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 beside me, wearing that sweet cologne and a welcoming aura. "You're ready to go in?"
Taking in a deep breath, I nodded and followed her, my jaw dropping in awe with each corner of the expansive living room I beheld.
"This is where we have general pack meetings and eat together every blue moon and luna. Most of our pack members prefer eating on their own, you know."
Seemed they were all private; I was guessing it had to do with their scary Alpha.
I mean, I would have indigestion if I were to eat in his presence.
His aura was too intimidating. I wasn't looking forward to meeting his wolf.
"Tomorrow you will receive your I.D. which will grant you access to the elevator; visitors aren't allowed beyond the living room."
Alpha Cole Roman had to be paranoid as hell.
Maybe he was a psychopath.
The way he had smirked and talked casually as though he hadn't just been caught conspiring against the Alpha King...
I felt chills in my stomach at the thought.
"Alright. Let me show you to your room."
She used a card graced by her face to swipe against the elevator doors and we both stepped in. Everywhere was quiet, and I turned to her.
"Is everyone asleep?"
Her soft blue eyes focused on me. "Not really. Many people prefer their privacy here. You'll see."
It felt like a movie where the female lead somehow got involved with a secret organisation. I was freaking out...slowly.
The elevator halted and we stepped into a foyer silent except for the footsteps of moving men. The floors were shiny and smelt faintly of ammonia.
Cleanliness, perfection.
I followed Genevieve into the open doors where the moving men had just left, and I was...awed.
It was too beautiful to be true.
Queen sized bed, a table, a new Mac book pro, i-pad and a very expensive phone stared at me.
There was a walk-in closet wide enough to make a room for two people.
It was gorgeous.
"You can go shopping tomorrow or speak to the fashion designing team about your preference so they can arrange it for you. Your night food will be sent in ten minutes and you can use the bathtub to heat water. Any question?"
Hell yes! What was this place?
A freaking palace?
Why was I being treated like a princess?
"Uhmm... What...Thanks. Did ehmm, the Luna make this possible?"
Her eyes turned icy at the question. Had I overstepped my boundary?
"Ms. Smith, you're free to live here and go out as much as you want. But the only thing you shouldn't try to poke into, is the Alpha's personal life. Now, any *general* question?"
Oh hell, that got serious pretty quick.
"No. Thanks and uhmm...sorry about that."
Her eyes returned to their kind expression again. "No problem. I have to be stern when it comes to that area. It's over the line."
I nodded and swallowed hard, apologising again.
"Alright, good night, Ms. Smith."
I returned her smile. "Please call me Aria. Thanks a lot."
The doors closed behind her, and I stared at the room again. It was like the most expensive hotel suite and yet I got the feeling that everything wasn't as flawless as it appeared.
Minutes later the doorbell went off and the doors opened again, but it wasn't Genevieve.
A female and a male with tinted hair who looked about my age came in, their eyes vibrant and curious as they stared at me.
Well, I was curious about them too.
"Oh my Goddess, you are so beautiful! Finally, someone else our age is here." The girl exclaimed, flipping wavy blonde hair as she sat on the bed beside me.
She made herself so comfortable I almost felt awkward.
"Hi..." I muttered, staring at both of them.
Thankfully, she got the cue immediately. "Oh forgive me, I'm just too excited to see you. I'm Rain, this is my brother, Matt. We heard your name is Aria Smith. So, what's your story?"
I was truly and utterly confused. "Ehm... Sorry I don't understand?"
Her response was a loud ill-mannered laughter which revealed her silver tongue ring.
Bold choice.
I might be liking her already.
"I mean, okay... My brother and I were exiled from our pack because well...my brother is gay and my mate rejected me because I was raped on the night of my birthday you know...he wanted a fresh virgin when his dick had been all over the pack."
Okay, I was sure of it, I liked her.
"I'm...sorry about what happened to you, both of you."
She shrugged as if it didn't matter anymore, but I knew she had to be pained more than she was letting on. Matt had a nose piercing with a similar silver ring which seemed to be staring at me.
"So... I was uhm... My dream was interpreted as my father planning treason against the Alpha so... Here I am. Wait, is this like an orphanage facility for banished wolves?"
Matt laughed, his golden eyes glinting. "Oh no. Alpha Cole doesn't just take anyone in. You should have a special ability to make him accept you into the pack. There are only a few of us like that though, the rest are original members of the pack."
I nodded in understanding, wondering what next to say. But Rain took that burden off me with her next question.
"So you are like a prophetess? Wow, so cool. Good thing we have someone else to talk to here apart from that bitchy Holly. Everyone minds their own business here; Alpha Cole likes his privacy."
"Oh... So, isn't it scary living with him? I've heard so much stories and now with the way he took us in..."
Rain didn't let me complete the statement before letting out a laugh. "Oh he's a devil alright, but he's also like a saviour to us. Just as long as you don't betray him, you are going to keep seeing that aloof saviour. I mean, we are free to practice our lifestyle the way we want here; partying, staying out late. No restrictions like other packs."
"But when you betray him, he cuts off your fingers and tongue like he did to Lily. She sold his information to a rival pack and the next day she was you know...sent as a package to the members of the pack, in different pieces."
I shook visibly, swallowing hard.
"That's... Scary."
Rain shrugged nonchalantly, "Considering the work I do for the Alpha, I'm used to that, sweetheart."
I shouldn't have been a cat, but I asked anyway. "What do you do for him?"
Showing off her tongue ring with a cute smile as though discussing the weather, Rain spoke. "Oh, I'm an assassin. I kill for the Alpha."
I wanted to puke,
Shivers ran down my spine.
What the hell had I got myself into?
What kind of information would he require me to get?
By signing that contract, had I just signed away my life?
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
"I'm sorry, Alpha...I just...wanted to help. I didn't want the pack to get into trouble..." Alpha Cole paced his living room, his jaw ticking in fury, his muscles bulging with each step he took. Surprisingly, it was where he had taken me, not a cold cell or the stake. "I....I'm sorry..." I hated disappointing the one person who had saved me multiple times. "If you wanted to fucking help, you should have focused on your training. What do you think would have happened tonight if you had succeeded?" My throat was dry and I struggled to keep tears off my eyes. He stopped pacing, taking a deep breath, a growl tearing from his throat. Then he took the seat beside me, his voice calmer. "I am really curious about what goes on in your head. Is this trauma from everything? Do you need to talk to the pack psychiatrist?" What? I was traumatised from Konstantine laying his hands on me, but it always came in form of suffocation at night when I was unable to breathe. And those time
"All done, you look absolutely beautiful!" The make-up artist was smiling at me through the mirror, admiring her flawless work. Beside her, Genevieve who had picked out my dress nodded in agreement. My long hair was styled into waves and my almond-shaped eyes accentuated with dark smoky eye shadow. My high cheekbones and plump lips looked more emphatic now. Together with the short sequin black dress that Genevieve chose when the designer brought a bulk of clothes, I looked different. Older, more fierce, more confident. "Thanks, I love it." I said to both of them, and Genevieve proceeded to wear a necklace and matching bracelet to adorn my slightly tanned skin. "Don't lose them; they cost a fortune, sweetie." I nodded, touching the tiny pearl necklace as I admired myself in the mirror. "Okay... It's time, Alpha Cole is in the car already and you shouldn't keep him waiting." Oh dear, at the mention of his name, my heartbeat picked up. I had forced myself to push him out of my