Second Love with the Alpha

Aria's POV It's the longest day of the year. Maybe not literally, but it sure felt like it to me. It was the 5th anniversary of my husband's passing. I've tried to push past it and work all day but I just can't do it anymore. I know my job frowns upon working from home, but it's useless being here. I fold my laptop, put it in my bag, grab my jug of tea, and stand up. My coworker across from me glances at me. She's on the phone but mouths to me 'Are you ok?', I nod 'Yes', quickly walking out of the small office. Once I get to my Jeep, I text my boss. "Hey James, headed home. I don't think I can make it to Friday for my vacation. I'll work from home the rest of the week. Sorry." I send it, and toss my phone into the passenger's seat with the rest of my belongings. I can't hold it in any longer. The tears stream down my cheeks. I sigh, and start to drive home. Half way there, I call my Grandma. She's been in a nursing home for almost 2 years now. I miss sitting on her porch, drinking ice tea with her, waiting for the mail man, who was sometimes the only person who passed her house on a regular day. "Hello?" Grandma Titi croaks. She's got the sweetest accent. A little old European woman who moved to the deep south in her 20's, her voice was always filled with love, no matter what she said. It warmed my heart "Hi Granny. It's Aria" "Hey Baby! So good to hear from ya! Is everything ok? You sound choked up" "No, it's his anniversary, Granny. Lance has been gone 5 years today." My voice cracked. "Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I always get sad when Pawpaw's anniversary comes around and it's been 20 years. It gets easier but it never goes away... Have you talked to Rosie or Riley lately?" Ah, my good for nothing cousins. I haven't heard from them since Granny put me as her Power of Attorney. They were butthurt about not getting her house and her land when she was put into the nursing home. Granny's memory isn't great, so she probably doesn't remember how rude they were to her. "No Granny," I say with a sigh. "They are off living their party years. I'm sure they will come around once they calm down." "You were always the calm one" Granny says. She has no idea that when I was 21, I was passing out in bar bathrooms and calling a taxi so often to get home that I started to know the drivers. I really don't think Rosie and Riley will ever calm down, but I didn't need Granny to worry. Rosie is older than I am, and I'm pretty sure she's so deep into the bar scene, she'll never get out. Riley is my age, and she followed her sister right in to partying. I think she's less into drinking and more into prescription medication, but I haven't talked to her in years, so maybe she's changed. "I miss you, Granny" I say, starting to choke up again. Granny helped me after my parents passed. I was already an adult but I still needed guidance like every young adult does. Her nursing home isn't close because she wanted to be near her house incase she ever got out. Wishful thinking, she was almost 90, she would never be healthy enough to go home and be alone again. "I know you're busy, but you can always come see me. Come over, you can stay at the house while you're here, you're always welcome." I have been paying the bills for her house since she moved into the nursing home, so the house remained untouched for her, just like she liked. I thought about it, yes, seeing Granny would cheer me up. I hopped on the nearest highway entrance, almost to my apartment to pack a bag, I'll grab what I need, and head to the house, stay the night there and see her in the morning. "Ok Granny, you convinced me. I'll see you tomorrow" "Ok Baby, be safe." "I will. Love you." "Love you too." Darien's POV For the 40th time, I text Emilio to send a letter to the owner of the land beside my new headquarters. I hadn't received any reply, and the house looked abandoned. I glanced down, out the window at the eyesore. The old house was falling into disrepair and I couldn't figure out why the owner hadn't answered and accepted my more than gracious offer for the plot. I passed by the house every day and never saw a soul. My men couldn't find a better contact address besides a nursing home to send the letters and none of them had been returned. It was incredibly frustrating, everyone else sold their land in a heartbeat after they recieved their offers. I couldn't expand any further without that plot of land. It was 2 full acres, right in the middle of the entire area I had bought. I needed it. I walked around the penthouse on my new tower. I only had an hour before sunset, and the sunset grand opening of an art gala I was supposed to attending was looming over my head. I hated being in the public eye, but I had promised a philanthropist friend I would go. Galas attracted the most attention driven women, and that's not something I was looking for, after my last tryst with a competitor's daughter was so publicized. I glanced at my smartwatch and brushed back my dark hair with my fingers. I guess I had better