by Rua Hasan
I stood up, making sure that I had so much power radiating from me to show her that I’m only her Alpha—I will always be and nothing more.
“Ah yes, I was just about to take a break,” I told her.
She smiled at me and was about to say something when I continued.
“Thanks for reminding me. I have to meet up with Stella. If that’s what you’re here for, then you may leave,” I said as I walked to the door, pointing the way out.
Her smile immediately dropped from her face, and she looked pissed. It looked like she was fighting with herself to try more, but I gave her a dead look which shut her up.
She rushed out of my office and closed the door.
I sighed to myself. Finally, she’s gone.
I looked at the time to see it was ten minutes past three, so I headed out of my office and made sure to lock it.
I went upstairs to my room and got changed into proper clothes. Stella wasn’t in the room, so when I was done, I headed out to look for her because her phone was on the counter next to the bed.
I got to the kitchen and saw Liam and Marie once again bickering.
God, I wish they could go through one day without arguing.
“Guys,” I said as I looked between them.
They didn’t pay attention to me because they were too busy fighting over the last slice of pizza.
“Guys,” I repeated but louder this time.
“Marie, I told you that’s mine. You already ate three slices. I need it more than you, I’m the beta. Besides you’re going to get fat if you don’t stop eating,” Liam blabbed on with the same excuse he uses all the time.
“I ate three slices? I ate two, and you took my third slice. I haven’t eaten all day. You’re the one who needs to stop eating. Nobody wants a fat Beta,” Marie rambled on.
“Will you guys just shut up!” I yelled while rubbing my fingers on my temple.
Marie and Liam finally looked at me with startled faces.
“Woah, bro, what’s wrong with you?” Liam asked while snatching the slice of pizza from Marie and shoving it up in his mouth.
Marie looked pissed but chose to ignore him.
“Aiden are you, okay?” Marie asked me.
I nodded.
“I’m fine. Just tell me did you see Stella. She left her phone in our room, and I don’t know where she is,” I told them.
Marie shook her head at me while Liam nodded his.
“I didn’t see her,” Marie said.
“But I did,” Liam said as he ate with his mouth open.
Marie looked at him with disgust.
“She went out the door with Nate a couple minutes ago,” he told me.
I didn’t know why she would leave without telling me and why would she go somewhere with Nate.
Nate is my best friend. But when I remember the night of my birthday, I get pissed off. I don’t like to think that some male was half-naked in a bathroom with my mate, even though he’s my friend.
They only met a couple days ago, but they act as if they’ve known each other for ages.
“Where did they go?” I asked sounding irritated.
Liam shrugged his shoulders.
I sighed and walked out of the house. I looked around but didn’t see Stella or Nate, so I started to sniff the air for their scents. Their smell was still in the air telling me that they didn’t leave long ago.
I saw Scott and walked over to him.
Why isn’t he with Stella? He’s supposed to be guarding her.
“Alpha,” Scott said and lowered his head.
“Where’s Stella?” I asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be with her?”
Scott looked confused.
“Alpha, you told Nate to tell me that I was taking the day off while Nate looks after her,” he told me sounding confused.
My wolf was getting angrier by the minute.
Why would Nate tell him that and not tell me?
Where was he taking Stella?
I growled out loud.
My best friend better not be trying to steal what’s mine.
“Where did they head off to?” I asked.
“I saw them walking toward Broadway Street,” Scott said.
I didn’t waste a second longer. I turned to my right and sprinted toward Broadway Street. As I walked really fast, I sniffed the air and smelled Stella’s scent mixed with Nate’s.
My wolf didn’t like the fact Stella scent was mixed with another male besides me.
I followed their smell, and it lead me to a club.
Who would go to a club at a time like this? I don’t even know why there is a bar open at daylight.
My wolf was getting restless; he wanted to surface.
Why did Nate bring my mate here?
He has some explaining to do.
I walked into the bar and was surprised to find it crowded. The place smelled of sweat and alcohol. I looked around but didn’t see Stella or Nate. I walked closer to the bar and caught Stella’s scent.
It was weak, but I followed it anyway.
A few minutes later, I finally found Nate and Stella dancing on the dance floor.
I felt a vein on my forehead pop. My wolf was begging me to let him surface. Stella was swaying her hips side to side while throwing her hand in the air. Nate was next to her shaking his body to the beat.
What the heck was going on?
I stomped to the dance floor and grabbed Stella’s wrist.
“What the heck are you doing?” I growled.
Stella and Nate both stopped dancing when they saw me. I saw Stella’s face turn from startled to shock to angry.
She pulled her wrist from my hold and took a step back.
“What do you want, Aiden?” she asked bitterly. “Can’t you see we’re trying to have fun?”
What the hell was going on?
I looked at Nate and saw him smirk at me.
“Nate! Mind explaining to me why you brought my mate here?” I growled at him.
