THE WHITE WOLF'S GIRL

THE ALPHA'S MARK

*2 AM.*

Arina couldn't even breathe.

The man standing in front of her...

Caliban.

Those same blue eyes.

That same scent of rain.

But he wasn't a wolf anymore.

He was human.

Tall.

6'2".

Shoulders so broad the door looked small.

A wound on his chest.

Exactly where the white wolf had been hurt.

"Caliban?" Arina's voice trembled.

Caliban nodded.

"It's me."

Raindrops dripped from his black hair.

He was only wearing black jeans.

Water glistened on his skin.

Arina immediately pulled the blanket over herself.

"H-how is this possible?"

"I'm a werewolf, Arina," Caliban said softly.

"On full moon nights I turn into a wolf.

The rest of the days, I'm human."

Silence filled the room.

Only the sound of rain.

Arina's heart was beating so fast she thought it would jump out of her chest.

"Are you scared?" Caliban asked.

Arina shook her head.

"A little."

"But you didn't bite me. Not in the jungle either."

A faint smile touched Caliban's lips.

"Because you saved me.

I never hurt the one who saves me."

*THE PROTECTOR.*

Caliban scanned the room.

Closed the window.

Pulled the curtains shut.

Then he sat down on the floor beside her bed.

Far away.

He didn't come closer without permission.

"I'll sit here," he said.

"Until you fall asleep."

"Here? On the floor?"

"Yes. No one will touch you."

Arina's eyes welled up.

For 3 days in the jungle.

She'd shivered alone in the rain.

And now this stranger... no, this wolf...

was sitting on the floor to protect her.

"Why?" Arina asked.

"Because you cleaned my wound without fear," Caliban said.

"Because you got soaked in the rain so I could stay dry."

"Because you're human, yet you weren't scared of a beast."

He paused.

Then said quietly:

"And because... you're my responsibility now."

*MORNING.*

Arina woke up to sunlight.

Caliban was still sitting there.

Eyes closed.

But the moment Arina moved, his eyes snapped open.

Instantly.

Like he hadn't slept at all.

"It's morning," Arina said.

"I know," Caliban replied.

"You slept for 7 hours and 23 minutes."

Arina was stunned.

"You were counting?"

"Every breath. Every movement."

Arina stood up.

Her head spun.

3 days of exhaustion and being soaked had given her a fever.

Caliban was on his feet instantly.

His hand reached toward Arina.

But stopped halfway.

"Drink water," he said, handing her a glass.

Arina drank.

It was cold.

"Thank you."

Caliban bowed his head.

"I'll make breakfast."

"You know how?"

"When you've lived 200 years, you learn everything."

Arina's mouth fell open.

"200 years??"

Caliban smiled.

"I'm an Alpha. We live long."

*THE ALPHA.*

In 10 minutes Caliban made eggs and toast.

Arina stared at him while eating.

"So you're... an Alpha?"

"Yes. Alpha of the White Moon Pack."

"Then what were you doing alone in the jungle?"

Caliban's face hardened.

"I was ambushed.

By another pack.

They wanted to kill me."

He touched the wound on his chest.

"This is a silver bullet wound."

Arina gasped.

"Silver? But how are you healing?"

"Because you touched me," Caliban looked straight into her eyes.

"Your scent... your hands... there's something in them, Arina."

"What?"

"I don't know. But my healing became 10 times faster."

Arina went quiet.

She didn't understand.

Then there was a knock on the door.

_Knock knock knock_

Both Arina and Caliban looked at the door at the same time.

Caliban's eyes instantly turned from blue to gold.

His nails grew longer.

"No one comes in," he growled softly.

Arina got scared.

"Who is it?"

"It's Maya," a voice came from outside.

"Arina, open the door. I brought soup for you."

Caliban opened the door slightly.

Maya stood outside with a bowl of soup.

The moment Maya saw Caliban, the bowl fell from her hands.

"W-who is this??"

"I'm Arina's friend," Caliban said coldly.

"And if you ever leave her alone in the jungle again,

you'll answer to me next time."

Maya started trembling.

"S-sorry... I didn't know..."

"Now you do," Caliban shut the door.

*THE WARNING.*

Arina was shaken.

"You threatened her?"

"Yes," Caliban said.

"Because your friends didn't take care of you."

"But..."

"No buts," Caliban stepped closer.

"Arina, the world is dangerous.

And now you're dangerous to me."

"To you?"

"Yes. Because now I can't lose you."

He took Arina's hand.

His hand was so warm.

Arina's heart raced again.

"The moon will rise tonight," Caliban said.

"And when it does, I will..."

"What?"

"I'll be weak.

My wolf will want to come out.

And if anyone attacks me then..."

Arina squeezed his hand tightly.

"Then I'm staying with you."

Caliban was stunned.

"You're not scared?"

"I was. Not anymore."

*NIGHT. FULL MOON.*

12 AM.

The moon was right overhead.

Round.

Bright.

Caliban sat on the floor.

Sweating.

In pain.

His bones were breaking.

Arina sat beside him.

Holding his hand.

"Let go," Caliban groaned.

"Let me go, Arina.

I'll hurt you."

"No," Arina said.

"I'm not letting go."

Caliban screamed.

His body started changing.

Hair.

Claws.

Eyes.

And then...

The same white wolf.

But this time he wasn't wounded.

This time he was huge.

Majestic.

An Alpha.

The wolf looked at Arina.

Growled.

Instead of being scared, Arina stroked his head.

"I'm right here, Caliban."

The wolf gently licked her hand.

Then lay down beside her.

Resting his head on her lap.

Arina stroked his fur all night.

*MORNING.*

When Arina woke up, Caliban was human again.

On the floor.

His head in her lap.

Caliban opened his eyes.

The first thing he said was:

"You didn't leave me alone."

"No," Arina smiled.

Caliban sat up.

He took Arina's hand.

And on her wrist...

He made a small cut.

Arina didn't scream.

She just watched.

A drop of blood.

Caliban pressed his thumb to it.

"This is the Alpha's mark," he said.

"From now on, no werewolf, no beast,

will dare look at you."

"Will it hurt?"

"No. It only protects."

The wound healed in 2 seconds.

And in its place a faint glowing line appeared.

Like the moon.

Arina looked at her wrist.

Then at Caliban.

"Are we... friends?" she asked.

Caliban brushed her hair behind her ear.

"More than friends," he whispered.

"Now you're mine, Arina.

And I'm yours."

The sun rose outside.

And for the first time since that night in the jungle,

Arina felt safe.

Because her protector

was now with her.