get ready. I walked across the penthouse, and went to my walk in closet. Aria's POV I almost got lost due to the change of scenery around my grandma's house. Brand new buildings seem to have jutted up from nowhere. It was like a brand new city had appeared in the past two years. All the old neighbors houses were gone, but driving up the bumpy driveway, the house was exactly as I remembered. I felt like I had travelled back 10 years as I got out of my car. I took a deep breath. It was just as I remembered. I went up the the door and put the key into the doorknob. It unlocked smoothly and so did the deadbolt on top. As I opened the door, I expected to see the same yellow couch and coffee table as always, but was greeted with plastic tarps over everything. I sighed. It was like an abandoned haunted house in a movie. I moved passed the living room, into the bathroom and turn on the sink. The water stuttered through the faucet but ran clear after a moment. I splashed my face with water. It was refreshing but I needed a full shower. I pulled back the curtain to see Grandma's clawfoot tub. That stubborn woman refused to get a new one which is one of the reasons why she couldn't stay here, she couldn't safely get out of that bath by herself. I turned on the water, and started to undress. I hadn't taken a bubble bath in so long, my apartment only had a shower. I opened the cabinet to find a brand new container of bubble bath. I removed the seal, plugged the tub, and poured a cup of bubble bath in. Once the tub was filled almost to the top, I sunk in, neck deep. It felt heavenly. Why didn't all places have deep tubs? I washed my hair and sunk completely under the water to rinse it out. Darien's POV As I stepped out of my high rise, I adjusted my cufflinks and went to the limo. The driver held the door open for me, acknowledging me with a nod. I got in, and looked back out the door as he shut it. There, at the old house next door, sat an army green Jeep. Finally, someone I could talk to about buying the property. "Archer, take me to that old house over there." Archer said nothing, but headed to the plot of land with the rickety old house. As he opened to door for me, I stood up immediately, power walking to the porch. I climbed the steps onto the porch and loudly knocked on the door. there was no answer. I tried again, and again. I noticed the door cracking open a bit more every time I knocked, so I pushed the front door, and it came open easily. I stepped inside. The whole house was covered in plastic sheets and a thick layer of dust. I saw no signs that anyone had been living there as I looked around the room. I noticed a light down the hallway, and headed towards it, the most beautiful smell hit my senses and I picked up my pace. My inner wolf was howling. The door to the room was wide open, and the bath faucet was running into the bubble filled tub. All of the sudden, a woman arose from the water, like some kind of water nymph, her long ice blonde hair lay down her chest like it had been painted on to her, hugging every beautiful curve. I had been with many women, but this woman was handmade by God himself. Her full chest was perky, but not fake looking. Her hips and a** were round and soft looking. The water dripped from every peak of her body. She let out a soft sigh as she turned the shower head on above her, then bent over to remove the plug from the tub. As she reached over to pull the curtain closed, that's when she saw me. I put my hands up to show her I meant no harm, but she s****med and pulled the curtain around herself. "I'm sorry, I thought the house was abandoned! I didn't know someone lived here!" I pleaded, her smell was erotic, warm and sweet, I wanted to get closer to breathe her in but I knew she would freak out. "Get out! Get out of here!" she snapped at me. "I guess this is a bad time to ask if I can buy your house?" "Of course it's a bad time! Are you insane?! You just broke in and expected to buy the place?" "The front door was open. Along with this door here" I rapped on the door gently. "Who showers with the door open anyhow?" "People who live alone and don't expect strange men in tuxedos to show up unannounced." she snapped. I had forgotten completely about the gala that I was dressed for, it had probably already started, but I had just seen the most beautiful human of my life and I had to have her. She was much too small to be a werewolf like I was, but it was no matter to me. I had been with vampires, and witches before. A human wouldn't be much different. She may not even be aware of the magical world. If I kept her long, she would have a lot to learn. I turned away from her. "I'll wait for you to get dressed. I'll be outside." It was hard for me to pull myself away. She had been drawing me in with her intoxicating scent. What was that scent? Spicy. Warm. Vanilla, and currants maybe. After what felt like forever, she appeared in the hallway from the bathroom in a silken pajama set. Her wet hair still lay around her wet, but she didn't seem to care. "I'm sorry for intruding" I said, but I wasn't. I wouldn't take back that view for any amount of money. I took a step around the couch to stand directly infront of her, maybe 6 feet separated us. I felt drawn in by her. I had never wanted to touch something more, but I knew if I reached out, I would scare her. "Incredibly rude." