Her Undeniable Temptation

The alarm kept buzzing beside the drawer close to Zoe's bed. It made her queasy but she still had to put up with it if she was ever ready to be early. She had to stretch her hands lazily to hit snooze but befuddled by sleep she knocked it off the bedside drawer. It struck the ground and stopped buzzing, which she was pleased about.

"Zoe, wake up! You are going to be late for practice," her dad yelled at her from somewhere beyond her room at six in the morning on a Saturday.

Maybe a little introduction of these she-wolves would do. This is Zoe Zanders. She lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She had lived there all her life. Mind you, she thinks she is not a very attractive person. To go straight to the very painful point! She thinks she is the definition of ugly. When I say ugly, that's what she thinks she truly is.

You probably don't believe what I just said, but here's a little detailing of her that I bet will make you believe her.

She was that girl with the very short messy hair, a mole on her face, braces on her teeth, and giant, utterly resilient pimples. And who would want to go out with an ugly nerd like her? If your answer was no one then points to you. She always had guys she crushed on but they had no idea. It worked out great for her just crushing from a long distance.

She believed crushes were a waste of time since they fade away soon enough.

She loved to bake. She believed that she got that from her mom. She had been living in the pack estate for a long period with her family and life is not too bad-except today that she had her sleep time brutally cut short.

"Okay, Dad I'm up now," she let out, letting the blanket slowly slip away from her grip. Zoey clawed her ass as she got out of bed, it seemed something had bitten her and it hurt badly.

She gazed at her nest of hair in the furnished reflector before using her fingers to brush through them.

"Arhhggggh," a yawn escaped her lips making her stretch her arms.

She reached into her well-arranged pink brush holder to get her brush and toothpaste.

She walked briskly inside the bathroom before letting the water from the privy sink rush as she applied her toothpaste, she closed her eyes immediately the toothbrush was inside her mouth and working its magic.

When Zoey was done, she laid down beside the toilet door taking as much rest as she could but her beautiful sleep was caught short when her stepmom knocked on the toilet door startling her. Zoe knew that her stepmom must have realized that she was getting late for her dance practice.

'Yes, stepmother.'

You all might be wondering why Zoe has a stepmother, I mean in werewolf books I have read how people come to a conclusion about we supernatural, they believe werewolves are being given a fated mate but those are all music to the ear because you can basically choose the right one your heart yearns for.

Zoe's dad had married her stepmother when her mom died of cancer. Zoe was eight then. She never for once felt bad and she barely missed her mom so much since her stepmother always made her feel loved.

"Hey Zoe we have new neighbors, you might want to bake them some banana muffins?" Lilian asked.

"Sure, Lilian," Zoe responded sleepily.

"Hurry up and come down for breakfast. You don't want your dad and me finishing everything," she joked.

She heard the room door close gently.

Yes, she called her step-mom by her name. Lilian said it was best they start off by becoming best friends and close pals. Her step-mom had told her that she had a son, who was actually about Zoe's age but they hadn't met before since he grew up and still lived with his father. Lillian had gotten divorced from her first husband for some reason I did not know.

Lilian had told Zoe that her son was going to be living with them this summer. Zoe was a bit pleased since she had no siblings. She was the only child of her mom and dad.

At least, she was going to have someone to fill that space soon. She knew they weren't real siblings but she was ready to be his sibling. Zoe didn't care to ask why he was going to live with them because she cared less about that.

She left the bathroom soon after she took her shower. She searched her closet before settling for a big polo shirt and baggy trousers which was her usual way of outfitting from her nook.

She didn't bother arranging her room or making herself look civilized. She slung on her backpack and dragged her sneakered feet, closing her room door behind her. I guess you could classify her as a tattered teenage she wolf but she didn't care.

She went down the stairs to the kitchen balcony, dropping her bag and heading to the kitchen.

"Hello, my sweetheart," Lilian said, giving Zoe a peck on the cheeks. "Good morning Lilian," she said, going to the fridge to get a cup of juice.

"Morning," Zoe replied.

"I hope you slept well?" Lillian asked.

"Yes. What should I help with?" Zoe asked.

"You could take this sausage to the dining Your dad must be all hungry," she said as Zoe did as she was asked without hesitation.

"Morning dad?" She said going up to give her dad a peck on the cheek. He was so engrossed in the morning newspaper that he barely took his eyes off it to smile at her before returning to read the headlines.

Feeling defeated at failing to gain his attention, Zoe decided to remind him of what he had always told her when she get engrossed on her phone. "Dad table manners."

"Oh, honey, I am almost done," he said with pleading eyes. She checked her time. It was 6:40 A.M already, Zoe shoved her remaining pie into her mouth before washing it down with some orange juice.

