At The Beta's Command

Chapter 8

Running to my room and grabbing a pair of grey sweatshirt and a tank top I made a dash to my connecting bathroom to change. I ran a quick scan to my face and tie my hair in a high ponytail running back to my room to put on a black buttons up long sleeve. See, I made it in five minutes top without the werewolf speed that they all had. I put on my sneakers and practically ran downstairs to meet Ashton at the garage. The moment he saw me coming he started the ignition so I made it double speed to get into the car.

“Seven minutes top sir!” I shrieked excitedly fist pumping the air once I get in the car. I saw Ashton’s smirk and it stops my heart from beating, god he is beautiful. But before I can make a comment and tease him he changed his smirk into a serious deadly frown. That fast, bipolar much?

“I don’t want any trouble from happening you understand me Amber?” he asked his tone laced with seriousness. “We are going to the Skylight Building to meet with my business partners but you are not allowed to get out of the car.” He added.

“Your business partners? So you have a business?" I asked curiously.

“Where do you think we, the pack get our money?” he asked glancing at me for a sec.

“Well, I really don’t have an idea. Maybe by kidnapping or killing?” he snapped his eyes at me glaring murderously. “Haha! I got you! Be cool man, be cool. Just kidding here ya know?” I said smiling widely at him. Sigh, the man can’t really take some jokes for dear life!

“We kill if its rogues, we kidnap if it’s some annoying little brat who knows about our existence and who didn’t know where to stop her big of a mouth.” At this I made a gesture of my hand zipping my lips shut and that made his smile crack a little, but then again he covered it by coughing too fake-ly. God, when will he stop holding in his smiles? Smiling is really good sight of him.

“But if you are meeting for business stuff and all why are you dressed just like that?” I asked eyeing his fit white V-neck shirt that made his muscles pop temptatiously, if there is a word like that and washed blue ripped jeans that gave him a drool worthy hot bad boy aura.

“I prefer clothed not dressed you know, I’m not wearing a dress.” He said, well at least he can crack a little joke if it is his joke or whatsoever. “I don’t have to wear suits for this meeting is all.” And with that he returned his focus on the road. I watched as the surrounding shift from forestry to few houses and now the town.

Skylight building is at the center of the town, I happen to see it multiple times when Moniq, Blake and I went to the town to hangout. The first floor is a mall with grocery and department store and some cafes while the second floor has the restaurants and arcades. From third to fifth floor are business offices while sixth to tenth floor are residential flats. The owner of the building sure made money at maximum possibilities available.

“Stay here.” Ashton’s voice demanded and he hopped out from the car without paying a single glance at me. “Sure Mr. Grumpy” I whispered to myself. I heard him scoffed and I forgot he can hear me with his werewolf hearing ability. Nice one Amber, I thought to myself.

I followed him with my eyes and saw that we were on the parking lot at the underground level of the building. I was expecting him to use the elevator and go in but not a minute later three men met him and shook hands with him. One was bald with muscled body like those bouncers at the club you see on the movies, the other guy was long haired, skinny but also muscled and has too many piercings on his face and tattoos on his arms and the last was tall, dark skinned and has a military haircut. The bald man handed a brown envelop to Ashton, he tear it open and peak inside then nod. The two others are scanning the area skeptically all the time, now I know I should not judge but I really have a bad feeling about this. Maybe their business is all illegal? Time to shut my mouth and decide not to ask Ashton anything or I’ll be signing my death wish. Okay, I won’t ask. Not even when I was dying of curiousity.

At last, Ashton shook hands with the men and started to walk towards the car. My heart is pounding fast as he get closer and closer so I shut my eyes close and tried to relax. I heard the car door opens and his smell wafted in the air. He started the ignition and I felt the car moved.

Slowly opening my eyes, I noticed that he just moved the car to another vacant parking space and stopped. “What was that?” I asked shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

“What was what?” he asked confused.

“That! Three muscled creepy men, the brown envelop and the secrecy of meeting underground! I thought you are not doing any illegals but it is just…” wow, did I say I won’t ask ever? Goodbye world, RIP Amberly Nicole Daniels you sure will be missed.

“What made you think I need to explain?” was his smart reply. Not wanting to push any little luck on my side I decided to just shake my head in response and again made a gesture of my hand zipping my mouth shut. Smart move Amber, smart move.

