Two Weeks Later
"Move it, Aria! You're needed in the VVIP room!"
An exiled beta's daughter, a rejected mate.
A fallen wolf.
There were only a few establishments that risked employing unfortunate people like me; places like casinos where I was currently doing the job that didn't require a special identity.
A waitress.
"Okay Ms. Green." I replied our manager and grabbed the drinks, heading to the elevator where my fellow waitresses were already.
"Hey." I greeted them when I came in, but as usual, they ignored me and kept talking about the group of hot Alphas who had come in for the night.
Somehow, news of my true identity had travelled fast in the casino and reached everyone's ears. While our manager who employed me hadn't given two shits about it, the same couldn't be said for my co-workers.
They started avoiding me like plague, and whispered 'freak' when they clearly knew I could hear them.
Like now.
"Tina, you may not want her skin to touch yours else she will rat you out to the manager that she dreamt of you stealing the casino from her." That was Lisa, the slender omega bitch who was training to be a model.
She had never liked me even before they got to know about my exile.
As usual, I pretended as if I couldn't hear them and held tightly to the tray of wine brought from the special bar downstairs.
It was reserved for the highest ranking Alphas and the richest moguls who came here on weekend nights to chill off.
The guests I was going to serve seemed quite important, and I focused on the tip I could get if I served them properly.
It would go a long way to ensure I wasn't kicked out of the cheap apartment I found somewhere in the poorest streets.
As soon as the elevator stopped on the top floor, I stepped out first and adjusted my uniform, ensuring that my auburn hair was swept into a tight ponytail before pushing the doorbell, and then swiping my card against the security system.
It was the most expensive room reserved for the VVIPs. On one occasion I had walked in on a full blown orgy. Since then, I pushed the doorbell even before I used my card to gain access to the room.
Tonight when the doors opened, my nostrils took in the overpowering scent of wolves whose aura spread across the air; I would have staggered from the force if I weren't used to being around powerful wolves.
They were six, playing a game of poker without giving me a second glance.
Which was normal. I was after all a lowly waitress.
But minutes later, the mood had changed.
They were still playing poker alright, but the atmosphere was...pensive.
And the aura...uncomfortable.
For a second I was confused about what was happening, till I realised that they were communicating amongst themselves in their minds and it wasn't going well.
Within a minute, one of the men in expensive suit had flung a table upside down, his eyes narrowing in building anger. Then he parted his lips and spoke for the first time.
"What you intend to do will cause problem between packs, you selfish prick! I'd rather die first before I let you take over control of the national security!"
Realisation hit me. He was speaking the Zech language which was only taught to royalties and Alphas. They used it when they didn't want lower wolves to understand what they were saying.
Especially when there was going to be a war.
I had learnt those languages because of the school I attended, and because sometimes my dream had featured high ranking Alphas and lycans.
I also recognised that voice from the Royal Pack House; it was Alpha Kyrian, the advisor to the Alpha king. I turned my face towards the shadows cast by the dim light in the room.
He couldn't recognise me here.
I tensed up.
"Interesting. Then you should have prepared your will before coming here, Kyrian. Sign the contract or I have a video of this discussion sent to the King. I'm sure he would be interested to know that his advisor came to me for help looking for ways to kill him."
What the...
That voice...was feral.
I couldn't resist the sudden magnetic force which pulled me towards him, my eyes moving of their own will to his direction.
He was seated like a king, effortlessly relaxed into the couch as if he owned it.
I could only see the sideview of his face, but it was enough to reveal the kind of person he was.
His chiselled jaw screamed arrogance and the whiskers in his jaw and shoulder length hair were untamed.
His Adam's apple bobbled as spoke, visibly powerful thighs in designers' pants crossed over the table.
This man wasn't just rich, but didn't take orders from anyone, neither was he afraid to make an enemy of the Alpha King's advisor.
As I watched, he flexed his fingers and adjusted the ring which he welded with power.
His aura was suffocating, powerful and tempting with a kind of sexual pull I had never felt before, even with my mate.
I had to get out of here.
But not before I served them.
Taking a deep breath, I managed to walk towards the centre table and uncork the wine bottle, my fingers shaking as I poured into their glasses.
"You prick! You can't rat me out because you agreed to do it, and we signed a fucking NDA! You can't threaten me with..."
"Prick? That's tiny. I would rather go by cocky; bigger, bolder, you know." This man was relaxed, unbothered as he continued.
"That NDA means nothing when it's torn, Kyrian. Besides, you want the King dead, and I want control of the warriors. Win-win. You thought I would let you have the territory to yourself? Clearly you think stories you've heard about me are myths."
For a second, my fingers froze on the bottle of wine in my hand, and it had nothing to do with physical cold. Dread washed over me, making me shiver internally.
