Chapter 4

MELVIN’S POV

I stared at her, my mouth wide open in shock. Even from a distance, I could tell it was her. The same green eyes, alluring as ever. Her long hair was short however. I frowned. Was I making a mistake? She couldn’t have cut her hair overnight right? What was she doing in our pack? Was she out of her mind? If only she knew that her life was in danger!

Tons of questions flooded through my mind. I needed to get her away from my father, but first, I needed to verify if she was actually the one. The pack square was brimming with people that day and I knew I could get up to her without her actually noticing me. I walked up to where she stood and brought out my phone from my pocket tactfully, pretending to be on a call. She didn’t give me much attention however, as her eyes scanned the perimeter of the pack house. With my phone to my ear, I allowed my eyes wander down her body and I marveled at how beautiful she was. Like Aaron, her hair was dark brown and curly, and even with the weird new hairstyle, she still looked pretty good. Her sea green eyes were small and sharp, a beauty to behold and for a few seconds, I forgot I was meant to be on a call and just stared. 

I averted my gaze before she could catch me staring and kept up with my fake phone call.

“Seriously Tom, you could have told me about the price dip earlier. Damn you.”

She seemed to be satisfied that I wasn’t invested in her and she continued scanning the square while I cast quick glances at her. I had to talk to her. I couldn’t let her slip past me. She was too beautiful to suffer the same fate as her parents and I had to warn her. I took a deep breath, walked up to her and waved.

She took one quick look at me and ignored me, and my heart stopped beating for a second. In all my life, no girl had ever taken one quick look at me. I had always been the center of attraction. Melvin, the handsome son of the Alpha. I wasn’t going to let her stubbornness dissuade me and I decided to try again, this time with my favorite line. It always worked on the ladies here.

“Have you ever been to space before?” I smiled at her.

There. That got her attention. She turned to me and frowned. “Space?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Cos you look like the moon goddess.”

She stared at me for a second, sighed and turned around to leave and I grabbed her by the arm. Enough of the games, I said to myself.

“Ariel. So you can’t remember me? We were classmates back then. Come on!”

Her face lit up immediately. “You’re from the Silver Moon Pack too?’ she asked in a low whisper.

“No,” I smiled. “But I know you are now.”

She stared at me for a long time and just when I made up my mind to tell her the truth, she flung her backpack at me. I caught it on impulse and looked up to see that she had disappeared in the crowd. 

“Damn you!” I cursed through gritted teeth. I threw her backpack on the floor and chased after her. Luckily for her, none of my father’s guards were around at the moment and no one in the square cared much that two jobless teenagers were chasing after each other.

I caught her easily and dragged her by the arm till we were a hair’s breadth away from each other.

“What do you want from me?” she asked, glaring hard at me.

“Your safety,” I replied.

In a thrice, she spun me around, twisted my hand to my back and pinned me against the wall. 

“You’re the one who’s not safe here,” she breathed down my neck. “Who are you and what do you want from me?”

I had absolutely no plans of telling her that I was the son of the man who hatched the plan to murder her parents but fate! Fate was a bitch.

“My prince!” a guard boomed, approaching us. “Need a little help?”

“I’ve warned you to stop calling me that,” I grunted. “If the Alpha hears you, I’ll be in trouble.”

“You mean your father?” the guard grunted. “If he sees you like this, I would be in trouble too. Allow me to…”

“Leave us,” I sighed.

“Are you sure you don’t need help. You look like…”

“I said leave us!” I boomed. “We’re training.”

He bowed and walked away and I closed my eyes knowing that my cover had been blown. She knew who I was now.

“You’re Joharres’ son?” she asked, her sea green eyes devoid of emotion.

I marveled at her guts calling my father by his name. Even my mother never dared call him Joharres. 

“Alpha Joharres,” I corrected. “You’re in his territory now and I’m sure you would like to leave here whole and hearty.”

“I would kill you last,” she said. “Your death would be a painful one.”

“Sorry about your parents,” I muttered. “Couldn’t do anything to help. That’s why I want to get you out of here as soon as possible. You don’t deserve to suffer the same fate.”

She was about to say something when we heard the sound of the horn indicating that my father had come.

“My father!” I gasped. “Quick! Run! Hide!”

“Son!” my father’s voice boomed. “Is that a lady I see flooring you in combat?”

“No,” I replied quickly, maneuvering my way out of her grip and shielding her from his view. She must have been surprised that I had broken free so easily because she didn’t move an inch.

“I let her win,” I added. “You know…tried to boost her morale.”

My father laughed. “I don’t believe you. I would like to see a repeat performance in the throne room in ten minutes. My Elders would be watching so you’d better not disappoint.”

He turned around and walked away and I stared at Ariel in horror. 

“I’m in big trouble right?” she muttered.

I swallowed hard. “You sure are.”