Bound by the Alpha

Shadows of the night

At Shadowheart Pack,

Elara strolled through the grand entrance of the mansion, her steps echoing softly against the polished marble floors. Zara trailed behind her; her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Do you believe in that tale?" Zara's voice broke the silence, her words hanging in the air like a whisper.

Elara glanced back at her, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "You mean the story of Aria Moon and Lord Aric?" she clarified; her tone tinged with intrigue.

Zara nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Yeah, that one. I kind of believe it, you know..." Elara's eyes widened slightly as she shrugged, her mind wandering to the age-old legend.

"There are so many books in the library about that story. It sounds so true, doesn't it?" Zara added, her voice filled with wonder.

Elara sighed softly, a wistful smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Wouldn't it be nice to meet Aria Moon?" she mused, her gaze drifting to the moonlit sky above.

Zara chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, first of all, those are just stories. Not real, actually. But if I ever did meet Aria, I'd be d*mn proud of myself," she replied, her tone laced with humor.

The two of them continued their leisurely stroll through the mansion, the warmth of the pack's home enveloping them like a comforting embrace. As night descended upon the world outside, they found themselves standing before their respective bedroom doors.

"Are you going to bed already, or...?" Zara's voice trailed off, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Elara arched an eyebrow at her friend, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Yeah, it's night. Do you have something for me to do if I stay up?" she teased, her tone light-hearted.

Zara shook her head with a chuckle, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Nah, Alpha Ketax will be heading to his company tomorrow. I'd love to accompany him, just hang around in the staff room. Would you come over?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

Elara's lips curved into a small smile, touched by her friend's invitation. "I would love to, but I have some books to read from the pack's library," she replied regretfully, her gaze drifting to the mansion's towering shelves.

Zara sighed softly, understanding flickering in her eyes. "Oh, I see," she murmured, squeezing Elara's hand gently.

"It's cool. We should go to bed now," Zara suggested, leading the way to her room with a warm smile. Elara returned the gesture, bidding her friend goodnight before disappearing into her own room, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the window to illuminate her peaceful slumber.

Just before they could reach their rooms, Elara's path was intercepted by Cole, leaning casually against one of the portraits adorning the hallway. Cole was undeniably one of the most handsome guys in the pack, renowned for his role as one of the hunters. Among the hunters, werewolves like Cole were exceptionally skilled at tracking and hunting down prey, ensuring the pack always had an abundance of food. As an ambusher, Cole excelled in his craft, using his keen instincts and agility to execute successful hunts.

He flashed Elara a mischievous smirk, his eyes twinkling with playful intent. "What's up now? What do you want, Cole?" Elara's tone held a hint of skepticism, unwilling to succumb to any of his charms.

"Are you always this dismissive?" Cole retorted, rolling his eyes playfully as he approached them.

"Hey, Zara, how's it going?" he greeted her with a wave, his attention briefly diverted before returning to Elara.

"You always seem in a rush when we talk," he remarked, earning an exasperated scoff from Elara.

"What do you want, Cole? More flirting? You should save it for the new werewolves. I'm busy," she quipped before walking away with Zara in tow.

Left standing with his jaw slightly agape, Cole muttered to himself, "Seriously? Does she mean it?"

"Nah, she's just playing hard to get," he reasoned silently, watching Elara's retreating figure with a hint of amusement.

Zara glanced back to see if Cole was still lingering, but he had already vanished. "What's going on between you and Cole?" she inquired as they resumed their walk.

Elara halted, shooting Zara a pointed look. "Seriously? Cole's being cute with me, and I'm pushing him away," she stated incredulously.

"Come on, he's adorable, and he clearly likes you. Why not give him a chance?" Zara suggested, her tone laced with laughter.

Elara cut her off before she could finish, shaking her head emphatically. "No way, Zara. Cole may be popular, but I have no time for his games," she asserted firmly.

"Alright, alright, no need to get defensive. Let's just go to bed, okay?" Zara proposed, eager to change the subject.

Elara couldn't help but let out a sigh, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You know, Cole may be every girl's dream, but why should I be just another one of his admirers?" she pondered aloud, her gaze meeting Zara's.

"That sounds like someone who's interested but wary of getting hurt," Zara teased, prompting Elara to roll her eyes in response.

"Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut," Elara muttered, a hint of self-deprecation in her tone.

Zara chuckled softly, offering a sympathetic smile. "Let's just get some rest, okay? Tomorrow's another day," she suggested, nudging Elara gently as they continued down the hallway toward their respective rooms.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city.

The city was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the flickering lights of street lamps and neon signs. Roberta Rooke trudged down the dimly lit street, her steps heavy with exhaustion and apprehension. The night air clung to her skin, filled with the scent of stale beer and distant echoes of laughter mingled with the occasional sirens in the distance.

Roberta's uncle, James, had sent her out to fetch beers for him again. It was a task she despised, but one she couldn't refuse without facing his wrath. As she walked, she could feel the eyes of passing strangers lingering on her, their gazes making her skin crawl with discomfort.

"I feel like I should just puke." She muttered lowly.

She quickened her pace, eager to reach the bar and fulfill her uncle's demand so she could return to the safety of their dingy apartment. But the streets seemed to stretch on endlessly, each step feeling like an eternity as she navigated through the shadows.

Finally, she arrived at the bar, a dimly lit establishment with a flickering neon sign that read "Cheers." The air inside was thick with the smell of alcohol and the sound of raucous laughter filled the space. Roberta pushed her way through the crowd, feeling the weight of their stares boring into her.

"Huh, what is a young lady like her doing out here alone?"

After what felt like an eternity, she emerged from the bar with the beers in hand, her heart pounding with relief as she stepped back out onto the street. But her relief was short-lived as she felt the presence of shadowy figures lurking in the darkness, their voices taunting and hands reaching out to grab her.

With a surge of panic, Roberta broke into a run, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced through the streets, desperate to escape the clutches of the night. She could hear their footsteps echoing behind her, their laughter growing louder with each passing moment.

"Could you just leave me alone??" she yelled without turning back.

Finally, she reached the safety of her uncle's apartment building, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fumbled with the keys to the front door. Once inside, she slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it with trembling hands as she tried to catch her breath.

But there was no respite waiting for her inside. James was there, sitting in his usual spot on the couch, a beer in hand and a vacant look in his eyes. He didn't bother to ask her what had happened, too absorbed in his own world to care.

Anger bubbled up inside Roberta, fueled by the injustice of it all. Without a word, she thrust the beers into James's hands before turning on her heel and storming off to her room. She collapsed onto her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks as the weight of the night's events crashed down upon her.

In the darkness of her room, Roberta Rooke allowed herself to cry, her sobs echoing in the silence of the night as she wished for a life free from the shadows that haunted her every step.