Billionaire Alpha's Human Mate

Apex Club

Avery

My hands shake as I wait for orientation to resume. My head is swimming from my interaction with Mr. Emerson. I don’t know what to make of it. I feel myself drawn to him, but I don’t know why. And why would a rich, handsome man want someone like me?

‘Because we are mates,’ A strange male voice says in my head, and I jump with a yelp.

“What was that?” Hattie scoffs beside me.

“N-nothing,” I say. “I recounted something I saw on the news.”

“Okay,” She mostly mouths and looks at another person.

I sigh and place my hand on my chest.

‘Don’t be afraid of me,’ the voice says.

“What the hell?” I sputter out loud.

“Girl, you need to get a hold of yourself,” Carlo snorts.

“Right,” I pant. “Yeah,” I mutter.

“Okay, people, let’s get started,” Steve says, walking up to the front of the room with his brother.

I take a deep breath and do my best to pay attention. The rest of the day is spent filling out paperwork and touring the building.

“And this is where you will be tomorrow, Ms. Anderson,” Steve says as we enter an office. A very tall man steps towards me. “This is Loren Bean,” Steve says.

“You must be Ms. Anderson,” Loren holds out a hand.

I look up at him with a slight smile. He is handsome with blonde hair and brown eyes. “Hi,” I say.

“May I call you Avery?” He asks. “You can call me Loren.”

“Avery is fine,” I say as I shake his hand.

Loren leans towards me. “Very fine,” he smirks and then looks at Steve. Loren releases my hand. “It will be a pleasure to work with you, Luna.”

“Huh?” I mutter.

Steve cleared his throat, and I swear he and Loren had exchanged a silent conversation somehow. Loren nods before retreating into his office. “You will be here by eight tomorrow,” Steve says.

“Okay,” I breathe out.

“You are free to go home now,” Steve says.

“Oh, thank you,” I say.

He takes me back to the orientation room so I can grab my things.

“So, where will you be tomorrow?” Hattie asks me.

“I will be working for Loren Bean,” I say.

“That’s the vice president,” Carlos speaks up. “I’m just a lowly office grunt.”

“I’ll still have lunch with you,” I grin.

“You didn’t today,” Carlos smirks.

“Yeah, that was just a weird one-time thing,” I say.

“Not from what I saw,” Carlos nods. “Alpha has taken a liking to you.”

“Huh?” I narrow my eyes at him. “Alpha?”

I hear a growl, and Carlos looks behind me. I see Paul and Steve. They both glare at Carlos. “What?”

“It’s okay, Ms. Anderson,” Steve says. “Have a good night,” he says with a slight bow.

I say nothing else and grab my things to head out. Walking through the lobby, I smell sandalwood and look around. I see nothing and keep walking.

“Have a good night, Luna,” a random person says, and I look at them.

I finally get to the car and slip in. “What the hell?” I mutter as I start the engine and blast music. It takes me about thirty minutes to get home.

“Hey, sis,” Jayden greets me as I walk in.

“How was work?” Mom says.

“Fine,” I say and walk past them to my room. I shut the door and flopped onto my bed. I lay there for a few minutes until there was a knock on the door.

“Avery,” Mom says as she opens the door. “Are you okay?” She asks.

“I’m fine, Mom,” I say.

“How was it?” She asks.

“You already asked that,” I say.

“I know,” she smiles and walks over to me. “But you didn’t sound fine.”

“Mom, I’m alright. Honest,” I huff.

“Hmm,” she says, touching the top of my head. "Is chicken alright for dinner? I am ordering some Popeyes.”

“That’s fine,” I nod. “Do you need some money?”

“No,” she shakes her head. “Randy sent me some cash,” she states. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

“I’m sure, Mom. It was just orientation. Nothing happened,” I lie to my mother’s face.

“Okay,” she smiles and leaves the room.

I sit on my bed for a moment, staring at the door, before I pull my phone out and see texts from Sean. I dial his number.

“Hey, babe,” Sean answers. “What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing,” I say. “I just wanted to talk.”

“How was your first day at Emerson Industries?” He asks.

“It was fine,” I say. “Except- “I trail off as I remember having lunch with Tristan.

“Except?” Sean laughs.

“I had lunch with Mr. Emerson,” I say.

“Really?” Sean snorts.

“Like alone,” I mutter.

“Alone?” Sean’s voice lowers a little. “Did anything else happen?”

“I felt these weird tingles every time he touched me,” I say.

“Did you notice anything else?” Sean’s voice becomes serious.

“I smelled sandalwood,” I say. “But Tristan,” I pause. “Mr. Emerson said he couldn’t smell it and that I smelled like vanilla and lavender. Only I didn’t smell any vanilla and lavender. Just the sandalwood.”

“Oh s**t,” Sean mutters.

“What? What is wrong?” I ask.

“This isn’t good,” Sean responds.

“What isn’t good?” I ask.

“Avery,” Amanda pokes her head into my room.

“What?” I groan.

“Dinner is here,” she responds.

“I will be right there, Amanda,” I say.

“Okay,” she mouths and leaves my room.

“What isn’t good, Sean?” I say.

Sean sighs, “How about we go out later?” He suggests. “Like to The Apex Club?”

“I guess,” I say. “I can’t stay too late, though. I have to work in the morning.”

“We won’t stay out too late,” Sean says. “So, about eight pm?”

