The Alpha's Stubborn Human Mate

Maddie’s Point of View “Hey, young lady! When do you plan to settle your rent? When I’m ready to set foot in my grave?!” I was abruptly awakened from my slumber by a piercing shriek. “If I count to three and you cannot come out, I will order these men accompanying me to destroy this door! One!” Fuck! Here comes the landlord, again! I hopped out of bed in a jiffy and hit the ground running. Without batting an eye, with a bedhead that could rival Medusa’s snakes, and a case of morning breath that could knock out a horse, I bolted out of bed without skipping a beat. As I swung open the door, the landlord’s face was as gloomy as a stormy sky, with her eyebrows reaching for the heavens in surprise. I huffed and puffed, flashing her a sheepish and clumsy grin. “Good morning, Mrs. Taylor! It’s been awhile—” “Yes, it’s been a while since you coughed up the dough for your rent! And what’s the good in the morning when I have to rise and shine just to glimpse you today and give you a gentle nudge to settle your dues?!” She let out another scream as she extended her arm towards me, hand wide open. “Now, where’s your p*****t?” I looked at her with an apologetic expression, but I didn’t really listen to her booming voice. She seemed upset, but I couldn’t be bothered to care. After all, it was still early in the morning and all I wanted to do was sleep. However, I knew that my current living situation was precarious, and I feared I might soon lose the roof over my head. “Um...” I started, scratching my head. “Well, Mrs. Taylor, you know, I’ve just kicked off my part-time gig and I haven’t earned a dime yet, nor can I go begging for an upfront p*****t. Can I have a little more time to chew on this? I swear on my grandmother’s grave to pay as soon—” “No chance in hell am I handing you another month on a silver platter! You’ve been throwing a wrench into the works of my business for five months straight! I’ve been bending over backwards for you for those months and I’ve reached my breaking point! If your pockets are empty, then kindly take your leave!” She didn’t give me the time of day and made a swift exit, flanked by her two henchmen. While I let out a sigh that could bring down the house. Where would I go now? I’m Maddie Ziegler, a 19-year-old, down on my luck and counting my pennies, navigating a life filled with more problems than I could shake a stick at. Ever since my aunt gave me the cold shoulder a year back, I have been left high and dry without a safety net to foot the bill for my rent. I threw my hat in the ring for a job five months back, but unfortunately, none of them bit the bullet because I didn’t have a high school diploma under my belt. Thankfully, I struck gold yesterday and landed a job, but it seemed like Lady Luck had a bone to pick with me and was dead set on disrupting my tranquility. Now, I was forced to bid farewell to my cozy apartment, with no clue about my next destination! As I had no other option but to vacate the apartment, I gathered my belongings. Luckily, there was nothing of great significance in “my home” except for my wardrobe. I set out on my journey at 8 pm sharp. “Lord, what on earth did I do in a previous existence to incur your righteous fury?” As I dragged my luggage and shuffled my feet on the dark street, a complaint escaped my lips. Just when I thought my bad luck had finally dried up, I suddenly felt my stomach rumble like a hungry bear. “What’s now, Lady Luck?” I rummaged through my pocket, hoping to find some penny, but all I could come across was a handful of dirt and a couple of plastic candy wrappers. I haven’t had a bite to eat all morning because I had been burning my time, trying to reach out to my pals for a helping hand, but alas, not a soul was willing to lend me a hand. Just as I was about to resume my journey, I paused in my tracks when I heard women laughing and scampering about. They were excitedly chattering about something, and I soon caught wind of what it was. “Hey, did you hear that the food is free?” one of them exclaimed. “We can eat as much as we want! Isn’t that great!” “Lucky, eh! It’s been a while since I last ate free food!” I couldn’t ignore what I overheard, so I hastened towards the source. “Excuse me,” I said to the woman, feeling a bit awkward. “I couldn’t help but hear you talking about that… um… place. Would you mind telling me where it is?” The two women give me sympathetic looks, as though they understand what I’ve been through today. After giving me the once-over, they give me the nod towards the brighter side of the street, not too far from our current spot, where there’s a buzzing crowd and a sea of lights. After saying my gratitude, they rushed over there, and I didn’t hesitate to follow. When we arrived, my eyes lit up, and my stomach rumbled even louder. Without any delay, I started picking out foods, and to my delight, they were just right! It won’t cost you a dime! I handpick my favorite foods and I even secretly stash away a few for later. This way, I would also have a tasty treat to enjoy on the following days. Although it’s a tough pill to swallow, I had no other option but to bite the bullet and eat humble pie. Nevertheless, as I prepared to depart, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss in the vicinity. I noticed people weren’t eating and were instead departing from a dark area. Driven by curiosity, I leisurely strolled over to where they were headed. My eyebrows shot up with intrigue as I laid eyes on a couple standing before an elderly lady, three of them draped in white gauze. The surrounding crowd was as quiet as a tomb, shrouded in the unfolding scene. The man spoke, “I, Ambrose Rita, accept Yulia Henzi as my mate!” Just as I was about to turn and investigate, a chilling voice pierced the silence, sending shivers down my spine. It sounded like a person who had smoked for years, their voice deep, raspy, and menacing. In the next instant, a possessive arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his warm body. I could smell a hint of cologne mixed with a musky scent that was both enticing and intimidating. My heart raced as I tried to identify the source of the voice and the arm that held me. “I smell you, woman,” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. It was warm and moist. And before I could even react, he continued, “Finally, I found you, my mate.”