He ignored my question and looked at his wrist.
“Oh, look at the time. It’s getting late. I have to go,” Nate said and sprinted to the exit.
“You’re not wearing a watch, stupid,” Stella yelled at him.
He only waved at her then walked out of the club.
Stella looked at me then walked to the bar and ordered a drink.
“Oh no you don’t,” I told her. “We’re going home.”
I grabbed her arm and dragged her outside to the car I linked Liam to get me.
“Oh no, I’m not,” she yelled at me when we were outside.
“Why are you acting like this?” I growled. “First, you go to a bar with my best friend, and now you’re acting as if I did something wrong.”
“Maybe because you did!” she yelled back.
Her words shut me up.
What did I do? I don’t remember doing anything bad.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
She only walked past me.
I wasn’t going to let her walk away. I grabbed her arm and dragged her into the car. I opened the door to the front seat and made her sit as she struggled against my hold.
“Let go of me, Aiden! I’m not going with you!” she yelled.
I ignored her and closed the door and got into the passenger seat. I made sure to lock all the doors before I took off. I drove for a couple of seconds, and the silence was already eating me alive. I sighed and parked the car outside the forest. I turned my head to my right to look at Stella, but she was too busy looking out the window, ignoring me.
“Can you just drive so I can just get out of here?” she said as she looked at the car.
“What were you doing with Nate?” I asked calmly, but I could hear my wolf’s voice mixed with it. He was angry about the way Stella was treating us and how she was dancing with another male.
She looked at me with a bored expression.
“What else do you expect? What do people usually do at bars?” she s
aid.
I lost it. My wolf took over, and I felt my canines surface from my gums.
“You are mine!” I yelled. “Don’t you ever think you could leave me! You belong to me and only me.”
But that wasn’t the thing that made me wish I had more control over my wolf. It was the fact I grabbed her and sunk my teeth into her skin. I knew that I was going to regret this when I calmed down.
If Stella disliked me before because of something I did, then she was sure going to hate me now.
Chapter 20
Stella
A couple of hours earlier
I couldn’t stop laughing at Nate. Tears formed in my eyes as I held my stomach with my hands. Nate and I were in the living room watching The Vampire Diaries when he decided to tell me funny stories about him and Aiden in high school.
“And that’s how I ended up with a black eye,” Nate told me and chuckled.
“I still can’t believe you two did that. I can’t imagine Aiden as the prankster type,” I said between giggles.
While Nate told me stories of Aiden and his adventures, I couldn’t help but compare the high school Aiden with the present Aiden. They seemed like two different people. Nate told me Aiden used to be a carefree and outgoing friend but not anymore. That all changed when he became Alpha. He had to learn to be responsible and serious to be able to lead a pack.
“Oh trust me, Aiden was known for being a prankster in senior year,” Nate said.
I looked at the TV and saw the episode was ending, so I got off of the couch.
“I’m hungry. Want to go grab a bite?” I asked.
Nate nodded then got up.
“Let’s go call Aiden. He’s been working for hours,” he told me.
I nodded and made my way out of the living room with Nate behind me. We walked in silence down the empty hall. I looked at the photos hanging on the dull wall. Aiden really needed to decorate this place. It screamed boring.
We made it to the end of the hall and were about to turn right to where Aiden’s office was but someone bumped into me, and I stumbled backward. Luckily, Nate caught me before I fell.
I looked up to see a monster.
The most horrible creatures my eyes laid on.
It was disgusting.
Okay, fine. It was Kayla.
I scrunched my nose in disgust when I saw what she was wearing. I swear she could be a prostitute in those clothes.
When she noticed it was me, her face held hate and annoyance. I could see her eyes turn darker as she stared at me.
But after a few moments of silence, her hating face was gone and was replaced with a smirk.
She was looking at me smugly.
What the hell is wrong with her?
She fixed her hair that was over the place and pulled her bra strap that fell from her shoulder.
Ew. Don’t tell me she was doing it in the hallway.
“Oh, didn’t see you there,” she said in a fake sweet tone.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t go in there,” she told me as she pointed to Aiden’s office across the hall.
“He’s changing right now,” she continued.
Excuse me?
“I’m sorry. Would you like to say that again?” I hissed at her. She was trying to push my buttons.
“Don’t you get it?” she said in a tone a person would use to talk to a baby.
“You’re nothing. You actually think you’re special? Well, let me tell you this. You’re replaceable. Aiden is going to get bored of you sooner or later and throw you to the side like every other girl he’s been with.”
And with that, she left Nate and me staring in shock.
I really don’t know what to think. She had the nerves to say that to my face. My brain is giving me a lecture about why I let my guard down. I still can’t believe Aiden is sleeping around with other women while claiming to be my mate.
If I were smart enough, I would have gone to Aiden’s office and get his point of view because who would believe a bimbo.
