His Temptation

Guessing Game

"Alpha, Syria informed me that Miss Avery is awake." Lucas, the beta, said.

Jack got away from his workspace in a rush to meet Avery. He was dying to find out if she remembered last night. If she did, it would change a lot of things between them. If not, he didn't know how to approach her again. But now that he had tasted and held her, he didn't want to return to where they were practically strangers living under the same roof.

"Why are you following me, Lucas? Don't you have anything else to attend? Do you want me to give you some work? For starters, you should control Nat!" Jack hissed. He didn't want anyone to know what happened last night. It was still a secret. His or theirs, he was yet to find out.

"I did discipline, Nat. I am sorry. I would have been more careful." Lucas apologized, bending a bit.

"Then what is it? Why are you following me?" Jack whined, a little pissed because Lucas was delaying him.

"Syria said Miss Avery is grumpy and doesn't want to meet anyone. She asked Miss to meet with you. But she refused and threw a tantrum." Lucas explained, his eyes looking at his two shoes as if they were interesting. The truth was that he was afraid he might displease his alpha. The alpha had been in a bad mood since morning because of Avery.

"It is not your place to decide if it was a tantrum or not!" Jack groaned, a bit agitated. Was Avery purposefully avoiding him by ignoring what had happened last night? He wouldn't allow that. "Also, inform Tim to tame his sister. Mia had been reckless to take Avery to such a place!" Lucas didn't badger him. He simply nodded his head and left to accomplish the task assigned to him.

When Jack reached Avery's room on the further east side of the mansion, he could feel his heartbeat rising. He was afraid that someone would notice the change in him. He had to behave like his old self, strict and indifferent to Avery. But how was he going to continue the facade when he was here himself to meet her? When was the last time he came to this side of the mansion? He stayed as far away from her to keep himself and his feelings in check.

As soon as he was near her room, he heard something smashing.

Crash...

Smash...

The clattering sound made him impatient. Why was she in such a rage? Was she angry because of what happened? Was she so much in disgust? He folded his fingers into a tight fist, taking a deep breath.

"Miss, please stop. You must see the alpha in his study now." Syria, Avery's caretaker, pleaded with her. She had been acting strange ever since she woke up. Jack stopped at her doorstep to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Who wants to see that jailor? I am tired of telling you I am not going anywhere. If he wants to meet me, he can come here. He has legs!" Avery grunted, throwing something again to the floor.

"Miss! Please stop! He is the alpha!" Syria tried to reason with her.

"So it gives him the right to cage me? I don't know why he brought me here. To keep me away from anything that was normal? Do you think I want to live like this?" Avery hissed, her voice full of anger and frustration.

"But miss, you shouldn't have snuck out like that. What if something happens to you? I dare not think so! The Alpha himself had to go to fetch you. And look how you returned! All drunk and smelling!" Syria tried to explain to Avery.

"Why would I sneak if he allowed me to do normal things? Well, tell him I won't step outside this room till I am eighteen. And let me see how he holds me back once I am eighteen." Avery challenged, pissed, panting in anger, her eyes darting invisible lasers at Syria.

"Miss, I am only a mere servant. I don't dare say this to the alpha. Please understand." Syria pleaded with her eyes.

The door creaked open at this. He didn't want to hear what else Avery was going to say Syria against him. He could tell she hated her. So what was all that that happened last night? Was it a facade to disguise her true feelings? Or did she really forget about it?

"Leave," he thundered, his eyes fixated on Avery like a predator watching over his prey, sending a shiver down her spine. Her strong stance softened as she looked down at the floor to avoid him. She thought he would never come here. So why was he here today? Did she offend him too much? Like all other times, he could have sent Lucas to inform her that she was grounded. Why was he here standing in her room?

Syria fled, perplexed to see the Alpha on the east side. He was there, which meant that the young miss had done something so terrible that he had to come personally to teach her a lesson.

"Avery," Jack's voice softened as soon as Syria left. He closed the door before walking closer to Avery, taking careful steps, avoiding all the broken and fallen objects on the floor. "You are definitely throwing a tantrum," he concluded, now standing almost next to her.

Her heartbeat spiked when she realized how close he had gotten to her. Was he going to drag her to some hidden prison beneath the mansion? She knew she had to act fast and appease his anger. But why was she not able to move, her body reacting in a very different manner than her head? She was feeling drawn to him. She shut her eyes to get rid of unwarranted feelings at this crucial moment. It was just a crush she got because of how her friends kept telling her constantly day and night how handsome Jack was. She couldn't help but notice it slowly and, before she knew it she had developed a strong crush which she found difficult to get rid of. But she had managed it well till then. No one knew, not even Mia. So why was her body giving her away today in front of him?

