Claimed by the Alpha Beast

02: King and painter

Kerris POV

We’ll talk when I get home?

“Talk about what?” I ask. “The fact that you two are--”

“f*****g,” Emily finishes. “Yup.”

Tyrel scowls at her, and she adds,

“What? You don’t owe her any explanation, Ty. You’re Alpha now, and what she just saw is pretty self-explanatory.”

I can’t believe her attitude. The girl standing before me is nothing like the one I grew up with. The one I considered not just a sister, but my best friend all through childhood, until this moment.

My knees feel weak with nausea as I stare at her.

“How could you do this to--”

“I said leave!” Tyrel barks. “We’ll talk after work!”

He’s still speaking when I turn on shaky legs and walk out. The door slams shut behind me. Somehow, that sound is more sickening than what I just saw. They’ll continue from where they stopped. I’m sure of it.

My vision blurs with tears as I rush toward the elevator. The gift basket full of cake is still clutched tightly in my hands. What am I supposed to do with it now?

The elevator is thankfully empty, but only for a moment. It stops, and a few more people step in.

The thought of running into another pack member and having to make small talk makes me want to jump through the glass. When the doors slide open again, I keep my head down, hoping to hide my face. Hoping to hide the tears slipping down my cheeks.

“Kes, wait!” Adora calls sharply when I reach the lobby. “What the hell happened? You said…”

I wouldn’t have turned back as she trails off, but her voice sounds like she’s right behind me instead of at her desk.

I spin around and walk straight into something hard and solid.

Before I can move, my face presses against crisp white tailored cotton. Time stops.

I jerk back. The basket slips from my hands.

I look up to see the mess I’ve made.

The man wearing the shirt is a werewolf with unfairly long lashes, hair as black as night, and a jaw sharp enough to cut glass. His face is the kind you only see on TVs and billboards.

“Your Majesty,” Adora greets nervously.

I want to apologize, but the words die when eyes as gray as a storm move from the bright red lipstick stain on his shirt to my face.

I’ve only been in this male’s presence twice, thanks to his nephew. The words he said the first day echo in my head now.

You two ever heard of a bedroom door that locks? A lady would insist on using one.

The second time was at his coronation.

What is the owner of this place doing here at this time of year? Shouldn’t he already be on holiday?

I can feel his cold irritation even though his face remains expressionless. His eyes stay on the stained shirt as I force myself to compose.

Stepping back, I curtsy, “Your Majesty, I... I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”

“Clearly,” he replies. “Do you always walk around painting men, or is this just for the holiday season?”

My annoyance stirs, mixing with deep embarrassment. I still can’t lift my face because of my tear-streaked cheeks. Wiping them now would feel even more humiliating.

“It was an accident. That’s why I said I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry, and my shirt is still ruined. This is Kiton.”

“I don’t know what that means, but I can get it dry-cleaned.”

“Oh, you can? You think a twenty-dollar cleaner will get this off?”

Twenty what? Who the hell pays that much for dry-cleaning one shirt? King or not, he’s getting on my last nerve. I have a broken heart to deal with and do not need this right now.

“Then thirty dollars?” I try to keep the sharpness out of my voice. “I’m sure I’ll find a cleaner that specializes in kingly shirts if I look hard enough.”

I glance up just in time to see something flash in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. The first sign of emotion that proves he’s flesh and blood after all. It vanishes instantly.

Adora stands there awkwardly. I can feel her staring at me.

The king exhales and brushes past me.

“Next time, watch where you’re going, Miss Hart.” His shoulder clips mine hard enough to make me stumble sideways.

The male has never liked me. His first impression of me was bad, and I’ve never had the chance to fix it.

As I stare at his back, I remember the first time we met. I was a college freshman, and Tyrel and I had just started dating. He’d walked in on us kissing on the Alpha’s living room couch. No one was supposed to be home. Tyrel had just undone my second button and was kissing down my throat when he entered with steps as silent as a wild cat.

Before then, I’d heard so much about him and seen photos. I still remember the look he gave me as he scolded Tyrel for behaving dishonorably and declared that a lady should insist on a bedroom door that locks.

Tyrel introduced us afterward. When I held out my hand for a handshake, he simply walked away.

That encounter is probably why he still makes me nervous and shy. Though not today.

My heart is breaking, and I have no patience for anyone’s attitude, not even the Alpha King’s.

“Aren’t you going to pick that up? We don’t litter here.” He calls out without turning back.

“Oh. Yeah. I... will.”

I blink too hard. More tears spill down my cheeks.

I wish he would just disappear into his elevator already. Shame burns through me as I gather the basket and rearrange the pastries inside. The fruitcake is smashed and scattered, some of it on the floor.

“Kes, that’s the king. You know that, right? I’m glad it’s you and me in trouble now, not just me. You said Alpha Ty would be fine with your surprise.” Adora looks furious. “Guess what? You were wrong. He’s pissed, and I'm in deep s**t. What am I going to do?”

My only response is to hold out the basket to her.

Her face softens when she finally notices my tears. She takes it gently without another word.

I all but run out of the lobby.

I need to get as far away from everyone as possible. Tyrel’s party will be waiting for him when he gets home. His college friends and pack members will all be there to wish him happy birthday.

I won’t be there.

He said we’d talk later. I don’t see what there is to discuss. Emily’s manner, her words, that confidence; it proves they’ve been cheating on me for a while now.

Different memories replay in my mind. Moments when I should have suspected something.

Twice in the last two months, I came home to the sounds of s*x from her bedroom. I would sit in the living room, waiting to see who my sister had finally chosen to let claim her. The male always left through the window.

When I asked why, she said they weren’t ready to go public yet, but I shouldn’t worry because he was someone I knew.

She’s been sleeping with my fiancé.

The mystery man was Tyrel.

There’s no way I’m going back to Moon Shadow right now. I need time away from the pack. Maybe for the rest of the night.

Tonight won’t just be the new Alpha’s birthday, it will be celebration after celebration. I can’t deal with festive laughter and music while Tyrel Stone is the male everyone is honoring.

Maybe he’ll announce that he’s engaged to Emily instead of me.

The thought fills me with such a strong urge to disappear altogether. But my dad is still here. Not to mention my whole life.

My phone starts ringing.

I almost ignore it, assuming it’s Alpha Ty. Who else would be calling?

Then I glance at the screen.

Dad.

Maybe he’s been to the chemist or the Alpha’s house and wants to know where I am. I clear my throat and take a deep breath so he won’t hear anything wrong when I answer.

But when I slide the button, it isn’t his voice that speaks.

“Am I speaking to Kerris Hart?”

“Yes.” Fear instantly replaces heartbreak.

“They found your father unconscious in front of your house. He was brought in by the medic. You need to come to the hospital immediately.”