The Alpha's Human Temptation..

Aurora's Pov

I couldn't breathe. My chest ached with every gasp as Marcus's hand connected with my cheek again, the slap echoing through the small living room. My knees buckled, and I hit the floor hard, but the pain in my body was nothing compared to the mysery in my heart.

"You ungrateful brat!" Marcus spat, towering over me like a monster in the dim light of the single bulb swinging overhead. "You think you can talk back to me?"

"Leave her alone!" My mother, Lilian, screamed, throwing herself between us. Her voice cracked, desperate and raw. She held Marcus's arm, trying to stop him, but he shoved her away like she was nothing. She crashed into the corner of the table with a sickening thud and crumpled to the floor.

"Mom!" I crawled toward her, ignoring the sting of my split lip and the blood dripping from my nose. Her fragile frame trembled as she tried to push herself up, her face pale and filled with fear. I touched her arm, but before I could check if she was okay, Marcus's boot slammed into my ribs, sending me sprawling.

"Stay down where you belong, Aurora," he growled. "I'll deal with both of you as I see fit."

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I struggled to breathe. My entire body felt like it was on fire, but I couldn't give up. I wouldn't. Not for this inhuman fellow

"You're a monster," I whispered, my voice shaking but defiant.

Marcus froze, his cold eyes narrowing as he crouched down to meet my gaze. "What did you say?"

Before I could answer, the front door slammed open, and Greg, Marcus's son, my stepbrother strolled in. He'd been gone for years, and I'd prayed he'd never come back. But here he was, looking even more dangerous than I remembered.

"Welcome back son," was all Greg said as he continued to look at me in utmost disgust

"What's going on here?" Greg's voice was smooth, almost amused, as he took in the scene. Marcus straightened, grinning.

"Just disciplining the girl. She needs to learn her place," Marcus said.

Greg's eyes flicked to me, then to my mother, who was still crumpled on the floor. His expression darkened, but not with concern. He walked over and grabbed me by the arm, yanking me to my feet.

"Looks like she hasn't learned yet," he said with a smirk. Then, without warning, he slapped me across the face so hard I saw stars. "That's for making my father upset."

"Greg, stop!" my mother cried, dragging herself toward us. But Greg kicked her away, laughing cruelly.

"Stay out of this, you pathetic excuse for a woman," he sneered. His grip on my arm tightened, and he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "If it weren't for your stench, I might've taken advantage of that pretty face of yours already. But don't worry, Aurora. By tomorrow, you'll be clean enough for me."

My stomach churned, and bile rose in my throat. I yanked my arm away, glaring at him with every ounce of hatred I could muster. "You're disgusting," I spat.

Greg's eyes flashed with anger, and he raised his hand to hit me again, but Marcus grabbed his arm.

"Enough for tonight," Marcus said, his tone calm but commanding. "Let's not break her completely just yet."

They both laughed as if it were some sick joke, and Greg finally released me. I collapsed onto the floor, trembling, as they walked away, leaving my mother and me broken and bleeding.

****

The house was eerily silent that night, the kind of silence that felt heavy, oppressive. I lay on the thin mattress in my tiny room, every inch of my body aching. My mother had managed to crawl into the room earlier and clean the blood from my face, but her own injuries were worse. She'd tried to hide her pain, but I could see it in her eyes. The bruises, the cuts, the broken spirit....they were all there.

"Aurora," she whispered now, her voice trembling as she knelt beside me. Her hands shook as she pressed a wad of cash into my palm. "You need to leave. Tonight."

My heart sank. "Mom, no. I'm not leaving you here with them. They'll kill you."

"They'll kill you first," she said, tears streaming down her face. "You don't understand, Aurora. Greg... he's dangerous. And Marcus..." Her voice broke, and she clutched my hand tightly. "I can't protect you anymore. You have to go. Run as far as you can. Don't look back."

I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. "I can't leave you here. I won't."

"Aurora," she said, her tone fierce despite her frailty. "If you stay, they'll destroy you. You're stronger than this. You can survive. But only if you leave. Please, for me."

Her words shattered something inside me. I wanted to argue, to fight, but deep down, I knew she was right. If I stayed, there would be nothing left of me.

"Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I'll go."

Her relief was palpable, and she kissed my forehead, her tears mixing with mine. "Be safe, my darling. And never forget... I love you."

"I love you too."

