14. Stolen Alpha

Aaro’s pov

Stupid fucking nightmare. I used to have them when we were younger. I would dream about Marco taking us away. We were asleep when he took us, but we woke up before he brought us to the man who transported us to the school.

Doctor Marco had always been so kind to us, but suddenly he was cold. He ignored our cries, he ignored me begging him to let my sister go. In the end, he threatened to hurt Elora if I didn’t help him calm her down.

He showed me bones and said they belonged to a girl, and if I didn't help my sister out of her pajamas and make her shut the fuck up, he could turn my sister into a bag of bones too.

For years, I wondered what he needed the bones and the pajamas for. I thought he might have pretended it was one of us who died, so my parents wouldn’t come looking for us. Or my parents were dead themselves; there must have been a reason why they didn't find us. Auntie Kat was too smart to not see through Marco’s plan, I was sure. She was the smartest person alive; she would know that it wasn’t us, right?

Storm helped me feel better, though. His touch, his deep voice, the way he asked me questions like he really cared. How could someone care about me after only knowing me a day? Especially when so few people had cared in the last decade.

The shower surprised me. I couldn’t help but laugh—how fucking weird was it that the shower could make music and have those lights everywhere. Why would you need that? For a fucking shower party?

But then Storm ruined everything.

"….No, fuck that. I’m not sorry, because I would much rather you be here with me than with some asshole that would treat you like shit."

Yeah, some asshole could have bought me. But if Alpha Fuckhead hadn’t bought me, I would have had three more days to try and escape with Ero. I would never know if my plan could have worked. If Ero and I would have been free. I don’t know if I could ever forgive Storm for taking that chance away from me.

He wasn’t a bad person; I fucking knew that. No bad person would stand in the shower with me half-dressed and wash my hair without trying to do something more. I mean, I thought Doctor Marco was a good guy too, and he turned out to be the worst fucking guy I ever met. But everything I had learned about Storm told me he was okay. If things were different, maybe I could have fallen for a guy like Storm.

I braided my wet hair; I would take it out before the date. I knew Storm liked my curls, so I wanted to look nice for him tonight. Then I walked out of the bathroom wearing my towel, ready to grab some clothes.

Storm was already dressed and looked really handsome.

"Ruby just mindlinked me, asking if you could meet her for breakfast. Do you think you can handle her on your own? I have some work to do, but I can postpone it."

I smiled, "I can handle it; thank you, Storm."

"You look way too fucking good in just a towel." He said, walking towards me and giving me a quick peck on the lips. "I’ll come get you for our date around five."

"How will you know where I am?"

He pointed to my wrist. Yeah, right, I forgot they can fucking track me everywhere.

"See you tonight, krullebol."

"See you tonight, Storm." I replied.

I quickly got dressed. I wore a woolen dress with two pairs of thermal leggings underneath. It was fucking cold outside, but I knew I had to dress up nice for Luna Ruby. I wore some ankle boots with the dress and headed down the stairs for breakfast.

Luna Ruby smiled at me when I entered the room and pointed to a chair where I could sit. We ate breakfast while she talked about her job as a Luna.

"The job of a Luna isn’t just to bear children, despite what some men might say. We are also there to boost morale and make sure we have eyes and ears in the pack letting us know what’s going on. I visit schools, the hospital, the elderly, and I make sure if there is anything to complain about of importance, I bring it to Alpha Lex or his beta to deal with."

I nodded my head, showing I was listening. "I see; thank you for explaining, Luna Ruby."

She explained her job further when we were in the car.

"I am also in charge of parties and celebrations, like the one being held in a week to commemorate your eighteenth birthday and the marking of the future Luna of the Winter Bone pack."

That was the first time I had actually heard the name of this pack. Winter Bone. Is that because it was cold enough here to become frozen to the bone?

"Thank you, Luna Ruby, for that honor." I said lying through my teeth. I didn’t want some fucking party; I wanted my freedom.

When we got out of the car, she looked around and spoke softly. "I’ve heard you and Storm are getting close? Be careful with that one; despite some obvious differences, he is very much a ladies' man like his father. I might have handled Storm’s mother, but I know there have been others. It physically hurts when he’s with someone. Come see me if you ever need some wolfsbane to drown the feeling of your mate being with another."

Wow, I didn’t see that coming. I already knew Alpha Lex was a piece of shit, but still he kept surprising me in the awful fucking ways he treated others. It stung to hear that about Storm, he didn’t seem like his father at all. But we did run into one of his ex-girlfriends on the same fucking day I got here. How many more were out there?

