4

Oceane.

I know it's him. Slowly I turn around and look at him troubled. He stands against the door, his arms crossed waiting for my response. His face is neutral, preventing me from guessing what is going through his head. A few hours ago he strangled me and now he's asking me if I want to play? Despite this, I tell him:

- I don't play the games I know I'm going to lose.

He smiles and walks towards me. I hold the edge of the table to avoid falling when he leans over me and whispers in my ear:

- How about we bet?

I hold my breath at this closeness. He takes the pool cue behind me and stands at the other end of the table without taking his eyes off me. I look down, unable to bear his gaze.

- If you win, you can go out into the forest whenever you want, he offers me, passing the chalk on the end of his tail.

I raise my head and ask him:

- What if I lose?

He lays down the chalk and puts his hands on the cue, leaning slightly over it. He looks at me with a smirk and replies:

- I'll sleep in your room.

- What?

Sleep in my room with me? I look at him dumbfounded. I'm having trouble figuring it out. Before I can say anything, he pushes the other cock in my direction.

- You have nothing to lose.

Yes, my honor. I'm not going to sleep with him when I don't know him. However, I must admit that he is not wrong. If I win, I could go out. But how likely am I to win knowing that I've never played? I bite my lip hesitantly. If I keep my distance tonight, I'll be fine.

- What do you get out of it? I asked suspiciously.

He shrugs and prepares the balls. I take the tail with a sigh. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I approach him and take the chalk. I pass it on the tip of the tail, not knowing how to do it. I put it down quickly and go back to my place. I hope he didn't notice that I don't know anything about it.

When he bends over the table to concentrate, I can't help but watch him. His muscles are visible through his white t-shirt, his hair is disheveled which gives him a manly air. I must admit that he is a very imposing man. I look away as I hear the sound of bullets hitting each other.

He sits up straight and looks at me defiantly. I regret not having observed the way he held the tail instead of his body. I choose the ball in front of me and hold the tip of the tail between my thumb and forefinger. I think that's the right position. I hit the ball shaking because of the weight of the cue. Who invented this thing? It's too long for me, which doesn't make it easy.

The ball does not move an inch under my shot. The Alpha starts laughing, openly mocking. The first shot is never the right one. The second time will be the good one, I feel it.

We've been playing for 15 minutes now and I haven't been able to score once. I don't even know why I accepted.

- Well, I'm fed up, he said before hitting the white ball which hits all his balls before going into a hole.

I am amazed at his blow. He pretended to 'play' when he could win in one go. I pulled myself together and put my cock on the table.

- It was evident.

I look at him annoyed. Why did I accept? He in turn lays down his tail and leaves without adding anything. I stay planted in this game room staring at the green table. I hate it.

Lying on my bed, I look at the stars from the window. It's so beautiful. I try to sleep but can't. I wait for him to arrive. I would have liked to win and be able to get out of this house. He forces me to stay locked up here as if I were an animal. Even an animal doesn't deserve to be locked up. No body deserves it. I still have the chance that this house is gigantic.

The door opens and someone enters. I don't look away, I know it's him. While I expected to feel him next to me, I don't feel anything. Curious, I turn my head and watch him watching me standing in front of the bed. The moonbeams lighten him up enough for me to see that he's shirtless and sweating. Where is he from?

- Get up, he orders me.

I look at him puzzled.

- For what?

- I won. I'm going to sleep here so you're going to sleep somewhere else.

I stand up and look at him dumbfounded.

- Pardon?

- Hurry up! I feel sleepy.

Still in shock, I stand staring at him. He's not serious? Normally I wouldn't have left but I lost. I am a person of my word, I lost and I will assume the consequences. I was about to take the pillow and the blanket when he forbade me.

- What am I going to sleep with? I asked him annoyed.

- It's not my problem.

I want to hit him! I head for the door when I ask him impatiently:

- And where am I supposed to sleep?

- In the living room.