Alpha Kyrian had conspired with this devious man to betray and kill the king.
I lowered my face further; if the King's advisor recognised me, it would really be over for me.
While my life no longer had meaning, something prevented me from ending it all although I had been tempted to.
Many nights. Especially when the pain of being rejected by my mate spread through my body and reached deep into my soul.
Maybe I had struggled to be alive to achieve a purpose. I could prevent a national calamity from befalling us and even find the seer who had interpreted my dreams.
She had disappeared after the day we were exiled.
As soon as I completed the task of pouring the drinks, I stepped out of the room the same way I had come; unnoticed.
Then I made my way towards Ms. Green, because as the manager of the casino, I was supposed to relate the information to her first so she could tell the authority.
Besides, none of those warriors would take me seriously after learning of my family's plight.
When I found her at the back of the bar, I was panting for breath and held tightly to her hand for support.
"Ms...Green, I have to tell you something..."
She stared at me in confusion, but luckily didn't argue, but led the way towards a private room downstairs.
"What is it?" She asked as soon as we were alone.
"I... Just heard those Alphas in the VVIP room conspiring to kill the king. We have to do something about it or... I'm scared, Ms. Green."
Her eyes mirrored many emotions, but she gave me a small smile, and led me to a couch.
"It's okay. Have you told this to anyone else?"
I shook my head. "No, I came to you immediately."
She covered my shaky palms, her other hand patting my shoulders.
"Good. You're brave to come to me with this, Aria. Just wait here for a second okay? I'll make a call and return to you."
I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself as soon as she ceased to hold me. But a thought made me afraid and I called out as she left the room,
"Please be careful, they seem dangerous."
Her eyes were maternal as they gazed upon me, and she nodded. "Don't you worry about a thing, and stay here, don't go anywhere."
She was sincerely worried about me, and it brought tears to my eyes. She reminded me of my mother before that night, just a younger version who...
The doors opened with a loud thud, a familiar overpowering scent seeping into my system.
What the...
The dangerous man upstairs filled the room with wide shoulders and tall bulky six foot frame, hazel eyes with golden flickers staring intently at me, a wicked smile curving his lips upward.
How...
Ms. Green came into view, the expression in her eyes changed drastically. "She's the one, Alpha Cole, she listened to your discussion."
I was... Numb.
I remained in my seat, eyes unblinking, heart filled with dread as he took the seat next to me and dismissed the manager with a wave of his palm.
"I should introduce myself. Cole Roman, Alpha of the Shadow Walker pack and CEO of the Roman Corporation. I own this casino as well. How about you, Ms...Aria? How do you know the Zech language?"
Shadow Walker pack?
Owner of the casino?
I was going to die.
"Will...you kill me, sir?" Stuttering that statement was the best thing I could come up with at the moment.Given what I had heard about the Alpha of Shadow Walker pack, forgiveness wasn't one of his qualities.Untamed handsome features, intense gaze which threatened to knock me off the seat... Those were only parts of his many qualities. A devious smirk glinted in his eyes, and he leaned into the seat, making himself comfortable as though he weren't bothered by the situation. I had listened in on a conspiracy to murder the Alpha King, now he was going to kill me."That depends on how this discussion goes. Answer my question. Why do you understand a confidential language? Who are you?" A former member of the Silver Moon pack who had been training to be Luna since I turned eighteen.The daughter of an ex-beta...Everything I had been before was over.I was...no one."I'm Aria Smith, sir. I...work here."At the moment, I realised it was the only identity I had; my name, and the occu
The Shadow Walker pack house was state of the art! Luxurious, spacious and craftily designed, the only building I had ever seen which came close to it was the Royal Pack House. "Let me help you, Ms." One of the moving men who had come to my house in a big moving truck offered to carry the only luggage I had, a mini rolling box. "Thanks." I replied, adjusting my sweater against the night cold. Whatever they had thought I had in my tiny apartment when they came with that gigantic truck, it had been echoing in emptiness when they transported me and my bag to the Shadow Walker pack house. In my disoriented state, I had only thrown in a few clothes, underwear, books and footwear before leaving my former pack in shame and tears. It still didn't seem real that I was now a member of a new pack, but I signed a couple of documents a few hours ago and now stood in front of a magnificent building. The older lady who had introduced herself as Genevieve and offered me the contract stood
