First Steps

At the sound of my alarm clock I rose from my sleep and started getting ready for my interview. 

8:30 Am and I was fully dressed 

”Claire, are you ready?" Dad could be heard from the other side of my room door.

I grabbed my phone and handbag before opening the door

”How do I look?“

 I asked giving him a little twirl.

”you look great sweetie pie,“

He sniffs

”Daddy, what's wrong?“

”Oh, n nothing“  he wipes his eyes

”I'm just so proud of you for taking the first step in moving on,“

This made me shed a few tears of my own, life must have been hard for my parents, seeing their daughter consumed in pain, not knowing how to help. 

I hug him

”Thanks for telling me what I needed to hear,“

What's done is done, no one can bring her back.

”Can I join?“

Mom asked to join, and we extended our arms so she could. 

We hugged for a minute after which dad I left.

***

It was still early when we arrived at the pack, I breathed in the fresh air, while dad left to tend to his Beta duties 

With an hour and maybe an half left before the interview would start, I figured I'd stroll around the pack centre and see what has changed. 

The environment seemed lovely, it was peaceful and clean, there were more pack houses now and a massive training arena where the pack school's playing field used to be. 

Around the corner from it was the pack school, it's just as I remembered, a part of me wanted to enter, but I feared the memories it would provoke. 

”Claire, is that you?“

A familiar voice asked as I turned to leave,  stopping me dead in my tracks.

It was one of the teachers, I turned around to talk to him, but my voice got stuck in my throat.

This has gotta be a side effect of me staying away from the outside world for so long. 

I was never the type to shy away or catch stage right, in fact, I was very sociable 

”Yes“ I manage to say, my voice returning and my heart beat selling down

”Well, it's good to see you“

Mr crack awkwardly walks away and I sign doing the same. 

***

"Clarissa Woods," Alpha calls. 

And I enter his office, he's sitting around his desk with that familiar smile on his face.

So warm and welcoming 

"Claire, it's been so long!"

 He exclaims, 

"Alpha, it's been two weeks since you last saw me,"

I giggled. A week ago, He his family, had dinner at our home.

"Oh, right I forgot, have a seat Claire,"

My eyes scanned the room as I did do, so much has changed, I remembered coming here every evening after school, Skipping excitedly my feet tudding along the wooden door. 

Now the office was large with more modern features, the once cozy feel replaced with an more professional one. 

I watched as he shuffles through the numerous papers he had on his desk, no doubt he was a busy man. 

The sound of the door being open could be heard and without having to turn my head. I could already tell who it was. 

It was Max, The Aplah's son and my tormenter.

His presence sent tingles all over my body and my heart beat intensifies. It was a strange feeling that I could never justify. 

The way my body reacted to him wasn't out of fear or due to his Alpha pheromone or I would've reacted the same way to his dad.

It was something entirely different and I wondered if he felt it too 

I remembered the first time it happened,I was puzzled, my eyes wondered to find the source but I didn't. 

However, later that day I did, only he didn't seem to be affected by my presence the way I did his. 

The last time I felt him until today was a week ago when his family joined mines for dinner 

" Dad,"

He acknowledges his father sternly as he stood beside him, his focus now on me.

" Son," 

Alpha smiles, his gaze also on me. 

I felt intimidated under their gaze, did he come to interview me too?.

" Beautiful isn't she?" His father asks.

" Breathtakingly "

He nods in agreement

" I've yet to have seen anyone who surpasses her " 

Tilting my head back, I laughed, the same guy who used to tell me how ugly I was, is now saying this?.

I saw a glint in his eyes that told me he knew why I was laughing. 

Since you're both mate-less, why don't you give it a try? ,"

Alpha suggested.

"Hell no" 

Max quickly debunke the idea and a part of me felt sad.

Why would I feel sad that he dosen't want to mate with me?, am I that desperate for a mate?.

He was the devil himself 

"Son, soon you will have to take over from me and you can't do that without a Luna,"

This angered him and he storms out of the room, cursing under his breath

"Sorry for my son's behaviour, I know how much you'd like to be his,"

I was stunned by his claim, not even in my wildest dream did I consider us being a possibility. 

He found the paper he was looking for and handed it to me.

" Claire you've got the job, give this to doctor Lynch, she'll tell you when you start ,"

"Alpha, you didn't even interview me "

" I know you'll be perfect for the role, I looked over your qualifications last night. "

He sniffs 

" I'm just so proud of you, you're finally moving on " 

Reaching over the table, I hugged him and he planted a kiss on my forehead. He's what you'd call a second dad. 

" thanks very much Alpha,"

" You're welcome Claire"

I then exited his office to find doctor Lynch, but the moment I did so, my back my was slammed harshly against the wall, all the air expelling from my lungs by the sudden movement. 

My hand pinned above my head

" Max!"

I hissed air returning to my lungs. 

" Let me go!" 

I tried to pry his hands off me, only to fail miserably, his strength was no match for me. 

He chuckled at my weak attempt and I looked up at him, only to look away. 

I always thought he was good looking, but up close he's breathtaking

He grabs my chin roughly, forcing me to look into those mesmerising

grey eyes of his. 

Max had everything: perfect height, perfect body, a handsome face and those eyes.

If only he wasn't such a jerk. 

" Stay away from my dad ," 

He warns, but I was confused 

" Excuse me? " 

" Claraisa, don't play dumb with me, you think I wouldn't notice your trick?. You had your parents invite us over for dinner, now this?. Weak she wolves aren't my type so get the idea of becoming mind out of your head, you aren't Luna material "

" what?" I scoffed. Is he going crazy?

My parents invited them over on their own, it wasn't some trick to get him to choose me as his. 

Again, he's good looking, I'll give him that but There's so much more that I'd like in a partner and being Asshole is nowhere on the list. 

For reasons unknown, I felt hurt, Perhaps it was from his wild accusations, but no it was something deeper than that. 

"Maxy boy, I'm afraid you're mistaken " 

I laughed a humourless laugh. 

" I'd rather die a mateless wolf than be yours forever"

This seemed to upset him as he pinned me to the wall harder

" Let me go, I need to drop this off. "

I used my head to motion to my hands that he has pinned above my head 

" At doctor Lynch, since what I came here to do, was to see if I could get a job and not for reasons you think ,"

He was stunned for a split second but quickly masked it.

I glared at him when he removed himself from me, fixed my skirt that riled up, then I made my way to the pack doctor.

Let's just hope no one saw this.