Chapter 26: Marry Me

The moment Pandora said those words, she instantly regretted it.

"Oh goddess," she gasped, backing away from the table. "I shouldn’t have said that. Forget I ever said that."

But it was too late. Alyssa had gone completely pale. Her lips parted in shock, and a persistent ringing sound echoed in her ears, drowning out whatever else Pandora was saying.

Dorian killed his first love? If he was capable of that, if he could execute a woman he loved and married, what was stopping him from doing the exact same thing to her?

Noticing the sheer panic freezing Alyssa’s features, Pandora quickly crouched beside the chair and grabbed her hand. She had to find a way to put her at ease before Dorian walked back through that door, or she would be in trouble.

"Alyssa, listen to me," she whispered, her voice laced with sudden urgency. "Forget what I just said. It was a mistake. A stupid mistake. I didn’t mean it."

She gripped Alyssa’s arm, shaking it slightly until Alyssa finally met her gaze. "I didn’t mean it like that, okay? Dorian didn’t murder anyone. I misspoke."

"Then what happened to her?" Alyssa asked, her voice raspy and thin. When Pandora hesitated, she closed her eyes.

"He really killed her, didn’t he?"

"I wasn’t supposed to tell you," Pandora sighed helplessly, letting go of her arm. "Elvira’s death wasn’t simple. It was more complicated than the way I put it, and Dorian is the only one who can actually tell you what happened."

Alyssa quietly toyed with a pen on the desk, her thoughts scattering. She realized right then that there were a million things she didn’t know about the Alpha King of the North. It didn’t matter that they shared a burning, magnetic chemistry; they were practically strangers.

Pandora sighed again, her eyes darting fearfully toward the bedroom door.

"Dorian will skin me alive if he knows I mentioned her to you. Please, Alyssa, can you pretend we never had this conversation?"

The terror in Pandora’s eyes was so vivid that Alyssa felt a pang of sympathy for her. It was obvious that despite her sassy, rebellious nature, she feared her brother immensely.

"It’s okay," Alyssa said, forcing a reassuring smile. "I won’t mention a single word about it. I promise."

"Thank you," Pandora breathed in deep relief, standing back up. Anthony was right; one day, her big mouth was going to get her killed.

"It seems like you’re really terrified of him," Alyssa murmured, breaking the silence.

Pandora leaned back against the desk, crossing her arms over her chest. "I am," she nodded honestly. "It wasn’t always like this though. There was a time Dorian and I were inseparable. He’s thirty years older than me, but the age gap never mattered back then."

Alyssa stared at her in complete bewilderment. "Wait... how old are you?"

Pandora chuckled at the awed expression on her face. "A hundred and five. Dorian turned one hundred and thirty-five two months ago. The portrait of him you found in the basement was commissioned a century ago, on his thirty-fifth birthday."

Alyssa lowered her eyes as she digested the numbers. It was hard to process. Dorian didn’t look a day over thirty, and Pandora looked like she was in her early twenties.

"Our bloodline is different from other Lycans," Pandora explained, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "We possess the gift of immortality. The oldest in our lineage can live up to three hundred years before passing."

She paused for a moment before speaking again. "Like I said, Dorian and I used to be close. Then something happened that shattered his heart. He became ruthless, toxic from all the pain he carried. He never let another woman get close to him, until he met you."

Alyssa’s eyes flicked up, locking with Pandora’s.

"You should have seen the way he hunted for you over those three years," Pandora continued softly. "He kept the silk sash you left behind when you disappeared."

Alyssa gasped softly. "He did?"

Chuckling, Pandora nodded. "He did. You’re changing him, Alyssa. I can’t remember the last time Dorian actually smiled or laughed, but he has done it consistently since you arrived. I just hope you never hurt him."

"I would never," Alyssa replied without a shred of hesitation. "Dorian has shown me more kindness in a few days than I have received in my entire life. I would never think of hurting him. I..." She licked her lips, the confession pouring out. "I want to get to know him better."

"I’m glad," Pandora beamed. "I know you and I haven’t really bonded yet, but you can come to me whenever you want. None of my close friends live near the North, so most times, I have no one to talk to. It would be nice to have a girlfriend."

Alyssa smiled warmly. She could already tell that both of them would be besties. "I’d love to be friends."

The door swung open, and Dorian stepped into the room. Two maids followed behind him, carrying bronze trays filled with covered dishes. The rich, savory aroma of food instantly filled the space, making Alyssa’s mouth water.

The maids set the table near the couch, dropped into deep curtsies, and silently exited.

Pandora took the hint and straightened up. "It was nice talking with you, Alyssa. I’ll see you later."

Alyssa smiled and nodded. "Alright."

As Pandora brushed past Dorian, she reached out and casually squeezed his arm before stepping out into the hallway and shutting the door behind her.

Left entirely alone with Dorian, Alyssa’s nerves instantly returned. She rose from her chair, keeping her expression blank, trying desperately to suppress everything Pandora had just revealed about Elvira.

"Are you okay?" Dorian asked softly.

She looked up at him, noting how his golden eyes clouded with concern. She forced a smile as he walked over, his large hands slipping smoothly around her waist.

"I’m okay," she said.

​"Are you sure? Did Pandora say something to upset you?"

Her pulse quickened. Smiling brightly to mask her sudden unease, she shook her head. "She didn’t. She was actually really sweet to me. She said she wants us to be friends."

Dorian hummed low in his throat, leaning down to nuzzle the curve of her neck. He pressed his lips directly over the ticking pulse point beneath her jaw, his breath warm against her skin.

"What did you two talk about?

​Alyssa’s heart skipped a frantic beat, and Dorian felt it instantly. His gaze darkened.

The only reason her heart would spike over a casual question like that was if Pandora ran her mouth about something forbidden.

"Nothing much," Alyssa answered quickly, holding her breath. "Just... girl talk."

Dorian pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. For a long moment, he said nothing. He slowly traced her bottom lip with his thumb, his other hand cupping the side of her face.

The silence dragged on, heavy and suffocating, before he suddenly smiled. "Let’s have breakfast."

The sudden change and the way the smile lit up his handsome features left Alyssa momentarily breathless. She managed to compose herself, returning the smile and placing her hand over his.

Dorian dragged one of the chairs across the floor, adjusting it for her as she sat. Then he settled into the opposite seat. He carefully filled a plate with steaming fried pasta and roast beef, setting it before her alongside a glass of water.

She beamed. "Thank you."

He flashed her a warm smile, serving his own portion. But even as he ate, his eyes never left her. Her beauty was just too ethereal, a sharp contrast to the violence of his world.

Alyssa tried to ignore the weight of his gaze, but it was becoming impossible. Slowly lowering her fork, she looked across the table at him.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Dorian opened his mouth to give a teasing response, but the words that actually emerged caught even him off guard.

"I want you to marry me, Alyssa."