Sold to the Alpha

by Cara Wylde

  Avelyn unclenched her fists and massaged the white marks her fingernails had left in her palms. “What’s her deal? Bitch…” A faint noise came from somewhere to her right, and she figured it must have been Daniel, lurking there, unseen. “Oh, great. She’s just insulted me and belittled me in front of one of Max’s wolves. How am I ever going to earn their respect?” Then, she mentally smacked herself over the head. “This place is messing with my mind. Respect? They can all bite me. I’ll be out of here soon.” Well, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to be bitten by werewolves, but Avelyn didn’t have time to ponder on her uninspired pun. She climbed the next two flights of stairs two steps at a time, and reached the mahogany door of the library.

  ***

  “So, have you seen her?”

  “Not yet. I just got here two hours ago with Jocelyn and was busy unpacking and organizing my room. Josie says we’ll be at the Schloss at least until after the Seed Moon.”

  “But she was in the courtyard the whole morning.”

  “Might’ve been lunch hour. What’s she like?”

  “Different…”

  “Different how? Is she at least pretty?”

  “Not by my standards. I had no idea Max liked… big women.”

  “Big? How big? Wasn’t he screwing Lacey?”

  “Yeah, also Amanda from your pack, and Shelly. Remember a couple of months ago when he went to London almost every weekend? I don’t think he always had business with Karl. He went to see her.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. So, how does he like big girls? Lacey, Amanda and Shelly are all lean and athletic.”

  “Might be just a phase. I’m telling you, she’ll end up just like the other one.”

  “He wouldn’t have bought a bride if it were only a phase. There are enough ways of getting an exotic girl in London if you get tired of your she-wolves.”

  “Trust me, she’s not exotic. And to end like the other one, she’d have to be a bride, not a whore.”

  “I can’t believe you’re talking like that about your Alpha.”

  “Hey! The truth is still the truth. Alpha, no Alpha, he’s got issues.”

  “I’d be more careful if I were you. What if a Crescent hears you?”

  “Ha! Almost all of us think the same. Don’t the Moon Children?”

  “I don’t know… Jocelyn would break our bones if she heard anything.”

  “Josie loves her brother too much. The wrong brother.”

  “Okay, stop. This is not a good subject. Better tell me more about the bride.”

  Avelyn squeezed the open book in her hands so hard that the tips of her fingers turned white. She had been scanning the Table of Contents when she heard the two she-wolves talk about her, and she couldn’t help getting closer so she could hear better. They had probably entered the library after her. Could it be that they simply didn’t recognize her smell yet, or did they know she was there, listening to them, and they actually wanted her to overhear the conversation? She was becoming paranoid. She couldn’t hide behind the shelf anymore. She felt like a coward. Like she was too weak to go out there, confront them, and demand to be shown some respect. She put the book on a random shelf, took a deep breath and went around the row of books, not allowing herself any extra moment to think or try to come up with something to say, least she would change her mind and back down.

  “Hi,” she said in a cheerful, artificial voice. Her smile was fake. Could they tell?

  The two girls jumped in surprise, eyes wide, mouths agape. “Wow! So, werewolves can really be taken by surprise,” Avelyn thought. She took a moment to study them, trying to guess which one was the Crescent and which one was the Moon Child. They were both as tall as she was. One of them had shoulder-length raspberry blond hair, huge doll eyes, and a lean body with nicely-shaped curves. The other one was thinner, with well-defined muscles. Her brown hair was carefully braided in a fish tail.

  “I’m Avelyn,” she offered when she saw that none of them intended to say anything. “You know… the bride.” The artificial smile never left her face. It was starting to hurt.

  “Rosanna,” said the blonde one, offering Avelyn her hand. Avelyn gave it a good squeeze and shook it. It was said one could tell a person’s character by a handshake.

  “Nice to meet you, Rosanna.”

  “Val,” said the other one, but skipped the handshake.

