Aella
My escape from the pack feels like a dream, a vivid haze of adrenaline and fear. After three days on a bus with strangers, none the wiser about my origins or my destination, I find myself in Seattle.
The city greets me with its iconic skyline, each building a monument to human ingenuity and defiance. For a moment, as the bus nears its final stop, I marvel at how different this concrete jungle is from the natural terrains of my previous life.
As I disembark, I pull my hood over my face to ensure that I remain anonymous. The sheer amount of smells in the atmosphere is causing my wolf senses to be overwhelmed, with a blend of gasoline and grease, as well as the sea-salted air.
My eyes catch on a grunge band poster, its vibrant colors a contrast to the dull grays and browns of my old world. This is not just another chapter in my life; it’s an entirely different book.
I head straight to the hotel I had booked two days prior. The lobby is nondescript, a mix of burnt amber and creams, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in anonymity. I pay in cash and the receptionist hands me a key card with a tired smile, completely unaware that I’m a stranger in my own skin.
In the solitude of my hotel room, I unbag my life—literally. Forty thousand dollars in cash, saved up from odd jobs and errands over the years, lies within the duffel bag. I stash it in the room safe, double-checking the combination before locking it.
I pull out my burner phone and begin scrolling through apartment listings, finding a small studio apartment not too far from downtown, and it’s available immediately. The virtual tour shows me it’s perfect for me; furnished and not too small or too big.
As I quickly confirm all the details and make arrangements for an immediate move-in, my heart begins to race with excitement.
The next thing on my agenda is a makeover. The local pharmacy offers hair dye, and soon I’m standing in front of the bathroom mirror, transforming my blonde locks into a shade of black as dark as night.
Then I look at my stash of brown, dull contacts to hide my heterochromia eyes; a dead giveaway if my father sends trackers after me.
I watch as my old identity washes away, spiraling down the drain with the soapy water. The perfume I spritz on afterwards is floral with a hint of musk, designed to mask my scent. I don’t want to take any chances.
With a newfound sense of purpose, I step out onto the bustling streets of Seattle, my new apartment key in my pocket and a makeshift résumé in my bag. I walk a few blocks and find a charming café with a “Help Wanted” sign displayed in its window. I take a deep breath and push the door open, a bell tinkling softly overhead.
“Can I help you?” The manager, a young woman with a warm smile and an artistic flare evident from her colorful tattoos, greets me.
“I saw the sign. I’m interested in the job,” I say, handing her my résumé.
She scans it quickly and looks up. “You’re hired. When can you start?”
“Immediately.”
Just like that, I’m a barista in a quaint Seattle café, a far cry from the expected life of a wolf pack’s princess. It’s empowering in its normalcy, and the smell of coffee, sweet pastries, and inked money becomes my new reality.
The fact that everything is going so easy for me since I arrived here, makes me wonder if I’m being watched after all. Did my father’s trackers find me already, waiting to strike until I’m alone? I breathe out a sigh to calm myself down, but still keep my guard up.
After my short shift, I grab some takeout from a nearby food truck and head back to my apartment. The setting sun paints the sky in shades of red and orange, a fitting end to a transformative day.
I walk over to my window ledge/sofa and sit down to eat alone, finally letting out a deep breath after everything.
The view from my window is nothing short of breathtaking - a sprawling city that stretches out before me. A labyrinth of lights that glimmer and glow like stars in the night sky, filled with life and endless possibilities that are just waiting to be discovered by anyone who dares to dream big.
As I sit by there, a single tear rolls down my cheek. It’s not one of sadness or regret, but of relief and acceptance. It’s a new feeling for me, the weight of my own choices and the concrete evidence of the freedom I have been given.
Or rather, taken into my own hands.
I realize then that freedom isn’t just the absence of bars or boundaries; it’s the presence of opportunity, the capability to define your own destiny.
I know my father will hate me, but I find myself not caring at all. He didn’t care about trading me off like a prized sheep; I had to do this for myself. I had to make this choice since I never had the luxury of choosing.
