Richard’s POV:
“What do you want?” was the first thing I could think to ask. Being sleep-deprived was not a good feeling, and the hot shower I had helped to loosen my stiff muscles, thus worsening my drowsiness.
I could see Elise flinch as I practically snapped the question at her, whilst moving to my closet to pick out and wear something suitable for bed. I removed the towel from my waist unceremoniously, and I could feel her eyes rake over my naked bottom half like she had never seen it before. I felt a tinge of frustration and anger right then; she had not answered my question.
“Elise,” I ground out, “if you have nothing worthwhile to say, then please get out. I don’t have time for you or your antics today.” I finished putting on the cotton pyjama pants, turning to her with a piercing look. My eyes met hers, a clash of blue against blue.
Finally, she spoke, smiling sultrily at me, “I heard you had a lot of work to do last night. I wanted to come and check on you,” she took a step towards me, “Maybe, see if there was something I could do to ease your stress.”
I snorted at her, unsurprised. Of course, she would offer me sex now. It was unfortunate for her, then, that I did not want it.
I brushed past her, moving to sit on my bed while motioning to the door leading out of the room. “No thank you. I do not require your help. Now get out.”
A pout appeared on her pink lips and I groaned out loud. “Really, Elise. This is unbecoming of you. The only reason I am not throwing you out is because of our history.”
“Our history in bed, you mean?” She smirked, and I matched her smirk with a more biting tone as I responded.
“I meant our history as friends,” I emphasised the ‘friends’ part of my reply, which turned her smile into a scowl. She crossed her arms, looking very much like a child throwing a tantrum. I rolled my eyes at her, wondering why I ever made a mistake in starting a sexual relationship with her in the first place.
It must have been teenage hormones, I reasoned, bringing my hair up to brush back wet strands of my brown hair back before saying, “Elise, you are trying my patience. Do not think that this is a time to do so. I can and will punish you, as your Alpha.”
Those seemed to be the wrong words to say, as she moved to me again, crouching so that she was face to face with me, “A fun punishment, I hope?” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.
That was it. I had enough of this.
I grabbed her hand which she had intended to touch me with, standing up and towering over her. I used the grip I had on her hand to pull her to me, looking at her with the most disgusted, infuriated stare I could have ever mustered.
“A horrible punishment,” I growled back to her. I could see her eyes widen in fear, and a second later I pushed her away from me and pointed to the door, glaring at her. She took the hint this time, shuffling to the door and exiting through it, but not before giving me a baleful stare.
As soon as she shut the door, I moved to lock it, silently cursing my luck.
Elise had been trouble in my life for too long. We had started a sexual (no love involved, friends-with-benefits) relationship when we were teenagers and foolish. Even as we became adults, we continued having sex, sure that we would stop as soon as we found our mates. At least, I was. Little did I know that it became more than just sex to Elise, and now, I had become the one she wants the most. Since she had confessed to driving other ladies in the pack away from me with the hope that she is chosen as my mate, I cut off all sexual relations with her. That was two months ago. Unfortunately, it seemed that she could not take a hint.
I needed to get rid of her.
I sighed deeply, laying back on my bed and my mind whirling. After what felt like ten minutes, I remembered the Everneal Pack. We needed to send a team there to negotiate.
Perhaps, Elise would get to show off some of her skills with regards to this. The mission would suit her perfectly. I made my decision to send her off that evening. It would be a one-month-long mission and it would also give her the opportunity to potentially find herself a true mate.
Both of us would benefit.
I shut my eyes, letting the drowsy feeling take me deeper into sleep.
