Chapter 4

Aiden’s pov

“Leaving so soon?” Mathew threw his arms around me handing me another bottle.

“Come on!!” He teased me playfully and I reluctantly took it from him. The boys cheered me. The music was loud and banging, I could smell the heat off everyone’s sweat soaked body as sharp as ever, it filled the room. Everyone was dancing and It was already late hour.

I stayed with them but my mind was fixed on the consequences of my actions.

“Just one more bottle…one more”. I told them using my finger as an indication and they cheered on. After the last bottle, we headed home. Mathew’s driver was already waiting outside. They were all drunk while I was the only one sober. I had to be.

As he drove home, I asked him to stop two blocks away from my home. I didn’t want to be seen by anyone, I had my own plans of how to get inside the house without being noticed.

“See you later captain!!” Mathew hailed me and the other boys joined him in joyful shouts as they drove off.

I walked over to the fence, hiding not to be seen by anyone, about to jump in when I noticed a sharp scent, it wasn’t a wolf… until a hand touched me.

In swift, I grabbed the person’s throat and pushed hard against the wall, I heard bones crack, my eyes flared burning yellow as I drew out my claws, ready to strike my attacker. Then the oversized hoodie fell off the face and who I saw had a feminine face. I wasn’t sure of my vision but it definitely looked like a girl. Her eyes widened in fear and my hand on her neck loosened.

A low hair cut just like mine, baggy pants and oversized hoodie, no earrings, dressed like a boy but her face was certainly a girl, I wondered if it was a disguise designed to catch me off guard.

I charged and stood my ground, never letting my guard down as my eyes burned even more as I raised my hand to strike.

“What are you doing?” I heard her trembling, she sounded young and innocent, but I didn’t care to listen. My finger about to swoop her face when he called me.

“Aiden!!!” that deep echoing commanding voice only belonged to one person. My heart dropped in fear, I let go of the girl and she fell on the floor as I turned to see my dad standing right behind me. I faced him fully and bowed my head in dread to meet his frightful gaze.

My eyes watched the ground.

His tall imposing figure walked closer to me. His shadow towering over me as a cloud of darkness, with my head down, I saw her raise her head up slowly.

“Lila Black” I heard him speak in a deep tone.

“Yes…” her soft voice trembled.

“You’re late …”

“I’m sorry Alpha Toran”. She stood up slowly, with her head low, ready to take orders. I waited for my turn, for him to say something to me but he remained silent.

“Dad….I”

“A disgrace…” I heard him speak as I raised my head to apologize, he lifted me with a hand and threw me to the close wall. I crashed hard on the wall breaking a few bones.

In a swift blink, he was already standing before me, he grabbed my neck “How can you lead when you only prey on the harmless!?” He pressed on my neck even harder “when you dine with people you should command…”. He tossed me aside.

“How can you lead…you fool!!” He yelled at me as his voice thundered.

“I’m sorry….it was Mathew’s birthday and he asked me out with the boys, I told him it was late but he wouldn’t listen…I…”

He shook his head.

“You fool…you should have made him listen, you are just weak, after everything I’ve taught you”.

I tried to defend myself but he raised a hand to make me silent.

His denial made me feel small, all I’ve ever done was to do everything my dad said, just to be loved by him, to make him proud but no matter how hard I try…I always fail. My eyes swelled up in tears, something I couldn’t control as he spoke to the girl and acted like I was not there.

“Follow him” he turned to his guard “he’ll take you to your new home…welcome to Stray Town”. He told her as she handed an envelope to him and he vanished into thin air.

She followed the guard but she stopped halfway and turned back, then the tears already rolled down my eyes there was no way I could hide it from her.

My heart ceased in fear as she took in the details of my weakness, crying…that was a disaster. I could lose everything if it ever got out.

I was terrified, the next day I went to school and stood at the entrance of the hall way. If I can forget anything in the world. Not the way she looked at me, seeing my weak side, not those teary eyes.

Different girls passed. Until I saw her from afar. She looked different from any other girl. Dressed in baggy trousers, her backpack slung casually over her shoulder, and wearing an oversized men's shirt with her short hair, with a stiff walking step she looked like a common street boy. I was utterly disgusted.

Until she came close, I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side to warn her. Not a word of my tears and I’ll keep her off my bad book. She was completely human. I could smell it.. Powerless. And right there in the center of her pupils, I could see the terrifying weight of her own weakness staring right back at me. But something had me wonder, if she was still human, why was she here?