  “Val from…”

  “Valerie.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful!” Now, her cheeks were really hurting. “I’m sorry, I… I was around and… I couldn’t help but hear… You must know, I wasn’t listening. It was not my intention. I overheard, and I thought I should just come and introduce myself.”

  “You won’t tell Max, will you?” Blurted Rosanna, worry in her beautiful green eyes. Val squeezed the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

  “Tell Max what?” Avelyn feinted confusion.

  “I just… I feel like a fool now. I promise I didn’t mean it. You see, Val just got here and I was trying to… to…”

  “All right, stop,” Val interrupted her. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I started asking some inappropriate questions, and Rosanna has somewhat of a big mouth…”

  “What are you guys talking about?” Avelyn could not believe how silly they were being. Was that the best they could do to defend themselves? Their social skills sucked.

  “How much did you hear?” asked Val.

  “Well… something about a Lacey, and an Amanda…”

  “They’re ancient history!” Rosanna’s cheeks had become rosy with embarrassment, and she seemed eager to tell Avelyn anything she wanted to hear.

  “Okay. What about the… other one?”

  “Shelly?”

  “No, not that one. Maybe I missed the name…”

  Val sighed and started playing with her braid. Should she try to save Rosanna from digging herself deeper?

  “I… don’t know what you mean.” All of a sudden, it was like the blonde girl didn’t want to be there anymore.

  Avelyn watched them suspiciously. They both looked harmless enough. Just two friends gossiping around a corner with no intention to actually hurt anyone.

  “Look,” Avelyn began. “I know I am new here and I know that I’m not exactly what everyone expected. It was not my intention to cause such an awkward situation. If you just gave me a chance, you’d see I’m not that bad. At least, I think I’m not.” This time, she tried to give them a genuine smile, even though she still felt angry about what she had heard earlier. But, more than angry, she was curious. Lacey, Amanda, Shelly, the other one. “She’ll end up like the other one.” What did they mean?

  “Just for the record,” said Val. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Rosanna gave her a reproachful look. “Some friend you are.”

  Avelyn laughed. “You two remind me of my friends at Alma Venus. We always supported each other, but there were times when one of us would get herself into such deep shit that it was stupid to expect the others to follow her suit.”

  Rosanna and Val exchanged a hesitating glance.

  “So, Rosanna,” continued Avelyn. “I gather that you are a Crescent?”

  “Yes…”

  “Maybe you could help me learn more about the pack, what do you say?” What was Avelyn trying to do? She wasn’t sure herself. “I spent the past week with Christine, and she helped me a lot. But I really miss talking to someone my age.”

  “I… don’t think either of us is your age,” said Val reluctantly.

  “Oh, silly me. You’re right.” Of course, how could she have forgotten something like this? All the werewolves at the Schloss, except the very old ones, looked like they were in their mid-twenties or early-thirties. In reality, they could be as old as 250-300. Only after 300 years old their body started showing signs of growing old. “Well, you know what I mean.”

  “Not really. No.” Apparently, Val was not the funny kind. No wonder. An Alpha like Jocelyn could suck the life a
nd fun out of anyone.

  “Shut up, Val”. Rosanna punched her friend in the shoulder then turned to Avelyn. “I know exactly what you mean. I can be your guide, if you want.”

  “Wow! How can someone who was badmouthing me a minute ago do a complete 180? This girl is dangerous,” thought Avelyn. “Awesome,” she said instead.

  “Well, well. well… I see you’re already making friends,” Max’s deep, pleasant voice startled all three of them. Avelyn turned around, and smiled brightly when she saw him closing the library door behind him and strolling towards them between the tall rows filled with leather bound books. She ran to him and landed in his awaiting arms. Max placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Do you like the library? I’m sorry I didn’t have time to show it to you myself.”

  “It’s perfect! You know, when Christine brought me here this morning, the first thing that came to my mind was that it looks so much like the library from “Beauty and the Beast”. Don’t you think?” Avelyn turned around in his arms, her back pressed against his chest and looked at the endless rows of books. At the right side of the room, there was a small staircase that led to the second floor of the library, which was much smaller than the first one, but looked cozier and more intimate. “Except… in the movie the inside staircase was bigger and in the middle of the room.”

