The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

Ariel took a look at what would be her ‘new home’, and it took all in her not to bolt out of the door, screaming.

“Oh.” She hoped the disappointment wasn’t so obvious in her voice as she looked at where she would be for the rest of her life.

“Come in; don’t be a stranger.” The man motioned for her to enter.

Geez Ariel!

She hadn’t even bothered to learn his name, and she had followed him home. However, she placed her legs inside the apartment gingerly, not trying to make it obvious that she was repulsed at the very thought.

She swept all eyes all over the room-the small, rectangular space with a lackluster atmosphere. The walls were painted a dull beige color and seemed to close in on her, triggering her claustrophobia.

A worn-out, ash velvety sofa sat against one wall, its cushions sagging in the middle, and a tiny table with scratched surfaces stood in the middle. And that sums up the furniture in the room.

“Do you like it?” His voice went up a little in excitement, reminding Ariel of a golden retriever, and she had no choice but to nod her head.

“I guess so. I mean, it would need a little retouching, but it is better than nothing.” She mused. There was no need for her to be ungrateful, because, take it or leave it, she was a step closer to being a beggar.

“Sorry about that; the last tenant left it in a horrible position, and there was no way I could clean it before you came in.”

“It is fine, thank you.” Ariel made sure to smile as he looked at her.

“Good, my work is done here. I would bring some paper for you to sign tomorrow, and it is legally yours. We could go over the payment when you are very financially stable. Just take it easy for now and try to heal.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for everything; I am really grateful.” Ariel said with a small smile on her lips, but it was quick to turn to a frown. “Excuse me?”

“Is something wrong?” He asked, the lines on his forehead deepening as he frowned, and Ariel squinted her eyes as she observed him.

She was sure she heard him say something along the lines of ‘you could go down on your knees, but it would just be her mind playing tricks on her.

“No, it is fine.”

He stared right into her soul, as if he knew she was lying, but he ignored it. “Are you moving in today?”

“I would assume so, seeing I don’t have anywhere to stay.”

“Right, my bad. Here.” He stretched out his hands towards her, holding out a card, and Ariel took it, observing the embroidered paper. “You could always reach out to me in case of an emergency or even if you need someone to talk to.”

“Of course. Thank you.” She glanced at the sleek white card in her hands; his name was boldly outlined in black font, and his contact details were written below. “Mr. Wood Smith.”

It took all of her not to burst out laughing.

“Goodnight Ariel.”

“Goodnight.” She stood at the door and listened to his footsteps until she could no longer hear them, and she sank to the floor.

The wooden board made a dull thud as her butt touched it, and she almost broke down.

Nothing was like how it used to be.

Even the air was different, and the polluted Georgia air wasn’t doing it for her. There wasn’t even a freaking humidifier!

Ariel blinked rapidly, trying to will back the tears that had threatened to spill.

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She couldn’t cry again.

She reassured herself as she dragged herself to the bed and laid back on the bed, not caring for what had been there.

Right now, Ariel couldn’t care for anything, not when her whole world was crumbling down on her and another world was building.

She was a freaking werewolf!

She could turn into a beast under the full moon or even without the full moon.

Even the thought alone was giving her a headache; she wanted to know more; she needed it for her sanity.

After being kept in the dark for so long, she needed to know the truth, but right now, there was no way she could go about it.

Even the man who had been her only hope couldn’t reach her anymore as she had forgotten her phone at the pack.

How was she going to go from here?

Hell, she couldn’t even find a good job without her certificate. A certificate that the murderer paid her, she was reminded harshly.

Ariel released another ragged breath, bringing up her hands to massage her head as she felt the onset of a headache coming.

She had a lot of questions that needed answers, but the answers were not forthcoming, and it was frustrating for her.

She closed her eyes and took another breath, letting her eyes wander around the bedroom. The person who had stayed in the place before had done a horrible job, but it wasn’t like she could complain.

She rolled on the bed, curling herself into a small ball and hugging herself until she fell asleep.

The next morning, Ariel was woken up to the sound of a loud pounding on her door, and she stirred in her sleep, rolling over and lying on her stomach, slowly opening her eyes.

The unfocused eyes landed on the smooth white drywall of the ceiling, and she sucked in a sharp breath at the stark contrast, but the next knock on the door had her dragging her legs towards the door.

At the rate the person behind the door was going, they could break it.

Ariel opened the door, a little reckless. She had somehow lost her sense of security consciousness and had forgotten that Kane wouldn’t always be there to protect her.

Three females made their way inside her apartment, wearing similar black t-shirts, and they each balanced a few shopping bags in their hands.

Ariel watched them with curiosity as they walked in as if they owned the place, and it snapped in her mind. “Hey, what is happening? Who are you guys? I have permission to be here.” She was running up to them, grabbing the shopping bags in their hands before they could set them on the floor.

“Excuse me, I have every right to be here.” She protested vehemently, already reaching for her back pocket to take out his card.

The heavy footsteps on the floorboard stopped her plans, and she glanced at the entrance to see the man from yesterday marching towards her, spreading his legs like he owned the place.

Well, he actually owned the place.

He was talking rather loudly on the phone, his robust laughter triggering something she couldn’t lay her hands on, but that didn’t stop the intense relief that washed over her.

She was not ready to be homeless. Again.

Ariel rushed in front of him, waving her hands to gain his attention, and she smiled when she saw his eyes light up in recognition.

“Can we do this some other time?” She heard him say

on the phone, and shortly after, he was tucking the phone away.

“Ariel, it’s so good to see you; you even look more beautiful this morning.” He greeted her in an overly cheerful voice that she didn’t seem to agree with, but she managed a small smile.

“Hello, who are the people?”

“Haha. Straight to business, I see.” He burst into a short series of laughter that was instantly wiping off as she didn’t share the same enthusiasm. “I figured you would need some changes of clothes and some things around the house, hence the reason I brought them.” He was gesturing to the girls, and they threw a smile her way as if rehearsed and continued with their jobs.”Just ignore them; they won’t bother you.”

“Hmm.” Ariel could only nod, and she watched as they placed the shopping bags on the floor and went out, coming back with even more shopping bags.

The girls had finished up their trip, and Ariel’s living room was already looking like a shopping spree gone wrong, while the man responsible for all of it was at the corner, watching his handwork with a proud glint in his eyes.

“Is it to your liking?” He asked with an air of aloofness, but such things don’t move her anymore.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You want to know the truth?”

“Yes, because you just met me yesterday, and you are already doing all this.” No man would do all this if he didn’t want to get in your pants.

“I really like you, Ariel, and I am ready to do anything to make you happy. I understand that this is very sudden, but I am willing to wait, and I am not going to demand anything from you.”

Ariel regarded him with squinted eyes. His poor confession of love sounded like what a middle schooler would say.

Yet a wise person once said, Use what you have to get what you want, and if this opportunity had landed in her hands, she would be foolish not to make use of it.

And probably the fact that it would kill Kane to hear of this, and she wanted to do everything she could to hurt him.