2-Room 402

Chapter Two

Ariana’s POV

A low, wolfish groan caused a shiver to run down my spine the second I stepped my foot into the room. Then I heard footsteps from behind me. It sounded so casual and relaxed like the owner was taking a stroll in the pack, yet powerful, like he was trying to mark his territory. I couldn't see him clearly, but I could feel him with every fiber of my being, and even in my drunken state, I could tell that he was a powerful wolf. 

I spun around sloppily. The room was pitch black and all I could see was a figure in the shape of a man. A very tall and muscular man. 

Alex.

He looked bigger and taller than I remembered. The scent that hit me was sandalwood and citrus, different from Alex’s but the alcohol sizzling in my blood dulled my brain from thinking straight.

“What took you so long…” Alex’s menacing voice growled as he sniffed my scent gland. 

Before I could speak, strong wet arms wrapped around me. He sniffed my neck and let out a deep groan. 

My whole body shuddered at the contact, but I pushed the sensation to the back of my mind and replaced it with the sting of Alex’s harsh betrayal, his cruel words, and his threats. A subtle sniff in the air told me he was aroused causing rage and despair to twist together in my chest, choking me.

Didn't he just finish fucking his mistress? “You still want to fuck me after what you’ve done? Do you have no shame?” I growled, the alcohol suppressing my fear.

“Shame,” he muttered, his voice low and husky as he took a step closer to me, electrifying my senses. “No, I don't feel any shame. I feel desire,” he whispered into my ear, and I fought to swallow the moan that threatened to erupt from my throat. 

I could tell that Alex was acting and sounding differently but what I couldn’t tell was why my body was responding in tune with his despite the anger I felt for him. I didn’t expect my body to be saturated by his arousal.

Punishingly, his hands moved between my thighs and he planted a hard kiss on the back of my neck, grazing it slightly. I threw my head backward in anticipation. His touches weren’t cruel or anger-ridden like the usual, but sweet, gentle, reverent, and almost desperate. It confused and excited me at the same time.

“Hold me.” The dominance in his voice made my body betray me, responding to his overwhelming, powerful ambiance. I stood on my toes and wrapped my arm around his neck…suddenly he let out an aggressive growl and took my mouth.

The kiss was as demanding as it was stimulating. My wolf, buried deep in the recess of my mind, stirred, feeling the power of his masculinity. Something about his scent and touches called out to her but I pushed her away...

Panting, he broke the kiss, swooped me into his hand's bridal style with a strength that seemed greater than before, and then he laid me onto his bed. And that was the last thing I remembered.

Dawn came and I groaned, rubbing my eyes and wondering what the heavy weight on my arm was about. I cracked my eyes open and looked at the cause of the heaviness. Memories of the night before crashed into my head.

My mate had betrayed me with my best friend and forced me to sleep in the guest house. Surprisingly, he was in the guest room when I arrived, and we had the most unexpected but blissful sex ever. I’d drifted to sleep afterward, least expecting him to be around when I woke up, but here he was…

Moderately bearded around his strong and sharp jawline, jet black hair that plopped onto his forehead, ripped muscles that were covered in tattoos, thick long lashes, and a long Roman nose. 

His face had a raw masculine beauty that made my toes curl from the healing claw mark on his forehead, going through his right brow and cheek. It made him look dangerously handsome. There were more claw marks and bite wounds extending from his shoulder to his back, suggesting that he was recently involved in a fierce fight. 

But Alex has never been in a fight so where did these marks come from? Oh, wait! This isn’t Alex. Who is this?

Panic and horror clawed at my throat as it dawned on me that I’d slept with a stranger. The horror that encompassed me at the moment contrasted starkly to how I felt earlier.

As quietly as possible, I slipped out of the bed, gathering my scattered clothes and putting them on with trembling hands. I heard the stranger stir and groan as I fled, rushing out of the room, only barely catching a glimpse of his face but not looking back. I couldn’t.

At the door, I noticed I had mistaken the room number in my drunken state. Instead of room 204 I’d been in room 402. 

Fuck!

I thought that tiptoeing into the bathroom and washing my body off every lingering scent from the night before wouldn't alert Alex, who was in his home office of my escapades, but the moment I got out of the shower, I met him in the walkway. 

“Where have you been?” I was barely standing erect when he grabbed my neck, slamming me against the wall. 

“The g-guest house” I starmerd, trembling as my feet dangled in the air. 

“Guest room? Do you think I'm stupid?” his eyes narrowed, his nose flaring, and his grip tightened around my throat. “Why do I smell another man on you?”

I whimpered in pain, trying to speak despite being held in his chokehold. 

“I… I was at the bar and”

He slapped me across my face, shutting me up. My lips tore and blood dripped from the corner of my mouth. 

“The bar? I gave you simple instructions and you flaunted it. Who do you think I am, your friend? I’m your fucking Alpha and whatever I command, you do without any mistake. 

“What were you thinking going to the bar? Don't you know you are the future Luna? What if pictures or videos were taken of you and posted on the Internet?”

Wham! He slapped me again.

Pain went through me like shards of glass and blinded my vision. I sputtered blood and gasped for air.

“Please…please. I’m sorry.” I muttered, squirming in his grasp. “I promise. Please!” I pleaded but he was relentless. He released his hold, and I fell to the ground, coughing and wheezing, yet he began kicking me.

I screamed as pain exploded all over my body when Alex’s leg came in contact with my head. My skin tore and blood oozed out, coating my hair and eyes. The pain was almost too much to bear. 

I sucked in my breath and began to think about my mother-anything to distract me from this inhumane pain and the fact that I was losing too much blood but no amount of thoughts or distraction could take my mind away from this reality.

“It’s high time I visit your mother to teach you the lesson you’ve long deserved.”

Terror froze my blood. What does he mean?

“No. No. No. No. No. Please,” the words tore from my throat, rough and cracky  “Please, Alex. I promise I’ll never disobey you again. I’ll do whatever you want, whenever you want and however you want. Just please, leave my mother out of this. She’s done you no wrong”

“Too late!” he yelled furiously. “Your mother is…” his phone buzzed before he could finish his statement.

“Reuben?” he answered, his phone frowning.

“Where are you? I’ve been looking for you!” I heard a faint voice from the phone’s speaker.

“Why?”

“Liam has arrived in the Snow Valley pack,” the caller replied, and a thick silence ensued. I saw Alex’s chest rise and fall rigidly. His finger clenched into a fist and his teeth grind together so hard I heard them crunch.

“Liam?” Alex turned grim and disgust coated his face as the silence prolonged. 

“Yes, rumor has it that he arrived at the pack last night and kept a low profile. I just received some words that his warriors are combing the pack”

“Why? What or who are they looking for?” I heard him ask right before darkness enveloped me, and I passed out.