He is the Bad Wolf

THE SECOND ALPHA

Sia burst into tears once that woman, who had introduced herself as the Countess, left her alone in a huge room with marble floors, pristinely white walls adorned with abstract paintings that Sia did not understand. Even though the huge bed looked cozy, she didn't care and curled up on the floor, letting her tears wet the carpet beneath her trembling body. This had to be a nightmare. A cruel joke of some kind. But no. Sia knew perfectly well that this was a punishment imposed by the spirits of the forest for wanting to save the life of a wolf and his entire pack. She knew that she had lain asleep in the underworld for some years but never thought that half a millennium had passed! Everything was lost. Sia had never experienced such great pain, a pain that consumed her inside like acid. Five hundred years had elapsed since the wolf whom she loved so much - and still loved despite everything - murdered her in the place where they met. Sia closed her eyes but opened them immediately as the memory of Gideon still haunted her. And he was still alive. Sia hadn't heard it from anyone - yet - but she knew Gideon was still breathing. He and his filthy pack were alive because of her. Thanks to her involuntary sacrifice.

Sia heard a knock on the door but she didn't get up to open it, nor did she bother to ask who it was. After a few minutes the door was opened wide. A young man with an athletic complexion, caramel skin and eyes as green as jade crossed his arms as he looked at Sia. "Why are you on the ground?" he asked in a bored tone. "Isn't the bed that the Countess provided you to your liking?"

Sia blinked a couple of times and shuffled back, back, back until she hit the dresser behind her. She gasped when it moved a little and a vase toppled over the edge and landed noisily on the floor, it rolled away awkwardly and stopped at the foot of the bed. She winced when the man kicked it in her direction.

“Are you deaf?” He didn’t sound as bored now. “Stand up.” Sia shook her head no and hugged the coat tighter around her. “I won’t hurt you but if you cannot follow a simple command, I will throw you into The Pit.”

“The Pit?” Sia forced herself into a sitting position, her curiosity piqued. “What is that?”

 “If you continue to be this difficult, I can assure you, it’s the first thing you’ll learn from me.”

But who did this man think he was to speak to her with this informality? Sia suddenly felt angry. She was not like any girl; she was not a crybaby or scared easily. With all the firmness she could conjure she lifted her chin and hardened every fiber of her body as she spoke. "I advise you to address me with respect."

Mirth took over his handsome features as he crouched before her. “Or what?”

“I will turn you into a frog.” Now that she heard herself, she felt dumb. It had sounded so much better -and way more menacing- in her head.

The man gave a hearty laugh. Sia realized that he had longer canines than an ordinary human. Oh no. Quickly she stood up and walked around the huge bed to put distance between them. Sia still had not regained her powers and could not fight him. A wolf was much more powerful than she, at least physically. Sia hissed and pointed her finger at him. “You are one of them! Get away from me, you beast.”

“Them?” He began pacing as he regarded her from across the room. The bastard did not fear her. Didn’t he know what she was? “What do you mean?” And he still had the audacity to ask.

“A filthy wolf.” She spat with as much venom as possible, but he merely smiled at her in return. “I am warning you,” she continued “if you touch me, I will end your life right here; right now.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t you know who I am?” She asked rather offended at him. “What I’m capable of?”

“You’re a witch. I know.” He sat on the bed, he seemed to be at ease and that provoked her a fresh wave of anxiety. “The Countess has told me that you’re as dangerous as a newborn kitten. You pose no treat for her and the rest of the pack, you might want to rethink the way you’d threaten us if we get too close.”

“That’s not true. I am a powerful witch.” She lied in an effort to appear tough however this man had only found a new way to tease and make fun of her pathetic attempts to scare him off.

“I see. So… you’ve gotten your powers back?”

“Oh, yes. All of them.” She was such a liar.

“Alright then.” He stood up and suddenly he was standing next to her, she scrambled backwards and would have tripped if he hadn’t caught her arm to steady her. “Turn me into a frog.”

Sia sat down, unable to bring herself to keep holding this man’s gaze. “I can’t if you’re watching.”

“You lie. You’re so full of sh…”

“Who are you anyway?” She snapped. “Why are you here in my chambers? It’s not correct for a man and a woman who aren’t married to be alone.”

“My apologies, I’m Caden.”

“Very well, Caden, what are you doing here? Leave my chambers, now. I am feeling indisposed and would like to rest.”

“Why, I am here to protect you.” The sarcasm seeped and laced up with his voice. She really wanted to punch him now. “The Countess tasked me with your security and well-being until you recover your strength. You’re stuck with me for now.”

“I see,” she cleared her throat trying to seem casual. “Why don’t you go lick squeaky clean your Alpha’s shoes and let me be with my solitude. I don’t need a lap dog guarding my dog.”

“I think you should be the one getting on her knees to lick my boots.”

“Excuse me?!”

The way he smirked. The way his eyes shone… She knew. “I’m the Alpha here. Perhaps you might want to watch the way you speak to me.”

“Or what?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“Or you will be thrown into The Pit.”