Chapter 2 The Return of Alec

Three years later

"Aurora, are you daydreaming again?" Raven snapped her fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Sorry, I got lost there. What were you saying?" I asked, trying to refocus.

Raven sat beside me on the sofa, her expression warm as she reached out to pat my tangled ginger hair. "When was the last time you had a proper hair wash? Your hair is too beautiful to be left like this."

"I know, she looks like a homeless lady with those eye bags," chimed in Kaden, Raven's best friend.

I shrugged and took a sip of the iced tea Raven handed me. "I've been job hunting and stressed as hell."

Kaden held up a hand to stop me. "Aurora, you're a gorgeous woman. At least make an effort to take care of yourself. And as for your job, we need to make sure this time you get something better than that bread factory where they treat you like a slave."

"My wolf Kia loves to mock me like this," I said, brushing off his comment.

Deep down, I knew Kia was right. I had transitioned from being a Lycan princess who never had to lift a finger to becoming a workaholic-working as a storekeeper, clerk, janitor, you name it. It was the price I paid for my peace and sanity in the human world.

Life was a constant juggling act, moving between rented apartments, hotels, Airbnbs, and inns, all while hiding from my father. When money got tight, I even took up a job as a barmaid on the Upper Coast, serving drinks to tourists and locals alike to make ends meet.

It was during one of those shifts that I met Alec Maddox, a millionaire by human standards. Sex with Alec was wild and helped during my heat periods, but he soon revealed his true colors-turning me into his sex slave and using manipulation to control me.

Fleeing from Alec's toxicity, I found refuge in the home of my dear friends, Kaden and Raven, who welcomed me with open arms. Kia, my wolf, despised me for trapping her in this world and controlling her with my human side. But Kaden and Raven, my human friends and hosts, treated me better than my own family ever did.

It was ironic how strangers treated me better than my own blood.

I'd choose Kaden and Raven's humble apartment over anywhere else a thousand times over. To hell with the Lycans. To hell with the moon goddess. And to hell with that pig, Alec Maddox.

I had met Kaden and Raven two years ago at Kansas Burgers, where we all worked as cashiers. They were university students at the time, needing extra cash. They believed my story of being a high school dropout trying to find my way in life.

"How's your mom doing?" I asked suddenly, pulling Raven from her thoughts.

Her face fell, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her. "Not any better. Cancer's a bitch. At this point, we're just preparing ourselves for the worst."

I squeezed her hand lightly. "Your mom's a fighter. By the way, I've got gifts for both of you."

"Yay, Santa!" Kaden exclaimed with a clap of his hands.

They watched as I pulled out an overflowing handbag, spilling its contents. Raven gasped at the sight of a black, eight-inch veiny dildo and my bullet vibrator.

Kaden whistled. "What the-"

"Watch your language, Kaden," Raven nudged him, eyes wide as she stared at the items spilling out of the box. I burst out laughing.

"You daring vixen!" Kaden clapped, ignoring Raven's shock. "If I weren't gay, I'd marry you on the spot. You're my kind of girl, Aurora!"

Amidst laughter, I turned on the vibrator and playfully aimed it at Raven. She shrieked and recoiled. "She's still a virgin," Kaden reminded me, grinning.

"Saving herself for the right man," Raven added, blushing.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, I don't joke around when it comes to my orgasms. They're the only thing that keeps me sane."

Talking about sex made my stomach churn. Soon, I'd be in heat and needed to find a way to manage my urges, or my Lycan traits would start to show.

I bathed myself in wolfsbane, but it was useless during my peak period. I needed to keep my horny wolf satisfied to prevent it from taking control of my body. After months of being trapped in a cycle with Alec, I needed peace of mind and relied more on sex toys.

In gratitude to my friends, I got Kaden a rainbow dungaree for Pride Month and Raven a wristwatch. But our moment was interrupted when Raven's phone rang. The excitement drained from her face.

"Do you want us to come with you?" I asked, feeling sympathy for her.

"No, it's okay. You need rest, and Kaden's got a date with some guy he met on Tinder."

"I can cancel," Kaden offered quickly.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Don't you dare. You've been single for too long. Besides, it's probably just the hospital asking for a payment. Nothing serious."

She kissed my cheek and left, while Kaden excused himself to get ready for his date.

Alone in the house, I took out my locket with my mom's picture inside. Her sea-blue eyes sparkled with happiness, and I wondered why she had agreed to marry my monstrous father when they weren't even fated mates.

I was free from all that baggage. Unlike my mom, I planned to live a mateless life, free from the responsibilities of a family and enjoying relationships with handsome men.

Sighing, I closed the locket and headed to the living room. I needed to find another job soon, to ease the burden on my friends. They weren't running a charity, and I wanted to contribute to feeding and rent.

As I stretched out on the couch, my eyelids heavy with sleep, a loud knock at the door startled me awake.

"Who is it?" I called groggily, walking over to open the door. To my shock, standing there with a bouquet and a wicked grin was my toxic ex, Alec.

"Peekaboo," he laughed, pushing me against the door. "Did you really think you could hide from me?"