"Do you have anything to say?" Jack asked, watching over her every single movement. He was studying her.

"Me?" she gasped, startled. Her round eyes were bigger in surprise, as she gulped in fear. When he didn't say anything, she knew she had to explain her actions from yesterday. She looked down, her fingers clenching her night dress. She needed some support to stand in front of the mighty alpha. "I am sorry I snuck out. It won't happen again." She apologized in a faint, timid voice.

"And?" Jack said in a grave voice, looking at her sternly.

"I, I shouldn't have drunk so much. No, I shouldn't have drunk at all. It, too, won't happen over again." This time she looked up a little hopeful that he would forgive her or let her off the hook after grounding her a few weeks, or at worst, disallowing her from celebrating her birthday.

"And?" Jack waited, longingly. These were not the things he wanted to discuss first.

"And?" Avery's jaw hung open. Was she missing something? Syria, Nat, and Mia all said the same thing. She snuck out of the house to the party, got drunk while playing the Pong game, and Jack took her back. He was pissed. Well, she doesn't remember much of anything after the third or fourth round of the game. She tried to think hard. But it ended up giving her a strong headache.

"And not telling you ahead?" Avery was hopeful. "No?" she sighed when he didn't react. "For disobeying you?" she guessed at this point. "Did I vomit in your car - or - or!" she gulped, worrying for the worst. "Did I vomit on you?" This was the worst thing she could guess. But when Jack didn't agree to anything, she gave up. It pissed her a little, how he was playing a guessing game with her. She was clearly the victim. If not for his harsh rules, why would she do that in the first place?

"You don't remember?" He said in a heavy, broken voice, confusing Avery. She tried hard to remember anything, something. But nothing. Why did he look so sad? What did she do to hurt him? Of course, she must have done something terrible for him to be here. She swallowed hard, taking deep breaths. She could feel her legs becoming wobbly when a dreadful thought crossed her mind. Did she? Did she confess to him? No! No way! How could she do that? Crush or not, she was definitely scared of this icy wolf. She would never tell that even over her dead body.

"Pft.." Jack hissed in disappointment. His eyes darkened in anger. How could she forget something so important and play a guessing game to infuriate him? Was she ridiculing him? She was not at all repentant and only pretending. "Are you not too fond of rewards? So you deserve to get punished, too." He declared, getting dangerously close to her. "Kneel," he commanded.

"Kneel?" It hurt her pride. Who did he think he was? "You never let me go anywhere. All the other people at school go camping, hiking, parties, movies, balls, and whatnot. They can dress whatever they want, wear whatever they feel like, date whoever they like, and eat however they want. But I have to be this perfect lady all the time. I can only go on camping organized by the alpha and co on a full moon night. I can only go hiking with my personal strength trainers. I can't go to late-night movies. I can't eat food outside. I can't do this, I can't do that. Even my clothes are from the Renaissance era! Do you think I am afraid of being grounded? I am not. Because I am always grounded. Every second since I came here!" Avery burst out without realizing it.

She was shaking, fuming with anger. But she was done yet. She was struggling to understand, despite all that. How and why did she fall for him so badly? "But still! But still..." she grumbled, trying to control her anger, taking a deep breath. She can't possibly admit her illicit feelings to him out loud.

Jack's eyes widened in horror. Did she despise him so much? But last night? What was she trying to do by playing with fire? And didn't he do all that to keep her safe? What was wrong with being a good girl? And when did he stop her from doing anything? Had the caretakers been stricter than he wanted them to be? Or did his good intentions come out as authoritarian? He wasn't an expert at raising anyone. Hell, more difficult when he suddenly falls for that person. So what was she expecting? Especially after kissing him?

"You talk about rewards! When I received one?" Avery chided, scoffing, puffing into the air, startling Jack.

It was one thing to be angry at him, but to call him a liar and disregard him like that? Jack gritted his teeth, breathing heavily. He didn't know what to say, or what to do at this point. He so badly wanted to f**k her so bad that she would understand what he really thought about her.

That's when the memory of her and Jack kissing flashed through her eyes. She watched him in horror. Was it real or was she imagining? She couldn't remember anything else. What did she exactly do last night?

The scent of her sudden arousal made him baffled, He wondered if she remembered. Of course, she did. The horror in her face was the proof of it. He waited for a long second, wondering if she would accept it or hide. When she chose to ignore it, he sighed, deciding to take control.

"It's time for your punishment." He declared, twitching his lips into an evil smirk.