Arielle’s POV:I had finally finished unpacking.Sighing with a feeling of triumph filling me, I looked around my new room. There was a sense of belonging that I had begun to have now, and me fully unpacking was a sign of settling down, finally.Ever since I left my precious pack for medical school, I had become a nomad of sorts. I never unpacked my things fully, always ready to move at the last second. I did not do this consciously, but it now dawned on me that I was avoiding settling down before.Now, I was ready – ready to settle into my life in this new pack, and for all the possibilities that lay before me.A hope bloomed inside my chest, making me feel warm on the inside and grin like an idiot on the outside
Richard’s POV:It was a new day, and I had finally awoken after forcing myself to get some rest the previous day. I had managed to also finalise my plans to send Elise to the Everneal pack as the main delegate on my behalf. She had not been pleased when she had heard it from me the previous evening, when I had called her into my study just a little while after I had forced her out of my room.Now, as I was pacing the length of the large study, my mind was focused on other important pack matters I had to deal with, specifically those to do with our growing relationship with the neighbouring packs.Before, when my father was Alpha, the Redding pack was not as powerful as we are now. We were a small pack, and our territories were just the same as well. However, now that we were expanding our territories and our influence, the neighbouring packs have now looked to us as a threat, and that has been a big problem we have been dealing with.As Alpha, it was the top priority to work on.I was
Arielle’s POV:I sighed, shaking my head as I continued to check through the patient file, before opening to a new page to update the records of today’s visit. When I had finished updating the file, I then placed the file in the compartment for my assistant-slash-receptionist, Daisy, to return to their proper place. Then, I continued with another patient file, which sat atop a pile of paperwork that I had to sigh again at, before turning away.Suddenly I heard loud noises outside the door of the medic room I was currently in. My brows furrowed as I heard what sounded like Beta Darren’s voice. Was everything alright.My questions were answered promptly when the door banged open which made me stand up in alert, wolf instincts prepared to defend. The familiar scent of a pack member calmed me down as Darren was the one who stumbled in. My relief didn’t last for long as the scent of panic reached me and to my surprise by his side was a man I had not seen before, who he was struggling to ho
Arielle’s POV:I quickly pulled my arm off him. I felt my hackles rise as high as my eyebrows also did. I was still gaping at him, stunned by his behaviour. What was his problem? Why was he acting so damn stubborn?Shaking my head, I tried to come back to my senses. Focus Arielle, I thought grimly, putting on my stern Dr Arielle Grey face. He would not intimidate me, if that was what he was trying to do."Well as the healer of this pack and currently in charge of your health, I do." I snarked back, unable to help myself.I was rubbing my hand lightly now, having taken it away from his grip. His grip wasn't strong but somehow I could feel it is pressure like a lick of flame burning my skin.I could not help a shiver as I tried to center myself. He may be handsome and your Alpha, but he is clearly disrespecting your station, I told myself, shaking my head.Unable to process my feelings at the moment I turned back, aiming for the shelves. His voice stopped me in my tracks "I hope you hav
Arielle’s POV:“So, how are you finding the pack so far?” Darren asked me.The both of us were taking a walk as the sun was waning, leaving orange-red hues in the sky. It was beautiful, and a lovely way for me to end the day.Hours after Alpha Richard left unceremoniously, the friendly Beta Darren had come back looking for him, and had let me on my way back from a short break. I told him of Richard’s exit hours ago, and he seemed to calm down, deciding to postpone his meeting with him, instead offering to walk me home. That small walk turned into an impromptu tour as we enjoyed the fresh air.I shoved my hands into the pockets of my black pants as a cold wind breezed through.“It's all good, I’m coping I guess and everyone has been so nice to me so far.” I replied honestly. This pack was truly good to me. Despite being a new member, they were all so welcoming and trusting. Yet I shoved my mind off thinking of the one person I met who has been the absolute opposite.Darren brightened
Arielle’s POV:With my mind made up, I finished the files with quick order, and soon after, left the hospital and set out. It did take me some time to recall Darren’s direction to wherever the house was. I was still so horribly bad with directions, but I just had to recall what he had said about the main pack house aka Alpha Richard’s home.“It’s the largest house once you turn the corner of the street up there. Just don’t take the trails through the forest, you could get lost if you don’t know them too well,” he had said, after he gave me the tour of the compound the previous day.I found the house easily, to my relief – goddess knows that I did not want to be stuck and have to ask for directions from someone who might be incredibly rude about it, just like my first night here. Not to mention, it was just horribly embarrassing for me to continually get lost.I easily passed by the guards, after confirming who I was to thm, and I climbed up the steps to the front porch, before reachin
Richard’s POV:When she clumsily barged into my office all of a sudden, all I could do was stare. I was so stunned I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I had thought that that day in the hospital will be the last. Yet I could not help but feel attracted to her. I was stunned by her abrupt entrance. When she turned to look at me with those grey eyes. Bringing me back to our first meeting in the hospital. Even despite the pain I saw her as beautiful, her sudden touch as she carried me was like a spark, as she began tending to my wounds, I could not do anything but look away, trying to control this sudden attraction focusing on trying to. As we stood head-to-head with her challenging me, I could not help but flit my eyes to her lips, resisting the urge to kiss her as she stared back at me defiantly.She looked the same even now, with her red hair in tousled waves on her. I was transfixed by her appearance, unable to hear or think of anything else at the moment. When Darren’s voice, broke t
Richard’s POV:As soon as I had said it, it was clear she was pleased by the gleam I could see in her grey eyes. I fought within myself to not give her a smile in response, as she had a grin on her face.Dr Grey gave a slight respectful incline of her neck as she said, “Thank you alpha Richard. I will not disappoint.” Her voice sounded happy too, and it sent thrills through me. I was glad to have pleased her.But I could not show it to her of course. Not after we had that argument in the pack’s clinic. Unable to show a suitable reaction, I gave her a curt nod and turned to Darren, who had a look of curiousity on his face. But I tried to ignore it; I did not want my Beta and best friend to begin to question me again.“Darren, we need to work out the finer details of the rescue mission. Dr Grey, you may leave,” I said, barely looking at her, and expecting to hear footsteps and the door of my study to shut any moment from now. However, she did not move, and I paused in whatever I had tho