SGCambridge
Phoenix
Standing in the lit doorway is an older couple and a girl around my age. They stand frozen in shock, with mouths agape, before the woman turns to the man and covers his eyes with her hands, pushing him back out of the room.
It’s then I remember that I’m completely naked and scramble to pull the thick duvet and cover myself.
“Sorry, we didn’t realize someone was in here,” the girl says before backing out of the room and closing the door behind her.
Utterly mortified, once certain that no one else is going to be barging into the room, I run to the dresser in search of something to wear.
Finding a pair of black leggings and a T-shirt, I forget about underwear and quickly pull the clothing on.
It isn’t long before there’s a knock on the door.
Now you knock.
I don’t respond, though. I simply wait for whoever is on the other side to come in. Diedre enters the room, apologizing for earlier.
She tells me the couple are the Alpha’s parents and the girl his sister. They weren’t due to be back until the afternoon, but here they are at four in the morning.
I silently stand and walk over to the pair of slippers, the only thing I have for my feet, and put them on, ready to leave. They’ve been kind, but I need to move on.
I need to try to start some semblance of a life. With no family, no home, and no pack, the only thing left for me is to become a rogue.
Diedre, sensing what I’m about to do, takes my hand in hers and tells me, “You don’t have to leave. There are other rooms they can stay in. No one is sending you back out there. No one.”
She waits for me to acknowledge what she’s saying, and when I do, she leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
I sit quietly on the bed thinking about what she’s told me.
Can I stay here? Start a life? Be somewhat normal?
I chuckle at that. I’ll never be normal again.
Before too long, I feel my stomach cramp up and can hear the loud gurgling indicating that I’m hungry. It’s then that I remember it’s been a few days since my last meal.
After internally debating with myself for a few minutes, I decide to go in search of the kitchen I was told about the evening before. Opening the door a tiny fraction, I listen for any sounds coming from outside.
Then I stick my head out and scan the hallway. Satisfied no one is about, I quietly slip out of the room and shut the door behind me.
Moving slowly through the hallway, I stop at the end and try to recall which direction I took with Grace. Coming up empty, I take the right and pray that I don’t bump into anything. Or anyone.
After a few dead-ends that cause me to retrace my steps, I finally make it down the correct stairs and end up in a large entryway. After just a few more wrong turns I come across what appears to be a kitchen.
Feeling along the walls finally locate a light switch and flick it on.
Everything is white and chrome. The walls, floor, and cupboards are a gleaming white, while the appliances look shined and polished to perfection, almost like it’s never used.
To be honest, it’s a bit intimidating. I was told that someone would cook for me. I wasn’t given permission to do it myself, and I’m worried if I make a mess.
I’m not even sure I still remember how to cook, although I was pretty good at it before.
My stomach makes my decision for me when it decides to release a grumble even louder than the last.
Sucking in a breath, I head over to the refrigerator to see what’s available. My eyes go wide at all the food: fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, all kinds of sausages, and eggs.
Heading over to the cupboards, I pull one open and see it has all the fixings. Some eggs and sausages sound good right about now, and it shouldn’t be too hard.
I take out all the necessary ingredients and put on the coffee maker before proceeding. I have to admit, it took me a while to figure out the state-of-the-art machine.
Halfway through I’ve realized that I’ve made too much for myself. Any meals I made before this were for my parents and myself, and my father ate like the wolf he was.
Shrugging away the painful memories, I continue my cooking in silence, my mind once again blank but for the task at hand.
Placing some eggs and a couple sausage links on a plate, I forgo the coffee for some orange juice instead. I figure I need the vitamin C more than I do the caffeine.
With the first bite I find myself moaning softly. I tear through the contents of the plate quite quickly and pile on a second helping.
Taking my place back at the kitchen island, I begin devouring the eggs and simultaneously pick at the fresh fruits from the bowl on the counter.
Mid-bite, I find myself stopping to sniff the air. Taking a deep inhale, my nose is assaulted by strawberries and chocolate.
It’s faint, but it’s also the most intoxicating smell. I figure it’s the strawberry in the bowl and maybe…the coffee? Shrugging, I turn my attention back to the food before me.
The smell of strawberries grows stronger, and I push my plate aside to instead eat the fresh strawberries. Mouth filled, strawberry juice dripping down my chin, my head snaps up at the sound of a throat clearing.
Before me stands Beta Ayn with another man. A very handsome man at that. For some reason the smell of strawberries and chocolate is a lot stronger and emanating from him.
I can also sense the power radiating from him, knocking into me, almost commanding me to submit.
I drag the back of my hand across my mouth to remove any of the remaining juices. Well, most of it.
“Mine.”
“This is the young…Wait. What did you say?” Ayn starts but then questions who I’m guessing is the Alpha.
“Mine,” he rumbles again, a low growl slipping past.
He walks toward me and I immediately jump from my seat and into a fighting stance, my eyes now glowing, my claws extended. He stops in his tracks and Beta Ayn rushes to stand between us, gently pushing his Alpha on the chest.
“Alpha Wildes, remember what we just discussed in your office? You can’t just invade her space like that, it won’t end well.”
The Alpha tilts his head to the side as though he’s not understanding what’s being said to him. “She’s mine,” is all he says as he takes another step toward me, causing a snarl to ripple from my throat.
“I don’t understand. Why doesn’t she want me to come near her? Can you not feel it?” He looks at me and asks. I shake my head vigorously letting him know I don’t feel whatever it is that he does.
I don’t feel anything. Not anymore.
Ayn turns to me and says, “Retract your claws. He won’t hurt you and he won’t come near you.”
The Alpha whips his head toward Ayn, who gently shakes his head. With his gaze no longer on me, I am finally able to relax enough to calm my wolf. Ayn gestures to the stool I just vacated and I slowly move over and sit down.
This Alpha confuses me. His eyes are trained upon me once more and they are now filled with something I can’t quite place.
Both men take a seat, with the Beta placing himself between us to form some sort of distance. He then turns to me to make introductions, “Nix, this is my Alpha, Nyko Wildes.”
When he says the name, recognition comes to mind and I quickly stand and drop to one knee, bowing my head low. Black leather shoes appear in my view and I feel my body stiffen.
The Alpha king, my king, crouches down and places his fingers to my chin, tilting my head up until my gaze meets his own.
“You don’t have to do that with me. Not you. Not ever.” I glance to the side to see Beta Ayn nodding his head in approval and slowly get to my feet.
The Alpha stretches out his hand to take my own, but I take a couple retreating steps back, causing a frown to appear on his face.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. This place is too big.” My attention is drawn to a red-headed woman walking into the kitchen.
She saunters over to the Alpha, hips swinging seductively, and places her arm around him with a kiss on his cheek. Ayn looks at the woman in surprise with traces of disgust before looking back to me with sympathy in his eyes.
Why would he look at me like that?
“Oh, who’s this?” she asks. It’s then that the Beta decides to get me out of the room. “It’s none of your concern. Come Nix,” he gestures to me, and I make my way over to him, allowing him to take my hand in his own.
I can feel the Alpha and his wolf internally warring, his wolf wanting to surface and him trying to keep it at bay. “Where are you taking her?” he asks.
Ayn turns to him and narrows his eyes slightly. “It’s almost eight. The doc asked to see her for a checkup this morning. I’m sure you have other matters to attend to right now.”
He turns and guides me out the room and away from the Alpha king and his girlfriend? Wife? I’m not sure, but I don’t miss the way his eyes follow me out the room, ignoring her completely.
He’s definitely going to be trouble, and I’ll definitely be needing that change of rooms if I’m to stay here, because trouble is not something I’m looking for.