As I look out at the city, watching the night fall and the skyscrapers turn into constellations of electric stars, a sense of peace washes over me. The path ahead is uncertain, perhaps dangerous, but it’s mine to navigate, with each step fueled by a resolve forged from defiance and courage.
My wolf instincts still lurk beneath the surface, reminding me of what I’ve left behind, but for the first time, I embrace the unknown with an open heart. A new chapter is unfolding, a story penned by my own hand.
I am convinced that my mother, wherever she is now, would be able to sympathize with me and understand my predicament.
In this city, I am Aella, no longer just a daughter or a woman betrothed to an unknown man. I am a young woman in a vast city, learning to belong to herself. And that, in itself, feels like a victory.
***
Roman28 Years old / AlphaI sit at my desk, a mass of mahogany and dark leather, drowning in reports, updates, and documents that require my immediate attention. The weight of leadership—of being Alpha—is no small burden, but one I carry willingly. It’s what I was born to do.
The room smells of ancient books and aged whiskey, an atmosphere thick with authority. One wall is adorned with portraits of previous Alphas, a lineage of powerful men who ruled with an iron fist. Their eyes seem to watch me, expectant, as though urging me to maintain the order they painstakingly established.
I’m halfway through reading a report on the southern border skirmishes when the door bursts open. It’s Kaden, my older brother and the pack’s Beta. He’s out of breath, his eyes wide with an urgency that instantly raises my hackles.
“Roman, you need to hear this,” he blurts out.
I arch an eyebrow, displeased with the interruption. “This had better be important.”
He swallows hard before blurting out the words. “Aella has run away. Her father just confirmed it. They found her room empty, window open. She’s gone.”
A surge of adrenaline pumps through my veins, my fists clenching involuntarily. Aella, my soon-to-be Luna, daring to run away? The very thought is preposterous, infuriating.
“Her father is apologetic, Ro. He’s already sent out trackers. They are doing their best to—”
“Call them off,” I snap, cutting him off mid-sentence.
“But—”
“Do it. Tell him to call off his trackers. Aella is my responsibility, and I will be the one to bring her back.”
Kaden hesitates, clearly not understanding the magnitude of what has transpired. Aella isn’t just a runaway. She’s my future Luna, the woman destined to stand beside me, to solidify alliances and birth future leaders.
Her departure isn’t just a familial issue; it’s a direct challenge to my authority, a slap in the face that could embolden other packs, weaken our position.
“I said do it, Kade,” I growl, my eyes locking onto his, letting the full force of my Alpha command settle in. “Just fucking leave it, I’ll do it.”
He nods, stepping out while looking uncomfortable. I suppose he’s always been this way, seeing as I’m younger than him and the Alpha. But that’s just it; in our family, it doesn’t matter if you’re the oldest.
It matters if you’re born with the Alpha gene, and Kaden was skipped.
As he leaves, I pick up my phone and dial Aella’s father. Alpha Leonardo of the Westlands Pack; the filthy fucking Italians I am forced to deal with because of the Cartels closing in. He picks up on the second ring.
“Roman, I—I can’t apologize enough for—”
“Save your apologies,” I cut in, my voice low with restrained anger. “Call off your trackers, Leonardo. I will find Aella. When I do, we will continue as planned, and this little incident will be nothing more than a minor hiccup.”
A pause. I can almost hear him weighing his options, calculating the risks. Finally, he speaks, his voice laden with relief. “Very well. I trust you’ll handle this appropriately.”
“Rest assured I will drag her back to this pack if it’s the last thing I do,” I reply before hanging up without waiting for a response.
Setting the phone down, I lean back in my chair, my thoughts racing. It’s not just the audacity of her escape that infuriates me; it’s the underlying implication—that she believes she has a choice in the matter. That’s what truly gets on my nerves.
I’ve worked too hard, sacrificed too much to let a young woman’s whims jeopardize everything.
Aella may think she’s just evading a future she didn’t choose, but what she’s really doing is challenging an established social order, undermining my authority. As far as I’m concerned, she’s nothing more than a pawn in a much larger game, whether she likes it or not.