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I said I appologize. I didn't mean to intrude. We've been inquiring about this house for months, offering to buy it, but you never reply." "I'm not the owner. I'm her granddaughter." She says with less of an attitude. Maybe she's accepted my appology. "Is there any way I could talk to her?" I say as sweetly as I can. I lean in to her, trying to inhale that sweet scent as much as I can. She scowls, maybe she didn't appreciate me smelling her. "I don't think she would want to talk to you." She shrugs with her hands out to her sides. I just wish those pajamas were alittle thinner so I could see her body again. I laid my hand against the wall and leaned closer to her. "Why? You think she could resist a million dollars?" I wanted to shock her. I hadn't offered anyone else that high of a price, but I really wanted the land, and I really wanted to be near the young woman longer. Her milky skin was gorgeous, sprinkled with freckles and beauty marks, her lips a naturally bright shade of pink like she had just been kissed. How badly I craved to kiss those full pink lips. I waited for her response but she said nothing defiantly. She seemed flabbergasted. "How about we go see her together?" I raised a brow at her. "Uh, she... She's sleeping. It's late." I looked towards a window, it was still light out, but it was summer. It was probably 9pm. "Alright, tomorrow then." I offered her my hand to shake. If I could just break the touch barrier, I knew I could break through her wall she had up against me. She shrugged away from me. "Well, I'll call her tomorrow and see if she wants to talk to you." She started to lean against the hallway wall with her shoulder, getting alittle more distance between us. She didn't seem to want to be near me so I leaned back and dropped my hand. "Alright, I'll come over tomorrow." "Oh, no, just give me your number and I'll call you." "I live next door. It's no trouble. I'll be over in the morning." I turned to leave, and she walked behind me. I stepped out the already open front door, and when she went to grab the door, I turned around, making her within less than a foot from me. Her smell was intoxicating, I inhaled her deeply. I leaned in closer, inches from her face and she didn't move, not rejecting, but not initiating. I didn't want to push her too hard. I took a lock of her still wet hair in my fingers and stroked it. I felt what I could only describe as sparks in my skin, like goosebumps where I had touched her hair. I dropped it and turned away. Such a strange sensation. "Good night, beautiful." I walked away almost in a jog to the limousine. If I didn't leave then, I would have pushed her too hard, and I would have scared the tiny little field mouse into her hole and who knows if she would ever come back out for the big bad wolf. I was already late for the Gala, but I couldn't think of anything else. Just my soft little water nymph with the timidness of a field mouse. "Archer, go back home, I'm not going to the Gala." I didn't sleep all night. Tossing, and turning, thinking about the goddess next door. Why did her hair tingle when I touched it? I need to touch her again. My wolf begged to touch her again. He whined all night, pacing in my head. I needed to go for a run, but I feared my wolf would run right to her and I couldn't risk scaring her, she seemed so delicate. I took a cold shower, worked out for hours, then took another cold shower, nothing helped. I relented and sought release in the shower, thinking of her milky skin while I stroked myself. It only took the edge off but I still craved to touch her. I should have gotten her name. I should have introduced myself properly. Maybe if she had heard my name, she would have thrown herself at me. Although she didn't act interested in the million dollar offer on the house, maybe that was just because the house wasn't hers. I laid in my king sized bed sleeplessly, and waited for the sun to rise Aria's POV As soon as the man in the tuxedo walked out, I felt his absence like a hole in my heart. Why was I so attracted to this cocky man? I hadn't felt this wound up since Lance passed. It's like a part of me awakened again. I had had a fling or two after Lance, just enough to tide me over during long sleepless nights, but none of them made me hot. I would find a man who looked like him; shaggy blonde hair, thick beard, but it was the same like it was with Lance. No one had made me hot like my belated husband, until today. Now I thought about how the mystery man's shiny coal black hair would feel between my fingers. His ice blue eyes gazed at me lustfully and it was hard to resist his advances towards me. He didn't quite touch me but I felt hot his eyes all over me. He made me