SOLD TO THE DEMON ALPHA

Chapter 7: Facing the beast

Aria's POV

My mouth felt dry and my palms sweaty as I turned away slowly, my eyes looking at the chains surrounding the bed before I finally faced the direction of the growl.

Sweat glistened on my forehead as I heard another growl again that made me bite my tongue and when I did not see anyone, my eyes darted to the door and I decided to calculate my chances of escaping. Whoever that was, Roma or not, they were certainly not pleased that I was here.

That is if they have caught you, Aria. You can still make it.

Coming to the West wing started to look like it was a bad idea. I should have listened to Sophia.

Run, a voice in my head screamed at me and I took in a deep breath, counting backwards from three. Go now, Aria.

I sprinted past the bed and was almost at the door when my body was yanked from the floor like I weighed nothing and flung towards the bed.

Landing with a thud, I screamed, going on my knees and praying to the gods that this would not be my last night among the living. That was when my attacker finally emerged from the shadows.

My horror momentarily reduced when I saw that it was Roma but as he advanced closer to the bed, I realized that something was very wrong. Something was terribly wrong with him.

It was Roma but at the same time, it was not. I mean, he looked like Roma. All shades of handsome and insanely gorgeous male. Wearing only a pair of black slacks, his hair as dark as night falling over his face, I wondered how I had ever mistaken him for human the first time I saw him.

He was more. But right now, with eyes of bright scary red, it was not Roma the man that stared at me. I was not even sure if it was Roma the werewolf. He just looked like a monster. And he definitely did not look like he was in a forgiving mood.

"What are you doing here?" He growled and his voice did not sound remotely human, cracking his neck and I flinched, shaking.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry, Alpha. So sorry. I just wanted to..."

"Answer me!" He roared and I moved towards the head of the bed, tears falling down my face as if it would save me from whatever was going to happen.

"I just wanted..."

"Did no one warn you to never step foot in this place?" He knelt on the bed and I screamed again, rubbing my hands together as I tried to speak but words failed me. How could words fail me at a time like this? I was going to die. And it would be my fault.

But I needed the sketch pad for my sanity. My dreams were getting too real to ignore.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out and when he reached out his clawed hand to pull me by my leg, I started to kick and try to break free.

"Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. I'll do anything. I swear. I will never come here again." I cried as he took his sweet time dragging me towards the edge of the bed.

And then his hand grabbed my neck and I was staring into his red eyes.

"Please don't kill me. I'm sorry." I whispered, wrapping my hands around his forearm, more tears sliding down my cheek and he just watched me, suddenly looking confused.

Sniffing the air, he pulled me closer to himself and inhaled deeply again and when he pulled back to look at me, I saw the red of his eyes begin to fade away to reveal the sky blue that I knew and he looked like he finally recognized me.

He still looked very much pissed off though.

"Ajello?"

Roma's POV

When the goddess had cursed me many years ago, at first, I had thought it would be a walk in the park. After all my father, that beast had deserved whatever came to him.

That was before my first transformation into a beast. A painful and cruel transformation indeed.

Cursed to turn into a mindless bloodthirsty creature that looked like my wolf but was much worse and could not differentiate between family or foe was probably the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. And after the first time I turned, I knew that if I did not take care, I would m******e my entire pack and wake up to find everybody gone, dead by my own hand.

That was when I started to study what triggered the beast.

Emotions, for one, was a big factor. And then once a month, no matter what, was forced to turn into that mindless creature no matter what, a beast that people had named the Demon Alpha.

I made sure to ensure that my pack members never saw me in that state, not that they would live to tell the tale. Raphael had seen me loose once and it was pure luck that he had escaped that night.

Which was why the West wing was off limits for everyone, except I let them in. It was not a safe haven but a prison. A holding cell for the beast. Chains filled the entire room, kept in strategic places to hold me captive whenever I felt the urge to turn. And the goddess did love her jokes, because why had the beast decided to manifest when I was the shower?

I had rushed out of the shower, ready to chain myself to the bed when the beast had smelled something in my room.

Someone. Human.

It had taken everything in me to keep calm. To not attack immediately because it was almost impossible for any humans to be in the pack, except...

Aria Ajello.

Was it her?

My vision was hazy, clouded by thoughts of blood lust as I watched the human try to flee and I hadn't been able to stop the beast from lunging and throwing her on the bed.

Stop! I whispered, fighting for control and my bone broke as I struggled to not shift.

The beast seemed to enjoy whatever game was being played because I began to move towards the bed slowly, the smell of the human's fear and her cries delicious. It made me want to tear her apart slowly.

No. It could be Aria.

Stopping again, I felt my other shoulder crack and the beast pulled her towards us. That was when her scent finally started to register. It surprised me.

I never recognized anyone or anything once the beast had taken over.

But I recognized her. It was her. Aria Ajello. Was the goddess trying to play another joke on me?

"Please, don't kill me. I'm sorry." She whimpered and I pulled her towards me, inhaling her scent.

It was her. Beautiful Aria Ajello that smelled like wild roses and pure innocence. My hands tightened around her slender neck and she was so soft, so fragile. It would be so easy to snap her delicate little neck.

To my shock, the beast began to recede and my vision finally cleared to see terrified blue eyes staring back at mine.

"Ajello?"