"I’m sorry, Luna Ruby. That must be hard."

She scoffed, "don’t be. It’s the highest honor to be the Luna of this pack. I was chosen specifically by Lex out of several candidates. I have a good life and beautiful children. I don’t need your pity, especially not yours considering you will be in my shoes in a few months."

"I apologize. I didn’t mean any harm, Luna Ruby. I can see how proud you are of the work you are doing." Fuck, I didn’t think she’d get pissed at me.

We spent the day at the hospital and the orphanage. It surprised me that Alpha Lex didn’t just sell all these kids to the School. There were more boys than girls here, so maybe he had sold some and the rest were too old?

Everyone looked at Luna Ruby with trepidation, perhaps because she was mated to Alpha Lex. I wouldn’t trust the mate of that asshole either. But they looked at me with curiosity.

I picked up one of the orphaned babies that was crying. "Hey, baby. It’s okay." I rocked him back and forth.

A girl, around eight, came walking towards me. "That’s my brother Tim."

"He’s cute. Are you a good big sister?"

She nodded her little head, "I try to be."

"Me too. It’s not always easy being the big sister, is it?"

She shook her head, "no. I miss my mommy."

Luna Ruby came in and saw me holding the baby and talking to the girl, "We have no time, Aaro. Say goodbye."

I smiled at the girl. "I’ll come back soon, okay? We can talk some more. And if your brother is upset, just sing for him or tell him a story. That always worked for my sister."

"Thank you, um, lady?"

"Aaro, sweetie. I’m Aaro."

"Bye, Aaro," she said after I had placed her sleeping brother back down in his crib. "See you soon."

Shit, I forgot to ask her name. I had no time, because Luna Ruby looked at me like she was pissed.

"You shouldn’t get too close to them. We’re above them, Aaro." Luna Ruby said.

Fuck, that was so messed up. I waved at the girl and smiled at Luna Ruby. "I will remember that for next time."

No, I fucking won’t. I might have "better" genes, but I am not above anyone. Everyone is fucking worth just as much in my eyes, and when I am alpha, I will make sure everyone is treated equally.

"We’re close to Addie and James; let’s have lunch with them." Luna Ruby said, and I followed her to her car.

We arrived at a small lunch room that smelled fucking good. Maybe I should have eaten more at breakfast, but I was trying too hard to pretend to pay attention.

"O, you brought Aaro. How nice." Addie made room for me and Luna Ruby.

"So, how do you like our pack so far?" Addie asked me after I sat down next to James.

"It’s really big and beautiful. I can see you all take good care of your people." I lied. I had no fucking clue if they took good care of their people. If I wasn’t allowed to get close to two kids, how were the rest treated?

Addie nodded. "It’s important for the Luna, or the beta’s mate to be kind, but let's not forget what our people tried to do not long ago. If we don’t show them what we expect of them, then they’ll walk all over us."

"May I ask what happened?"

Luna Ruby shook her head, "not here, Aaro."

James seemed to ignore me for most of the lunch, which I didn’t mind. I didn’t fucking know what to think of him anyway. If Storm attacked him, James must have deserved it.

"Can I use the restroom, please?" I asked, needing to pee badly.

"I will show you." James said, and it was the first fucking thing he said to me all day.

We walked towards the back of the lunchroom, and when we got close to the bathroom, he pushed me into one of the stalls. "If you cost me my beta position, I will make your life a fucking hell."

I had no clue what he was talking about, and I looked into his eyes defiantly without saying a word.

"You might play innocent, but I know you’re nothing more than a whore. You’re bought to be used and thrown away. Storm might act all nice now, but once he gets what he needs, he’ll dump you like all the others." He growled. His arm was pressing on my throat, while his hands moved toward my body.

He squeezed my breast hard, and I growled at him. "You’re nothing, Aaro. Remember that. And once Storm is done with you, I won’t mind using what’s left of you."

He let go and walked out. "No one cares about you, so don’t bother complaining about me."

I stood frozen for a second, and then I punched the wall next to me angrily, making my hand bleed. I grabbed some toilet paper and wrapped it around my hand while sitting down to pee. Fucking dickhead. I didn’t need to tell anyone. Mark my words, I'd pay that jerk back one day. I was making a whole fucking list in my head of those who I would kill: Myrtle, Alpha Lex, Doctor Marco, and now that dickhead James was on there too.

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I made two in.sta posts, to show you what I think Storm and Aaro look like. naomidgoodnovel. 

When I think of Storm speaking, I imagine a deep voice like Jason Mamoa. Who do you imagine Storm looks like?