“That sounds good,” I say. “See you,” I say and hang up the phone. Exiting the room, I go to the dining room, where my brother and sisters are already tearing into the food.

“You can’t hog all the mashed potatoes, Jayden,” Kaitlyn yells.

“I can, too,” Jayden argues.

“Jayden, share the potatoes,” Mom yells.

I slink in, grab a plate, and place a couple of legs on it. I then get some red beans and rice with a biscuit and try to go to the living room.

“Avery,” Mom barks. “Sit at the table.”

I sigh and do as she says. I bite into the chicken, and memories of eating with Tristan flash through my mind. I shudder thinking about his hands on me, causing that weird sensation.

“Avery,” Mom interrupts my thoughts.

“What?” I say.

“She’s daydreaming, Mom,” Amanda teases.

“Probably about some boy,” Kaitlyn snorts.

“No,” I mutter and eat some food. “Mom, I am going out with Sean tonight.”

“You have work tomorrow,” Mom huffs.

“I know,” I say. “We won’t be out too late.”

“Well, you are an adult,” She sighs.

“I just need a drink,” I say.

“What happened?” Mom asks. “You have been acting weird since you got home.”

“Nothing happened, Mom,” I say. “It’s just adjusting to a new job. I will be fine.”

Mom looks at me while putting butter on a biscuit. “If you say so.”

“I say so, Mom,” I grumble.

“Mom!” Amanda complains.

“What?” Mom looks at her.

“Jayden took my biscuit,” Amanda whines.

“For god's sake, Jayden,” Mom says.

I roll my eyes and focus on finishing my food. I place my plate in the sink and go back to my room. I quickly showered and put on my tight black skirt with a sparkly purple crop top. I fluff my hair and grab my black bag.

“Avery,” Mom calls. “Sean is here.”

“I’ll be right there,” I answer as I put on some black mascara and dark eyeshadow before going to the living room.

“I am doing good at my new job, Sally,” Sean tells my mother.

“I am so glad to hear that,” Mom responds.

“Are you ready?” Sean asks. He is wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt. His black hair is slicked back, while he has some dark eyeliner highlighting his pale blue eyes.

“I’m ready,” I respond.

“I want to go out,” Amanda whines.

“You know you can’t,” I tell her.

“Not until you are eighteen, at least,” Sean smirks.

“Be careful, Avery,” Mom says. “Don’t stay out too late.”

“Goodnight, Sally,” Sean says, and I grab his arm.

“Bye, Mom,” I say, dragging Sean out of the house.

A cab is waiting for us in front of the house. “You are going to Apex Club?” the driver asks.

“Yes,” I respond and look at Sean, “Right?”

“Right,” Sean nods. “So, how are you?” My best friend asks as the driver pulls away from my house.

“I’m fine,” I shrug. “We had Popeyes for dinner.”

“And you didn’t invite me?” Sean acts offended. “How dare you.”

“Hey, I want Popeye’s too,” the driver jokes from the front.

“Why does everyone keep asking if I am alright?” I say. “It was just another day at work.”

“Not from what I heard,” Sean says.

“Huh?” I look at my friend, who looks out the window.

“Look,” He starts. “I know Steve.”

“Steve Carr?” I ask, and Sean nods.

“He and I- “Sean trails off. “We just know each other.”

“Okay,” I say. “Did he say something?”

“It wasn’t what he said,” Sean says.

“Then what?” I look at him, and again, he looks out the window. “What is going on?”

“Do you know about werewolves?” Sean asks me.

“What?” I huff and notice the driver flicking his eyes back to us.

“Werewolves,” Sean says.

“I read Twilight,” I laugh. “They are fictional.”

“What if I told you they aren’t fictional,” Sean says and glances at the driver.

“You are talking crazy,” I say.

“Okay,” Sean presses his lips together.

We ride the rest of the way to the club in silence. Sean pays the driver, and we get in line. I lean against the wall with my arms folded, thinking about what Sean said.

“Hey, Sean,” another woman greets my friend. She is tall and skinny with long blonde hair. “Are you going to dance with me?”

“Sure, Steph,” Sean grins and nods at me, “This is my best friend, Avery.”

“Stephanie,” the woman says with a look of disgust. “Really?” She looks at Sean.

“Avery and I go way back,” Sean says, “Like before I was- “He gestures to himself.

“And she’s cool?” Stephanie asks.

“She’s very cool,” Sean nods.

“Oh, cool,” Stephanie smiles at me. “Sean knew me before I transitioned.”

“Oh, okay,” I smile. “Sean and I go back to elementary school.”

The line starts to move, and soon we are inside the club. Stephanie sticks with us and even orders me a bright pink drink. “You’ll love it,” she smiles and downs hers.

I do the same. Sweet and sour fills my mouth with the burn of vodka. “Yum,” I say and snap my fingers for another one.

“Let’s dance,” Stephanie says, pulling Sean and me onto the dance floor.

The beat of the music thrums through my body as I move with the music between Stephanie and Sean. I get into it, and the next thing I know, some hot man is beside me with red eyes staring at me. I look up at him, and he grins, showing off what I swear are vampire fangs.

We dance through a few songs before going to the side for a break.

“What is your name?” He asks.

I look him up and down with his purplish punk hair and pale skin. He is wearing a black leather outfit with spikes on his arms.

“I’m Avery,” I say.

“Avery,” He grins, “My name is Victor.”