Avla, a shy 17-year-old girl, is trapped in a life of torment and abuse. Her days are filled with fear and longing, overshadowed by her tyrannical father, Yorgan. But her world begins to crack open when she catches the attention of the mysterious Alpha Gideon, a mature and enigmatic leader who seems to watch her every move. Why does he linger around her school? Why are his eyes always on her?
View More[Shan, suamimu lagi dinas di luar kota, ya? Kamu percaya?]
Shania mengernyit membaca pesan dari nomor tak dikenal tersebut. Bertanya-tanya siapa orang yang tiba-tiba mengirim pesan dengan gaya seperti sudah mengenal Shania. [Maaf, ini siapa?] Tak menunggu lama, Shania langsung mengirim balasan. Karena sebenarnya pagi itu ia juga sedang memikirkan keanehan Angga, suaminya. Shania merasa aneh dengan rutinitas Angga empat bulan terakhir ini. Pasalnya setiap awal bulan setelah gajian, Angga selalu pergi dinas di luar kota. Padahal sebelumnya tidak pernah. Kalaupun ada dinas di luar kota juga hanya sesekali dan tanggalnya tidak tetap. Tidak seperti empat bulan terakhir ini. Tanpa perlu menunggu lama, balasan pesan tersebut Shania terima. Nomor tak dikenal itu mengirim foto Angga keluar dari mobilnya yang terparkir di depan sebuah rumah minimalis. [Ini suamimu, kan?] Shania membeku membaca pesan tersebut dan melihat foto tersebut. Dadanya berdebar tak karuan, perutnya mual, dan kedua telapak tangannya mendadak dingin. Benarkah Angga membohonginya selama ini? Belum juga Shania membalas, nomor asing tersebut kembali mengirim pesan. Kali ini melampirkan sebuah alamat rumah. [Coba deh, kamu cek alamat rumah ini, pasti suamimu ada di sana.] Tanpa menunggu, Shania langsung bangkit. Wanita itu ingin membuktikan firasatnya selama ini. "Mungkin ini petunjuk dari Allah," gumam Shania sembari meraih tas dan kontak mobilnya di tempatnya. Wanita itu kemudian berpamitan pada ibu mertuanya dan meluncur ke alamat rumah yang dikirim nomor tak dikenal tersebut. Kini, setelah menempuh tiga jam perjalanan, Shania sudah berdiri tepat di depan rumah sesuai dengan alamat yang ia dapat dari nomor asing tadi. Rumah minimalis dengan cat warna putih dipadu abu-abu. Rasa panas dengan cepat menjalari dada Shania saat matanya menangkap mobil kantor Angga yang terparkir di halaman rumah itu. Di sebelah mobil tersebut terparkir sepeda motor berwarna pink. Shania tertawa getir. "Ternyata benar Mas Angga ada di sini." Tangan Shania terulur membuka pintu pagar yang tidak terkunci. Di dalam rongga dadanya kini berkecamuk berbagai rasa yang menguras energinya. Marah, kecewa, sedih, sakit hati, dan perasaan-perasaan memilukan lainnya. Bagaimana tidak? Kejanggalan-kejanggalan yang selama beberapa bulan ini Shania rasakan, pagi ini ia temukan jawabannya. Shania membetulkan posisi hijabnya saat sudah berada di teras rumah tersebut. Wanita bergamis cokelat itu kemudian mengetuk pintu kayu yang masih tertutup rapat. "Siapa?" seru seseorang dari dalam. Dan Shania sangat mengenali suara bariton itu. Mata Shania terpejam sesaat, menghalau perih yang mendera hatinya. Belum juga Shania menjawab, pintu yang tadi masih tertutup rapat kini terbuka dengan lebar. Bersamaan dengan mata lelaki itu saat melihat istrinya berdiri di depan pintu. "Sh-Sh-Shania?" "Shan, a-aku bisa jelasin!" Angga berusaha meraih bahu Shania, tetapi wanita itu mundur selangkah. Shania menggeleng. "Semua udah jelas, Mas!" Suara Shania terdengar tenang, tetapi tegas. "Enggak, Shan. Kamu salah paham!" Angga berusaha menggoyahkan keyakinan Shania. "Oh, ya? Bagian mana?" tantang Shania. "A-aku ... aku ...." Angga menggaruk kepalanya yang tak gatal. Ia merasa kesal sendiri karena tiba-tiba otaknya seperti tidak bisa diajak berpikir. "Siapa, Mas?" Suara wanita dari dalam rumah semakin membuat Angga terpojok. Apalagi saat wanita itu keluar. Dan saat melihat keberadaan Shania, kedua bola mata wanita itu nyaris keluar saking terkejutnya. Shania tersenyum miris. "Hai, Mas! Jadi di sini ya tempat dinas kamu? Tempat dinas yang selalu jadi tujuan kamu setiap awal bulan. Dinas di luar kota!" ucap Shania penuh penekanan. Melihat Angga tergagap, Shania kembali berkata, "Enggak nyangka, ya, aku bisa ada di sini?" "Shan, a-aku bisa jelasin!" Angga berusaha meraih bahu Shania, tetapi wanita itu mundur selangkah. Shania menggeleng. "Semua udah jelas, Mas!" Suara Shania terdengar tenang, tetapi tegas. "Enggak, Shan. Kamu salah paham!" Angga berusaha menggoyahkan keyakinan Shania. "Oh, ya? Bagian mana?" tantang Shania. "A-aku ... aku ...." Angga menggaruk kepalanya yang tak gatal. Ia merasa kesal sendiri karena tiba-tiba otaknya seperti tidak bisa diajak berpikir. "Siapa, Mas?" Suara wanita dari dalam rumah semakin membuat Angga terpojok. Apalagi saat wanita itu keluar. Dan saat melihat keberadaan Shania, kedua bola mata wanita itu nyaris keluar saking terkejutnya. "Hai, Mbak! Kaget, ya?" sapa Shania sembari tersenyum sinis. Lebih tepatnya berusaha menyembunyikan rasa sakitnya yang luar biasa.The night of the full moon, indicating Avery's 18th birthday, was a culmination of anticipation and impatience on both their parts. Eagerly counting down the days, Avery could barely contain her excitement for this momentous occasion.Meanwhile, Tanner was caught in a storm of emotions, pacing the office floor in the pack house. His heart raced as he confided in Gideon and the other guys, 'I can't believe it's finally here... After 14 years, the moment has arrived. I've been dreaming of this day for so long.'Witnessing Tanner's restless energy, Thomas couldn't help but chuckle. "Boy, you need to stop pacing. You're making even me nervous," he joked.Gideon, observing the scene from his desk, shared in the delight. "Yes, Tanner, the day has... indeed come... and you've handled the journey here... with grace, except for a few mo..mo..moments that led to involuntary swims and such. I'm p...proud of you. Are you re..re...ready to embrace what comes next?" His eyes twinkled with a mixture