I clench my fists and walk out, slamming the door shut. I hate it. He is lucky to have won otherwise I would have gladly shared my thoughts with him. I sit down on the big armchair and stare at the television. The wall on my left is glass which brightens the room with the moonlight.

I see a folded blanket on the edge of the chair. Thank God. I take it and cover myself with it. I don't have a pillow but that's okay, I'm used to it.

Nora often deprived me of my pillow, sometimes even my blanket, to punish me. It's hard at first but you get used to it. I look around the living room pensively. I sleep again without a pillow, the only difference is that this time I'm on a more comfortable chair than my old bed and I'm in a luxury house. I changed location but for the rest everything is the same.

I wake up with a start, breathing heavily. I sit down and try to calm myself down. I dreamed of that night again. I run a hand through my wet hair from my perspiration and the ties. It always gives me the effect of a shock to iron this night in front of my eyes. The hardest part is remembering that this is not a nightmare but a painful memory.

I have to take a shower. I get up and walk to my room. In front of the door, I remember that he is sleeping. I don't know what time it is but the sun has already risen. I hesitate, I don't want to disturb him. But he didn't hesitate by letting me sleep in the living room. And then, it's my room, I do what I want.

I slowly open the door and stay rooted to the spot seeing my empty bed. Where is he? Just then, the door to the next room opens. He goes out to dress and comb the room and walks past me, ignoring me.

- You didn't sleep in my room? I asked him puzzled.

-No, he admits to me, continuing on his way.

- Are you letting me sleep in the living room on purpose when you didn't intend to sleep in my bedroom?

- You got it all.

He disappears from my field of vision without adding anything. I clench my fists and knock on the door. I hate him, I hate him! He just wanted to piss me off and it's done. I don't want a soul mate like him, I want to get out of here. I continue to insult him from the inside while taking my shower.

Once in the living room I am surprised by seeing a pillow on the armchair. I hadn't noticed it there earlier. Unless I'm sleepwalking, he'll bring her back to me. Shaken by this gesture, I sit down and stare at the pillow. This man is weird. He must be suffering from bipolarity.

I spend all day watching TV and walking around this house. I'm bored. I have to find something to do otherwise I will spend all my days doing nothing. He locks me up and gives me nothing entertaining. A board game would be perfect! On second thought, maybe not when you have no friends. I can't see myself playing alone.

I take my drawing book from my bedroom and go downstairs to draw in the kitchen. When I enter this one, I surprise the Alpha and a girl kissing. Shock, I drop my book which separates them.

The girl scrutinizes me from head to toe before leaving, smiling cruelly. Once alone the Alpha was about to leave the kitchen without saying anything when I stopped him by putting myself in front of him:

- I deserve an explanation, don't I?

I have to raise my head to be able to look him in the face. We are very ready but our distance is not important for the moment. He looks at me with his haughty gaze and explains to me:

- It's Lena, my friend.

- Your girlfriend? I repeated confused.

- Step back.

I don't move and he violently pulls me back out of the room. Annoyed by his gesture I shout:

- I'm your soul mate!

He squeezes the doorknob. I can see he's trying to hold back, but I'm too upset to shut up.

- Why make me come here then! Go lock her up! You're an asshole, I finally whisper.

The doorknob falls to the floor with a thud. I jump when I feel his hands grab my arms. He shakes me roughly before knocking me to the ground. I can't hold back my tears when he slams the door.

In shock, I stay on the ground. I don't care that he has a relationship with her but it's a lack of respect towards me. And that annoys me. She is his girlfriend and has the right to go outside while me being his soul mate I have to stay locked up between 4 walls because he has decided so?

Mad with rage, I leave the house, slamming the door. The tears of fury flow ceaselessly. I venture into the forest with a decided step. I'm sure I'm making a big mistake but I'm too pissed off to think about it.

I stop and shout, staring in front of me:

- I WENT OUT AND WHAT? YOU ARE JUST A FUCKED JUMP!

I know he hears me and so much the better. I breathe heavily causing my chest to heave faster than it should. When I hear footsteps behind me, all traces of courage disappear, giving way to regret. I never should have done that.