"Dad, I am late," she mumbled, hanging her backpack and pecking him on the cheek. "Have a great day," he said.

"Sure daddy." She said.

To Lillian, I yelled, "Bye, Lilian. I love you!"

"I love you more," I heard her say.

"Today Lu.. would becoming."

Zoe didn't let her complete her statement as I closed the door. Going to the garage, she unlocked her bicycle and climbed on it as she rode it down the street.

She sighted the new neighbors. They were busy unloading the moving van parked in front of their home. One of the children, a teenage boy around her age, stared back at her as they continued to gawk at each other, none of them planing to withdrawing their gaze.

Zoe didn't notice the car pulling up in front of her before it could hit her. She stumbled to the ground, registering pain as it shot through her aggrieved body. She looked in the direction of the teenage boy who had failed to-or rather chosen not to-warn her but the boy was gone.

'Jerk,' she thought.

The driver's door soon pulled opened.

"Are you okay?" The young teenage boy asked.

"Yes. I'm fine." She nodded.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," he apologized.

"It's fine," she said.

She picked up her bicycle while trying to dust herself off. While he tried to restore himself to some semblance of organization, a call came in on his cell and he took it.

"Yes, mom? I am at the estate," Zoe heard him say as she rode her bicycle not to get any more delay. She got to her school where she had dance practice! Zoe's best friend had forced her to join the dancing group since she was going to be the only person during practice.

Zoe wasn't the best dancer, but she could successfully attempt most dancing moves.

There were two dancing groups at her school. The first was the dancing squad for geeks and the other was the dancing squad for the more fashionable students.

You could guess the one Zoe fell into.

Zoe parked her bicycle close to the parking lot and bent over to chain the bicycle to the rail but for some reason, it was giving her an arduous time.

'Oh dammit,' she thought, frustrated.

She was about to give up when she heard someone call her name.

"Zoe?"

She knew that voice. It was the voice of her best friend: Dora luggard. She was the Alpha's daughter; they have been best friends since seventh grade. She wasn't nerdy like Zoe was. She was the direct opposite of what Zoe was.

She had long hair, smooth skin, and beautiful features, and her fashion sense was rather...out there. Who would think The Alpha's daughter would hang out with a nerd like Zoe? I mean all the high school celebrities want to hang out with her.

Dora's parents were wealthy people. Wealthy enough to own a mansion! no jokes, you could get lost in their house. Dora has a big brother who I find attractive-not that he cares. He was one of the school hotties and a bit of a bad boy.

Back to Dora! She doesn't come to school on a bicycle as I do. She does not need to. She has her personal driver who takes her to school every day.

"Dora?" Zoe called, standing up.

"It seems we're both late for practice today. We may get eaten by the rest of the team," Dora said laughing.

They both fell in step, talking and laughing about the just-ended summer break till they got into the practice hall. Remember when Zoe said they were divided into the popular dance squad and nerdy squad? Okay, confession, she was on the popular team, all thanks to being friends with Dora luggard. She gets full credit for that.

"Hey, loser!" Someone said, It was the most popular bitch, Lisa. She finds joy in picking on Zoe.

"You don't have the right to call her a loser," Dora said, her eyes turning up as her claws slowly grew. "Dora, you know if not for your boyfriend, Parker, you wouldn't be here with this loser you call a friend," Lisa muttered a bit shakily.

"But then again you are the loser," Dora said furiously. "At least I have a boyfriend. Who's yours? Oh, wait you don't have one. All you do is sleep around with another girl's boyfriend. Don't you know what they call you? Slut." Dora let with a raised eyebrow

Zoe felt relieved when Parker showed up. He immediately went over to Dora and gave her a long French kiss which made Lisa disgruntled. I bet he did it on purpose.

Everybody in school knew Lisa had a huge crush on Parker Robin Hood. Everyone including the teachers. Embarrassed and annoyed, she stomped off.

In no time practice was over, and they all went into the locker room to shower and change. "Dora, would you mind dropping by my house?" Dora asked with a pout.

"Dora, you know I would have loved to but I didn't get permission from Lillian," Zoe said, packing her hair up. "Okay, okay, okay. It's fine. Next time?" Dora let out.

"Yes, your majesty," I said with a mock bow causing an enormous chuckle from her.

Dora left with Parker as I left for my shift at the bakery where I worked. I entered the bakery to find Mr. Peterson about leaving. Mr. Peterson was the owner of the bakery I worked for in the pack.

"Mr. Peter?" She called dropping my bag on the counter. "I'm sorry I'm late." Zoe apologized.

"You should thank Rico." Mr. Peterson said. "He covered for you." Mr. Peterson added.

Zoe entered the kitchen to seek out Rico.

