Three - The Encounter

Nothing screamed home more than the dark skies scattered with a glorious shimmer of stars. Dinner wouldn’t be ready for another hour, and while everyone was busy catching up, I quietly slipped out of the house. 

Just a few blocks away from the house was a small river where many young adults often hung around. I knew the route like the back of my hand, and luckily, it was empty.

I kicked off my slippers and dipped my toes into the water to feel the temperature. Just as I wanted. Cold. 

That was all I needed to strip my clothes off and take a dip in, the chill biting into my skin. Kayla and i used to do this after school with friends, back before our normal lives fell apart. The unfortunate event happened, and we had to leave it all behind.

The story of why we left the Dark Valley pack to live in the human world was one I hated revisiting. As someone who regards herself as an open book contrary to public opinion, I despised keeping secrets. Especially from my twin. Some might call it a white lie or simply withholding information.

But being back here made my skin itch. My dark past lurking in the shadows, just waiting like a ticking bomb, and not even the icy water could calm my raging thoughts.

That aside, it felt good to be home. We should have visited soon, but being torn by the past, our parents' strong decision to keep us away from the pack hardly budged. 

The wind rustling the trees, humming softly, lulling me into a rare moment of peace, until a low vibration of a howl snapped me out of my bubble.

My body stiffened. That was my cue to get out of the water and head home. I turned and swam back toward shore when I heard another overpowering howl through the forest.

The birds and fireflies rustled out of their hiding places, and I stopped for a moment to assess my surroundings.  

I slowly began to pick up a musky scent that became stronger by the minute.

The last thing I expected was to run into a pack member so soon. With the current insecurity in the pack, the chances of being mistaken as an intruder were high, especially since the water had washed away most traces of my parents’ scent. 

Running wasn’t an option. 

My options were to remain in the river and pray that the wolf approaching me was an understanding pack member. Attempting to swim away would only raise suspicions, and before I got out of the water to wear my clothes, the wolf would see me in all my glory.

I heard another growl and knew the wolf was only a few steps away from me. I turned around to face the wolf.

The sight of another wolf after twelve years stole my breath. My gaze locked with the daring red eyes of the big dark-haired wolf.

He bared his teeth, his domineering aura compelling me to submit with undeniable force. It finally clicked that I was in the presence of the Dark Valley pack’s Alpha. My brain went into overdrive.

I immediately raised my hands to show I was harmless, which was quite obvious since I was without clothes or weapons. My action worked as the growling stopped. The Alpha simply stared at me curiously. Once he realized I was wearing nothing, his eyes scanned the area, and he drifted to the tree where my clothes were.

He strolled towards it.

If I were a human, I’d scream murder at the top of my lungs watching a wolf sniffing my clothes, but I understood he was only trying to take a sniff of my scent since I was practically a stranger to him. The pieces were finally put back as he stared at me with a… softer? Look, and I took the opportunity to speak.

“A chat would be nice, but I’m freezing in these waters. Could you please excuse me while I change?” I asked politely, teeth chattering.

His eyes flicked to my clothes. Then he turned around and walked away. I bolted out of the water and put on my jumper and hoodie behind the tree, squeezing my underwear into my pockets.

Time wasn’t on my side. I didn’t want to be taken off guard by taking my time to put on my bra again. I peeped from behind the tree to see where the Alpha was, only to meet cobalt blue eyes staring intently at me. A sheepish smile formed on my face.

I stepped out from behind the tree and into the moonlight. Now in his human form, the Dark Valley werewolf Alpha towered over me.

I had to raise my head to look at his face, and boy, did my neck crack.

If I thought his wolf was majestic, the man standing in front of me was lethal. A fine specimen that would have every woman drooling. Human or werewolf. His cobalt eyes were beautiful, like they could see through me, and a sharp jawline that could slice paper. His plump lips slowly curved into a sly smile, showcasing his nice dentition. It only made it worse.

Caught in 4k ogling my Alpha. Not a great first impression, but any shame I had left had evaporated. I was bewitched. And believe me when I say this was strangely out of my character.

There were plenty of handsome, mundane men that I barely looked at twice, but the aura this alpha werewolf oozed was intoxicating. My instant attraction raised the alarm bells in my head, but I still could not move my gaze.

“What clan?” his smooth, velvety voice asked in a gentle yet strong tone.

“Cole. Jefferson,” I replied, my voice raspy as he gently closed the gap between us.

 “Former deputy chief?” he asked.

“Yes, he’s my dad, my name is  ki..”

“Kira Jefferson,” he interrupted.

