long moment.

My eyes open. He's tracing circles on the top of my hand as it rests on the railing.

"I love you too." Emotion gathers in the back of my eyes, but I shun it for now. This is a time for happiness. "Can we go down for a swim? I don't think I've felt weather this warm before."

Onyx winces, looking out at the sea. My stomach turns, recognising the look. Something is bothering him, and he's been holding back on imparting it to me.

"In a moment. There is something I need to tell you."

My grip tightens on the railing, wariness overcoming me. "What is it?"

"I met your brother. The man who has been tormenting you," he admits, rubbing a hand through his hair, the salt in the air already starting to curl the ends of the strands.

I flinch. "What? When?"

"His name is Christian. He's dating Alex, to get to you, I imagine." Anger flashes in his eyes, for Alex's sake and mine. "I was forced to eat dinner with him after he threatened you."

The weight of this revelation presses into my lungs. I stood before the man, keeping a strange feeling about him...he felt familiar, and yet I could tell that there wasn't something quite right about him.

All while my best friend gazed up at him unknowingly...

"I met him...he's my brother?"

"He claims to be. I doubt he's your mother's son, but he is definitely your fathers," he explains bitterly. "He hasn't revealed what he wants yet, but has ensured my silence by threatening you."

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth in the air.

This is the same person who has been threatening me for months now. He's been a thought in my head every day, and learning that he could be my brother is hard and confusing enough, and now...

"Alex isn't safe with him. We need to tell her." My stomach churns knowing she is in her presence.

"I know, but if we tell her, he'll know and who knows what he will do to her," Onyx reminds me. "It's not ideal, but she is safer not knowing right now."

"If he is the one who wrote those letters, then he is capable of terrible things. He was the one who killed the girls." The last part comes out strangled and uneven.

The callousness he must have to kill those innocent girls...he most definitely takes after our father, which is a terrifying thought on its own. With my mate at his mercy as well, he is more powerful than he has been before.

"Why did he do that?" Onyx asks.

"Because he wanted me to tell you who my father truly was." I look out at the sea, hoping to draw in some comfort. "Why, though, I have no idea."

Perhaps he is enjoying destroying my life. He may not have expected Onyx to forgive me so easily, or for us to end up as mate. He could be angry, ready to strike at any moment.

"I'm sure he will tell us soon. He must have a motive for all of this."

"Should we return and deal with it?" I ask. I feel so powerless out here, so far away.

"No. I want a few days out here with you." He draws me close, taking my face in his hands. "I have many guards reporting to me in case Zion or Christian make a move, but for now, we are okay here."

"I feel guilty enjoying this time with you when so much is going on." I lean into his hold.

I know he is right about not making a move until Christian does. If we tell Alex, she will be in more danger. Her ignorance may be the only thing keeping her alive.

"I've been preparing for war since I was a boy. My father taught me everything I know." He pulls me against his chest, his arms resting around me. "I'm not unprepared for what Zion will throw at me. I will answer any move with force, and he knows it."

Zion not making an immediate move is disconcerting. Either he is scrambling, or calculating a response none of us can predict.

Either way, there is nothing that can be done about it yet.

"You're right, a few days out here would be good," I state decidedly.

"We haven't spent time together properly since we found out we were mates." His fingers drag through my hair soothingly, his voice deep and strong. "I think we are owed some time alone."

Time alone with him is exactly what I need. I need to relearn what he tastes like, what he feels like all over again.

"I think so too, and we should start with a swim." I pull away, pointing at the sea that is beckoning me.

The tension in his expression slips away, replaced by a mischievous smirk that heats my blood.

"I can agree to that, but only if you're entirely naked." His gaze travels down me, lighting a fire in its wake. "It is a private beach after all."

I grin, already reaching for the hem of my shirt. "Deal."

💙••💙

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this story over on Inkitt! Over there, you can read 15 chapters ahead!

If you would like to read more of The Alpha's Mistress, you can read over 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading (:

I would love if you could check out my new story A GOD AMONGST WOLVES out now on Wattpad!

~Midika 💜🐼