Trembling with cold and emotion, Tanner tried to steady his voice, "I'm not trying to challenge you, Gideon. I'm pleading for us to discuss this. Can't you acknowledge that I've always acted with her best interests at heart, valuing her safety as much as you do?"Gideon, his frustration observable, ceased his pacing and sank to the ground beside Tanner. He removed his own shirt and handed it to Tanner, who quickly pulled it over his head, seeking any relief from the biting cold.Tanner continued, the urgency clear in his tone, "Okay, yes, this was genuinely the first time she's kissed me on the lips since she was like 13. Since I recognized the potential complications. The very first time, Gideon. The first attempt she made since then and the first time I didn't stop it.""So, you're admitting that you let this happen?" Gideon's voice was a mix of inquiry and accusation.His guilt evident, Tanner met Gideon's gaze squarely, "I won't lie to you. Yes, I did. I wrestle with these decisio
This moment quickly overwhelmed their senses and Tanner's reasoning skills. Avery's arms wrapped around Tanner's neck, her fingers teasingly entangled in his hair. In response, he rolled his head, allowing her to kiss him even more deeply.She led this dance, a wordless conversation flowing through their entwined bodies as their kiss escalated into a spirited declaration of affection.The unmistakable sound of Gideon clearing his throat interrupted their newfound passion. Despite the considerable distance from the pack house porch to where they stood, the noise carried an intensity that pierced the situation. It was a clear indicator of Gideon's fury, a barrage of disapproval that resonated with the force of a storm warning. The sound reaching them across the expansive field separating them from the pack house, underscored the depth of his anger.Reluctantly, Tanner untangled himself from Avery's arms and carefully set her back on the ground. As they started returning to the house, A
Avery, now 16, stood beside Tanner, overseeing the training session as it wound down to its final moments. The routine was familiar, a dance they had perfected over time, yet today felt distinctly different. Avery's perception shifted as Tanner made his way to the water table. He casually removed his shirt to dab away the sweat from his face before drenching himself with water, the droplets cascading down his defined chest and stomach.In that instant, she realized the depth of her attraction to him. It was a revelation, striking and profound.She was irrevocably in love with him.This moment, though unexpected, was not entirely unforeseen. They had treaded the path of their growing closeness with maximum caution, Tanner even requesting Avery refrain from specific actions, like kissing him on the lips.His intentions were clear. To delay the inevitable awakening of deeper feelings. To postpone the inevitable. He had hinted at the complexities their bond might entail if their emoti
Tanner tried to concentrate on the book in front of him, but his attention drifted away. He barely grasped the essence of the text, and his mind wandered, disconnected from the story unfolding on the pages.Jorge appeared skillfully balancing a tray packed with popcorn and an assortment of snacks. Spotting the open door to Tanner's room, he stepped in and gently closed it behind him. 'Care for a sneak peek taste?' he joked, extending the snacks towards Tanner. 'Or were you kicked out of the party?'Tanner looked up with a slight smile. "Actually, I got an invite but turned it down."Jorge leaned back slightly, a knowing look in his eyes. "You know, I've noticed the tightrope you've been walking with Avery. But honestly, I'm impressed with how you've handled it all these years."Tanner nodded, his smile broadening as he reached for a handful of the vibrant pink and purple popcorn. "Thanks," he said.With a brief nod, Jorge excused himself, heading towards Avery's room to distribute the
Tanner retreated to his room, settling by the window that offered a direct line to the lively banter emanating from Avery's room across the hallway. A little guilt for eavesdropping mingled with his curiosity, but the rationalization that his acute hearing made it an inevitable consequence somewhat eased his conscience.The topics of Avery and her friends' conversation veered into the territory of the schoolboys they attended school with."Okay, so," Greer began, leaning in, "can we talk about Gabe for a second? Like, how he's the sweetest? Offering to carry our books all the time?"Tatum nodded eagerly, "Right? And have you seen Wyatt on the field? The way he winks at us after scoring...it's just too cute!"Greer, not to be outdone, added, "What about Rex? He's so mysterious and quiet, but when you catch him looking at you, it's like, wow, what's he thinking?"Avery sighed, "Totally get you. And Flint! His pranks are legendary. But did you notice how he's always trying to get Tatum's
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