"I am so sorry Rico," She admitted guilt.

"A cup of coffee and we're even," Rico mumbled.

"Okay. Coffee. As friends," Zoe said.

"It isn't a date?" he asked.

"No," She said plainly, hitting him on the shoulder.

"Ouch!" he yelled,

"That hurt." He muttered yet again caressing his shoulder.

"Sorry," Zoe said insincerely.

"But you can leave now while I take care of things around here," Zoe said, fixing on an apron. Rico removed his apron before hanging it on the hook on the wall.

"I will text you the address," Rico said.

"Sure," Zoe said.

Nonetheless, Zoe's shift was over by 8:00 pm. She cleaned up and arranged the kitchen of the bakery as she prepared to leave. She remembered her promise to Rico, he was going to text her soon. Zoe searched the pockets of her trousers before the realization hit her that she had left her phone at home.

"Ah, shit." She facepalmed and groaned at her thoughtlessness.

She locked up, stuffing the key in her trouser pocket before she began her journey down to the grocery store on her bicycle to get bananas for the muffins she was going to bake for their neighbors.

She got home much later than intended. She noticed her dad's car was out of sight. It was already late, where did he go?

There was a strange car that looked new with a shiny paint job parked in the garage. Perhaps her dad had gotten a new car!

She pushed the doorknob and the door gladly opened which was weird because Lilian wasn't always late due to her work as a nurse in the packhouse but maybe Dad had missed locking the door.

Zoe slowly dropped the grocery bag on the counter and immediately went in search of her phone.

She found it in her room. There were several text messages from Rico. The first one read: LIT AND TASTE.

"Shit," Zoe let out ruffling her hair in frustration.

Rico: hey mary I have been waiting at the address I sent you. Are you all alright?

Rico: Mary?

Rico: I am coming over to your place?

That was the last message. Zoe clicked on a reply and typed.

Zoe: I am so sorry Rico, I must have left you worried but I left my phone at home. Just got home. Can we have the coffee some other time, please?

She texted back before dropping her phone on her bed. She dropped her phone on the bed before she left the room to move the content of her bag into the fridge.

Zoe flickered the knife she had in her side pocket when she heard footsteps. That was the knife that had been given to her by her dad.

"Who is there? Anyone home?" She asked but she got no response.

She turned around to find a giant figure behind me. "I don't want to hurt you so don't come any closer," she warned.

Zoe wondered why there wasn't much light in here?

"Luke?"

Zoe heard her step-mom's voice, she instantly hid the knife behind her.

"Zoe, you're back!" she said.

"Ye-yeah Lilian," Zoe stammered.

"Oh my Luke, go put on some clothes and don't scare Zoe like that," Lillian said.

Until when Lilian had spoken about him being shirtless. Zoe hadn't fully paid attention to the fact that he wasn't putting on a shirt. Her mouth was left open at the well-built Greek God standing in front of her.

"I told you my son Luke was going to start living with us," Lillian reminded.

"Oh yes, I remember! I think work was hectic that I had forgotten," Zoe let out. She felt embarrassed as she ran to her room before shutting the door loudly behind me.

Zoe knew that if Luke was going to be leaving with them, things were sure going to be harder than she thought.

It was official. Zoe loathed the sound of her alarm. She wondered why she had set the damn thing. It was Sunday for Goodness sake. Sundays in the supernatural world weren't special or great in any way.

Zoe thought Sundays were supposed to be for resting but she had to train with her dad. Most people around the estate just go on with their usual lives. The funniest fact was that these same people could kill a person without flinching when the time of war against the enemies arises.

They were always ready to attack.

They were sure diligent to their pack when the time arises.

Zoe was part of the people who were ready and prepared for any situation. Her father worked at the packhouse! He was Dora's dad's right-hand Beta.

She had woken up late, and with a headache too. She glared at the alarm which still made that horrendous beeping sound she hated.

"Fuck! So annoying." She gritted under her breath. She picked it up and tried to put the damn thing off, but it only seemed to worsen her headache.

Frustrated and a little mad, she flung it at the wall causing it to smash against the wall before it crashed to the ground and stopped beeping. It was broken and Zoe felt nothing but blissful relief. She ran a hand through her hair as she stood up.

She pulled her socks on before exiting my room.

"Oh, man!" She groaned.

Her throat felt dry and she wanted a taste of sweet milk. She went down the stairs. The house appeared empty.

"Dad? Dad?" She called but got no answer. "Lilian? Lilian are you home?" Still, there wasn't any reply. Zoe felt like they might have left her all alone again.

She sighed, mildly annoyed.

She entered the kitchen and took out the milk carton from the fridge and poured some into a glass. She gulped the milk impatiently, poured another glass, and did justice to that one too.