want to melt into his arms, but I knew that was a dumb idea. No normal man wears a tux and shows up inside your grandmother's old abandoned house, offering a million dollars for it. Whoever he was, he was probably dangerous to play with, but do I ignore my gut feeling that this man is trouble for one hot encounter? I always felt the pang of guilt after being with other men, like I was somehow cheating on my belated husband, but I know he wouldn't want me to have stayed celibate or single. I told him once that I would become an old cat lady if we ever didn't work out, and he told me to never say that again, that we would never be apart for as long as we lived, and if something ever happened to him, that I would have to go on. So I tried, but I never developed any feelings like I did with Lance, so I settled for a few flings. Now this tall, dark, and handsome stranger made my core hot and wet. I laid in bed with these dirty thoughts, knowing I would see him the next day. I hoped he would come early, so that we could get this visit with my grandmother over with, knowing she would reject him immediately. Granny didn't care about money. She cared about her home, and her family. I wouldn't push her, even though a million was a lot. I knew she could get an apartment by me or move in with me and my roommate Grace, and have a full time care taker, that way she could be at home with around the clock care instead of in a hospital bed at a nursing home, but it would be her decision. She was a proud woman. Every month it seemed she could do less and less, but she still insisted on doing whatever she could, even refusing help for things like eating, drinking, and putting on under garments. She would say "I can do it myself, I'm not dead!" and the staff would laugh. As thoughts of my sassy granny filled my head, I finally found sleep. I awoke to the morning sun peaking in through the blinds. This is why I have blackout curtains. I could never sleep with the sun up. I slipped out of the tangled sheets, I must have tossed and turned. The mystery man invaded my dreams, which is probably why. Walking to the kitchen, I knew exactly where the coffee can was. Grandma was a creature of habit. I prayed it wasn't expired, and filled the coffee pot up with water. I opened the pantry and there it was, on the same shelf it always was, but it was all alone. No food remained from the few times I had stayed here previously after Granny moved out. I could have swore I had left sugar here last time but I found nothing. I let the coffee percolate while I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair. I washed my face and stripped off to get dressed for the day Walking to the kitchen, I grabbed the coffee and poured myself a cup and set it back on the counter to cool while I dressed. I had just gotten my dress on when I heard a loud knock at the door. I calmed myself with a few deep breaths and walked to the door. He came over so early. He must have been eager to get this over with. When I opened the door, I sharply inhaled. He was dressed in all black dress wear, but his sleeves were rolled up and the top few buttons of his shirt were undone revealing a tattooed chest. I have a soft spot for tattoos. Lance and I had gotten our first ones together on our first anniversary, eachother's first initial on the back of our necks. He noticed me looking at him lustfully and smirked. Damn, he was cocky. "Good morning, Miss. Hope this isn't too early, I thought with your Grandmother going to sleep so early, that she might be an early riser." "She is, definitely. Would you like some coffee? I made a fresh pot. Sadly, I have no milk nor sugar." "Black coffee is fine, I actually prefer it." I walk to the kitchen and retrieve another mug, stepping a few feet back to the coffee pot, I pour him a cup and set it on the breakfast bar infront of him. He stood infront of the breakfast bar, barely fitting in the room, missing the kitchen pedant light by inches. "So may I ask why you want to buy this house?" I lean back against the counter, sipping my bitter black coffee, it's so hard to drink it plain. "We need to expand our headquarters." "So you would knock it down?" "Yes, is that a problem?" "It probably will be for Granny. She's sentimental about the house." "I see," he walks around the breakfast bar, getting too close to me for comfort. "Do you think she can be persuaded?" he says low and deep. I start to panic. "I.. Uh.. Let me call her." I snatch my phone off the counter and look down at it, dialing her number. It starts to ring and I put it to my ear. I don't know why this man is so intimidating to me. I never have this issue. It makes me incredibly flustered, I should just walk away from him but I feel stuck in place. "Hello?" she finally answers! "Hi Granny, it's Aria." "Aria baby, is everything ok?" "Oh yes, yes of course Granny." "Your still coming today, right baby?" "Yes Granny, I'm still coming. But there's this guy-" "OH A GUY?! FINALLY, I've been waiting for this day ever since Lance passed. I'm so happy for you." "No, Granny. He's