Claimed by the Alpha Beast

04: Alpha's special one

Kerris POV

My hands grow restless the moment I step out into the crisp air. Even from the hospital, I can hear music in the distance, which reminds me of the birthday bash at the Alpha's house. I'd taken the day off to work with the omegas in making sure the party is perfect. Tyrel and everyone else will be having fun now.

I bring out my phone number again and dial Emily's number without hesitation this time. She can't be enjoying herself while I go through this alone.

I'll just tell her and hang up.

She was only four years old when my dad and her mom got married. She'd called him daddy ever since, so it's not fair that she isn't here.

As the phone rings without an answer, I think of how distant from dad and I she has been lately. We both believed that her work is more demanding than mine. I found out today that it's more than that.

The call is about to go into voicemail when I hang up abruptly. The party must have started without me. I decide to go for a walk to clear my head.

It doesn't take long before I find myself near the Alpha's Villa. My guess was right. The party is in full swing. Laughter and voices mingle with music drift out of the house, and people move about on the outside.

“What am I doing here?” I mumble to myself.

I have no intention of going inside. Why did I come? The people who make up my small cycle of friends are all in there. None of them have tried to call me. Maybe I'm the only one unaware of how little I meant to the new Alpha of Moon Shadow.

I turn around to return to the hospital. No way I'm going home to an empty house tonight. Not while half the pack is partying at the Tyrel's house and dad is hooked to a machine fighting for his life.

I made it to the end of the garden and am about to enter the street that leads out of the residence when I hear,

“Kerris, baby, where are you going?”

It's Jaxton. Tyrel's Beta. His tone is laced with laughter as they strode towards me. Tyrel and Gamma Curtis are with him.

“You were right, Ty," Curtis says. “She showed up.”

“I told you she would. I know her.”

I want to keep walking, but Ty is no longer an Alpha heir. He's leader of the pack now and his Beta and Gamma are here. I fear to disrespect him by walking away. Disrespect to one's Alpha is a capital crime.

“Why didn't you come inside?” He asks.

“I'm just passing by,” I reply for the sake of the ears and other members loitering about.

“I don't think so,” he laughs briefly. “I think you want to come inside but you're shy.”

As an Alpha, he must have heard the news about my dad. He knows 99% if not everything that goes on inside the pack. Was he ever going to call to ask how dad is doing? I doubt it because hours have gone by.

“I'll be on my way, Alpha,” I can't bear to talk to him. To stand in front of him like this.

When I start to leave, he grabs my wrist,

“Wait.” Then he links his guys as they disperse to give us privacy. I free my wrist from his hand and step away.

"I said we'll talk in the house, Kes. I've been expecting you."

"We have nothing to talk about, Tyrel," I reply, my voice thick with tears. I should be relying on him at times like these but he's been sleeping with my stepsister.

"I heard your dad's in the hospital again. I spoke to Doctor Miles, and he said it's pretty serious this time. Is that why you're so upset? "

Words fail me for a moment. Is he going to pretend I didn't catch him with Emily?

“I'm not upset about that! I'm scared and worried. I'm UPSET that you cheated with my sister!”

I wait for his rebuttal or whatever he can say to make it better. Not that there is. All he does is sigh.

"When will you grow up, Kerris? You're not ready. You don't want to be claimed until your mating night. Did you honestly believe I'll be waiting? I'm an Alpha wolf! C'mon. How could you even think you'd be enough for me? You're twenty-one with shitty senses and can't shift. Like that's not bad enough, you're 'saving yourself' and won't let me have you.

Talking about waiting till Goddess binds us. News flash, Kes! We're not fated. We'll never be. The clock is ticking, and you've got what, six months left? Show me a female, born of a Beta wolf, who still can't shift at your age? It's never going to happen for you. Neither are we ever getting bind by the mate bond. It's time you accept reality."

"But you promised we'll be mated no matter what," I bit back the tears and touched the ring hanging on my necklace. "You chose me."

His eyes waver as they settle on my necklace. Then he reaches out and take my hand. I let him.

"I still choose you, Kes. It's why I've been waiting for you all night.” He brings my hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly. “Look, I need you to pretend you didn't see me with your stepsister earlier. You and I are not mated. I'm not tied to anyone. But I promise you, no matter who becomes my Luna, you'll still be my special one. Everyone knows that."

“What do you mean?” I start to pull my hand. He tightens his grip.

I yank the hand away, appalled with myself for letting his sweet, calm voice get to me. He's a cheat. How can I forget that and let him kiss my hand like old times.

“You're acting like a child again!" He says with an edge. "Look around you, Kerris. Tell me. How many monogamous Alphas do you see?”

“Your father!”

“He's no longer Alpha, and you don't know shît about that male! You have no idea what goes on inside our home, got it? Now, I know you have silly fantasies about the type of life you and I will have. Sorry to ruin that for you. You have no idea what your peers will give to be in your position right now. To have the Alpha look at them. Count yourself lucky, and be the good chic you've always been. I'm willing to wait till you're ready to be claimed. Just don't blame me for getting relief somewhere else sometimes. A lot of females are offering, you know.”

I back away when he comes close.

“Let me make things easy for you, then. You should return to your harem, Alpha Ty. I'm no longer yours. You can take as many females as you want. They all throw themselves at you, so take your pick. We are done!"

“We are far from done, Kes!” He smiles, brushing a finger on the tears on my cheek. “We are anything but done, sweetling. You're very upset. It's been a rough evening. I'll give you time and space.” He starts to back away. “The next time we have this conversation, you'll respond sensibly.”

He turns around and saunters off, leaving me to watch his back. It's hard to believe this is the same Tyrel that promised me forever. I'm ashamed of myself that a part of me had wished he would apologize and promise not to touch Emily again. The foolish part of me that's holding on to the fantasies I've built.

I'm still standing there as Emily emerge with two glasses of wine in her hands. She's laughing and kisses him on the cheek, oblivious to my presence.

I quickly dodge out of sight behind a tree before she sees me. Reaching into my purse, I pull out my phone and turn on mobile data. On the search bar, I typed the Flower Den.

Tyrel is right. I've been naive. Obviously. A fool, indeed. I may never get my wolf and will never be bound to him by the sacred bond. There's no point in saving myself. And for whom? A guy that will never exist?

As Fate would have it, I need money and I need Tyrel out of my system ASAP so that this ache in my heart doesn't kill me. I launch the brothel website and click the menu button. CLICK to be a Flower stares at back me among the list.

I click and start filling the form.