The Arch-Alpha Heiress

Lia's POV This was the day when he started driving me wild... "Lia, where's my order? It's been five minutes!" Olivia shrieked from the front yard, tapping her heels and donning an ugly stare. "Someone needed help by the road," I caught a few breaths, slid the door shut and stepped into the open yard. She crossed her arms, "I don't give a damn. You're five minutes late." This was how they treated me as the stray at Howlmark's slums. The old ways were gone--packs no longer existed, and ranks were based on social class. As an orphan who aged out and was evicted, I was seen as a rogue. I lived in the projects—the only place I was welcome. Being homeless meant death, so I swallowed my pride. I wanted to live. I wanted to survive. I handed Olivia her food. "Here you go, miss." As I turned to leave, she grabbed my arm. "Where. Is. My. Onion. Dip?!" droplets of her spit landed on my ear. Gross, but I needed the money; she paid well but was demanding. I rummaged through her food bag

Lia's POV"Training? What kind of training?" I closed my eyes, sighed, ran my fingers through my hair, and muttered to myself, "What the hell did you get yourself into this time, Lia?"Dante stood there, looking down at me, that spark in his eyes never leaving. "You'll get what's rightfully yours—fortune, prestige, men at your beck and call, no matter how many you fancy."Then he leaned in, his face close enough that I could feel his cold, fresh breath as he spoke. "But first, you help me. Then I help you claim everything that's yours."I froze in place, caught in his stare, mesmerized by those fiery eyes. Heat rushed up my cheeks.Dante smirked, amused. But before I could evade it, he grabbed my neck and kissed me—hard. Torrid.Phlak! I slapped him. Hard. I gasped for air like a fish gasping out of the water.He wiped the red mark on his cheek with the back of his palm, his forearm flexing under the rolled-up sleeves of his pullover. "That's what this training is also for. You need t

Lia's POV "Nothing." Dante stared at me with nonchalance. "You're nothing to me, just a means to an end." "Dante!" Mische darted her stare at him, her disappointment showing in her angry eyes and crossed arms. I swallowed hard and held back my tears, rushing to the bathroom to comfort myself, alone. How's this possible? I couldn't believe him! I didn't know if I'd love or hate Dante. First, he saved me, then he manipulated and assaulted me. The next day he listened to what I wanted. Now he said I was nothing to him? I want to understand you, Dante, but I couldn't! I've resolved my case. Looking at myself in the mirror, I murmured, "I need to get out of here." But I still felt the need to stay. My heart was tugging me to. The heart wants what it wants, but it'd be safer if I just leave him. My tears stopped. I got out of the bathroom, strolled onto the kitchen and heard Mische and Dante talking. I hid myself behind the wall. "Is that why you're super cold to her?" Mi

Dante's bomb shelter looked this way:From the entrance door at ground level, there was a flight of metal stairs leading three levels down. The main door to his secret lair led directly in front of the stairs, but a smaller door was visible on the left side of the short hallway. It was probably a utility room of some sort.Once you entered through the main door, the rectangular space was occupied by the living room. There was an L-shaped sofa without armrests. Beside it was a mini side table with geeky decor. A rectangular coffee table sat in front of the sofa.On the right wing, which the sofa faced away from, there were two large rooms. The rightmost side was the master room, and the other was Dante's recreation room. Dante's master bedroom had a bathroom complete with a shower and tub.On the right side of the sofa, straight ahead from the main door, there was a small dining area, and beyond it, the kitchen. The kitchen had its own toilet–probably for guests.It was smaller than a