The alpha’s claim

Silent gusts of wind swept through the forest, causing the leaves to sway in gentle, hushed movements. Aria's face curved into a smile as she watched the leaves dance in the moonlight, guiding her path through the woods. Although she knew that venturing into the forest at this time of night was imprudent, Aria found herself drawn to the ethereal beauty of the woodland. Her original objective had been to conduct research on the forest, but instead she found herself lost in capturing the images of nature through her camera lens. With her grey eyes transfixed on the woodland vistas, Aria continued to journey deeper into the heart of the forest. The stillness was perceptible, and the only sounds that could be heard were the soft rustling of leaves and the melodious chirping of crickets. She gathered her scarlet tresses in a ponytail and took a snapshot of the moonlight beaming on a tree from a picturesque angle. "This place is truly breathtaking," Aria murmured in awe. However, her delight was short-lived when she heard a mysterious sound emanating from the woods. She paused in her tracks, her senses alert and her head swiveling in search of the source. "Hello?" she called out tentatively, her ears straining to pick up a response. But the forest remained silent, as if it was holding its breath. "Is there anyone here?" she called out again, but once more, there was no response. Just as she was about to dismiss the noise as her imagination, the same sound reverberated through the woods, louder and closer this time. It was a howl, but not like any she had heard before. Aria had read myths about extraordinary creatures that roamed the forest, but she had always viewed them as works of fiction. However, this sound was too real to be ignored. She was sure it wasn't a dog, although it sounded like a howl. She had only heard such sounds in movies and had never encountered it in real life. Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone running at her direction with speed. Someone, or something. She thought to run but her legs wouldn’t carry her, and also she didn’t know which direction to run to. Aria was trembling and her teeth chattering as she thought of the hundred and one reason she should have stayed back at home. Suddenly, a creature emerged from the shadows, its eyes fixed on the girl with a fierce hunger. It was a wolf. That’s definitely a wolf, she thought. Just as the wolf was about to pounce on the girl, another figure leaped out from the undergrowth, crashing into the wolf with a fierce growl. The two wolves collided, snarling and snapping as they fought for dominance in the darkened forest. The first wolf, the one with the girl in its sights, was larger and more muscular than its opponent, but the second was faster and more agile. The smaller wolf had a silvery grey fur,similar to the color of the moon on a clear night. It’s eyes almost a bright gold. It dodged and weaved around the larger wolf, slashing at its flanks with sharp claws and delivering powerful bites to its hindquarters. The largerwolf howled in fury, its fur bristling with rage as it lunged at its opponent with a powerful swipe of its massive paw. The other werewolf dodged the attack with ease, leaping onto a nearby tree and launching itself at the larger wolf with a devastating kick that sent it crashing to the ground. Aria watched in amazement as the two wolves battled it out, their bodies colliding in a frenzy of fur and fang. She tried to run, but her feet felt heavy as though she was rooted to the spot. She knew that the smaller werewolf was fighting to save her, and she could not leave it to face the larger wolf alone. Summoning all her courage, the girl reached for a nearby branch and snapped it in two. She stepped forward, holding the makeshift weapon tightly in her hands, and charged at the larger wolf, hoping to distract it from the fight. The wolf turned its attention to her, snarling with hunger as it lunged at her with jaws gaping wide. The girl held her ground, raising the branch high and striking the wolf with a fierce blow that sent it reeling. Seizing the opportunity, the other wolf leaped onto the larger wolf's back, sinking its teeth into the soft flesh of its throat. The larger wolf howled in agony, its body writhing as it tried to shake off its attacker. But it was too late. The smaller wolf held on with unbreakable tenacity, its teeth digging deeper into the larger wolf's neck until the sound of cracking bones echoed through the forest. The larger wolf fell to the ground, lifeless. The girl stood in awe as the smaller wolf approached her, its eyes fixed on hers with a fierce intensity. She felt a strange connection to the creature, as if it was trying to tell her something. In that moment, she knew that the wolf had saved her life, and she would be forever grateful. She reached out her hand, and the werewolf nuzzled against it, its fur soft against her skin. As soon as the wolf drew near, Aria felt a sense of comfort that she had never experienced before; her fear dissipated instantly. "You are so beautiful," she said, as she nestled closer to the animal. Bending down, she rubbed its head and it nuzzled closer to her, closing its eyes. "What are you?" she asked, scrutinizing the creature that had just saved her life. The wolf responded