The Forbidden Heiress At The All Male Alpha Academy-Chapter 113: Show Yourself

Zeke opened his eyes to the familiar scent of pine. The ceiling was very familiar, and when he looked around, he saw that he was back inside the cottage.

His head was resting on her thighs, and she was seated on the couch, staring at a distance, too captured in her thoughts to notice that Zeke had woken up.

"Hey," He called gently.

Theo looked at him, and she smiled, "Hey,"

"You brought us back home," He said.

"I headed back here at dawn. The hunting spree had died down a bit. You should get more sleep,"

He watched her carefully. She was looking a little pale, and the smile on her face did not quite meet her eyes. "Talk to me. What’s bothering you?"

She smiled again and shook her head, "Nothing,"

"Tell me," He urged.

"I guess..." She began, "Last night was a lot for you, and I’m just glad we made it out alive...that you made it out alive,"

"I didn’t mean to make you worried about me,"

The memory of him looking so pale and vomiting felt like it happened just a minute ago, "I know you didn’t. I just can’t help myself,"

He sat up and threw the duvet off himself, then he took her into a hug. She placed her head on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. It was assuring. He felt solid and safe as always, but would it always remain this way?

Zeke might think those men were after him last night, but she knew the truth.

They were after her. Cain had sent them after her. Cain knows everything. He might even know where they are right now, even though she hadn’t left a single trail as she had brought them back here this morning.

It scared the hell out of her.

Just then, Theo saw a flicker of shadow from the window facing her. Her brows creased, and tension hugged her shoulders.

Zeke felt it, "What’s wrong?"

He pulled back and looked into her eyes, "Hey, what’s wrong?"

"There’s...," She was about to speak when the figure walked past the window in a blur, and she stifled a gasp from escaping.

Zeke followed her gaze and looked outside, but he saw nothing. There were only two people she realised she barely sensed their presence till they were too close.

Zeke and Sylas.

And this person hovering outside the cottage was neither one of them, and the fact that Zeke hadn’t sensed him yet told her he was very good at masking his presence.

"What is it?" Zeke asked again, turning back to her.

"... Nothing, I thought I saw something,"

"Are you sure it’s nothing?"

"Yes, I’m sure," She replied, letting her shoulders relax.

Zeke believed her and she watched as he stood up to make breakfast. He had everything they needed in the fridge, and she watched in awe as he prepared something... immaculate.

Her mother died early so she never learnt about what went on in the kitchen. She was too busy training and trying to get her father’s approval.

"Did the lady in the painting teach you how to cook?" Theo asked as she took a spoon to her mouth.

Zeke nodded, "I spent most of my time with her, before she died,"

The second Theo chewed on the food, her eyes widened as the delicious flavours melted in her tongue. She couldn’t believe what she was tasting, and her gaze darted over to Zeke in disbelief, who was very amused.

"You like it?"

Like was an understatement.

"This is heaven, right here," She moaned as she kept chewing, "Your hands are blessed. This is a wonder...you’re a wonder!"

She just kept blabbing at whatever came to mind, and almost choked a few times but she was happy to choke on good food. Back at home, the cooks only brought food to her room when they remembered she existed, and her brothers would often warn the cooks not to even serve her in the first place.

When she was younger, she would sneak into the kitchen and finish the leftovers. She recalled one time Caspian had caught her and broken a plate on her head. Harrison had laughed at the sight, saying that if she was really that hungry, she should chew on the broken pieces of plate.

Since then, she never snuck into the kitchen again. And sometimes, she would find a plate of broken plates served to her as food.

It went on for months.

That was how she realised that Seraphina could survive without food for months, and the hunger would not be overwhelming.

Again, the shadow passed by the door and Theo glanced at it for a second.

She was done eating and dropped her plate in the sink. Then, she turned to Zeke, "It’s time I get going,"

He paused, "What?"

"It’s been two days already. I have to go home, remember?"

He did not look happy, but he clenched his teeth through it.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be back before it’s time for you to go to bed," She said.

His eyes instantly lit up, "Really?"

"You didn’t think I was really going to leave you alone with your nightmares?"

He took her hand in his, "I’m gonna miss you. Do you want me to drop you off?"

She quickly shook her head, "I think it’s best I go alone,"

"Let me drop you off. It’ll take you hours to get to the North on foot,"

"Then I’ll run at full speed," She assured, "Don’t worry about me, really, I’ll be fine,"

"Alright then," He did not look convinced at all.

They walked out together, and she quickly swept her eyes over the surroundings. As she did, she caught the figure standing behind one of the trees down the forest.

"You sure you don’t want me dropping you off?"

"Your bike got destroyed, remember?"

Zeke shrugged, "Who says I have just one bike?" He pointed at a small garage at the back.

She chuckled softly, "Show off. But thank you for the ride. I need to get going,"

He nodded, both hands in his pocket, "Alright then, go." He still did not look very convinced, but she was surprised to see he wasn’t making any more moves. He was definitely holding back again, as he had promised.

So, she took the initiative and made a move herself. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss on his cheeks, "Thank you for the last two days," She whispered from the bottom of her heart, "I had forgotten what it felt like to laugh genuinely,"

He didn’t say anything. Even though carnal hunger flashed, he didn’t move to grab her.

"You’re welcome," He uttered softly, then stood there watching as she walked down to the forest and disappeared.

Alone, a hand lifted from his pocket and precariously touched his cheeks, where her softness ghosted.

.

.

.

Theodora walked into the forest, searching for the shadow. It was dark in here due to the tall trees, but beams of sunlight still made it through.

She could feel the presence lingering around her, and she kept moving carefully. Whoever it was wasn’t giving off a violent aura, but was simply watching her.

"I know you’re here," She called into the forest, "And I know you followed us all the way from the carnival. I’m not gonna hurt you, so please...show yourself,"

Silence. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Seconds passed. Almost a minute.

Then, she felt a presence approaching from behind. She whirled around instantly, and what she saw made her freeze.

Her eyes trembled like they were about to fall off, and a gasp tore from her lips.

The person took a step forward, his amber eyes watching her with the same intensity as she was.

"Cous?" Thaddeus whispered.