The Adopted Alpha

Storm in a cup

Clare sprinted out of the building, then the gate and down the empty street before realizing that she did not recognize the area she was in at all.

She stopped and looked around her, nothing was familiar and Hunter was her ride. So, her metaphorical tail tucked between her legs, she trudged back to the gym accepting her defeat.

What was the worst he could do anyway? Probably take her to his gang hideout and sell her to the highest bidder in an auction.

She walked inside the gate just as Hunter was retrieving his car. She went to him trying to gauge how angry he was by his face.

He wasn't giving her anything and he kept his face blank even as his eyes flickered to her when she got close.

I'm sorry for running off and for lying against you." She apologized trying to look as cute as possible so she could get off the hook.

"Get inside." Hunter simply said without sparing her another glance. He opened the door to his side of the car.

Clare pursed her lips but hurriedly went around the car and got into the passenger seat at once before he changed his mind and decided that leaving her in the luxurious fitness center would be a better punishment.

Hunter was quiet as he pulled out of the building and back on the freeway. Was he really that mad? And why?

"Hunter?" She called out tentatively. He ignored her. "Hun..."

His glare shut her up.

Clare grumbled and sat back down lower in her seat. "You were the one that gave me your surname on that card." She murmured but loud enough for him to hear.

Hunter internally chuckled at Clare's constant huffing and random murmuring. She had to be the cutest creature there was. So was SHE.

SHE also didn't like him ignoring her, SHE would throw tantrums and huff and puff all around like an agitated turkey till he talked to HER again. Clare was also like that.

He wasn't mad at her, not anymore. Not after she had sprinted off like a Zombie Apocalypse was after her and definitely not when she had come back to apologize. SHE always found it hard to apologize so he appreciated when Clare did.

But he could not let her off the hook that easily. Not until he had planned her back.

Hunter safely got Clare to the pack house. He parked and waited for her to get down.

Clare cleared her throat instead. "Uhm... do you want to come in and meet my aunty? My parents are not around but I could introduce you to her instead. You know, since you are my first friend in a long long time and-and friends introduce themselves to each other's family, right?"

Hunter chuckled at her rambling "As long as you promise to never pull that kind of stunt like you did today. Deal?" He extended his hand at her.

Clare grinned widely at him and took his hand, relieved that he was finally talking to her. "Dea....ou~ch." She yelled in pain as her squeezed her hand in his tightly almost crushing her fingers.

Hunter laughed at her pained expression and turned on the ignition finally satisfied that he had gotten his revenge. He drove towards the entrance of the fenced building. The gates opened automatically and they drove in.

Clare directed him to her aunt's home and they got there in minutes.

Clare opted for ringing the doorbell this time rather than bursting in like she usually does since she had a visitor with her.

They had to ring twice more before her aunt actually took the ringing seriously. The door flung open with Aunt Lilith holding a broom stick ready to hit whatever teenager had come to play a prank on her.

"Hi, Aunt Lilith." Clare chuckled nervously hoping Hunter did not conclude that her aunt was a basket case like the rest of the pack before he even got to know her. "I brought a friend."

"A friend, Huh..." Her aunt scoffed. Her eyes trailed towards Hunter and Clare had never seen her aunt look more surprised.

Clare felt rather smug seeing the look of surprise on her aunt's face. She thought she couldn't have any friends? Hah... in your face.

"Hunter meet my Aunt Lilith, Aunt Lilith meet my friend Hunter Pyrros."

"Nice to meet you, Auntie Lilith." Hunter extended his hand to her with a smirk.

Aunt Lilith scoffed and ignored his stretched hand. "What sort of a name is Hunter? Hunter Pyrros, really?"

"Aunt Lilith?" Clare scolded mortified. She gave Hunter an apologetic look.

"It's fine, babe. Your aunt is probably so old, she doesn't know that Hunter can be a name."

Aunt Lilith grew red in the face. "Excuse you? I'm still in my prime." She retorted, "You are probably the old one here."

Hunter scrunched his nose in disgust. "Uhmm, We all know you are older. Don't be sour about it."

Clare grabbed her aunty from attacking Hunter Pyrros, who was busy laughing his ass off at her aunt's expense, with the broom in her hand.

"Aunt Lilith, please calm down. Let's all go inside and I will make us all tea, yes?"

"I don't want a vermin that calls my innocent niece 'babe' stepping foot into my house." Aunt Lilith declared.

Hunter ignored her and went in, "Too bad I'm already in."

Aunt Lilith turned on her. "Clare! You can't date boys like that. I would not allow it, he practically has playboy written all over him."

Clare scoffed and tried to reassure her aunty. "We are not dating, Aunt Lilith. We are just friends."

"Just friends? He called you babe, Clare."

Clare winced. "Don't mind him, he seems to derive some twisted pleasure from letting people assume that we are dating. Don't worry about it."

She placated her aunty and led her inside.

When Hunter finally left Aunt Lilith's, Clare had tried so hard to convince her aunt that Hunter was not a bad friend and was definitely not after her virginity.

God, her aunt could be so old fashioned sometimes. Everything Hunter did was suspicious to her.

Why would someone like him befriend a loner like her? Why would he help her from bullies? Why would he volunteer to train her? Why would he treat her to a spa?

Clare tried to defend Hunter that he was just being a decent human being and a good friend but as she laid down on her bed that night, she thought to herself.

Why indeed?