“I can’t fault you for your feelings; as long as you do not try to demand anything from me, I guess it is okay.” Ariel shrugged, and the man smiled.His mouth opened to say his reply, but the ringing from his phone interrupted them, and he glanced at the screen and grimaced. “I would have loved to continue this, but I will have to be on my way now. Let me know if you have any other issues that need solving, and I will send someone to you.”And he was out of the room, his loud voice echoing throughout the hallway.Ariel released a little sigh as he left the room. His cologne still filled the air, and a part of her brain had already flagged it as wrong.It was the wrong scent.Ariel looked around her living area, the room a visual pollution, but she was ignoring the various bags on the floor, hopping on any available space, and she made her way back to the bedroom, flipping on the bed.She clutched her stomach as she felt the first onset of hunger, reminding her that she hadn’t had a pr
Ariel whipped her head so fast that if she wasn’t careful, she would have had a whiplash, and she looked at her Savior.The alleged savior had on ray-bans even though they were inside a building, so she couldn’t see his eyes, and worst of all, he was putting on a mask, but his hair was well groomed; the black jet strands that felt on his face indicated that he at least took good care of it, and it pleased a certain part of her.“Thank you, but you don’t have to worry; I can take care of it.” Ariel made sure to smile brightly. It was only courtesy that she pretended she didn’t want the favor.“It is alright; I insist.” The man replied, and he faced the cashier. “Please add it to my bill.”Ariel couldn’t help the sigh that left her lips, grateful that he had insisted. Otherwise, she would have to return everything.She turned to the cashier, watching her bag her items with a wide smile on her face, and Ariel frowned. Once in a while, the woman would look at the stranger, blinking her ey
“I will scream,” Ariel threatened him, with the shopping bag already poised to launch at him. “I promise you, I will scream and...”Alex put his hands in his pocket and removed it with a key, and Ariel could only look, open-mouthed, as he opened the door adjacent to hers and entered inside.The door shut with a click, and her pupils continued to widen as she stared at the vacant space he had just once occupied, putting two and two together.There was no way he could access the house if he wasn’t a resident there or if he was visiting someone. But the boldness with which he had entered the house only told of someone who was a legal occupant, and that left only one option.He was her neighbor.A loud gasp left her lips at the realization, and she slapped her mouth with her palm. She had just accused her good samaritan of being a stalker.“Geez! Why can’t I shut up?” She had become too paranoid, afraid that everyone was out to get her, and it was coming to bite her in the ass.She had to
Ariel couldn’t postpone it any longer; she had tried to fight the itch, but it had gradually become an insatiable hunger until she couldn’t resist it anymore.With a sense of defeat, she picked up the portable device and waited with baited breath for the other person on the line to pick up, and for the first time, a warm smile grazed her lips as she heard the voice.“Maddie.”“Ariel, how are you doing?” The enthusiasm in Maddie’s voice was rather surprising, but right now, Ariel would take anything.She had missed them so much.“I am fine; I just wanted to hear from you. How is everyone, Liza, Denise, and Emily? I know we didn’t have a good relationship in the pack, but it has been nerve-racking to be away from home and... I am sorry; I don’t know what I am saying.” She had been too excited and had started rambling, but she didn’t know when she had broken down.Hearing Maddie’s voice had triggered something in her—the warmth of a home. Somehow, unconsciously, she had been developing b
“Kane!”The fucking bastard.It had to be his doing, because there was no way she was getting all this because she was ‘pretty'—not like she wasn't—but it was unusual.But that should explain it.The random favors that she encountered, like whoever she met, always seemed to meet one of her pressing needs.The anger was rekindled, bubbling over with a ferocity that threatened to consume anything and everything, and right now she wishes it would be directed at the man involved.Fuck!She should have known she could never escape him; she had been doubting him, but this was Kane; the man would always have his way.But not this time.“Aargh!” Ariel growled, her hands clenching into fists as she fantasized about wrapping her fingers around his throat, squeezing tight to release the pent-up fury that bubbled within her.You are being irrational; it may not be him. The only voice of reason filled her thoughts, and she inhaled a large gush of air, trying to calm down.She couldn’t jump to a co
Ariel’s eyes fluttered open, and they landed on the white, intricate details of the ceiling above her. She tried to shake off the haze of confusion that had settled on her, trying to pierce the little patches of information floating in her head.She couldn’t remember how many times she had blacked out and woken up in an unfamiliar environment.It was becoming the norm, and if she had a dollar anytime she blacked out, it would be more than five dollars. It wasn’t a lot, but it was impressive that it was up to that amount.Ariel shifted on the bed, her body sinking deeper into the soft cushion, helping and bringing relief to her back pain. For a moment, her thoughts drifted away, leaving only peace.The memories would come back, and she was sure it wouldn’t be pleasant; she just had to enjoy the little ignorant bliss she was having.But the bubble was quick to pop as the door opened, the sharp creak startling her, but she was able to compose herself, shutting her eyes close before the n
