the handsome alpha

Claimed by the Arrogant Alpha

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Chapter 3: the handsome alpha

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Jessica let out a long sigh as her back hit the grass. Sunshine beamed onto her face and she let her lips curl into a small smile.

All she could hear was the sound of birds in the bare canopy, rustling of leaves, the rushing of water from the stream nearby.

She stretched her arms out towards the sky, somewhat entertaining herself by trying to block the sunlight from her eyes.

Once the presentation finished, they walked back amongst the newcomers to prepare for the bonfire. Tasha, with her friendly and confident attitude, attracted many guests to her and she chatted animatedly to them on the way back.

Jessica often forgot that the visiting wolves got nervous too – Tasha was always amazing at breaking the ice. Other members of their town stuck close to her so they could join into the conversation.

Saint, because he was so good looking, also had Betas fawning over him.

Jessica talked to a few, but she was timid with strangers. Meeting new wolves was stressful and she never knew what to say.

She didn’t want to go back to the town – she wanted to clear her head, especially after the brief staring match with that Alpha. Carefully, she started to drift to the side and slow her pace, letting the others overtake her so she could slip away.

When majority of the wolves had overtaken her, she assumed she was at the back.

She thought wrong.

The two Alphas and the scowling Beta were trailing behind a few steps.

Jessica was so focused on sneakily slipping away that she didn’t pick up on the footsteps behind her. Thus, when a hand brushed her shoulder from behind, Jessica had almost tripped with shock, heart rate accelerating. She spun around, eyes wide.

The taller Alpha grinned, guiltily. “Sorry.”

They stopped.

The other two looked at her with stony expressions. She suddenly felt all hot and flustered standing so close to them, particularly the handsome Alpha whom she had made eye contact with earlier.

Their eyes briefly met and for a second Jessica swore she saw them darken with some unknown desire, but she had already looked away before she could try figure it out.

She bit the inside of her cheek. Great.

“Um… I left something back at the clearing.”

“Oh, what did you leave?” The taller Alpha asked, raising an eyebrow.

None of your business.

She was going to say something along those lines but an intoxicating, rousing scent washed over her and her mind blanked.

“My bag,” She replied lamely, eyes darting to the second Alpha – it’s his scent.

The Alpha faced her, feeling Jessica’s eyes on him, but the Omega immediately looked down at her shoes.

“Okay,” the first Alpha mumbled, sounding very unconvinced, but Jessica didn’t care as long as she could leave. “Hope you find it.” He extended a hand like he was going to pat Jessica on the shoulder again, but after a split second hesitation he changed his mind.

The Beta chuckled and the second Alpha glared at him. “Don’t fall too behind.”

Jessica nodded and managed a nervous smile. She avoided eye contact as she stepped around them, feeling their eyes on her back as she walked away. When she was sure there was sufficient distance between them, with one hasty glance over her shoulder, she darted into the thicket of trees and away from the main path.

She followed the sound of the gurgling water of the stream to find the small patch of grass she had deemed as her spot. Then she collapsed onto the grass and closed her eyes, letting the anxiety in her stomach slowly melt away.

When she woke, it was dark.

It took a few seconds for her senses to kick into gear and her mind to rearrange itself. Bats and owls called in the distance and night insects were flying and buzzing around. Jessica made a sound of annoyance – she was supposed to be back at town by now.

She hoped Tasha wasn’t too concerned.

Her best friend knew Jessica liked to go to the forest by herself sometimes but she hadn’t actually told her before she left.

Jessica didn’t particularly like being in solitary, but at times she found it more comforting than being in town where they told her all about getting a mate and how to serve them.

Please.

Jessica stretched her legs and stumbled blearily to her feet. As she was starting to head off, the hair on the back of her neck stood up and her wolf was down in a defensive position.

Someone else was here.

Her body stiffened as she scanned the perimeter. She really, really hoped it was just Tasha or Saint looking for her.

Sometimes lone wolves travelled along with these visiting packs to try find a mate. They had a reputation for being rather uncivilised. Jessica’s wolf barked, asking her to be let free.

Jessica gave in.

She shifted, morphing into a silvery-grey wolf. Her senses sharpened and her heightened sense of smell allowed her to draw in a beautiful balm that Jessica couldn’t distinguish; it was masculine, clean, sharp and crisp with subtle sweet undertones.

It lulled her and caressed her senses, unable to stop the whine that escaped her throat. She mentally scolded herself. In her wolf form, her biological Omega instincts to be submissive were even stronger.

They were harder to fight and that was the main reason Jessica didn’t like shifting.

This was an Alpha scent, and as she slowly took the aroma in, she had a feeling she knew who it belonged to.

Though she felt an urge to bow her head in submission and howl for the wolf, she managed to rip her focus away and pushed off her back legs.

She ran away.

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“Where have you been?” Tasha demanded, voice reflecting relief but eyes still filled with worry. “I was this close to telling the mayor you’d run off again. You have to stop doing that. There are so many newcomers – some of them could be bad.”

Jessica swallowed and squeezed Tasha’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I’m okay. I just fell asleep for a while.”

“A while? You were gone for hours,”

Tasha scoffed and sat Jessica down on a chair close to the fire that was blazing now. The orange and yellow glow lit up the night and the warmth helped to calm down her beating heart.

As soon as she reached the Townplace where everyone else was gathered, she’d gone to her house to change into clothes (her parents gave her suspicious looks, wondering why she was in her wolf form) and then rushed out to find Tasha.

Tasha sat down beside her and elbowed her side, jutting her chin to where Saint stood with the taller Alpha. “I don’t think he will be here much longer.”

Saint was smiling and laughing radiantly; he didn’t look shy or intimidated at all. The taller Alpha was already gazing at Saint like he’d give him the moon and stars.

Jessica felt a pang of jealousy, and yet she was extremely happy for Saint, because damn he deserved it. He had been waiting for a long time.

“That was quick?” Jessica chuckled as she did a quick check around.

Omegas and Betas were sitting around the fire in groups, laughing, talking, flirting – some were already kissing. Jessica sighed in relief when she saw no second Alpha.

“That Alpha approached Saint an hour or so ago. They’ve been talking non-stop,” Tasha deadpanned.

“It’s cute,” Jessica chuckled as the Alpha leaned in to whisper something and Saint laughed heartily.

She wondered if they’d felt that zing of attraction between them – their wolves realising they wanted the other.

“Do you think he’ll agree to be his mate if he asks?”

Tasha laughed. “It’s probably too soon to tell, but I have a feeling he will.” She scooted closer and poked Jessica’s cheek. “And how about you? Has Jessica found someone?”

“I should ask you that,” Jessica sputtered, flushing as her mind thought back to the handsome Alpha.

She tried to erase that image from her thoughts. “I’ve barely met anyone.”

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TBC