  “So, if you’re the Beauty, does that make me the Beast?” asked Max, amusement evident in his voice.

  “Oh, no! No, no, no!” Avelyn turned back to face him. “Stupid. I’m so stupid,” she chastised herself silently. She lifted herself onto her tiptoes to kiss his smirk away. His lips met her half-way, soft and hungry. His tongue engaged hers in a playful battle, and Avelyn felt arousal building between her legs. A soft cough from behind Avelyn interrupted their passionate kiss. It must have been Val, because Rosanna was watching them with interest, one eyebrow raised so high that it disappeared under her fringe.

  “I’d better go,” said Val. “You never know when Jocelyn might need me.”

  “Sure, Val,” said Max. “It was nice seeing you. Welcome back home, by the way.”

  “Yeah, thanks. It’s nice to be home.” She nodded towards Avelyn and went past them, heading towards the door.

  “She’s such a dim wit,” said Rosanna after Val had closed the door behind her. “I recommended her three books and she left without taking any of them.”

  It was then that Avelyn noticed Rosanna was holding three books. Avelyn got closer to read the titles.

  “Hey, I’ll take this one. I think I’ve read almost everything by Philippa Gregory, but “The Boleyn Inheritance” was never available at Alma Venus. I think one of the students took it at some point and forgot to return it to the library.”

  Rosanna’s pretty, round eyes lit with enthusiasm. “Finally, someone who appreciates historical fiction! I’ve been trying to convince Val to give Philippa Gregory a try since… forever. Maybe that’s why she left without taking a book. Idiot. She could have just refused me again. It’s not like I’m not used to it.”

  Avelyn rolled her eyes. So, Rosanna was one of those people who shoved something down your throat no matter how many times you said “no”. Lovely.

  “Maybe we two can have tea one of these days and talk about the book,” the girl continued. “What do you say?”

  “That sounds awesome!” No, it really didn’t, but Avelyn wasn’t about to miss the chance to get Rosanna on her side and try to find out more things about Max and… the other one. She was gossipy enough to spit things out without thinking, of that she was sure.

  “Great! Tomorrow? How about tomorrow?”

  “I’m not sure I can read the book that fast.” Avelyn sent Max a quick glance. He was still behind her, waiting for them to finish. She could tell he was genuinely happy she was interacting so well with one of the members of his pack. If only he knew what Rosanna had told Val some minutes ago. If Rosanna wasn’t exaggerating and the Crescents truly had a bad opinion about him, then it meant things were not going well in his pack. She wondered if Daniel had overhead them too.

  “We can talk about the chapters you manage to get through today. I promise I won’t spoil it for you.”

  “You know,” said Max. “You can ask Christine to prepare the gazebo for you two. She could take some pillows there tomorrow, make sure everything is nice and comfy, and prepare you one of her famous tea recipes.”

  “There are tea recipes?” asked Avelyn confused.

  “Oh, yes,” said Rosanna. “Christine has a thing for mixing various herbs and flowers. It’s like magic.”

  “Well, then, it’s a date,” said Avelyn, smiling.

  “A date? Hah! You’re so funny.” Rosanna went to the nearest table and set the other two books down. “Talking about dates, I’ll leave you two alone.” She winked at Avelyn. “See you tomorrow.” She was out of the library in a blur, her werewolf speed making Avelyn’s knee-length pleated skirt rise a bit, revealing her white thighs. She hurried to smooth it back down.

  “Damn, you’re sexy,” said Max. He was next to her in a fraction of a second, his quick movement making Avelyn blink in confusion.

  “You guys are starting to give me headaches. You’re all moving so fast that sometimes I think I see double.”