Cole's P.O.V. "I still don't get it, why didn't you kill her?" My beta's eyes were drawn together in confusion as he sat cross-legged in my office. I couldn't blame him, even I was surprised at how I had acted. Normally Ms. Smith would have been disposed of quietly after learning what she did. "What if she goes ahead to betray you? Heard she has met the Alpha King before." I adjusted the diamond watch on my wrist and a matching ring which graced my finger. "She won't." I simply replied my beta, Ace. It was that simple; I had just felt that she wouldn't rat me out upon setting my eyes on her and it had nothing to do with how much I had scared her. "Alpha, you've never taken chances or been this impulsive. You just accepted her into the pack; does that have to do with her connection to the Silver Moon?" I raised a brow, tapping my fingers on the table. Ace was my right-hand man, the beta of my pack and the Vice Chairman of the Roman Corporation. We didn't go around mentioning
Aria "I...thought you said it's a se... sex club, sir?" I was mortified, it was only a moon ball and I had been nervous for nothing! All through the car ride, I had been sweating as I sat beside Alpha Cole, and it didn't help that his scent was a hell of a distraction. All I had been able to think of were his powerful thighs crossed beside me, and big rough fingers working on the laptop. "I gave you that scenario to prepare you for the worst. Take this." He handed a ball mask over to me, which I took with shaky fingers, a shiver running through me as his palm made contact with my skin. He was magnetic and alluring in that crisp luxurious suit and sleek hair which had been pulled in a low bun. Long hair suited him in an untamed erotic way, and I pulled my eyes away when I realised I was staring. And he had caught me. My cheeks were on fire, and I sucked in a deep breath, following him up the stairs as he pulled the mask over his face. "Your task tonight is simple, listen to a
"How...long have I been out of it?" My voice was a wretched whisper; crooked and low. My throat was so dry and my body felt numb from lying down for a long time."Seven days, Ms. Smith." The nurse replied, and reached for her phone, typing something.A week of lying down after...Losing my baby...My hands rested on my stomach of their own volition, and tears started to well up in my eyes again. It was my fault for not knowing my own body properly; I had stupidly shifted many times and endangered my pup. "Don't think about anything now. Don't worry, the Alpha instructed us to put you on anaesthetics so it won't hurt." The nurse with kind eyes told me, and I nodded although the tears wouldn't stop falling. I had lost my family, my mate and now... My pup. It wasn't any fault of this innocent child who had been unlucky to be born in the womb of an ignorant, cursed wolf. Why did I have to be given that curse of prophecy which had taken everything from me?I cried harder."Ms. Smith
"Deeper...oh yeah..." Sweaty toned skin glistened as it pressed harder to my body, glued to my white skin. He raised my legs and pushed me against the wall, wrapping my thighs around him. Then he entered my willing body, filling me up as I dug my claws against his back and moaned... Wet tongue swept my earlobe into his searching hot mouth, his soft beard making me tremble with desperate need. Then he caught my ear in his mouth and whispered in that husky voice heavy with lust. "Say my name, Aria... Beg me to take you harder..." But his name was already on the verge of my tongue, and my parted lips were ever ready to chant it like a mantra. "Please, fuck me, Alpha Cole..." "Fuck yeah..." He muttered in my ears, and drove into me, so hard I saw stars when I... Fell off the bed. My eyes snapped open sharply, my heart pounding as my skin flushed in embarrassment. That was a hell of a freaking wet dream... In every way. My clothes were soaked with sweat and my panties w
You'll have fun, they said. Thirty minutes into our arrival and I had one comment to make. I hated it here! Matt had abandoned us and hooked up with a guy as soon as we arrived, and Raine gave up on trying to make me dance. I sat by the counter, sipping at a shot of tequila which had been in my hand since we got to this noisy place. Raine was a different person tonight; carefree with her long blonde hair let down and glasses replaced with contacts. She was in a mini denim skirt which showed off her long legs, and a backless blouse that attracted wolves to take turns dancing with her. And I was well... in a short flay dress that Raine had insisted on giving to me, my auburn hair let down in curls. "Hey! You're sure you don't wanna get on the floor and shake it?" Raine shouted to be heard above the loud music. "No thanks! I'm good." I finally managed to push that drink down my throat. I wiped the corner of my lips and dropped the empty glass on the counter. "Another glass f
Raine slumped into the seat beside me, both of us panting for breath. "How...do you feel?" I asked her, but she shook her head twice, grabbing a bottle of cold water from the fridge. "Don't... Wanna talk about it." Raine muttered between long gulps of downing the water down her throat. Yeah, me too, I said internally. The emergency intense training wasn't a punishment; it was torture. It was as if I was being asked for some information but I just didn't have it. And of course Holly made it hell. I woke up by 3 each morning and did two hundred laps, after which I let out my wolf and engaged in high jumps. All which were just warm-ups. Weightlifting, martial arts, boxing... By the second week I was going under electric shocks as tests for endurance. I fainted the first two days, only for the bitch to pour icy cold water on me, and tell me to continue. It was the third week now; I had successfully lost the little weight I had, but my wolf had grown stronger. Bigger. "Oh