here with me-" "Oh baby, bring him along! I can't wait to meet him. I'll see you soon." Granny hangs up. Ugh! That didn't go as planned. Mystery man has a strange look on his face. How do I explain to him that Granny wants to meet him and she thinks he's my boyfriend? Darien's POV Watching her squirm while I'm close enough to touch her makes me feel like the big bad wolf again. Her smell intoxicating me the whole time I listen to her phone conversation; hearing both sides with my impeccable wolf hearing. I like her grandmother already, she seems like a fire cracker. Lance must be her ex. I guess that's why she hasn't succumb to my advances and slinks away every time I get close. Maybe I can take away her longing for her long lost boyfriend. Her grandmother seems to think it's time for her to move on. I smile widely, knowing now I get to go see her grandmother in person. She sighs. "I guess she wants to talk to you in person. I don't think she understands that your interest is in buying the house." She eases back away from me when she talks. "That's fine. Are you ready to go?" I assume we're going together and pull out my phone and text Archer to pull the car around. "Um yes, I guess you could follow me there." "Nonsense. We can ride together. I already sent for a car." "I really don't think that's necessary, she's not far, and I wanted to spend some time with her beyond what business you have with her." "That's fine. If I have to leave early, I'll send the car back to wait for you, whenever you're ready. Like you said, it's not far." I can see her nervousness on my proposition. Getting into a car with a stranger must really scare her. "Look," I say with a sigh. "I promise your safety with me. Gas is expensive these days. It's no trouble at all. I'll write it off as a business expense or something." "You don't think your boss will care?" I laugh. My boss? Right. She doesn't understand I'm the boss. I still haven't told her who I am. "I know it will be ok." "Alright, let me get my bag." She finally slips by me and her long hair brushes against my arm, causing those sparks again on my skin. She doesn't notice, but it makes me incredibly hot. How does she effect me this way? Could this be from the mate bond? I have to touch her to find out. My wolf has been calling for her, but she doesn't have a wolf to call back to me, so I can't tell without touching her. After a few moments, she's returned. "Ok, I'm ready." She had put on strappy white high heels. I can imagine her wearing nothing but those. I offer my arm to her but she walks past me. I think she knows I'm trying to make skin contact with her. I chuckle and follow her out. Archer waits for us patiently, holding the rear car door open for us. I can tell it's making her uncomfortable with people serving her. I dismiss him to the drivers seat and she goes in first and I slide in after her, shutting the door. If she is my mate, she will be a Luna. She will have to get used to people treating her like she's important. Archer waits for orders. "Where are we headed, Miss...?" I raise an eyebrow, asking her her name although she already said it once, I wanted her to introduce herself to me properly, hoping to get a last name. "It's Aria. We're headed to Great Oaks, it's just down the road a few miles south." Archer takes off. Aria is pushed so far away from me against the far door, I feel like she may fall out since she wasn't buckled in. "I'm Darien Ceciro." I reach my hand out to shake her hand. There's no where for her to flee, she sees my hand and doesn't want to feel too rude, so finally she reaches out. Just as her hand begins to reach mine, Archer slams on the brakes. Aria lunges forward, not secured by a seatbelt, and I grab her. Hot sparks shoot through my hands arms and chest when I touch her bare skin of her arms. I feel the pull of the mate bond and I know for sure, the Moon goddess made her for me. This petite little human is wrapped in my arms, and I never want to let her go. the heat of her skin causes me to draw her even closer to my chest. I pull her into my lap and look into her green eyes. Her cheeks have a pink tint from her blushing but her eyes show her confusing of what's happening. She feels it too, but she doesn't know what 'it' is. I don't want to let her go but I don't want to scare her. I gently peel my arms from around her and set her down on the seat directly beside me. "Sorry about that, Sir! Animal ran on the road" Says Archer from the front. "Are you ok, Aria?" I say as gently as I can, knowing how delicate this situation is. Her mind is probably going a mile a minute with all the feelings she's having. I know mine sure is. "I need air." She reachs over and rolls the window down, putting her face almost out the window, probably to cool herself from the heat of the mate bond between us. I can tell she's really confused but I can't explain everything to her yet. She has to be slowly introduced to everything or she'll really freak out if I tell her the truth, that the moon goddess Selene chose for us to be together.