MATED TO THE STRONGEST ALPHA
Chapter Twenty - Four

*Selene's POV

"I was on vacation that day; I went home after that dinner."

I asked her about the party and the dinner she missed. And even her brother didn't say anything about her. So, I thought Axel didn't have a sister.

"But I know some things about you. My father told me about it before, and they talked about how the King found the long-lost princess. That was a nice story anyway. At least you found your real parents after all." I sipped my coffee for a while.

"How is the coffee?" There was a happy smile on her face as she waited for me to answer it.

I tasted it for a moment. "It tastes... It tastes like a sweet memory."

She clapped after I said, "That is my favorite coffee. It brings me sweet memories."

"But with a bit of sadness," I added.

For a moment, I remembered my friend Rachael. All for the things that we did. All the memories we shared. Everything we dream about. I missed her. I missed the old time with the people I loved.

I fell silent for a moment as I remembered that. I didn't know that a simple coffee would bring me those memories.

"Are you okay?" With a concert tone, Alexa asked me.

Those words brought me back to life. I looked away just to be calm; I didn't want to cry. I didn't want to make a scene.

"Yeah, I am just amazed by the power of this coffee."

"That is good. How were those memories? Was that giving you pain?" Now she sounded like her brother. I hoped when I told her about it, she would never judge me like her brother did.

"Tell me, I won't judge you. You know, we all live in every dark secret, and we also all have memories. A good one that made us feel in pain now. You are not the only one who has felt and experienced that." Alexa reassured me.

I remained silent. She gave me good advice. That was running in their blood? She seemed to have experienced pain in the past, as I felt. But yeah, she was right. We had a different past, but we all have good and bad experiences in our lives. That was part of our growth.

For a moment that silence embraced us, the soft music playing in the café seemed louder now that we were both silent. I closed my eyes as I felt familiar with those sounds.

"Why did this place make me feel that I was familiar at all?" I didn't notice that I said those words. But this was a strange feeling; I felt it. But I couldn't explain it clearly.

As I opened my eyes, my sight was straight to my friend, who looked at me with a concerned look.

I hadn't told her what sad memories flooded back, and I reckoned that was why she gave me that look.

"It's okay; you do not have to tell me now. Anytime you feel ready to talk about what is bothering you, I will always be here to listen."

I teared up a little because of her understanding and concern. "Thank you." The response came straight from my heart.

She gave me a sweet smile and paused for a while before asking. "Do you have plans tomorrow night?"

I shook my head. "I have no plans tomorrow night, aside from going home."

"Uh, you already have a dorm? I am alone in mine; if you want, we could be there together."

I gave a sweet smile. "Really? That is so sweet; I would love to move in with you." Father and mom had already prepared accommodation for me, but I was staying at a hotel in the meantime. However, I was confident that if I told them that I was moving in with a trusted friend, they'd be ecstatic.

"But there is a problem," Alexa added

I waited for her to finish what she wanted to say, but before she could do it, she sipped her coffee.

"My brother lives in the apartment next door."

"Is that a problem?"

"Yes. Sometimes, if he is bored. He knocks on the door even at midnight over and over. It gets quite hard to sleep."

I didn't know why I was laughing. It was quite funny. "That's quite childish of him."

"You are right, Axel was a problem," I added.

I didn't expect that she would laugh at what I said. We both hate her brother. Axel was sometimes good, but he was stubborn.

I brought back Axel as our topic, and Alexa confessed everything that made her hate Axel. All of those stories made me laugh. I was glad that, for a long time, I laughed like this again. Thanks to Alexa for making me feel this again.

As the sun was about to set, we planned to leave the café. We talked about how I would transfer my things to her dorm. She said that I could see her place now. Our university provides a room for every student, but we are free to choose what we want in our lives. Just make sure that everything is okay and didn't harm any students.

"You will go to the hotel now?" Alexa stopped.

"Yes, I will wait for a taxi here."

As I requested of my father, I wanted to feel that I could handle myself and be independent. So, I refused when he said that he would hire a driver for me. I didn't know how to drive, so I waited for a taxi.

"Okay. I just need to get back to my dorm. Just call me if you need anything. Here was my phone number." I looked at the paper she handed me.

"Thank you. I had a great day today." I hugged her for a moment before she finally said goodbye.

I couldn't stop my smile as I remembered that I had a new friend. And she was awesome.

As I was alone, waiting for a taxi. One red car stopped in front of me. When the window got down, I saw who the driver was. My smile faded away that quickly.

"I will take you back to the hotel." It was Axel.

"No thanks." I crossed my arms.

"You got my sister's attitude for just a half day?"

I didn't respond.

"Just get inside the car, or I will order you to train tomorrow."

I waited for a second to see if he could say that he was kidding, but he wasn't. So I know that he was serious. My trainer could do that.

Even though I didn't want to, I got into his car.

"Girls are problematic." He laughed even though I gave him a piercing stare.

I couldn't explain, but my heart was happy now that I was with him. This was the weirdest thing I felt. I hated it, and at the same time, I loved it.

*