“Come on.” His voice demanded again. He saw the confusion in my face and said “We’re going to the café.” He explained.

We walked silently from the parking lot to the front of the building and get inside Gabriella’s Café. People we passed by were eyeing us or maybe Ashton, he looks like a Greek-god walking on a street where he doesn't belong.

Back to Gabriella’s Café, I remember one time when Blake and I went here to do our project and tried their Crème Mocha Caramel with raspberry and fell in love with the drink. Ashton led me to the counter and the cashier asked me of my order and I told her Crème Mocha Caramel with raspberry. Ashton was surprised that I didn’t need to look at the menu to know what I want he just ordered a black coffee and find us a booth away from the glass window, probably to avoid me from seeing someone I knew from here. It’s their so-called human town after all.

Ten minutes of silence with me scanning the café and the faces of people going in and out and Ashton scanning papers he brought out from the brown envelop the bald man handed him, a blonde waitress of I guess twenties approach our booth and put our drinks on our table. “Crème Mocha Caramel with raspberry” she asked timidly. “Mine” I stated just as timidly as her. She turned her gaze to Ashton and obviously checked him out with her fake eye lashes, her timid stance instantly shifted to a friendly or flirtatiously smile.

“Here is your coffee, sir” she said putting the coffee down very, very slowly lowering her upper body to show her cleavage from her buttons-up uniform. Her attempt to seduce or caught Ashton’s attention resulted to her putting the cup of coffee not on the table but on Ashton’s file of documents. Ashton didn’t notice it and picked the file without paying attention and made the coffee pour all over him, I mean his shirt down to his pants.

“What the…!” he shouted shocked. The waitress eyes twitched with fear as she saw the angry scowl from Ashton’s handsome face.

She pathetically uttered a sorry and tried to dry Ashton with a napkin tissue. Way to touch his abs are we blonde bimbo? Ashton waved her away standing up abruptly “I need the restroom, stay here.” He commanded me like I’m his little Chihuahua dog. I scowled at him but of course he was not able to saw it for he ran to the restroom already.

“Ahm, just clean up the table already.” I said to the waitress after I noticed that she’s still at the shocked stance with mouth hanging open. She was snapped out of it and started to wipe the table with a towel. Good going bimbo, I told to myself.

I am watching the blonde waitress cleaning the mess when something hits me. Okay one, I was at the human town, two Ashton was at the restroom cleaning up and three…I have a chance to escape!

I promised I will never ever try to escape, I should prove to them that I am trustworthy. Ashton allowed me to come with him because I told him to test me. But chances like this are very seldom. I can run away as far as I can and I was very familiar with this town. Our house is just an hour away if I run. I could also call a cab safe and fast. It is better to at least try to escape than to stay at the house where pack of wolves who can easily kill me are living, right?

Taking a deep breath I smiled at the waitress and stand on my feet to make my escape, but not without grabbing my yummy drink. She didn’t acknowledge me and continue her job, good for you girl. Once outside, I made a dash to the curb and wait for a cab. Not even one available. I need to hurry or Ashton will soon realize that I ran away to escape. Frustrated, I ran to the other side of the building scanning every taxi cab but without luck on my side I still can’t find me one.

I saw a phone booth and ran to it. Once inside, I dialed my house number and wait for my Dad to pick up. He could be at work this hour but he can also be at home waiting for my call right? It’s been a week since I’m gone and I know he is worried sick already to know what really happened to me. After a minute or so of our house phone ringing, still no answer. Dad please pick up! I begged on my mind. I’m running out of time so I pressed the hang up button and dialed Blake’s number. Good thing I have the habit of memorizing important contacts on my head. I was directed to his voice mail and I hang up after the tone. Where on hell could be Blake at this moment? Oh I forgot, we have school and right at this hour for what I knew is that he was at the field for practice. Last resort, last hope…Moniq. I dialed on her number and waited impatiently. After three rings I heard her voice on the other line.

“Hello?” her voice said lazily. Hearing her voice brought tears to my eyes.

“Moniq it’s me.” I whispered on the phone like someone is listening.

“Oh my God Amber where are you?!” she shrieked and I heard her sniff on the other line. Now she was crying.

