Chapter 02 Cortisol Induced Imagination

Aidan uncrossed his legs, watching out the window with his chin resting on a fist as the plane landed. It was that time of the year again when he could finally come home and spend quality time with his family and for himself. After being all over the world for the rest of the year, he could get at least a week off to unwind and simultaneously check on their operations in person.

He stood and dusted off invisible dirt from his coat. The flight attendant smiled at him, showing off perfect white teeth between dark red lips. Tall, slender, and the ever-attractive combination of blonde hair and blue eyes. And a good fuck.

What was better to do within a fifteen-hour flight other than ease tension with a few glasses of vintage wine and a stunning, submissive woman. Aidan gave her a last look-over as she handed him a card, clipped between long well-manicured fingers.

“Sheila,” he whispered, looking deep into her eyes as he pushed her hand out of the way. Aidan pulled her to him, inhaling her sweet vanilla scent. It was natural, not from a product that she used, and he could tell there were many. The woman’s body trembled, and she looked up at him with anticipation.

Her wish was granted. The pilot’s announcement got lost on them as Aidan shoved his tongue down her throat roughly, fulfilling her need. Then he suddenly stopped and pulled away, leaving Sheila craving for more. She whined at the absence of his skillful tongue, probably wished it’d be at some other part, judging by the hint of honey in her scent.

“Goodbye, Sheila.”

Aidan turned his back on her and headed out, walking down the flight of stairs into the open landing field. An Audi was already waiting for him, along with four men who were all dressed in black suits. They formed a line at the bottom of the stairs, and welcoming him, showed their utmost respect to their leader, addressing him with the title he deserved. They bowed and said, “Welcome back, Alpha.”

It’s good to be back. Breathing in the night breeze that carried a culmination of a city life, his lips pulled into a smile. Aidan waited for someone with a loofy grin on his face to get out of the car.

“Where is he?” he asked after three seconds.

“Our apologies, Alpha. We couldn’t contact him since this morning,” one of the men replied. He was tall and lean, with a pointed jawline and sunken grey eyes.

“Where’d you last see him?”

“It’s…” said the man, trailing off.

“I don’t have all night, Pint.”

“Yes, Alpha. Beta Hunter was last seen on the Angel’s Club. I dropped him there last night, and he hasn’t called for me since.”

From what Aidan could remember, he personally phoned his second-in-command of his arrival and repeated three times that it was imperative that he be there. “Let’s go,” he ordered, striding over to the car. Pint opened the door for him, and he settled in comfortably.

Pint got in the driver’s seat. “Where to, Alpha?”

“The usual, Pint,” he said, and the engine started.

Aidan watched out the window as the car moved inch by inch in the night traffic jam. Skyscrapers, billboards, establishments – the city shone brightly at night, it was almost blinding. Then again, there were more shadows during that time. And where there were shadows, there were them – running business as usual.

His men were in front, and another group were behind them. The Alpha was never lax on security – though it was mostly for power display.

At thirty-two minutes past seven, the city center was abuzz with car horns and drivers shouting insults as people went and came from all directions, minding their own businesses, intent on getting to their own destinations, be it a home, a side hustle, or a place to wind-down before the hours counted down up to twenty-four.

“Pint, drop me off here,” he said.

“But, Alpha, the hotel is – “

“I can find it on my own, Pint.” Sitting in a car waiting in traffic was a boring use of his time.

Pint reached for the phone. “I’m going alone. Inform them,” he ordered.

“But Alpha, Mrs. Cardova insists on a security detail at all times.”

“Well Mrs. Cardova doesn’t have to know, does she?”

“I understand, Alpha,” Pint answered with a slight nod as he pulled over a sidewalk.

“Be ready by tomorrow morning. Good work today, Pint.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

Aidan watched him join the traffic flow, then let himself be among the unnamed faces passing by. He was back in this city, but for the first time, he had no solid schedule in his head. There was the usual, of course, but he felt that something was missing still. For all his years of existence, he had grown well into a capable head of an empire. He was given the title, but he earned it’s worth.

Everything the world could possibly offer was at the tip of his tongue. One word, one order, and it’d be given to him. So, what should he ask for that’d fill the empty void inside him that sucked in the rest of him millimeter by millimeter over the years?

Aidan followed the crowd, stopping at a crossing to wait for the green light. He let out a deep sigh. The city always found a way to tap into his core, awakening things he’d rather keep hidden. The light shifted from red to green; the cars halted, and throes of people from both sides of the street poured into the crosswalk.

He joined the masses, walking freely as the people avoided him. He gained the attention of the supernatural beings, who simply looked away and hurried on. Word would spread tonight – the Alpha was back in the city.

As he thought of joining his Beta at the Angel’s Club, he caught a whiff of something sweet. The scent stood out from the rest, and it teased him, sending his blood rushing to his head. Feeling a slight dizziness, he jerked his head to the sides searching for the source.

It seemed to draw him in - cinnamon and tangerines. The scent was within the crowd, but there were too many moving bodies he couldn’t pinpoint where it emanated. Following the pull, his legs carried him to other side of the street, just in time before the lights turned red again and the cars resumed their drive.

Aidan looked on both sides of the sidewalk, inhaling as deep as he could to track it, but it was gone. The enticing scent had disappeared, as if it was never there. What was that?

The Alpha had an idea but was reluctant to admit the truth it. He was tired. It could’ve been his imagination, or a really pleasant perfume some lady wore. Or was it?

His wolf lurked in the shadows of his mind, awakened by the scent.

“Where is she?” the beast asked.

“It was nothing, Arke,” he replied. “Cheap perfume.”

The wolf growled. “Find her!”

“You’ve lost your mind.” Aidan shook his head at his own statement. After all, he and his wolf were one being.

Arke flashed his canines at him then retreated. Aidan put up a wall between them just in case the wolf decided to interrupt his leisurely stroll by taking control of his body. He considered the club again but wasn’t in the mood to fuck a girl tonight. He took one last look around him, trying to find the scent but it was gone, replaced by the stench of everyday city life.

Aidan shrugged it off and made his way to the hotel. A good night’s sleep should do the trick. The first day of his short time off he spent all day in bed, which was a good start. The rest of the week should go smoothly.

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