She wondered why she felt so thirsty. The school was to begin tomorrow. That was a bummer because Zoe hated school.

'Who invented school?' She thought to herself. 'And why?'

But do nerds hate school? Zoe knew that according to the stereotype they were known for their intelligence.

Do they even need school?

She checked the time on her phone. It was only 10:30 AM.

Then she remembered.

The neighbor's welcoming cake. Today was just the right day to deliver them their banana muffins, she thought.

She went over to where her handheld mixer was kept in the kitchen but she growled angrily when she remembered that it was kept almost out of reach. Dad usually helped her get it down without any qualms.

"This is just bad timing!" She thought.

She brought the stool close to the cupboard and ascended on it. She tried to stand properly as she fought to keep her balance.

She finally found balance on the stool precariously. Her hands soon got the mixer before grabbing a sigh of relief as she dragged it carefully towards herself. At the sound of footsteps entering the kitchen, Zoe got startled.

She tried to look back at the person who had walked inside the kitchen and that instantly caused her to lose her balance as she fell heavily on her butt. She looked up to find Luke glaring at her with a smirk.

This son of a b-!

She couldn't help but notice he had perfect features but she was told nobody was perfect.

Perhaps Zoe would stop believing everything the teachers spouted in class.

Why did he have such curly hair and a perfectly pointed nose and small-very pink-lips? Zoe supposed he didn't do hard labor as most teenagers did these days.

And she wondered why he always likes to wander into the kitchen without clothes? Zoe would be lying if she didn't find him fucking hot! Look how he made her reckon all of this within seconds.

He glanced at her without saying a word then he moved to the fridge and took a bottle of chocomel and sandwiches. He turned to leave, not minding my current predicament. Zoe wondered why he was so cold towards her?

"H__ey," she stammered but he ignored her and didn't spare her a look, he just left.

"So he was a jerk too," she thought.

"I mean did he think he was a pretty boy?" Zoe thought with her lips plowed in disgust.

She struggled to stand up as she held the kitchen cabinet to support herself while she gradually stood up. Thank God her mixer was all fine! Her body had broken its fall.

Her phone beeped inside her night-wear trousers. She dipped her hand to get it, it was a message from Rico.

Rico: I'm going to start school soon.

Rico: Maybe tomorrow we could see each other in school?

Zoe didn't know why she felt awed and happy for Rico. He struggled to make ends meet all by himself and still go to school. She had to admit that she admired him a lot. She stared at the message for a while before agreeing to text back.

Zoe: Oh Rico, congratulations. I'm so happy for you. Maybe we can have coffee after school? What do you think?

When she was done, she hit send and put down her phone on the counter.

She immediately took her apron and brought out her egg, sugar, flour, melted butter, baking soda, baking powder, and of course her bananas.

A couple of hours later she was finally done baking and icing. I untied her apron as she cleaned up the mess she had made. After that, she immediately took a quick shower before putting on some home wear. She still wondered why Lilian had insisted that she take the cake to the new neighbor herself.

She went to Luke's room. She knocked on the door before yelling.

"I'm heading out. I got an errand to run around the estate. You have your spare key, right?" she asked but he didn't reply.

Of course.

Without saying more, she headed off.

She reached the front door of their new neighbor in a few minutes, thanks to her wolf speed. She heaved a big breath before ringing the doorbell.

She got no response. She tried it again and this time someone opened the door for her. It was the jerk from the other day. She tried to put on a big smile, inadvertently showing off her braces which she closed the minutes she remembered how embarrassing they made her feel.

She stretched the banana muffins toward him.

"Hey? My name is Zoe! I live a few blocks away from your house. My mum and dad asked me to bring this over. Just to say welcome to the neighborhood I guess," Zoe said, still stretching the muffins to him.

It felt great calling Lilian her mom for the first time, maybe she should do that more often. He glared at her appearance from head to toe. Zoe was sure that she wasn't the kind of wolf he talked to. He paved the way for her to go in and which she did.

Their home looked so different from theirs, everything was decorated in black and white. "Where is your mom? I would like to offer her this." When he failed to answer, Zoe continued to blabber. "You don't live with your mum?" She asked but was stunned when he went upstairs without even glancing back at her.

"Dumb...rude...jerk." she mumbled in rage.

A middle-aged woman came into the room and calmly explained to her that Alex wasn't the trustworthy type. She took the muffins off Zoe's hands.

Zoe knew that the lady who had taken the muffins from her grip didn't look like Alex's mother but she didn't ask them further questions than a small smile escaping her lips.

"Please, don't think too much of his behavior. He just lost his mother!" The lady said. All of a sudden Zoe felt incredibly stupid and furious at herself. She wished she had not said anything at all.