“How can you do that?” The alpha demanded, and Ariel was sure she could see stars coming out of his eyes.Yup, she had gotten his attention, and she had to maintain it now.A surge of confidence coursed through her veins, and her shoulders straightened up. “I used to live in his pack, but I ran away when I found out he killed my parents and…”“No surprise there. Kane's reputation always precedes him.” The alpha interrupted her, and Ariel’s eyes narrowed slightly, trying not to show her annoyance at his action.“I know you hate him, and honestly, I hate him more than you can think, but there is not much I can do seeing who I am. However, I have enough information that would be very useful to help you achieve your goal.”“Hmmm.” The alpha stroked his beard, going over the thought, but from the way his eyes had lit up at the idea, she knew he was already sold.It was times like this that she had to thank the goddess for having a mate that was wanted by most of the packs. Who knew it woul
“Welcome to the Den.” The alpha managed a smile as he looked at her, and he stretched out his hands to her.The Den?It took everything in her not to burst out laughing. That was a horrible name for a pack, but who was she to complain?“Thank you.” Ariel mirrored his smile as she took his hand and shook it warmly, repeating it for his beta and gamma.“Welcome.” They echoed the greeting, but after what the gamma had done, Ariel was still skeptical about them.“It should be time for dinner now, and we can go down to eat. I assume you are hungry.” Her stomach grumbled as if in response to his words, and she gave him an apologetic smile.“Oh no, I could eat my own here if it is possible.” The last thing Ariel wanted to do was meet his pack.If their leaders were like this, who knows how the pack members were going to be? And she had no strength to fight anyone.“No harm will come to you as long as you are here.” The alpha said and Ariel’s head snapped up, looking at him with wide eyes.“C
As Ariel stood in the makeshift raised platform that had been constructed in the balcony, staring into the eyes of her mate, she could see nothing but love.All of the moments that brought them here had been a conscious effort on their part, and going for therapy had been a major factor.The first few weeks had been awkward as neither of them was ready to pour out their hearts open, and they had been going around in circles, but they finally broke when the therapist had asked Kane a question.“Is there anything you would like to say to Ariel but you are afraid it will hurt her?”Kane had hesitated at first, his eyes darting to his mate, and he shook his head for a No, there was something about the way Ariel was looking at him, and he didn’t know when he began to talk.“You always act before you think. Most times, you do things that put yourself at risk, not considering people around you, and when it starts getting back, you pull away, leaving us to clean up the mess.”“It is a lie.” Ar
Ariel started devising a plan immediately after she got to her room. Kane had been trying to prove stubborn, but he had no idea she was a greater force to contend with.Ariel was determined to let bygones be bygones and focused on the future, but Kane seemed to think she was still holding onto the pass, and she was determined to prove him wrong.She began by packing a few essentials she was going to need for the night, and she stuffed them in a tote bag. She peeped inside, making sure everything she needed for a sleepover was there, and she nodded her head in satisfaction.Then she picked up the bag, hanging it on her shoulder, and she made for the door. Now outside the door, she let her nose guide her, and she began to look for Kane’s scent.The man had continued to prove stubborn, so drastic times call for drastic action.Ariel was able to trace the scent to the room at the end of the hall, and she held the doorknob, pushing it gently, and a sigh of relief left her as it gave way—gr
Ariel slumped on the bed as she got to her room, the rejection too much for her to bear. She wanted to bury herself in the mattress if it meant never to face him.The rejection had stung so much that she couldn’t believe it.But she had brought it upon herself.This was the least she deserved after the way she had treated him, but that didn’t soothe the ache in her chest.She began to replay all that she had said to him, her pity excuse to get him back, and she was cringing hard, but thinking of it now, therapy seems to be a good idea.Their relationship was founded in lies and deceit; although she couldn’t deny their sexual chemistry, their bond was shaky, and there are so many things that were wrong, and if given the chance, she would want to start afresh.With that determination surging in her veins, Ariel picked up her phone, clicking on the message app, and composing a short text to Maddie. The girl knew whatever was happening in the werewolf world, so there was no doubt she woul
