The Vampire King's Human Mate

Meeting a stranger

Ariana's pov.

All the girls were kept in the dark room. We were all scared and anxious. Some were even crying non-stop. Now I understood the whole scene and why someone would cry if they could get a decent job. They might have known about what was going to happen on the ship.

Jack said they would give us a good job that would pay us well. But after seeing those girls crying, it seemed we were going to be the devil's dinner.

Suddenly, some people came in, and before I could understand, they started tying our legs and hands and sealing our mouths with tape. I fought to get myself free but couldn't match their strength.

There was no doubt that they were worse than demons, and we were not going to get any decent jobs. In fact, it was clear from their actions that they would not do any good to us, and we were in great trouble. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. My life was already full of so much trouble. Now, with a new problem added to my credit, I was sure I was really very unlucky. But I couldn't see anything happening to those innocent girls.

God, why do you send me to the earth when you don't want me to live peacefully? Am I not your child, or do you also hate me like others? You, too, couldn't see me happy. Why should I always have to pay for sins I never did? Is it related to my previous life? I committed some unforgivable crime that was still haunting me in this life. Now these girls are also suffering from my bad luck. Please, God, save those girls, at least.

I prayed silently in my heart and glanced around the room; all these girls were minors. Some even looked sixteen.

Were they going to sell us to someone? I heard about this but never thought that it would happen to me. We had never thought that any of those nightmares would come true someday. But this was why life was called unpredictable. It always brought some surprises, some bad, some good. In my case, it had always been bad, and I never had a good surprise, not even a single time.

Suddenly, I heard some shouting and guns firing outside. I peeked through the open door and saw a very handsome, broad, and well-built man with dirty blonde hair standing there with some men surrounding him. The man emerged as a superhero in a movie scene and defeated all the goons over there. Some more goons attacked him, and he dodged their shots very easily. He looked like a Greek god, and I was mesmerized for a moment upon seeing him. He didn't seem to be one of those demons. But he looked like someone as good as a hero who had come to save us— as God had finally sent someone to rescue us.

The evil men were calling him Alpha Hunter. I didn't know why they were calling him Alpha. But he did look like a fine specimen of the alpha male. Maybe that was the reason.

Suddenly, all the evil men stopped moving and froze in their places. Before I could understand, more people came hurriedly and captured the goons. A beautiful woman with some people who saved us came inside and helped us to come out of these ties.

The girls were crying and shouting with fear. That beautiful lady tried to make them calm down. But they were terrified and not ready to listen to anyone. I also tried to comfort them.

“Calm down! You all, please calm down and stop scrêaming. Those people are here to save us. Stop crying. We are safe now. They helped us to get out of this hell," I raised my voice to make them hear me.

The beautiful lady smiled at me and said, "Thank you!"

I returned her smile and nodded my head. It should be ours to thank her because she risked her life to save us. Finally, after some more cajoling, those girls started to calm down, and those good people asked us about our family, contact details, and addresses so that they could contact our family and call them to pick us up. I gave them Jack's contact number. I only had him as my family.

“Ariana?" I heard the most enchanting voice, making my heart skip a beat. My breathing hitched, and a shiver ran down my spine.

I turned to see who was calling my name and found a very handsome, charming, tall, and broad man standing there, looking at me with some unknown emotion in his eyes. I forgot to breathe. My body reacted to his gaze. It was like he was reaching my soul. I gasped and sucked some air deeply. What was happening to me? My eyes were glued to his blue ones. I couldn't remove my gaze like I was hypnotized.

Those eyes! Ah!

No one could ever forget after seeing them once. They were so beautiful and deep, like the ocean, making me forget the world for a moment. I had to force myself to avert my eyes with very difficulties. Otherwise, I could have been drawn into those alluring eyes.

I took in his appearance. He looked like prince charming. No. Maybe a king! With his dominating aura and the magic emitting from his personality, any girl could be ready to throw herself at his feet. His sharp jaw, chiseled cheeks, full lips, pointed nose, and those enchanting blue orbs could make any girl crazy for him. I was instantly wet just by being in his proximity. It had never happened to me before. Not even with Jack.

