♕ Aria ♕ "Well, well...look who we have here. I was starting to think one of the pups scared you away." Elise smiles from her spot in the center of the daycare. The echoing noise of the door gave my arrival away, announcing to not only Elise, but Noah, that I was back. With Dotty's 'training', it had pulled me away from the daycare center. While I had missed Elise's warm energy and the constant changing day with the pups, I welcomed the break. Ever since my unsettling encounter with Noah, I had been finding it harder to shake my unresolved nerves. I thought Dotty teaching me how to defend myself would help, but that didn't work out as well as I had planned. "And let them win? Never." I smile. Elise was quickly distracted by the arrival of the pups, deserting me with a simple wave. Noah stood rooted in his spot, leaning against the wall with a box full of crafts in his hands. He was dressed more professionally today, wearing slacks and a button down. From the corner of my eye,
I'm not sure exactly what I'm expecting when I open the door. But, one thing I definitely wasn't expecting, was a shirtless Benji to be greeting me. Standing in the middle of the entryway leaning against the back of the couch is Benji, shirtless in all his glory. He's clad in only black athletic shorts hanging almost dangerously too low on his hips and a pair of running sneakers. His head is downturned, distracted by whatever message he's furiously responding to on his phone. Always busy with pack business. He types away for a few moments before carelessly tossing his phone to the couch, looking up to finally acknowledge my presence. "Is that what you're wearing?"The heat that spreads quickly throughout my cheeks is humiliating at his simple comment. I shift the weight on my feet, glancing down at the simple outfit I had worn to the daycare. It was almost identical to every outfit I wore, yet he never complained before."You want me to change for dinner?" I ask incredulously,
I stare at him for a moment, gulping. Was he being serious? He wants me to attack him? I had asked for basic self defense skills, not to become a sparring warrior. Even if Dotty had trained me well, which she hadn't, I still wouldn't pose an ounce of a threat to Benji, of all people. "I, uh, um – I think Dotty may have exaggerated just a bit, about my..."His sudden laugh interrupts me, catching me off guard. Benji's nonchalant expression morphs to one of mildamusement, eyeing me. He interjects, "Stop, relax. I'm just joking." I furrow my eyebrows, clearly not getting his sense of humor. He continues, "Dotty told me your training sessions haven't been that fruitful. I was just joking.""Joking, huh...that's a new one." I take a deep breath to laugh off my previous indication, taking advantage of his good mood to tease him. "Yeah? Want to hear another joke?" Benji scoffs, gesturing to the floor. "Fifty push-ups. Now." "Oh, stop being such a grouch.""Now." Something is telli
Benji flanked my side the entire way to the pack house. He slowed his strides, trailing closely next to me as we abandoned the silent sanctuary we inhabited to enter the main portion of the pack. I had gotten used to the heated stares, quick but curious, whenever I walked in the pack with one of their superiors. The stares were always worse with Benji, but he paid no mind. All he had to do was send one lazy sideway glance to a peeping pack member, and they would all scatter in fear. He was quick to leave me, mumbling something about having to get this conversation over with. His hands skimmed along the length of my arm for a fleeting moment as a goodbye, before turning on his heel to leave me with two wolves following my shadow. I stood in front of the familiar door he had left me at, knowing I was in good company, even if it wasn't him. I didn't bother to knock, retching the door open. Gwen didn't seem that surprised, not having many people to expect as a visitor. Her lips curled
♕Aria♕"Wake up, Ari." Someone shook my shoulders, causing me to wake with a start. "They're coming."I blinked the haze of sleep from my eyes. I was in the same position I was last night; my back pressed against the concrete wall and my knees tucked into my chest. It wasn't the most comfortable sleeping position, but it was practical when it came to protecting myself from any unexpected blows. Besides, I didn't like to take up too much room in the cell. Other people needed it more than I did.I shot Gwen a small smile of gratitude. "Thanks for waking me.""Of course."Gwen assumed her position next to me on the wall, mimicking my position with her long legs pulled into her chest. She immediately linked our inner arms together, giving my arm a squeeze.I don't think I could have survived for as long as I have in here without her by my side. I met Gwen three weeks ago when my pack had been attacked. I thought I was in the clear when I had made it into the woods, but boy was I wro
The cells were buzzing with noise. The banging of the iron gates echoed in the halls, mixing with the sounds of animalistic growls. The only other time I had seen the cells so chaotic was when they had thrown the remnants of my pack down here after the raid."What's going on?!" I asked, the alarm clear in my voice as I pushed myself to my feet.Gwen didn't answer right away, her eyes darting back and forth. She pushed herself past me to the edge of our cell, peering down the hallway to get a better look at the commotion."It's cleaning day."I jumped slightly at Mary's voice, still not used to hearing her speak. Mary was a small girl who usually kept to herself. Gwen had mentioned that she was from her pack, but besides that I didn't know much about her. She was in the same cell as Gwen and I, as well as an older women who didn't speak the best English."What do you mean?"Mary frowned, wrapping her arms around her frail figure as she still remained on the floor unmoving. "They
The sun from outside was blinding. I blinked a few times to adjust my sight, but my eyes kept watering up with tears. I had stopped screaming after one of the guards had hit me. My face was numb from the claw mark and slap I had just earned myself – there was no point in adding more fire to the already lit flame.I shuffled in a single file line behind the woman who I had shared a cell with only a few minutes ago. I was at the end of what seemed like a never-ending line of wolves."Keep walking, don't slow down!" The main guard growled from the front of the line, his voice echoing off the forest trees that surrounded us.They were marching us to our deaths, what great hospitality this pack has truly shown us!There had to be at least fifty of us being led by the group of guards. They told us to be quiet and follow them, or else. I don't necessarily know what the 'or else' could be, considering where we were heading.My thoughts were riddled with anxiety. How were they going to do
My first mistake was ever trying to outrun and escape the Imperious pack. My second mistake was looking up and making eye contact with him. My eyes snapped up to find his as soon as the shock wore off from his words. Mine. His. That's what he said – that's what he declared. That I was his. Alpha Benji was nothing like the hideous man I had drawn up to appear in my nightmares. He was tall and broad, with sandy hair and hauntingly grey eyes. His chiseled face was framed by just the perfect amount of facial hair. And he was, without a doubt, my mate. The suffocating scent of fresh firewood and leather practically oozed from his pores. "Mine!" He growled again, repeating himself as if to reassure not only himself but the others around him of what he said. I didn't dare to speak. My body was paralyzed from the sheer shock of the situation, working in overdrive to compensate. He remained only a couple feet in front of me. His posture was stiff - his shoulders tense and his hands curle