Alpha Cole Roman

Two Weeks Later

"Move it, Aria! You're needed in the VVIP room!"

An exiled beta's daughter, a rejected mate.

A fallen wolf.

There were only a few establishments that risked employing unfortunate people like me; places like casinos where I was currently doing the job that didn't require a special identity.

A waitress.

"Okay Ms. Green." I replied our manager and grabbed the drinks, heading to the elevator where my fellow waitresses were already.

"Hey." I greeted them when I came in, but as usual, they ignored me and kept talking about the group of hot Alphas who had come in for the night.

Somehow, news of my true identity had travelled fast in the casino and reached everyone's ears. While our manager who employed me hadn't given two shits about it, the same couldn't be said for my co-workers.

They started avoiding me like plague, and whispered 'freak' when they clearly knew I could hear them.

Like now.

"Tina, you may not want her skin to touch yours else she will rat you out to the manager that she dreamt of you stealing the casino from her." That was Lisa, the slender omega bitch who was training to be a model.

She had never liked me even before they got to know about my exile.

As usual, I pretended as if I couldn't hear them and held tightly to the tray of wine brought from the special bar downstairs.

It was reserved for the highest ranking Alphas and the richest moguls who came here on weekend nights to chill off.

The guests I was going to serve seemed quite important, and I focused on the tip I could get if I served them properly.

It would go a long way to ensure I wasn't kicked out of the cheap apartment I found somewhere in the poorest streets.

As soon as the elevator stopped on the top floor, I stepped out first and adjusted my uniform, ensuring that my auburn hair was swept into a tight ponytail before pushing the doorbell, and then swiping my card against the security system.

It was the most expensive room reserved for the VVIPs. On one occasion I had walked in on a full blown orgy. Since then, I pushed the doorbell even before I used my card to gain access to the room.

Tonight when the doors opened, my nostrils took in the overpowering scent of wolves whose aura spread across the air; I would have staggered from the force if I weren't used to being around powerful wolves.

They were six, playing a game of poker without giving me a second glance.

Which was normal. I was after all a lowly waitress.

But minutes later, the mood had changed.

They were still playing poker alright, but the atmosphere was...pensive.

And the aura...uncomfortable.

For a second I was confused about what was happening, till I realised that they were communicating amongst themselves in their minds and it wasn't going well.

Within a minute, one of the men in expensive suit had flung a table upside down, his eyes narrowing in building anger. Then he parted his lips and spoke for the first time.

"What you intend to do will cause problem between packs, you selfish prick! I'd rather die first before I let you take over control of the national security!"

Realisation hit me. He was speaking the Zech language which was only taught to royalties and Alphas. They used it when they didn't want lower wolves to understand what they were saying.

Especially when there was going to be a war.

I had learnt those languages because of the school I attended, and because sometimes my dream had featured high ranking Alphas and lycans.

I also recognised that voice from the Royal Pack House; it was Alpha Kyrian, the advisor to the Alpha king. I turned my face towards the shadows cast by the dim light in the room.

He couldn't recognise me here.

I tensed up.

"Interesting. Then you should have prepared your will before coming here, Kyrian. Sign the contract or I have a video of this discussion sent to the King. I'm sure he would be interested to know that his advisor came to me for help looking for ways to kill him."

What the...

That voice...was feral.

I couldn't resist the sudden magnetic force which pulled me towards him, my eyes moving of their own will to his direction.

He was seated like a king, effortlessly relaxed into the couch as if he owned it.

I could only see the sideview of his face, but it was enough to reveal the kind of person he was.

His chiselled jaw screamed arrogance and the whiskers in his jaw and shoulder length hair were untamed.

His Adam's apple bobbled as spoke, visibly powerful thighs in designers' pants crossed over the table.

This man wasn't just rich, but didn't take orders from anyone, neither was he afraid to make an enemy of the Alpha King's advisor.

As I watched, he flexed his fingers and adjusted the ring which he welded with power.

His aura was suffocating, powerful and tempting with a kind of sexual pull I had never felt before, even with my mate.

I had to get out of here.

But not before I served them.

Taking a deep breath, I managed to walk towards the centre table and uncork the wine bottle, my fingers shaking as I poured into their glasses.

"You prick! You can't rat me out because you agreed to do it, and we signed a fucking NDA! You can't threaten me with..."

"Prick? That's tiny. I would rather go by cocky; bigger, bolder, you know." This man was relaxed, unbothered as he continued.

"That NDA means nothing when it's torn, Kyrian. Besides, you want the King dead, and I want control of the warriors. Win-win. You thought I would let you have the territory to yourself? Clearly you think stories you've heard about me are myths."

For a second, my fingers froze on the bottle of  wine in my hand, and it had nothing to do with physical cold. Dread washed over me, making me shiver internally.

Alpha Kyrian had conspired with this devious man to betray and kill the king.

I lowered my face further; if the King's advisor recognised me, it would really be over for me.

While my life no longer had meaning, something prevented me from ending it all although I had been tempted to.

Many nights. Especially when the pain of being rejected by my mate spread through my body and reached deep into my soul.

Maybe I had struggled to be alive to achieve a purpose. I could prevent a national calamity from befalling us and even find the seer who had interpreted my dreams.

She had disappeared after the day we were exiled.

As soon as I completed the task of pouring the drinks, I stepped out of the room the same way I had come; unnoticed. 

Then I made my way towards Ms. Green, because as the manager of the casino, I was supposed to relate the information to her first so she could tell the authority.

Besides, none of those warriors would take me seriously after learning of my family's plight.

When I found her at the back of the bar, I was panting for breath and held tightly to her hand for support.

"Ms...Green, I have to tell you something..."

She stared at me in confusion, but luckily didn't argue, but led the way towards a private room downstairs.

"What is it?" She asked as soon as we were alone.

"I... Just heard those Alphas in the VVIP room conspiring to kill the king. We have to do something about it or... I'm scared, Ms. Green."

Her eyes mirrored many emotions, but she gave me a small smile, and led me to a couch.

"It's okay. Have you told this to anyone else?"

I shook my head. "No, I came to you immediately."

She covered my shaky palms, her other hand patting my shoulders.

"Good. You're brave to come to me with this, Aria. Just wait here for a second okay? I'll make a call and return to you."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself as soon as she ceased to hold me. But a thought made me afraid and I called out as she left the room,

"Please be careful, they seem dangerous."

Her eyes were maternal as they gazed upon me, and she nodded. "Don't you worry about a thing, and stay here, don't go anywhere."

She was sincerely worried about me, and it brought tears to my eyes. She reminded me of my mother before that night, just a younger version who...

The doors opened with a loud thud, a familiar overpowering scent seeping into my system.

What the...

The dangerous man upstairs filled the room with wide shoulders and tall bulky six foot frame, hazel eyes with golden flickers staring intently at me, a wicked smile curving his lips upward.

How...

Ms. Green came into view, the expression in her eyes changed drastically. "She's the one, Alpha Cole, she listened to your discussion."

I was... Numb.

I remained in my seat, eyes unblinking, heart filled with dread as he took the seat next to me and dismissed the manager with a wave of his palm.

"I should introduce myself. Cole Roman, Alpha of the Shadow Walker pack and CEO of the Roman Corporation. I own this casino as well. How about you, Ms...Aria? How do you know the Zech language?"

Shadow Walker pack?

Owner of the casino?

I was going to die.