****

The night air was cold and biting as I slipped out the back door. The cash my mother had given me was tucked into the pocket of my threadbare jacket, and I carried nothing else. The streets were dark, the shadows long and menacing, but I didn't care. I just needed to get away.

Every step felt like a betrayal, like I was abandoning my mother to those monsters. But I kept going, the echo of her words pushing me forward: "Run. Don't look back."

I didn't stop until the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. By then, I was miles away, my legs trembling and my body screaming for rest. I collapsed onto a bench in a deserted park, wrapping my arms around myself as I tried to block out the memories of the night before.

Tears streamed down my face, and for the first time in years, I let myself cry. I cried for my mother, for the life I'd lost, for the innocence that had been stolen from me. But most of all, I cried because I didn't know what came next. I was alone, broken, and hopeless.

But as the sun rose higher, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, a small spark ignited within me. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind me that I was still alive. And as long as I was alive, I had a chance to fight, to survive, to find something better.

"This isn't the end," I told myself, wiping away my tears. "It's just the beginning."

And with that thought, I stood up, squared my shoulders, and started walking. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew one thing for certain: I would never go back.

Aurora's Pov

I woke up to the sound of the wind whistling through the broken windows of the uncompleted building. My body ached from sleeping on the cold, hard floor, but at least it was better than the life I had left behind. The memory of last night....of my mother's tear-streaked face and her desperate whispers made my chest tighten. I had no choice but to keep moving forward. For her sake. For mine.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon when I grabbed my bag and made my way out. I couldn't stay here. I needed a place where I could breathe without fear of someone finding me. With the money my mother gave me clutched tightly in my hand, I made my way to the train station. The ticket I bought wasn't for anywhere glamorous, just the nearest city I could afford. I didn't care about the destination. All I wanted was distance.

By the time the train rolled into *Hollowbridge City* The sun was high in the sky. The city wasn't anything like the quaint little town I'd grown up in. It was loud, bustling, and intimidating. I tried to keep my head down as I navigated the crowded streets, searching for somewhere to stay.

Eventually, I found a dingy boarding house tucked between two rundown buildings. I walked over to the building in order to inquire about any available room.

I approached the woman who didn't pay much attention to me. I quickly introduced myself and asked if there was a room available.

She didn't say anything as she continued smoking her cigarette until she pointed to the board which showed the prices of the rooms.

I was glad that the amount wasn't much and I could pay for a week while looking for a job to sustain myself. I brought out the cash and handed it over to her and waited for her to say something or at least do something.

She's such a weirdo

The woman at the counter barely glanced at me as she handed me a key to a room on the third floor.

The room was tiny, with wrecked and peeling wallpaper and a bed that looked like it might collapse if I so much as sat on it. The smell of mildew clung to the air, but it didn't matter. It was a roof over my head, and it was cheap enough to last me a week if I was careful. After locking the door behind me, I sat on the bed and counted the remaining money. Not much. Definitely not enough to waste time.

"You can do this, Aurora," I whispered to myself, trying to summon courage. "You have to."

The first thing I did was take a shower. The cold water stung my skin, but I forced myself to scrub away the dirt and grime from the journey. I couldn't afford to look desperate, even if I felt it. With my hair pulled into a neat ponytail and wearing the least-wrinkled clothes I had, I set out to find a job.

I spent the entire day walking from one place to another. Restaurants, shops, offices....anywhere that had a "Help Wanted" sign. Each rejection stung worse than the last.

"We're not hiring right now," one manager said, barely sparing me a glance.

"You don't have enough experience," another told me, his voice curt.

By the time the sun began to set, my feet were blistered, and my stomach was growling. I returned to my tiny room, defeated. The next two days were more of the same. Waking up early, walking the streets, asking, begging, and praying for someone to give me a chance. But the answer was always no.

On the third day, just when I thought I couldn't take another rejection, I stumbled upon a bar called *The Rusty Tap*. The exterior wasn't impressive...peeling paint and a flickering neon sign that buzzed faintly in the afternoon light. But I was desperate.

"Excuse me," I said as I approached the bartender, a burly man with a grizzled beard. "Are you hiring?"

He looked me up and down, his expression skeptical. "Have you ever worked in a bar before?"

"No, but I'm a fast learner," I said quickly. "I'll do anything. Clean tables, wash dishes. Anything."