But I was too angry to even face him. If I did, I might have jumped to conclusions and hit him with all my force until I was satisfied.
Nate put his hand on my shoulder and tried to calm me down.
No one’s supposed to mess with a vampire, especially me.
“Hey, maybe you should hear what Aiden has to say,” Nate suggested.
I only shook my head.
“I don’t want to right now. I think I’m about to have a headache. All I want to do is let loose,” I said the last part more to myself.
“Let loose, aye?” Nate repeated.
I gave him a questioning look.
“Well, if that’s what you want, then I know a perfect place that opens at a time like this,” he said while wiggling his eyebrows and giving me a teasing smile.
I knew he was trying to make me feel better, so I smiled at him.
“Yeah, maybe that would be a good idea,” I told him.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we walked outside of the pack house. It’s been a while since I’ve drunk and let loose. I think that’s what I needed to forget about all my fears and problems.
As we took one step forward, I saw Scott making his way toward us.
Dammit! How am I supposed to have a bit of fun if I have a second shadow with me, or worse, goes tells Aiden?
Nate must’ve felt me tense because he patted my back and gave me a reassuring look.
“Oh, Scott, just the right person I was looking for,” Nate said.
“Aiden wants me to tell you that I’ll be taking care of Stella for the day while you take the day off,” Nate lied.
Scott didn’t look convinced at first but then nodded his head slowly before turning around and walking away.
I smirked at how Nate made that sound so believable.
“So where’s the place you were talking about? I doubt there would be anyone at a time like this,” I said as he walked with me down the sidewalk.
It was a really hot day today, and the sun was shining brightly.
“The place is right around the corner. A good friend of mine owns it, so you know what that means,” he said while nudging my side with his elbow.
“Free passes?” I asked and smiled.
“Bingo!” he yelled cheerfully, and I laughed.
After a couple minutes of walking silently, we made it in front of an open club. I was actually surprised to find it crowded when we got in. Nate was right; it didn’t take us much to get in.
The music was blasting loud as everybody danced to the beat. Nate and I made our way to the bar and ordered ourselves drinks.
“After this, let’s go dance,” Nate yelled over the music.
I nodded and started to look around the place.
I didn’t really like crowded places like this where people get drunk and make out. But that didn’t stop me from going there. It’s been a while since I’ve actually gone to a bar. I would go with a couple of friends to hang out, but there was a time in my life when it became a daily thing for me.
To drown my sorrows in alcohol and forget about the guilt. To forget about my problems and what the future has in store.
The bartender finally arrived with our drinks and handed them to Nate and me. I took a sip, let the drink hit my taste buds, and I moaned in delight.
“Mmm. This is so good,” I said as I looked at Nate.
He smiled at me then nodded his head before taking a sip from his drink.
“Yeah, it’s my favorite,” he said.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw a couple of girls checking Nate out. I smiled teasingly at him, and he gave me a look of confusion from him.
“What?” he asked.
“There are a couple of girls behind you checking you out,” I said between giggles.
“Of course, they would. Who do you think I am? I wouldn’t be surprised if I left this place with more than ten phone numbers,” he said cockily.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh
someone’s cocky,” I said.
“Well, if that’s what you think, then fine. Let’s make a bet,” I said enthusiastically.
He looked at me then smiled evilly.
“When I get ten phone numbers or more before we leave, then you have to dye your hair pink,” he told me.
I scrunched my nose in disgusted when the image of me with pink hair came to my mind. But I nodded anyway.
“If you get,” I pointed out.
He only shook his finger at me and said, “Nope, when I get.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, and if you don’t, then you have to tell Aiden you slept with me,” I said smiling evilly.
Nate gasped.
“Are you trying to get me killed?” he whisper-yelled at me.
I laughed.
“Do you know what Aiden would do to me if I told him that? Why would you want me to?” he asked, pretending to be afraid.
“Because it would be so funny to see the look on his face,” I said between giggles.
“Oh, so you’re willing to risk your friend’s life for your own satisfaction,” he said while putting his hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt.
“Look, are you in or out?” I asked.
“Fine, I’m in. But only because I know I’ll win,” Nate said.
I was about to say some comeback, but my favorite song came on and blasted through the speakers.
“I love this song,” I yelled over the music as I grabbed Nate’s arm and pulled him up. “Let’s dance.”
“But how am I supposed to be getting numbers?” Nate asked.
“Oh hush. You can hit on the girls on the dance floor. Come on!”
We walked to the center where everyone was dancing. I put my hands in the air and swayed my hips side to side, moving with the beat. I felt free, like I was flying in the air where nobody could reach me. But suddenly I came crashing down to the ground when someone grabbed my wrist.
I felt the sparks return—which meant only one thing.
“What the heck are you doing?” a husky voice growled from beside me.
Nate and I stopped dancing. I looked up to see a very pissed and angry Aiden. I could feel my face move from shock to anger.
Who does he think he is?