Chapter 2

We’d been gone for hours, I had let Amara run free for a while if she agreed to do her best to avoid others, I didn’t want anyone to see us. She had followed the river for a while until it came to a small lake, looking around we could see the upper floors of the pack house. We shook off the chill of the night air and padded back toward home. I didn’t have clothes after the shift, so I got close to the back of the house before shifting back and going inside. It smelled like chicken and mashed potatoes, making my stomach grumble. I grabbed a plate of food to take up to my room with me. I scarfed it down quickly, listening for any sound from Aunt Tasha but it seemed she was sound asleep.

After finishing my food, I turned on the shower letting it heat up and brushed out my long black hair. I looked at myself in the mirror, I was short, only 5’2”, my hair was down to my lower back, bright blue eyes, and tanned skin. I used to be self-conscience about my body when I was younger but after I hit puberty all that went away. My hips were wide with a full bottom and full breasts, yet my body was hard from years of training. I took after my mother in that way, but my height came from my dad’s side as my grandmother had only been 4’11”.

I jumped in the shower now that the water was hot, washed myself quickly. I put my hair into a French braid and climbed into bed, setting an alarm on my phone for 5 am. Hoping for a restful sleep.

*                         *                         *                                          

I was in a large room with a big dark four poster bed in the middle of it, the sheets all tangled up like two people had been in it making love. The dark hickory wood floor was covered with a giant grey rug, the sheets of the bed matched with a large navy-blue comforter on it. There were a couple arm chairs in one corner next to a minibar with ornate decanters filled with different shades of liquor in them. A door sat on one wall that looked like it went into a bathroom. I couldn’t figure out where I was, turning around there was 2 large hickory doors. I tried to open them, but they wouldn’t open.

“Who is there?” A gruff voice sounded from the bathroom.

Out walked Alpha Azai. He wore no shirt, only a pair of grey jogger pants. His abs and pecs were well defined, the loose-fitting joggers showing the lines from his hips where they dipped down. I don’t think he could see me, thankfully because I was sure I was drooling. I walked over to him as he stared at a message on his phone, touching his bicep as he lowered his arm. He looked at his arm as if he could feel it. My fingers trailed up to his broad shoulders as he watched his other hand reaching over. I looked from my own hand to his eyes, continuing as I trailed my fingers over his body, stopping just above his pants line, his eyes flashing black at the touch.

How could he feel my touch but not see me? His hand reached for mine, laying it where mine sat.

I woke with a startle. What. The. Hell.

Dreaming about the Alpha, are we? Amara yawned out.

Shut up, it was just a dream. I think.

If you say so, Allie.

I rolled my eyes, stretching as I got up from bed. I got dressed in a pair of leggings and a sports bra. Seven minutes until my actual alarm goes off, I shut it off and went downstairs. I poured myself a bowl of cocoa pebbles, savoring the sweet chocolate taste early in the morning. I put my bowl in the sink when I finished, grabbed a chocolate chip muffin from the counter and my gym bag. Thankfully it was Friday, so I wouldn’t be training the next couple days and could sleep in.

As I was about to walk out the front door Tasha came down the stairs, “you’re up early today. Are you okay?”

I nodded, “yeah. I didn’t sleep all that good. Headed to meet the Alpha for training now.” She smiled as I waved bye to her.

I walked the quiet roads, the sun not even beginning to creep up in the sky yet. My mind was spinning about my dream still. What was it about and why did it feel so real? Like I was there, touching the Alpha. I walked into the gym, heading straight to the locker room to put my bag away. I threw my bag into a locker and walked back out into the training room, Alpha Azai’s scent hit me in the face, and I looked up to realize he was standing there waiting, a thin coat of sweat already on him, adding to his deep earthy scent.

“Alpha,” I greeted. “I thought I was training with you, but it looks like you already got started,” I crossed my arms with a smirk on my face.

His eyes flashed dark at my obvious attitude. Looking me up and down before saying “you won’t be much of a workout for me, figured I’d get a real one in first. This is just a cool down.”

I growled at the obvious dig on at my weakness, “right, cause I’m a girl.”