I wasn’t expecting him to know me, let alone my name, but it strangely had butterflies pooling in my belly. An attractive, handsome leader? I was sold.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

I thought it would be rude to ask the name of the alpha because distance or not, I was technically still a pack member, and if he knew my name, who was I not to know the alpha’s name and have the audacity to ask?

“Alpha…” I attempted to recall. He seemed to clock that I was struggling with remembering, but I didn’t expect his next words.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he leaned back, folding his arms as he stared into my eyes.

“Have we met before?” The words fell out of my mouth. My memory wasn’t great, but there was no way I could forget such a beautiful face.

“This clueless look of yours. You haven’t changed one bit.” His tone was slightly mocking. I was trying to put the pieces together. Staring hard at his fae, I silently hoped he’d put me out of my misery and tell me his name. 

“Nicholas Rhodes. But everyone calls me Nick,”

“Nick the menace? The Nicholas Rhodes? Since when did the pack troublemaker get to be the Alpha?”

Last I remember, the Rhodes family was a distant family to the reigning alpha family at the time I still lived at the pack. My memory failed when it came to remembering the Alpha’s and their family tree, but Nick, as the Alpha, was a huge pill to swallow. Even if I failed to remember his face, the name alone was enough to upset my tummy.

“Hmm, you remember me, although the term troublesome should be replaced with ruthless.” He smirked.

“How lovely to see you’ve come to embrace your tyrant nature.”

Everyone in high school knew to steer clear of him. With his Alpha genes, he was one of the few to reach their werewolf prime at an early stage.

“If you’re the alpha, you certainly must have run the pack to the ground, which explains the vampire invasion.”

I might be new to his tenure, but one thing I was certain of was his rude and callous character. A world-class bully would be a better word to describe him, seeing as his reputation to terrorize his juniors exceeded him.

 As expected, he bit back. “And what would a human wannabe know about my pack? You just arrived in the town. After how long? Fifteen years?”

“12.”

“I’m still right. You know nothing and have no business judging my rule.”

“I certainly know enough, because my mother is one of the injured pack members,” I almost snarled.

He shrugged his broad, thick shoulders. “Casualties. That’s what happens in times like this.”

The audacity was staggering. Considering my neck was hurting from glaring at him at such a close distance, I lowered my gaze to his chest. Nope. Not better. I lowered it again to his torso. Worse. I lowered it to his feet and moved back.

“I’m aware. But judging from your track record, pardon me for suspecting this attack has a lot to do with you.” 

“Who are you to talk about my track record? You’ve been away longer than any sane pack member should be.”

“And who are you to talk about where I should be?”

The right side of his lips slowly rose, and he replied, “Your Alpha.”

 Stunned by his attitude, I wasn’t about to let him have the last laugh. “Perhaps you should focus more on being an Alpha before the vampires annihilate what is left of Dark Valley.”

“It’s good to know your sharp tongue survived.”

“And I see your ego grew.”

My eyes remained challenging, and it just made no sense that the man I had taken my time admiring just a minute ago was one of the worst werewolves I’ve come across in my lifetime.

He continued speaking, “But if you’d care to know, the vampires attacked for a reason that doesn’t involve me, and an investigation is ongoing.”

Well, that explains the alpha patrolling this area and not the east side, where the alpha’s residence was.

Nodding, I said. “Good, it’s your responsibility. You don’t want the blood of your pack members on your hand.”

“Appreciate the advice. Now, would you like me to escort you home, or would you find your way?”

“Of course. I can find my way home,” I sincerely wasn’t sure if I could trace the path back home, but attempting to was better than being helpless in front of him. Our little beef years back was brief, but seeing him made it seem like it was just yesterday.

I trailed the rocky path of the forest, and he followed closely that I could hear his breathing over my neck.

“Can you stop breathing so loudly?” I muttered

“Sorry, love, maybe if you walked faster and focused on other things, it won't be such a bother.”

My patience had worn thin, and I just wanted to snap at him so bad. I turned to face him when my leg caught on a tree branch. My fall would have been far from graceful, but none other than the imposing, strong-headed Alpha quickly grabbed my hand to stop me from hitting the ground. Choosing to fall rather than allow him hold me, I push his hand. He beats me to it and uses his other hand to grab me.

He pulled me up to his chest, and our eyes locked, releasing an electric force. The world seemed to stop, drowning everything else out. The only thing on my mind was the feel of his body, and his scent wrapped around my senses. 

His heart beating against mine and mine against his. A strange vibration flowed through my body. Instinctively, I held on to him tighter. Being in such proximity with an Alpha was a recipe for disaster, and as a world-acclaimed bad cook, it was better than breathing the same air with a despicable man.

Whatever I was feeling, he was feeling it too. He froze. Then breathed one word against my skin, causing my legs to go numb. 

“Mate.”