Alpha Owned(9)

“When you guys went on that one date, shit went down the drain.” Christian said, mentioning the only time he and Cici had ever done anything social as kids.

He walked beside Christian to the kitchen in his house. “I wanted her. I think something I said may have pushed her away. She seemed fine at first, but then she went cold on me. Refused to talk and eventually she rejected all my invitations to get together.”

Christian filled a mug with coffee. “She mentioned someone telling her that you would only want a shifter for a mate. I guess after that she didn’t think she’d have a chance with you.”

Fucking hell! If that was the case, that would explain why she had left and pushed him away. She didn’t want to be hurt. Ciara wanted him. He knew that. He’d seen it in her eyes. He’d heard it from her lips.

“I’ll talk to her. Explain that whatever impression she is under is wrong. That I choose who I want for a mate and that she’s the only one I want.”

Christian dumped sugar and cream into his coffee, stirring it with a small spoon, the metal clinking as it touched the porcelain of the cup. “You’re a better man than most. When Cici decides something it’s rare that she changes her mind. It’s why she doesn’t really have a boyfriend. She has refused relationships and I think it’s because of you. Nobody measures up.”

Ryker leaned back on the counter and folded his arms over his chest. “I love her. But she’s got to be the most stubborn woman in the world.”

Christian laughed. “You’re telling me? I’m her brother.”

“I guess I’ll just have to get her to admit her feelings.”

Christian lifted the mug to his lips. “Good luck, bro.”

He knew he’d need it. Cici was worth it, though. She was his life.

* * *

The next morning, Cici woke up more exhausted than when she laid down with a bottle of wine. Luckily, the bottle had been empty or it would have spilled all over her bed. She’d been well and truly drunk to the point she couldn’t remember falling asleep or drinking in bed. There was also the terrible dry mouth and slight headache from her hangover she needed to deal with. Temptation urged her to forget baking and sleep some more. That was the first clue she needed to get up or she’d never do anything.

Neither Sara nor Darius showed up for a while, which was normal since they were both late sleepers. Shit, even Cici loved sleeping in, but the groom’s cake for Chris wouldn’t wait.

Due to the small oven in the cabin, she’d have to bake in two rounds. That part sucked. She loved being able to shove all her cakes into one large oven and cut the time in half. By the time she’d got the first cake to bake, Darius and Sara made their way into the kitchen.

“Morning.” Sara groaned, running her fingers through her mussed up hair.

“Need caffeine.” Darius muttered, heading straight for the coffee maker.

“You guys look like you got run over by the vicious sleep fairy. Shit. I thought I’d had it bad when I woke up with a headache earlier.”

Darius gave her the finger and Sara dropped her head into her folded arms on the dining room table.

“What happened?” Cici asked. Hands wiped clean, she sat down on the table across from Sara.

“Liquor happened.” Her words were muffled from having her head down.

“I don’t get it.” Cici curled her fingers over the mug Darius handed her and placed it in front of Sara. “What’s wrong with liquor? I had my fair share.”

“Shifters don’t get drunk.”

“Okay?” Cici still didn’t understand.

“They did a ton of drinking last night at the bon fire. We drank right along with them.”

Hangovers. Shifters didn’t get drunk. But Sara was mostly human and Darius was fully human. They’d have gotten some bad hangovers if they drank as much as the shifters or tried to keep up. That sucked big time.

“You guys need to drink water and relax.” Cici patted Sara’s curls. “I need to go into town and buy some stuff I forgot for the second cake batch.”

Darius cupped his cheek and sighed. “We’ll come with you.”

“Yeah.” Sara lifted her head and sniffed. Then frowned. She sniffed again and studied her.

“I know I smell like cake and sweat right?” Cici grumbled.

“No. You smell…different.” She cocked her head as if looking for something. “But my brain isn’t working so well due to the headache and exuding liquor I can smell on myself. Ugh. I hate that this is what I’ll smell for the next few hours. My own body trying to get rid of alcohol. Nasty.”