“Something like that,” He smirked. “Let’s get started, defense first.”

I smirked, defense was my strong point because I was so small, I moved quickly, getting me out of tough spots easier than normal werewolves who were typically bigger than myself. He charged at me, and I barely avoided him. He was quicker than anyone else I had sparred with, so fighting with him wasn’t going to be easy. He was calculating, figuring out the best ways to take me down. He looked good, wearing the same jogger pants from my dream with and a black V-neck. I hesitated a little too long admiring him and I was slammed into the mat, his faces mere inches from mine and I could feel his breath on my face.

“Not as good as you think you are,” he said getting up quickly. “Offense, let’s see if you can actually hurt someone.”

I pushed myself up, my muscles protesting after having to push myself to avoid him. He managed to avoid many of my advances, although not as smoothly as I had done. This went on for quite some time before I finally managed to land a single blow to his cheek, but he didn’t even wince. My knuckles throbbed though. I grunted, shaking off the pain.

“You need more strength. If that’s how you fare with help from your wolf then you need to train harder, both of you.” He pointed out.

“Who said I used my wolf?” I rolled my eyes. The action causing his eyes to flash dark. “Not all of us can walk around looking like you, Alpha.” My voice dripping with attitude. I turned to walk back to the locker room and was slammed into the wall next to the door, a hand around my throat. Alpha inches away from my face again as he looked down at me.

“You will speak with respect,” he growled out. “I don’t care whose daughter you are. Alpha Brandon was a good man, but I have no problem reminding his daughter of her place.”

Anger boiled up inside of me, my eyes looking up at him, “if I don’t?”

He snarled, his grip on my throat increasing. His intoxicating scent swirled around me, and my nipples hardened as images from my earlier dream flashed through my mind. His eyes turning black, “Don’t test me, Alessia.”

The way my name rolled off his tongue was different, my panties dampening with the sound. Hopefully he didn’t smell my arousal. “My apologies, Alpha.”

He released me and started leaving the gym, “when you’re done, come to the packhouse, you have visitors.”

What was that? Amara asked, trying to get yourself killed by the alpha?

I smirked; I don’t think he’d kill me I thought back to her. I wonder who he was talking about that is visiting.

I decided to shower to wash myself off and was getting dressed as the other girls walked in. A tall blonde girl with hazel eyes bumped into me, “oh sorry I didn’t notice you.” She smirked at me. “Maybe next time stay out of the way.”

I made a face at her, “how about next time you watch where you’re going.” I threw my bag over my shoulder and pointedly bumped into her as I was going to leave, Callie catching my eye and smiling at me.

“How did training go with Alpha?” she questioned as she walked out of the locker room with me.

“Could have been better but I’m not dead so there’s that.” I smirked, “I don’t think he’s a fan, but I’ll grow on him, wait and see” I cackled.

“Playing with fire, Alessia. He’s dangerous.” Her eyes wide.

We stopped walking so she could warm up for training, “I know, my dad told me all about the Dark Moon Alphas. Who was that blonde girl that needs an attitude adjustment?”

Callie rolled her eyes, “that would be Caitlin. She’s always been such a mean girl type; her little groupies follow her all over.” She side-eyed Caitlin and the two girls who walked out with her with their obnoxious loud giggling, “she’s slept around a bunch, but she turns 18 next week so she’s been on her best behavior hoping she can catch the eye of Alpha so she can be Luna.”

I snorted, “title chaser. My brother had to deal with plenty of those.” I rolled my eyes, “I’ll catch up with you later, café after training? Alpha told me to meet him at the packhouse.”

“Uh-oh,” she put on her best scared face. “Definitely meet at the café afterwards, if you aren’t dead.”

I walked up to the packhouse front doors, I looked up at the big house and sighed. I opened the door and walked in. The common area of the house was big, a couple sectional sofas sat in front of a large fireplace and flat screen tv mounted on the wall, another wall lined with shelves of books. An older plump woman came from the hallway at the sound of the door closing.

“Can I help you?” She smiled at me.