Sh.it! This thought made me scared deep down to my core. Why did I think about a stranger, and why was my body reacting to him? My heart was filled with guilt and shame. He quickly moved towards me and stood exactly in front of me. Now I could smell his intoxicating scent. He smelled like forest and rain.

He was staring at me, and his gaze dug into me, making me writhe for more. Now I was more scared by his effect on me. I stood there and couldn't move, as if he had got me glued there with his presence.

Why did I feel like I knew him? Did I meet him before? I frowned at thinking.

“Yes?" I finally got my voice to reply. I was embarrassed to hear myself, as I sounded breathless, almost panting.

He shook his head and stretched his hand to touch my face.

“I knew it. You are my Ariana,” he whispered in his deep husky voice.

I moved back. God! He was already affecting me so much; if he touched me, I didn't know I could control myself. Something was strange, and this made me quiver with fear.

“Excuse me, sir. May I know you?” I murmured, looking at him and trying to remember.

Why did I feel like he was familiar?

A shocked expression appeared on his gorgeous face.

“Ariana! You… you forgot me? I am your Vincent, your King,” and he held my hand.

So his name was Vincent. But how could he know my name? I suddenly felt sparks erupting in my hand, which he touched. I felt chills running down my spine. My body began reacting enormously to his touch. Excitement and sensation started swirling in my core, making me feel more guilt and fear. My head became dizzy; I only wanted to throw myself into his arms and kiss him with everything in me. This was all so new to me. It actually scared me. I started sobbing, thinking about what if I did something unthinkable.

“Sir, please! I don't know you. Please, don't touch me,” tears started streaming down my cheeks with shame, realizing I was attracted to a stranger.

“Vincent, you are scaring her. Leave her alone. NOW!” Alpha Hunter, as those men referred to him, scolded the stranger. Vincent seemed to come out of some trance and took a step back, leaving my hand.

“I am sorry, miss. He has mistaken you for someone else. He is not a bad guy. He just lost someone very close to him and is still in trauma,” Alpha Hunter tried to comfort me.

But I was too overwhelmed to hear anyone. That strange feeling kept growing in my heart, and I didn't want to feel anything for a man who was not Jack. But I couldn't help.

That beautiful lady came and helped me to calm down. She caressed my head like a sister. She also held me in her arms for some time and let me cry on her shoulder. I felt mixed emotions in my heart, and a strange sensation in my core deepened with Vincent standing near me, which made me cry more.

Vincent left the room, and I suddenly felt like I could breathe. What was that? Some kind of magic? If magic actually used to occur.

Soon, family members of the girls started coming, and after verifying their identity, Alpha Hunter and his man sent all the girls off.

I sat there eagerly waiting for Jack to come and take me back home. He was my only family. I didn't have anyone else to rely on. He was taking more time. He must have gotten the news, right?

He came, and his face showed how hurt and guilty he felt. My eyes began pouring again, seeing him before me. I hugged him tightly and cried.

“Oh my god! I am so sorry, Ariana. I had no idea that those men could be some scoundrels. I would never have forced you to do this job if I had known. Please forgive me, baby,” he pleaded, soothing my back.

“It's okay, Jack. It's not your fault. How did you know about someone's real intentions? You can't peek into their heart. But you must have inquired about them. I trust you. You know I have nobody in the whole world but you. I only count on you, and I believe you will protect me,” I sobbed, clinging to him tightly as I was still terrified.

I felt those enchanting blue eyes keep staring at me, and my core throbbed again only with the warmth of his gaze. He was standing at some distance, but I could still feel the heat of his presence, and my skin still tingled where he had touched me.

“I was so scared, Jack. You have no idea what I would have done if they had done something to me. I thought I could never see you again,” I confessed with my tear-filled eyes.

Jack wiped my wet cheeks with his fingers.

“Ariana, don't worry. I promise I won't let anything happen to you," he assured me with such affirmation in his voice, making my heart melt at his words.

I loved him, and I trusted him. He couldn't intentionally put me in danger. He loved me. Yes, he did.

I sighed, closing my eyes when he kissed my forehead.

“Let's go home, Ariana,” he said, holding my hand firmly.

Home!

I smiled at thinking. Jack was my home.

I nodded and followed him like a lost child.