“Didn’t you know that we are so worried? Where have you been? Your Dad never stopped searching the whole town for you. He cried when I told him you were missing. God the sight was heartbreaking! And Blake, he never went to school since! He goes with your Dad and the police searching and investigating!” she ranted. I miss my Dad, and Blake, he never went to school for a week just to find me.

“Wait Moniq, I don’t have much time. I need your help.” I said dismissing my aching heart at the thought of the people who loves me.

“Are you in danger? Where are you? Please tell me that you’re safe” she asked still sniffing.

“I’m at the...” I started but the call was ended and all I can hear is the beeping sound on my ear.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I froze at his masculine deep voice dropping my drink in shock.

“You think you can escape from me?” he added snatching the phone from my hand and placing it dangerously slow at the handle. He was advancing on me and I was trapped between the booth and his body. He sneered at me with inhuman growl and I saw his eyes turned black.

“Now, tell me reason why I should not kill you?” he asked by now I can feel his breath on me. His lips were just an inch away and I can smell his mint breath. My heart was beating so fast, pounding loudly and rapidly. I’m not sure if it is because of the death I was facing or because of his closeness. His warmth covered me and I felt a strange feeling of security and danger at the same time.

“Do you have any last word little girl?” he asked me coldly.

“I...I am just…ahmm..” I stuttered not knowing what to say. He really is going to kill me.

“You what?” he demanded gripping my waist and hand tightly.

Unwanted tears flow from my eyes and I hate myself for being so weak. All I have to do is tell him off to redeem some pride but I can’t. I know I am not afraid of death, I’m not even afraid of him but I was sad. Hearing that my Dad broke down because of me crashed my heart.

“I miss my Dad” was all I could say and I glance at Ashton thru my lashes and saw his eyes shifted back to its normal color and soften. But before I can read more from him he grabbed my waist forward and turned me around, my back was on his chest. I was about to ask him of what he is doing but then he sighed leaning his forehead on the back of my head his hot breath fanned my nape and I think he sniffed or smelled me, what was that for? His warmth comforted me but I am holding my emotions right now. He is mad at me, that’s what I am sure of.

He grabbed my hand and dragged me away from the booth. We started to walk towards the underground garage of Skylight Building in silence with him gripping my hand tightly. He opened the passenger door for me and pushed me inside, hard. “Ouch” I mumbled but he ignored me. Once seated on the driver’s seat he started the car and we pulled out.

The ride was uncomfortably silent and my mind is swelling with confusion it brought me headache. My dad, he is restless and worried sick searching for me. Blake never stopped looking for me that even his studies are being affected. Moniq crying and worrying non-stop. But then here I am, hating and liking the presence of a Beta werewolf who managed to scare me and amuse me at the same time. He is a mystery puzzle, Jaden said he has a good heart and I almost believe him when I saw Ashton’s smile but then it will vanish when he frown, scowl or glared murderously. I want to know him, I was like saying I wanted to stay more with the werewolves to know him. Am I crazy? Am I liking him? But I can’t, he is my captor and it is not fair for Blake. I just wanna know him that’s all. But how about my family, my friends? Yeah, thinking things over really brings me headache and unwanted heartache too.

“Go to your room and I never want to see you wandering around the house you understand or do I need to install a lock on your door?” Ashton said coldly once we pulled up at the garage. He was waiting for my response so I just nod my head. He climbed out of the car and I followed after.

Everyone was at the living room chatting and just laying around when they saw us enter the house. Some greeted with ‘Beta’, ‘Ashton’, or ‘Amber’ but I am so tired to know who said what. Ashton just ignored them and walked upstairs probably to his room, seconds later we heard loud clash of wood hitting wood, I suspect it is his door hitting the door frame angrily.

“What happened?” I heard Sam’s voice asked.

I just shook my head and started my own way upstairs to go to my room. I passed Ashton’s door and saw a crack at the foot of the door. He could have broken it to pieces if he hit a little more. Pausing for a second and taking a deep breath I uttered “I’m sorry” hoping that he heard me, I know he did with his werewolf senses but werewolves downstairs must have heard me too.

  Turning the knob on my door and locking it once inside, I went to my bed without switching the lights on. Laying on my stomach and burying my face on a pillow I let out a frustrated squeal and that’s when river of tears flowed.