Chapter 3: A Bad Situation
1134 Words
-Helena-
I was in the kitchen, letting my chores wait even though I shouldn’t. I was waiting for the clock to strike four, and when I finally saw the little clock on the oven turn, announcing I was eighteen, I smiled, feeling very good.
“Happy birthday,” I whispered.
There were no fireworks. There was no singing or clapping, but I knew when I got home, my mother would be waiting with some cake.
Happy birthday to us!
My wolf happily sang inside my head, and I chuckled. She was often very quiet when I worked during the day. She felt strangely uncomfortable about coming out when I was here. I knew she felt intimidated by the pack energy, but she had to come out and celebrate this.
Do you know what this means?
“What, Amaya?” I asked.
It means we can find our mate!
I froze in my tracks as I was on my way out of the kitchen, one hand on the kitchen door. I had not even thought about it. Mates were… something very special to wolves. It was a bond deeper than anything you could ever feel. It was your soul partner.
“That would be something, right?” I chuckled.
I stepped outside the kitchen, ready to dust off some shelves.
Come on! Be hopeful! Why not?
“Where would we find him?” I inquired.
I had been distracted by my conversation with Amaya, so I hadn’t noticed the person coming around the corner, and I walked right into him.
“Oh, sorry… I…” My voice died toward the end as I stared up at Alpha William. He had his hands on my arms, supporting me. I quickly looked down, not really allowed to look directly at him, and took a huge step back so he wouldn’t touch me.
“I am so sorry, Alpha. I… got distracted,” I whispered.
“It’s four, right?” he inquired.
“Yes…”
“Well, then, happy birthday,” he said.
How was he the one to remember? How did he even know the exact moment I had been born?
“Thank you,” I said nervously.
“How about we go celebrate?” he proposed.
“Oh, no… I have chores… Luna Crystal—”
“Is with friends at the moment,” he informed me.
Why did that feel like a bad thing? Somehow, it felt safer having her around because if anyone could stand up to the alpha, it was the luna.
“I am sure she will be back soon, and then—”
“Don’t worry. This will take time. They are out shopping,” he reassured, stepping closer and crowding me. “And we will just have a quick glass.”
“Of… what?”
“Come and find out.”
He turned away but glanced over his shoulder, silently urging me to follow him. I swallowed hard, my heart racing inside my chest. I didn’t like it, but he was the alpha. You didn’t refuse him. I attempted a small smile, then trailed behind him.
I don’t like it… Amaya whispered inside my head, even though no one else could hear her but me. We were ascending the stairs to Alpha William’s office, and I could feel both her and myself growing more nervous.
It feels… different. Different in the wrong way.
What did that mean? I had been in his office before, dusting it off and vacuuming. Why was it different now?
Turn away! Helena! Turn away!
“Helena?” I hadn’t even realized I had stopped in front of the open door to Alpha William’s office. He was standing on the other side, looking at me, confused. “Are you coming inside?”
No! Don’t!
“Yes.”
I couldn’t refuse. I wouldn’t even know how to. He was the alpha! I walked in, and he closed the door behind me. Just the sound of it was so loud. What was going on? The alpha smiled at me and then walked over to pour himself and me something to drink.
Let me smell it first!
Alpha William approached me with a glass filled with brown liquid. I had never tasted alcohol before.
“Happy birthday!” he exclaimed, raising his glass.
Helena! Let me smell that!
Amaya nudged forward, and I tried not to let Alpha William notice the change in me as she took control of my hand and brought it to our nose, refraining from taking a sip. But he studied me, and I could see he found it peculiar.
Okay, it’s all right…
I wasn’t sure what she had been searching for. Why did it feel like she knew something I didn’t? I gave him a nervous smile, realizing I had made him suspicious of me.
“Never tried anything like this before,” I remarked, sniffing the alcohol again, only to find I disliked its scent, but I masked my discomfort. “Uh, it smells… pleasant.”
I took a sip and then began to cough, which made Alpha William laugh. “That is…”
“Strong?” he suggested.
“Very.”
I wanted to set the glass aside, but he wasn’t allowing me to.
“We should finish it,” he insisted.
Let’s not.
“Sure. Happy birthday to me,” I said.
I really wanted to leave quickly, so I drank the alcohol swiftly. It was such a foolish idea. Either I was quite a lightweight or this was one of the strongest kinds of alcohol you could find because it went straight to my head.
“That… hits you hard,” I remarked as I set the glass aside.
“Want to try something else?” he proposed. “It is a special day.”
“No, I really should… um… chores.”
I gestured toward the door and was on my way there when he stepped up behind me, placing a hand on the door. What… the hell?
“Just one more?” he whispered in my ear.
“I… I really should…”
Suddenly, I heard him inhale before his fingers ran through my hair. “You really do smell so good,” he commented.
“I…” My voice faltered. My entire body froze. Why was he doing this? I could be his daughter!
I told you! Get out!
I wanted to shout at Amaya that she had warned me of nothing except that things felt different. That wasn’t really a reason to refuse the alpha. Now I was trapped in a very dire situation.
“Alpha… I really should…” I began.
“Shhh…”
He then suddenly wrapped my ponytail around his hand and pulled my head back before his lips descended upon mine.
- Writer