I looked around, unsure where to go, “uh yeah. My name is Alessia Astor. Alpha Azai told me to come here?”

She smiled, “ah yes, you have guests. Please sit. I’m the head omega, Mary. I will fetch them and anything you want, dear.” She smiled and headed for the stairs.

I went and sat on one of the sectionals, twiddling my thumbs, thinking about what had happened between the Alpha and I after training. Why did my body react to him? Just then Arabella jumped over the back of the couch screeching. Her red hair flying and green eyes bright, she took me in a big hug.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alpha Azai with someone else, glancing over I saw it was Ryan. I smiled at another of my childhood friends.

He flashed a bright smile back at me, “missed you too kid.” He nodded to alpha and walked over to us, standing over top of us.

“Alessia.” Alpha called out to me.

I rolled my eyes so Arabella and Ryan could see, getting up to walk over to him. “Do you need something, Alpha?” Always making sure to add emphasis to the word alpha.

You’re really looking to piss him off.

He won’t do anything, I thought back to Amara.

Alpha growled in annoyance, “they’ll be staying with you since Beta Ryan isn’t here on business. I don’t like a lot of people coming and going from my home.” He turned on his heel and stalked off, obviously irritated.

I shrugged and reached my hand out to Arabella who skipped over to me. “Where are we going first?” She questioned excitedly.

“The café, I need some coffee! I was up way too early today. And some new friends are meeting me there anyway.”

We hooked our arms together when we got outside and began walking and catching up on what had been going on the past few months. Ryan walked beside me quietly but at some point, had put his arm over my shoulders, an unusual gesture for him. I was enjoying this time with people who were practically family, but I couldn’t shrug the feeling that we were being watched. We got to the café quickly since it wasn’t far from the packhouse and sat down after ordering our drinks and I pulled my muffin from home out of my bag, picking at it as I listened to my friends.

“How is Austin?” I asked suddenly.

Arabella got quiet, looking at Ryan then to her drink in front of her. Ryan avoided meeting my eyes. “He’s been doing his own thing; you know how Shayla can be. He hasn’t called you?”

I looked down at my muffin now, “no. We haven’t spoken since the day I left.”

Arabella grabbed my hand, “did something happen between the two of you?”

I shrugged, “I mean, Shayla. She told me the night before I left that she was glad she arranged for me to come live here because she could have more control with me gone and hopefully, I’d get an attitude adjustment, so I’d be worth marrying to another alpha somewhere for more allies. Then I hit her.”

Arabella snorted, “okay, I can see why you hit her. I can’t believe she’d even suggest talking about marrying you off like that.”

Ryan cupped my face, “don’t worry babe, if you don’t find your mate you can just marry me instead. At least you would be home.” He winked at me.

It was common knowledge that Ryan had rejected his Goddess given mate. She was from Silver Dawn pack and had come for a gathering we were having. Shayla had convinced Ryan that no matter who her mate was, she would reject them for him. Ryan loved her, so he did exactly that, rejected his mate for her. Then a month later when Austin turned 18, Shayla and him discovering they were mates, she didn’t reject him. We knew why, she wanted the power, she had something better than the pack beta, she had the Alpha, therefore the Luna title.

I smiled back at him, seeing Callie and Caleb walk in. She stopped and waggled her brows at me, pointing at Ryan. I stifled a laugh as she walked over.

“Guys this is Callie and Caleb. My friends here. These are my friends from back home, Beta Ryan and my best friend Arabella.”

“Oh, so we’re sitting with the important people today.” Callie joked, “Alpha’s sister and the Beta of Cerulean. How long are you two going to be visiting?”

“I’m only here today and tomorrow,” Ryan started. “Arabella can stay as long as she wants. Not like she has anything important to return to.” He flashed Arabella a grin as she whacked him on the arm.

Caleb chuckled at the playful banter, “so I assume you’ll be joining us at Infinity tonight then?”

Arabella’s eyes lit up, “please tell me that’s a club? I’m so down to go dancing and mingle with some new hot guys.”

Callie hooked her arm in Arabella’s, “oh, I’m going to like you.”