with a soft howl and looked straight into her eyes, but the gaze wasn't meant to scare her away. On the contrary, it exuded a sense of calmness that she had never known. Aria couldn't comprehend how she could feel so drawn to a wolf. She wondered if she was mistaken; was it really a wolf? She had no idea they existed. "What's your name?" she asked as she stroked its fur, even though she knew it couldn't answer. The wolf blinked its eyes as it looked at her. "How about Archie? It's a nice name, and it means brave," she said, smiling sweetly at it. She found it strange that she was conversing with an animal that couldn't talk back, but she didn't feel awkward about it, which was unusual for her. Aria wasn't one to fawn over animals like her roommate, but this one was different. However, her excitement was short-lived when she heard another howl from deep within the bushes. The wolf stepped back from her, and Aria asked, "Hey, are you okay?" as if it could answer. Its eyes fixed on her for a moment, and before she could say or do anything, the wolf ran back into the bushes, disappearing as suddenly as it had appeared. "Hey!" Aria cried. "Archie! Don't leave me here!" she called out, but the wolf was already gone. Looking around, she realized that it was no longer safe for her to be in the forest without her savior. Involuntarily, she began to walk out of the forest, heading back to where she could find other human beings. *************************************** As soon as Michelle heard the door squeak open, she shouted, "Aria, is that you?" Aria replied innocently, "Yes, it's me. Expecting someone?" Before Aria could make sense of anything, Michelle reached her and hit her forehead with her palm. Aria stepped back and cried, "Hey! What's that for?" "That's a foolish question to ask, darling. Sometimes I wonder how you were presented with the 'best graduating student of the year' award!" Michelle said as she walked back into the sitting room. "Ouch!" Aria exclaimed, holding her chest. "I'll hit you again if you don't tell me where you were and why you left your phone here. I've been calling you for hours!" Michelle threatened. Aria realized why Michelle was angry. "Research. I needed to add more to my portfolio. I need to give my best," she explained. Michelle looked at her for a moment and said, "By this time of the night? You've been gone for five hours straight." "You act like my mother sometimes, you're such a grandma," Aria teased. "Oh, stop it," Michelle replied, rolling her eyes. Aria couldn't help but smile. "The way you're smiling is creepy," Michelle commented. Excitedly, Aria said, "Okay, I know it sounds unbelievable, but I saw the most enticing thing in the whole world. I saw a wolf. Two, actually. One died, though." Michelle's amusement turned to worry. She worried that her friend had lost it. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Aria asked suspiciously but still smiling. "So let me guess, after failing to fall in love with the finest of men who wanted you, you decided to fall for this 'wolf' you met in the forest?" Michelle said sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest. "I mean, it's crazy how you understand the story this well without my explanation," Aria retorted, matching Michelle's sarcasm. "Mmm," Michelle hummed. "Hey, Michelle, I'm serious. I saw a wolf, and it saved me and rubbed itself against me," Aria insisted. Michelle sighed. "I just want to be sure. Have you seen a dog before?" Aria glared at her. "And there are different kinds of dogs… you know that?" "Stop it! Those were wolves. Don't make me feel stupid. One saved me and ran into the forest!" Aria said with conviction. Michelle knew that Aria was smart, and if she claimed to have seen a wolf, then she must have seen a wolf. Not only was Aria doing an unusual course, but she was also interested in unusual animals. She loved animals. "The thing is, you know that I can't believe that you saw a wolf without thinking it was a werewolf, right?" Michelle commented, making Aria's face fall. "You know what your problem is? You've watched too many movies and read too many mythological books," she uttered in resignation, no longer attempting to persuade Michelle that she had indeed glimpsed a werewolf. Regret coursed through her as she wished she had kept her observation to herself. "The issue with you is your incapacity to comprehend that this world extends beyond what we perceive," Michelle retorted, persisting in her stance. Aria murmured under her breath, "I should have kept my mouth shut." "You--" "I need to rest and nourish myself; tomorrow is a significant day," Aria interrupted her, putting a stop to the escalating discussion. Michelle conceded with a heavy sigh. "There's pizza in the microwave." "Thank you, my dear," Aria replied, her face lit up with gratitude. "I've heard that your sponsor had a thing for punctuality and has high standards. It's advisable that you attend the sponsor pitch meeting on time," Michelle reminded her. "Indeed, I've heard the same. I'm feeling quite anxious ," Aria confessed. "Rumor has it that he is young and handsome. Don't let anxiety overwhelm you. People like him exude a commanding presence," Michelle encouraged her. Truth be told, Aria needed this boost of confidence. "Asher Hunter? Just his name gives me thrills"