The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

Ariel couldn’t postpone it any longer; she had tried to fight the itch, but it had gradually become an insatiable hunger until she couldn’t resist it anymore.

With a sense of defeat, she picked up the portable device and waited with baited breath for the other person on the line to pick up, and for the first time, a warm smile grazed her lips as she heard the voice.

“Maddie.”

“Ariel, how are you doing?” The enthusiasm in Maddie’s voice was rather surprising, but right now, Ariel would take anything.

She had missed them so much.

“I am fine; I just wanted to hear from you. How is everyone, Liza, Denise, and Emily? I know we didn’t have a good relationship in the pack, but it has been nerve-racking to be away from home and… I am sorry; I don’t know what I am saying.” She had been too excited and had started rambling, but she didn’t know when she had broken down.

Hearing Maddie’s voice had triggered something in her-the warmth of a home. Somehow, unconsciously, she had been developing bonds between those people, and she had come to accept them like family.

But she had been forced to leave them, and it hurts.

“It is fine; I understand what it means to leave everything you have known for somewhere else, but you will survive. The Ariel I know is a fighter.”

“I know.” Ariel replied, his voice barely beyond a whisper, and the girls remained silent.

“How is life over there? Do you need anything else? I could always get someone to deliver whatever you need for you.”

“It is fine, Maddie; I am truly okay. I got a job, and it isn’t so bad.” Ariel replied, not so fond of leeching off people now.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

But it was ironic since she had been leeching off people since she moved here, but it shouldn’t count since it had been voluntary.

Right?

“Toby missed you.”

Ariel froze at the words. She had given herself no time to think of him; she had practically pushed him to the back of her mind.

She had refused to accept that he was in on the plan; that would have broken her completely. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Toby had been her first friend, even before she got close to Kane, and it hurts to think that he harbored such things behind those smiles.

“Thank you, Maddie; I will be going now; I have some things to attend to.”

But Maddie continued to talk, acting like she hadn’t heard her. “It would please you to know that Kane is also suffering. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since you left. I don’t know what exactly happened between you both, but I think he is sorry.”

“Goodbye Maddie.” Ariel wasn’t going to give her the chance to fill her head with nonsense before she was flinging the phone on the bed, sucking a sharp breath as it landed an inch from the edge of the bed.

She couldn’t afford to lose this phone yet.

She didn’t want to think of their betrayal; it was only going to hurt deeply. Instead, she was pulling herself from the bed and walking to the wooden compartment that housed her clothes.

The crisp November air swept across the room, promising a chilling winter, and she donned her long coat, wrapping herself in the warmth.

She closed the door behind her, glancing across the hallway. She had been dreading a potential encounter with her neighbor, and it seemed like the universe had heard her.

The man just gave off a weird vibe, and honestly, she was not ready to deal with him.

Ariel nodded at the lobby man as she came down the elevator and stepped outside the apartment, and almost immediately she was enveloped in its icy embrace that had her shivering.

Winter was around the corner, and for the first time, she was not looking forward to it.

She tightened her coat around her frame as she walked down the tarred road, taking the path that led to the parking lot.

Her car wasn’t hard to spot, and it would continue to remain there until she could find a suitable buyer who wouldn’t demand the necessary credentials.

Ariel continued down the path, her toes kicking up little rocks as she went, and suddenly she was transported to a childhood memory.

A younger version of herself came into view, running with wolf abandon in a large clearing, along with other females her age, their laughter and screams filling the air as they chased the ball around.

Until a voice cut through the moment.

She turned towards the sound of the voice. There, a woman stood beckoning to her, and little Ariel raced to meet her, but the sun had chosen to shine brightly that day, her feature lost in the glare, and Ariel squinted, desperate for a clear picture.

She found herself moving towards the mysterious woman, gliding through the fallen grass. The sun was shifting behind her as a cloud was eating it up when…

“Miss.” Tiny fingers tugged at her dress, bringing her back to the present, and she was almost cussing them out until she lowered her eyes to meet a set of droopy brown eyes.

“Hello,” Her voice immediately took on the high-pitched ‘baby voice’. A quick scan around the area told her that her parents weren’t nearby, and her maternal instinct flared up. “What are you doing here? Are you lost?”

The girl shook her head, her big boba eyes still fixated on Ariel, and she produced a bouquet of flowers from behind her, pushing it towards Ariel.

“For me?” Ariel asked incredulously, but she took the bouquet, the scent of freshly plucked lilies hitting her nose.

“Hmmm.” The girl nodded her head vehemently, and Ariel’s frown deepened. Her searching eyes scanned around for the sender, but except for the people going about their business, nothing looked out of the ordinary.

“Why?”

The young girl shrugged her shoulders, bouncing from foot to foot. “cause you are beautiful.” She screamed out before she ran away, disappearing the way she had appeared.

Ariel looked at the retreating figure, making to move to pursue; instead she directed her gaze to the pink lilies in her hand, and she brought them closer to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhaled the face mixture of citrus and honey.

The scent filled her nose, immediately bringing a smile to her lips, and she opened her eyes.

This was just what she needed.

She held the bouquet proudly as she continued her walk, but she couldn’t keep up with the lingering stares she got.

Apparently, most passersby don’t have a love life and aren’t exactly fond of happy people.

She dragged her legs back, retracing her steps back home, making sure to hold the bouquet out.

She got home and laid it on the bed, taking her place beside it, and she let her mind wander.

Coming to this town was the best decision for her. Things have been going so smoothly for her that it was almost suspicious.

She keeps on getting help from places she doesn’t expect it; hell, she could be in the mall and someone would offer to pay for her cart.

She had thought her job was going to be very stressful, but it was one of the easiest. Her boss rarely came to work, and most of the time she had nothing to do.

Lunch was also free, and all her co-workers were amazing.

She had heard people talk about heaven, and she wondered if somehow she had landed there.

Americans weren’t so kind, especially considering the state of the economy.

Ariel wasn’t doubting her face card. She was literally the American definition of beauty, but this was almost excessive.

Except there was a force behind it.

There had to be foul play involved. Someone had been monitoring her-someone who didn’t want any harm to happen near her and would prioritize her safety over others.

Someone who would war with anyone who dares harm her and has the money to ensure her well-being.

Ariel’s eyes widened more than they had ever before as the staggering truth came to light. It was no favor; it was a man obsessed.

“Kane!”