Chapter 4 4. The Ride

I wasn't particularly slow but I almost needed to run because of the alpha's long strides.

I followed him blindly, trying to keep up with his pace, my eyes cast down, focusing on his legs. I wouldn't want to look him square in the eyes a third time, I, a common non wolf.

He led us outside, and he was soon enough getting into a convertible car.

I stood next to the car, hesitating until I heard him say, "Are you getting in anytime soon?"

I was beyond flattered, and yet scared like never before. Nevertheless, I obliged him and got inside the car silently.

I inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of leather. I refused to rest my back against the seat, not wanting to let my guard down, when an alpha was sitting next to me, looking positively murderous.

He leaned forward and I stiffened. He raised an eyebrow in question and proceeded to fasten my belt.

"Werewolves as we might be, I wouldn't want any harm to befall you," he told me.

His words, simple, and yet oh so sweet, had the knack to calm me down a notch.

If he cared about my wellbeing, I reasoned he wasn't going to kill me for insubordination. Should he punish for my mild disrespect, I could hope it wouldn't be too severe, right?

The more he drove, the lesser the intensity of his bloodlust.

"How was your first day?" He asked matter-of-factly after a while.

"It was good, alpha, up until..." I trailed off, not knowing if I should go on or not.

"Eli will be punished for bullying you," he flashed me a predatory smile, and I shivered in pure unadulterated fright. "While he might be the late gamma's son, I have 0 tolerance for this kind of behavior."

"If I may ask, alpha," I began hesitantly, "Where are we going?"

I knew it wasn't my place to ask him questions or demand answers from him. But he had me intrigued. The mansion was right next to the school. One wouldn't need a car to travel from one to the other.

"I only planned to visit the school briefly before handling some business in town," he explained readily, almost as if he didn't care about my blatant disrespect.

Nevertheless, I felt like I would pay dearly for the stunts I pulled so far.

"I'm sorry, alpha," I told him sincerely, wishing he would allow me and my family to stay should I promise him to be on my best behavior from now on.

"About?"

"I..." I stammered on the words, not knowing how to phrase it without angering him. "I spoke out of turn, and also looked you in the eyes on two occasions. It won't happen a third time, alpha."

"Yes, it will," he said, amusement obvious in his tone.

"Please don't ban us," I hurried to say.

"I would never, Jade," he said softly.

The way he said my name made me feel uncomfortable with desire.

Be still, my heart, I told myself. It doesn't mean anything.

"Thank you, alpha," I infused my words with all the gratitude I could muster.

"You can call me Alexander," he then offered.

I froze at that, not knowing what to say, or even if I should take his offer seriously.

"Or if you don't like the name, any variant of it is fine by me," he went on.

"I can't possibly..." I began in a panicky tone of voice. "There's no way I could..."

"You can and you will," he said simply. And again, there was amusement behind his words, as if he knew something I didn't.

I quieted down at that, distracted by my thoughts.

This alpha was peculiar.

He was the renowned Alexander Bad. He had a reputation. He was one of the most powerful alphas to have ever graced the community, but also a ladies' man, and a ruthless heartbreaker. Rumor had it that he once single-handedly took care of a vampire clan that was making trouble in the area.

He was no joke. An alpha this powerful couldn't possibly want me, the latest wolfless addition to the pack, to call him by his given name.

"A penny for your thoughts?" He let out softly as he kept on driving, seemingly not liking my silence.

"My previous alpha wasn't nearly as lenient or fair," I told him softly. "Bullying was a common occurrence, and I was on the receiving end of it most of the time. He never cared to make me feel at home although that pack had been home up till my sixteenth birthday. I mean, after I couldn't shift, nothing remained the same."

The alpha's grip on the wheel turned went from relaxed and controlled to tight and angry in a nanosecond.

"I am not comparing you two, alpha. I am sorry. I didn't mean to anger you," I hurried to say.

What did I do? Was this to be my curse – getting into impossible situations thanks to my mouth?

"I'm not angry at you," he told me after a while. "I am angry for you. You must have gone through so much."

His words made me relax at once... and then as they sank, tears sprung to my eyes. Never had a higher ranked werewolf cared about me in such a manner. He not only made me feel welcome but also like I mattered – despite my lack of the very essence of a werewolf.

I sniffled and tried to keep my tears at bay.

"Are you crying?" He asked in a concern filled tone.

"I'm sorry," I hiccupped.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry for making you cry," he retorted immediately.

Taken aback by his response, I giggled.

"Now, you're giggling... which is going to be?" He let out in a teasing tone.

I smiled at him through my tears which I wiped off with the back of my hand.

"I didn't mean to upset you," he then let out, and he sounded sincere about it too.

"You didn't upset me, alpha. It's just that no one has ever cared for me, save for my parents, ever since I turned sixteen and didn't shift."

"Well, Jade, believe that my pack is different, and I am different too," he told me as he parked the car in front of a tall building, and then turned to look at me.

I dropped my gaze at once.

"Yes, alpha," I said timidly, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Look at me," he commanded and I complied at once. "For the second time, Jade, call me Alexander. Don't make me say it a third time."

I dampened my lips at that in anticipation and then just allowed the words out of my mouth.

"Yes, Alex," I nodded at him, and he smiled at me.

This alpha, this man, was intriguing me in more ways than one... and I wondered if I was meant to be his next conquest. I was not sure I would mind should he want me in such a manner, but was I ready?