THE ALPHA'S VIRGIN SLAVE: Submit Alpha Ian's curse - Chapter 349: Chapter 349

Tanya's POV
"How are you feeling?" August asked in the living room. He was standing close to the entrance, as if keeping a distance from me while I sat on the couch.
Not only did he prepare a bath for me and breakfast, but he was now preparing lunch. To him, it was definitely a fatherly act, but not to me.
"I love it when you act like a caring boyfriend," I said honestly, and that seemed to make him uncomfortable because he took a step back.
"I told you a million times...."
"Yes, you did. You like me as a father would, and soon I'll be your stepdaughter and friend," I said, cutting him off.
He glared at me and then took a step forward.
"I don't see you as a daughter or a friend, and I never will," he answered, surprising me.
"Then... what do you see me as?" I asked softly.
I could see it on his face how he was thinking hard about how to respond.
"If you ask me, I am sexually attracted to you, and if I might add, I...."
"Family, not my daughter or friend, but family," he quickly answered before I could finish saying what I wanted to say.
"So you shouldn't see me in a sexual way because families don't dream of sleeping with each other," he said as I smiled.
"August, I know you feel something for me too, and it may even be more than you feel for my mother. So all that talk about family is false," I said and then stood up.
He opened his mouth to say something when I deliberately fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around my stomach.
"Tanya!" he screamed and rushed to my side, kneeling next to me with his hand pressed on my shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a panicked voice.
"I don't feel too well," I whispered and then groaned low to see his reaction.
I was startled when he lifted me up in his arms and rushed to my bedroom.
He carefully put me on the bed and rushed out of my room, leaving me shocked.
When he came back, he was struggling to put on his shoes while dialing his phone.
"What are you doing?" I asked in a low tone.
"Getting us a cab; we need to go to the clinic," he answered loudly.
"You know that it's menstrual cramps I was struggling with this morning, right?" I asked seriously.
"I know, but if they cause you this much pain from morning till now, then I can't stand by and do nothing," he answered.
"Why? Because I am your family?" I asked sadly.
"Because you are my mate," he answered at the top of his voice and then raised a brow.
"Hey, were you by any chance faking how you were feeling?" he asked as I shifted my gaze to the side.
"I can't believe you! How could you lie to me?" he yelled angrily when I looked back at him.
"Because I wanted to see how you would react. I am fed up with hearing you say that you don't feel anything for me!" I yelled back.
He kept quiet for a few seconds, then looked at his phone.
"I guess we won't be needing a cab," he whispered.
"I know it isn't funny, and what I did is uncool, but that doesn't mean I faked how I felt this morning. I really was in pain," I said in a low tone.
"I know you were telling the truth in the morning. Just so you know, when you lie or tell the truth, I can tell. The reason I couldn't tell a few minutes ago was that I was panicking," he answered.
I smiled and then stood up and approached him.
"What are you doing?" he asked when I stood in front of him.
"So now I can't even stand in front of you?" I asked back.
"No, that's not what I meant," he answered.
"Then what did you mean?" I asked.
"I just... thought of how you still needed more rest," he answered as I laughed softly.
"You know, I can also tell when you lie. Like right now, you are lying to me," I said as he kept quiet.
"Anyway, I wanted to ask you something; that's why I approached you. What does 'mate' mean?" I asked seriously as he looked at me with a surprised expression.
At first, I thought 'mate' meant friend, but when I told him how he saw me as a daughter and friend, he refused and clearly told me how he would never see me in such a way.Then what did mate mean if not friend.
"I'm... well...," he trailed off.
"Does it mean 'lover'?" I asked in a playful, teasing way, expecting him to scold me or refuse by yelling at me. When seconds turned into minutes, I was shocked.
"Oh my goodness, I am right, aren't I?" I asked seriously.
"No," he answered as he turned his back towards me.
"August, look at me and say that again," I said.
My heart was beating rapidly just thinking about how it might be true. There was a huge possibility I was wrong, but then again, the way he reacted made it seem as if I was right.
"August!" I exclaimed.
"What!" he answered with emphasis and then turned to look at me.
"Mate means 'lover,' isn't it? Please don't lie to me and just answer truthfully," I begged.
"I knew this day would come, so what's the use of hiding it?" he muttered to himself.
"Look, mate means ..."
"I'm home," my mother said loudly in the living room.
He quickly rushed out of my bedroom, leaving me standing there feeling like I had been dumped.
I slowly went to the living room and forced a smile on my face when I found them hugging.
She pulled back and gave him a warm smile.
"Now, where is my welcome kiss?" she asked him simply.
When he leaned in, my heart began to ache, and I found myself facing the floor to avoid seeing their kiss. I felt like going over to where they were and pushing my mother away from him. I wanted to yell at her and call her bad names. I wanted her to stay away from him and never look his way again.
"Tanya," she called loudly, getting my attention.
"What?" I asked coldly.
"Did you not hear me call you more than once, darling? I said I am back home early because I wanted to spend more time with you," she said with a smile.
"I'm glad, Mother. Welcome back," I answered and then swallowed hard.
I was becoming annoyed with her, be it her voice or looks.