He grunted, scratching his chin. "We could use someone to clean up after hours. Pay's not great, but it's better than nothing."

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. "I'll take it. Thank you. Thank you so much."

He nodded and handed me a rag. "You can start now. The bathrooms need scrubbing."

He called out to another bartender, "Inez do well to show her around and explain to her how things are done here"

Inez smiled at me like she was happy to have company, she looked a year or two older than me, I didn't mind. I just wanted a job to survive and nothing more.

She showed me around the place and explained how things were done. I was glad for her help, she seemed friendly enough to be my friend.

"Do you understand everything I explained to you?" Inez asked after she was done talking.

I answered with a nod.

"C'mon girl, you should be free here, I don't bite and I can definitely use a friend."

"Thank you," was all I said. What was I supposed to say?

"Can I ask you something?" she asked as she stared at me with smiles all over her face.

"sure."

"How old are you?" not to be rude I just wanted to know, but if you can't answer, it's alright" she tried explaining after asking me a question.

I was amused by the way she started explaining, "I'm 19, you do not have to explain, it's a simple question"

"oh I'm 19 too, this is so nice, we should be best friends right now," she said, sounding so excited like a little child.

"Ummm...I should get to work," was all I said. I didn't know what to say to her. It was awkward I must say.

"Alrighty, get right into it, we'll catch up later Ok?"

"Okay."

I got to work immediately she left, there was no room for misbehaviour or making my boss angry. I needed the job more than anything in the world right now.

The job was grueling, my body ached from all the cleaning I had done to all the wounds inflicted on me by my step father and his foolish son. By the time I finished cleaning that night, my arms felt like they were about to fall off. The pay barely covered food, but it was something. I could at least put a meal on the table and keep the lights on in my dingy room.

The days blurred together after that. I spent my mornings searching for better opportunities and my nights cleaning the bar. The exhaustion was bone-deep, but it was nothing compared to the fear of going back to that house. I was only sane because of the help I got from my new friend Inez. She seemed too good to be true, kind and happy all the time. I wish i had such personality like her, I always have something to think about which drained the f*ck out of me.

There was something suspicious about my boss and other workers....It's not really a concern, and I don't pray to find out. I'll do my job, save up money and look for a new job.

One night, as I scrubbed the floor of the bar, I allowed myself a moment to think about my mother. Was she safe? Was she eating? The guilt of leaving her behind was a constant weight on my chest, but her words replayed in my mind like a mantra: "Run, Aurora. Run and never look back."

On my seventh day in Hollowbridge City, I sat in my room, staring at the dwindling pile of cash on the table. I had to find a way to make more money. The bar wasn't going to cut it for long, and I couldn't afford to get comfortable. My future depended on finding something better.

With a deep breath, I pulled out a piece of paper and started writing down every possible job I could apply for. The city was big, and there had to be something out there for me. I just had to keep trying. Giving up wasn't an option.

As I lay on the creaky bed that night, staring at the cracked ceiling, I promised myself that no matter how hard it got, I wouldn't stop fighting. My mother had sacrificed everything to give me a chance at freedom. I wasn't going to let her down.

Ryan's Pov

The air was thick with tension in the grand hall of the Shadowfang mansion. Karen, the woman ceremonially marked as my Luna, stood before me, her voice trembling but persistent. She begged for my attention, her pleas like whispers against a storm.

"Why do you do this to me, Ryan?" she asked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I've given everything to you. I've waited, sacrificed, and stood by your side. Just tell me what to do to make you love me!"

I stood motionless, my hands tucked in my pockets. "Karen, you've always been one of my closest friends. I care for you, but not as my Luna, not in the way you want me to. The only reason you hold that title is for the alliance. My true mate..." I hesitated. "She's gone. She's either lost or dead. You'll never be her."

Her face crumpled at my words, but I didn't flinch. "Ryan," she whispered, stepping closer. "Why do you cherish your human life more than what we have here? You spend more time in their world than ours. You treat your work as a human CEO with more care than you've ever given me."

I turned my back to her, staring out the massive window overlooking the pack's territory. The moon hung low, casting its silver glow across the forest. "Because it's easier," I said, my voice low but steady. "In the human world, I don't have to pretend. I don't have to deal with these expectations or force something that doesn't exist. I am who I am, I do my duties as the Alpha, so why can't I have spare time for myself?"