It’s an insult, one that I cannot, and will not, tolerate.
I rise from my desk, staring out the window at the vast expanse of our territory, the forests and fields that have been passed down through generations of Alphas. This is my birthright, and Aella is an integral part of that, a means to an end.
She’ll learn that, one way or another. She’ll understand her place, even if I have to spend the rest of my life teaching her. And as for any notions of freedom, of choice—those will be nothing more than fantasies she’ll have to relinquish.
I feel my wolf stir within me, equally agitated, equally eager to hunt. It senses the challenge, the affront to our authority, and it’s raring to correct it.
Aella will be found and suffer the consequences of her actions. I’ll bring her back to where she belongs—by my side. Forever.
Not because she wants to, but because she has to. And eventually, she will see that it’s the only way, the only choice she never had.
AellaLife has a way of becoming mundane, a dull routine of getting up, going to work and coming back home. Two years since my escape, two years since I severed all ties with my past, with the responsibilities that once threatened to suffocate me. Now, I live in a small town far away from my pack, my family, and most importantly, from Roman, the man who believed he owned me just because he is an Alpha.Each day bleeds into the next, a swirl of lattes, bagels, and forced smiles. I work at “The Corner Café,” a place small enough that it’s never crowded but just popular enough to keep afloat. I made one friend, Sam, at the cafe where I work. He’s a gorgeous Greek God of a man who also happens to be exceptionally gay, much to some of the female patrons’ dismay.But no one knows me here, not really. They know my face, my voice, even my schedule. But not me—not Aella. And I prefer it that way.I still look over my shoulder everyday, though; I haven’t let my guard down at all. When I walk
AellaHe’s here. The guy from the café, standing in front of a dryer and pulling out a T-shirt. Our eyes meet, and the world seems to halt, all sounds muffled, all thoughts obliterated by the shock of the moment.“Evening, beautiful,” he says in that rough drawl, shooting me a wink. “Fancy meeting you here.”“What are you doing here?” The words spill out before I can stop them and immediately regret the words as they come out. Great going, Aella!He grins, that same earth-shattering smile from earlier. “Doing my laundry. What about you?”I shake my head, disoriented. Of all the laundromats in all the towns, of all the apartment buildings, what are the chances? “I can see that, but what…” I trail off, scoffing and feeling a blush rising into my cheeks. This man does not owe me any explanation, but I immediately slam those walls back up. This can’t be a coincidence. I refuse to believe that.“Same,” I manage to say, my voice sounding far away, as though coming from someone else. I wal
RomanI can’t stop the smirk from forming on my face as I walk away from Aella, knowing I’ve already wormed my way into her thoughts. That look on her face when she saw me again told me everything I needed to know; just one smile from me and I had her.Ah, she’s still as feisty and cunning as the day she disappeared, and that’s what makes this whole charade thrilling. I relish in it—the chase, the hunt, the eventual capture.Reaching for my phone as soon as I step into my apartment, I dial Kaden’s number. He doesn’t take long to answer, either.“It’s me. The plan’s in motion. She’s taken the bait,” I say, and Kaden’s laughter rumbles through the speaker.“Seriously? That easily? You sure she doesn’t suspect anything?” he asks. “Relax. She has no idea. I’m Jay now, the charming neighbor. Besides, you know as well as I do, she wouldn’t recognize me. No one outside the family has ever seen my face.” I say, falling down on my bed and sighing.“Right, the mysterious Alpha, ruling from the
AellaFive days. It’s been five long days since I last saw him. I’ve been counting—counting the days, the hours, even the minutes since he last walked through the café door. Five days. How did five days without seeing him turn me into this... this ball of confusion? One minute he’s all flirt and grin, making my insides do weird somersaults. The next, he’s cold and distant, as if he’s a different guy. What’s his deal?I have to admit that it terrifies me how much I look forward to seeing him. I know I shouldn’t, right? The only thing I know about him is his name and how he likes his latte.Now I’m at the laundromat again, daydreaming about God knows what, when the door creaks open. I don’t need to look up to know it’s him; I can sense him and that rugged scent always clinging to him. But when I do look up, my face flushes. God, he looks divine. His shirt is unbuttoned, carelessly open, revealing an impeccably chiseled chest. It’s not just a chest; it’s a masterpiece, an altar of lean