Ariel didn’t wait to see if Kane was going to listen to her; she had decided to take law into her hands, and she grabbed him by his hands and began to pull him away.But she was met with little resistance as he dug his heel on the floor, refusing to follow her, and she turned to look at him, a challenge in her eyes. Goddess, help her; she could claim him right now if he continued like this.There was a twinkle in Kane’s eyes as he understood what she was trying to convey, and he allowed himself to be led by hand until they got to the comfort of his office and she dropped his hands.Ariel tucked her arms in each other, and she fastened her eyes on him, with a look that could burn, but Kane was immune to all this, and he looked at her, although the sides of his mouth tugged up in a small smile.“What were you doing with her?” Ariel demanded, hoping her jealousy didn’t shine through. But who was she kidding? When it comes to Kane, she seems to lose all her senses. “What did you say that
Ariel woke up the next morning with a scowl on my face, annoyed by the sleepless night. She was practically turning and tossing on the bed until it was dawn.She made sure to avoid all of the mirrors or anything that could show her reflection, as she didn’t need to know how horrible she looked.No doubt, there were huge eye bags in her eyes and horrible dark circles, but she refused to care; instead, she splashed water in her eyes and made for downstairs.Her heart lifted as she perceived the scent of pine cones and oranges, and she quickened her pace, hoping she would just get a glimpse of him.But it was just his scent that lingered as he was long gone, and her face fell even more. However, Ariel managed to slap a smile on her face as the pack began to greet her.There was no need to let them know that their leaders were not on speaking terms; instead, she settled on her seat and waited for the food to come while she was scanning for familiar faces.Her eyes met with Liza, and she r
Ariel stared outside the window, the world now at peace as the snow had ceased falling, but she failed to notice the vibrant hues of the sky or the gentle quietness of the morning. Her mind was still consumed with the thoughts of her mate.The pain in his voice was something she couldn’t stand, and she only had herself to blame. What they had shared last night had been mutual, and she had enjoyed every moment of it, but she had allowed her fears to push him away.Ariel cringed as she recalled the word he had called himself. How could she even face him now?And the things he said about her father? It had to be a lie; her father would never do that. At least from the glimpse she had seen of him, he seemed like a good man.She ran her head through her finger several times in frustration.Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that settled at the pit of her stomach. He had done everything she had accused him of, and he was also a murderer. If there was anyone that was going to be ang
When Ariel woke up, it was to streaming sunlight from the window slit, the chirping of birds as they sang sweetly in their trees, and her lips curled in a lazy smile, but the smile was quick to fade when she shifted on the bed, and she was met with restriction.A heavy arm encircled her waist, and her ass was painfully close to someone’s crotch, and the hard appendage was poking her ass cheeks. She was feeling a suspicious amount of breeze and freedom in her body.Ariel raised the sheet that had been covering her and looked inside, and she was right. She was stark naked on the bed, and the arm that was swung around her was none other than Kane.She wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, but from the tingles she was still feeling and the delicious soreness in her body, she had no doubt that something had gone down between them, but that didn’t put her to ease one bit.This wasn’t what she wanted.She had thought she could bear the consequences when the morning came, but she was only filled
The tears weren’t stopping anytime soon, no matter how she tried, and it was only pouring down from her eyes. She had cried so much that she had even forgotten the reason she was crying.But she had never felt so pathetic.After everything and all the promises never to go back here, she was back in Kane’s pack and even taking on the role of a Luna; her parents must be rolling in their graves seeing her frolicking with the enemy, and the thoughts pained her.Nothing could improve her mood, and she remained gloomy throughout the day and had laid down on the bed, just feeling pathetic for herself.And somehow, time had run until the door slowly opened and Kane entered inside.“Ariel.” He growled as he stepped inside, marching towards where she lay. “I thought we had gone over this before; I don’t care what happened between us, but you are not going to starve yourself.”Ariel rose up her head to look at him, and Kane caught sight of her red eyes, and he was rushing to her side.“Ariel, wh
The next morning, Kane was gone before she could open her eyes, although she had heard his footsteps as he got dressed, and she opened her eyes in the dark, watching his movement.And when he left, Ariel closed her eyes again, trying to sleep, and this time when she woke up, she was greeted by bright sunlight streaming from the window. Ariel sat up, moving towards the window as if enchanted, and she just stared outside, marveling at the beautiful sight in front of her.She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and inhaled in the clean air, a sharp contrast to when she was in Blue Ridge. Then she slowly exhaled, all of her troubles floating away like the air.It was almost breakfast, and she knew the pack would be gathering downstairs to eat, and Ariel knew she could no longer avoid them.She hurried to the bathroom, splashing water on her face, and she quickly brushed her teeth. When she was through, Ariel got dressed in a light blue dress that stopped above her knees, and she ran