"But this is your world!" Karen's voice cracked. "You're the Alpha, Ryan. You're supposed to lead us, to cherish me as your Luna. Everyone looks up to you, fears you, respects you. But all I want is for you to love me."

Her words didn't move me. They couldn't. "We both know that my leadership is beyond anything anyone has ever seen. You deserve someone who can give you what you want," I said finally. "But that's not me. Even if we marry, Karen, there will never be love between us."

I couldn't believe I said that to her but I had to tell her the truth. She can't get any affection from me and there's no need for pretence.

The door creaked open, and my uncle, Elliot, stepped inside. His presence alone commanded respect, his years of wisdom and service to the pack evident in his every move. "Ryan," he said, his tone heavy with authority. "A word."

I nodded, leaving Karen standing there, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

****

In the study, Elliot leaned against the mahogany desk, his sharp eyes piercing mine. "You can't keep dismissing her like this," he began. "Karen may not be your true mate, but she's still your Luna. You have a duty to her and this pack."

"I've fulfilled my duty," I replied coldly. "She holds the title. The alliance stands. What more do you want from me?"

"She's breaking, Ryan. The pack sees it. And this obsession with the human world it's not helping your image here. You're the Alpha. Your focus should be on us, not playing CEO among mortals."

"They know about my human life, and yet no one dares challenge it," I said, my voice like steel. "Because they know I'm the only one who can lead this pack, and I'm not obsessed with the human world, I only go there to be by myself for sometime."

Elliot sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're so much like your father. Stubborn, unyielding. But even he knew when to bend."

"Watch your tone Uncle, my father is gone," I said sharply. "And I lead as I see fit."

Elliot's gaze softened. "Your father would have wanted you to find peace, Ryan. And if not with Karen, then somewhere. This path you're on....it's lonely."

"Ryan," his tone calm but firm, "I'm speaking to you not just as your uncle, but as someone who has watched you grow into this role. You must treat Karen better. She's to be your Luna."

Ryan's voice remained calm, cold even. "Unity doesn't require love. Karen has my respect as a warrior and a friend, but I will not pretend to feel something I don't. My mate is gone. She's either dead or lost forever. I won't give Karen what isn't mine to give."

"Ryan..." his uncle's voice softened more, "this pack needs stability. You can't spend so much time in the human world, pretending to be one of them. It's unnatural."

Ryan stood, his towering presence silencing further protest. "My human life is my own. I've built it for reasons you don't need to understand. If my leadership is in question, say it now."

His uncle sighed and shook his head. "No one questions your leadership, Ryan. But your path isolates you. Just think about what I've said."

I said nothing, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Finally, I stood. "I need to clear my head."

"Don't run from this, Ryan, we aren't done here" Elliot called after me. But I was already out the door.

"What did the old man want?" Caleb, my best friend and beta asked, his tone light but curious.

"The usual," Ryan replied. "Karen, the pack, my supposed duty to play house with someone I don't love."

Caleb smirked. "You've always been stubborn. That's why they're so scared of you."

Ryan's lips twitched into something resembling a smile. "They're not wrong to be."

****

By the time they reached the human world, the tension in Ryan's chest had eased. The sleek black SUV cut through the bustling city streets, heading toward his penthouse. The city lights reflected off the car's polished surface, and Ryan found himself staring out the window, his mind elsewhere.

"You're quiet," Caleb noted. "That bad, huh?"

"It's nothing I can't handle," Ryan said.

Caleb chuckled. "Of course not. You're Ryan. But even Alphas need to blow off steam."

Ryan didn't respond. He was about to when a sudden, inexplicable sensation hit him. It was a pull, a bond so powerful it made his breath hitch. He stiffened, his sharp eyes scanning the streets.

Caleb noticed immediately. "What is it?"

Ryan's voice was low, almost a growl. "Do you feel that?"

Caleb frowned. "Feel what? Ryan, what's going on?"

"Stop the car," Ryan ordered the driver.

The SUV slowed to a halt at the curb. Ryan was out of the car before it fully stopped, his long strides taking him onto the sidewalk. Caleb hurried after him.

"Ryan, talk to me! What's going on?" Caleb demanded.

Ryan didn't answer. His senses were on high alert, his heart pounding in a way it hadn't in years. He followed the pull, weaving through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning every face. Caleb stayed close, his concern evident.

He walked through the crowd in search of what caught his senses...his steps quickened until he came to a stop, and there she was.