AellaOkay, I finally understand what people mean when they say their stomachs get twisted in knots.The entire day felt like some weird version of emotional roulette. I dressed up, even watched a stupid makeup tutorial on how to get that ‘natural, but like, also hot’ look. I went through my closet three times, wanting to wear something nice but not too desperate-to-impress kind of nice. I was so nervous the whole day. Like, the kind of jittery that has you overthinking everything. I tried doing my laundry, but even the noise of the washing machine seemed to mock me, drowning out the tick of the clock that was going way too slow. Hell, I even scrubbed the kitchen counters like they had offended me or something.Also, I stared at my phone a bunch of times, hoping he’d text. You know, something like, “Looking forward to tonight.” But nothing. It was as if my phone was on a strike, refusing to bring me any good news.My stomach was doing flips, so eating lunch was a no-go. I just kind
AellaSo the next day was wild. Lunchtime rush, orders flying, the espresso machine whirring like a monster—that kind of wild. I was knee-deep in the chaos, and then the doorbell chimed. My heart did this stupid little leap because I didn’t even have to look up because I have his earthy forest scent memorized. Jay walks in, and he has a rose in his hand. A single red rose. Could the guy be any more cliche? But deep down, I was kind of touched.He waits in line, his eyes catching mine every now and then. I try to focus on the coffee I was making, trying to keep my hands from shaking. Finally, he was at the counter. “A latte, please,” he said, sliding the rose toward me. “And this is for you. I’m really sorry about last night.”I take a deep breath, feeling everyone’s eyes on us. “Thank you for the rose, Jay. And the apology is accepted. But I haven’t changed my mind. You had your chance.”He nods, almost like he was expecting it. “Fair enough. Can’t blame a guy for trying, though.”I
AellaIt’s 6:45 PM and I’m pacing. My date with Jay starts in fifteen minutes, and I swear I’ve changed my outfit like three times already. Goddess, it’s like déjà vu— I just hope it’s not the same film replaying.My phone buzzes on the coffee table—it’s a text from him saying he’s on his way. A weird mix of excitement and nerves bubbles up in my stomach. OH MY GOD IT’S HAPPENING, ISN’T IT?When the clock hits 7:00, there’s a knock at the door and my heart literally stops for a few seconds. Deep breath, Aella. I swing it open, and there he is, looking... damn, he’s in a three-piece suit, and he looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.“Wow, someone cleans up nice,” I say, greeting him with a smile I hope doesn't show my discomfort or nerves.For a moment, he just stands there, his green eyes widening as they sweep over me from head to toe. The corners of his mouth twitch, as if fighting the urge to break into a full-on grin, yet he somehow maintains a composed demeanor.“You..
RomanThe door clicks shut in front of me as I step away from Aella’s apartment, the soft click echoing in the quiet hallway. My lips, still tingling from our kiss, and a smile creeps onto my face before I can stop it. I touch my lips with my fingertips, almost as if confirming that the kiss really happened; the taste of her still lingers on mine.What the hell is happening to me? As I walk toward my apartment, I pull out my phone and hesitate, my thumb hovering over Kaden’s contact. Fuck it. I hit the call button.“It’s me,” I say when he picks up. “Date’s over. It went well.”Kaden chuckles. “I didn’t think you’d be the type to ‘date.’”“I’m not,” I snap. “It’s part of the plan.”“All right, easy,” Kaden says. “So, how’d it go, really?”I hesitate, my eyes drifting back to Aella’s door up the hall. “She’s... interesting.”“Just interesting?”I frown. “She’s different, okay? She doesn’t act like the others.”“Ah, our little bird has some spirit,” Kaden muses.“Yeah, well, spirit or