  “Come with me.” Max took her hand and guided her up the stairs to the second floor of the library. Here, the corridors were much narrower. He took her to the far end of the rows to their right, where there was a small wooden table, strategically positioned under a tall, antique lamp shade. Avelyn thought the spot was perfect for reading and doing research without fearing someone would pop up behind her and sneak a glance over her shoulder. Actually, she had intended to use it earlier, before overhearing the conversation between Rosanna and Val, but she never got the chance. She had browsed through most of the library in search of any book that might have been relevant to her plan, but couldn’t find anything. Except that empty spot in which she was sure at least three books could have fit. Of course, someone could have taken whatever books had been there to read them, but the shelf was on the second floor, in the section which she figured was dedicated to the history of the clan. Otherwise, why would there be one huge book on the genealogy of the Blackmanes, and countless smaller ones that contained records of various clan disputes and legends that went as far back as 5 AD, before the Roman Empire even tried to conquer the Germanic tribes east of the Rhine?

  But Max had other things in mind, and none of them involved research. He lifted Avelyn off the ground and sat her down on the table. The wooden legs squeaked under her weight, and Avelyn cringed at the sound.

  “Maybe that’s not a good idea.” She tried to be still.

  Max set himself between her legs and his hands sneaked under her skirt to caress her thighs. “Don’t worry, the table is pretty solid. It will hold your sexy ass just fine.”

  “Sexy? You mean big. Seriously, this is uncomfortable.” The table was definitely not as solid as the one in their room, on which they used to eat.

  “Big and sexy ass,” he whispered against her lips. “Hot, delicious ass I can’t wait to sink my teeth in.”

  She didn’t know why, but the names Lacey, Amanda, and Shelly came to her mind, and they didn’t sound pleasant. “Big? How big?… Wasn’t he screwing Lacey?… All lean and athletic.”

  “Wait now, Mr. Wolf. I’m not sure you mean that.” She squirmed uncomfortably under his overwhelming body.

  “Metaphorically speaking. I’m not going to bite you, sweetie,” he dipped his head to lick a hot trail down her neck. “I need you soft, and human, and fertile.”

  “Well, this is going… somewhere else,” thought Avelyn. Even though her flesh was trembling under his possessive hands and hot kisses and licks, his words had completely cut off her appetite. Her pussy was still wet and ready, but she didn’t feel like doing anything anymore.

  Max’s hand inched closer to her panties, and he felt the warm, wet material with the back of his fingers. He hooked one n
imble finger under the fabric, and pulled it sideways over her slick folds. His thumb parted them and started rubbing gently, smearing the juices and making her body arch slightly into him.

  “Wait…” Avelyn tried to stifle a moan. “No, not here.”

  “I want you.”

  “I want you too, but not here.” She put one hand on his broad chest and pushed gently, just enough to make a point.

  “I want to fill you and show you the table can hold your big, fat, juicy ass as I pound it until you scream my name.”

  “Fat?” Avelyn used both her hands to push him away. “Lacey, Amanda, Shelly.” Three names that wouldn’t stop going round and round in her head.

  Max removed his finger from her panties, and stepped away confused. “What? No, not like that. I didn’t mean to…” He sighed and stopped for a second to gather his thoughts. Avelyn was eying him wearily. “I swear I have no idea what’s going on. I love your body, you know that. I’ve worshiped it every night since you came here. I love how your curves fill my hands and… and that night, when you came up with that idea…” He looked into her eyes, hoping she’d give him a sign that she knew what he was talking about. “Fuck, you know what I mean. I’d spend hours under that generous butt of yours.”

  “Stop.” Avelyn jumped off the table.

  “I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?”

  “Nothing. It’s just… this isn’t a good place. What if someone walks in?”

  “I’d hear them from a mile away.”

  Avelyn was straightening her clothes, not even looking at him.

  “Is this because I said you have a fat ass?”

  “No.”

  “I love your fat ass.”

  “This is ridiculous…”

  “No, listen to me. I adore your ass. You’re the most beautiful, sexy, seductive woman I’ve ever seen, and you have a gorgeous body that drives me insane only when I think of it.”

  “Max, it’s not about that. I know I’m fat, I’ve accepted it a long time ago. It was my choice to look like this.”

  “What?”