Alpha's Little Human Mate

It was a dark and stormy night, the kind that made you want to curl up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa. But for me, it was just another night at the Misty Vale library. As a small-town librarian, I was used to the quiet and solitude, and tonight was no different. In fact, I cherished those moments when I had the whole library to myself: the cozy atmosphere, with its warm, flickering lights and rows upon rows of bookshelves filled with knowledge and adventure. No busy students, nosy mums, or loud children. Although I loved my job - noisy clients included - it was the peace and quiet among the books I enjoyed the most. Don't get me wrong, but there are only so many times a person can politely answer probings like, "Why are you still single? Go on a date, meet someone. If you don't hurry, all the good ones are gonna get snatched!" On good days, I could easily brush it all off. It was just one of the downsides of living in a small town. There were only so many young men, and the good ones among them got married pretty quickly. But unfortunately for my overly curious neighbors, I wasn't planning on rejoining the dating scene anytime soon. So, I'd often reply with a lighthearted joke or a simple, "Oh, I'm too busy reading!" An unwanted memory of my ex, Steven, holding me down, a knife under my throat flashed through my mind. I repressed a shudder. On bad days, however, I couldn't keep such flashbacks from haunting me, provoked by the innocent questions my clients threw my way. My heart would race, and cold sweat would break out on my skin as the memories threatened to swallow me whole. And today... Today was one of those days. The storm was raging outside, and it was as if I could feel the cold drops hitting my skin like a hammer as I lay beaten, broken, and helpless on the sidewalk all over again. I felt death creeping up on me, and if it weren't for Jerry searching the streets for me despite the heavy rain, I would certainly be dead by the morning. The wind howled outside like a mournful spirit, tearing at the branches of the trees that lined the library's facade. Leaves and debris swirled in the air, adding to the unsettling ambiance. Nope, I definitely didn't like being at work alone during storms. I would never admit that to anyone, but since that night, I have been mortally afraid of lightning and thunder. Of course, it didn't help that all the rain made my long wavy hair frizzy and huge. As on cue, I stiffened when the next flash appeared, followed by the loud crack of thunder. God, I hope it passes soon. Even the windows are shaking! The lightning illuminated the dark corners of the library, casting eerie shadows that danced upon the walls. My imagination couldn't help but run wild, envisioning all manner of sinister creatures lurking just beyond my line of sight. Pushing my chair deeper into the corner, as far away from the windows as possible, I tried to make myself disappear, wishing for that hot cup of cocoa and a blanket. But, since both are unlikely to be found in a library, I buried my nose in a book and tried to escape the ugly weather by jumping into yet another fictional world. I selected a well-worn fantasy novel, one I had read countless times before. Its familiar characters and plot were like old friends, offering me comfort and solace. Books have been my addiction ever since I was a child. I always find solace and an escape from reality between the pages. Not that my life was all that bad before. In fact, it was painfully ordinary, almost cliche. I had a fairly normal childhood in the small town of Misty Vale, finished high school, moved away for college, had my heart - and my body - broken by a classmate, failed to get a job in the big city, and ended up moving back to my hometown. I found a low-paying job and lived a quiet, albeit boring, life. But after everything I'd been through two years ago, I was actually grateful for the mind-numbing routine. I hid from the world, hoping it would never find me among the books. And I was pretty good at it. My days were filled with organizing shelves, helping patrons find the perfect book, and occasionally hosting small events like children's storytime or book club meetings. With my light brown hair, brown eyes, and slim figure — no luscious curves in sight — I didn't attract much attention from the opposite s*x, so I didn't have to deal with the drama. Even if someone looked past my boring looks, they would find a serious and closed-off person — which would usually do the job of chasing them away. But deep inside, that's not who I truly was. The real Emma was brave, adventurous, funny, and kind. Emma who moved to the big city and started college, was curious and open to trying new things. She was the one who helped organize student protests, volunteered for local events, and struck up conversations with strangers. That's what got you into trouble in the first place, I thought to myself. All it took was one bad decision and one shitty guy I met along the way to turn me into a distrustful and fearful person. And now, I was a shadow of my former self, living a life devoid of the excitement and adventure I once craved. Still, shutting down a part of yourself always comes with a cost, and that cost was my life's joy. Because deep inside, I was unhappy. I knew there was so much more to the world than a small town library, and I craved to experience it all. But instead of pursuing it, I opted to read about it, resigning myself to a life of nothingness. So, as the heavy rain hit the windows and the sounds of thunder moved further and further away, I read about love, lust, and mythical creatures. My heroine just got rescued by a strong werewolf, an Alpha. He took her to his home and his bed. They will have a happy ending - I checked. I refused to read anything that didn't end with HEA. Unlike me, they found their true love on the first try. They will never have to experience living in terror for months, not knowing whether they will live to see another day. *** With a sigh, I absentmindedly stroked a long scar on my left hand. Sometimes it would still hurt, just like the healed broken pinky on the same hand acted up when the weather was bad. But the ribs were the worst. There were days when the pain was so intense that I struggled to breathe. My doctor claims it's a phantom pain because the three broken ribs and the punctured lungs healed perfectly. But it was there anyway. It reminded me constantly of what happens when you blindly trust a person. It was a lesson I would never forget, one that had been etched onto my very bones. I was lost in my thoughts for some time when, suddenly, I heard a loud crash from outside. For a couple of seconds, I sat frozen, adrenaline pumping through me. I listened carefully for other sounds - like footsteps - but heard nothing except for the rain and wind. You're being stupid. It's just the storm, I told myself. He's not here. Why would he be? So, I forced myself to put my book aside calmly, even though I felt anything but. My steps were even and carefully measured as I walked down the hallway to investigate, wondering if a tree had fallen or if it was just a particularly strong gust of wind. The storm seemed to be relenting, but it was still pouring rain, and the wind howled through the trees like a restless spirit. Still, I hesitated for a couple of seconds before steeling myself and opening the front door. What I saw in front of me made my heart stop. A massive wolf was standing on the steps, its fur drenched and matted from the rain. And it was looking at me. The shock and fear held me locked in place for a few seconds. Then my heart started beating so frantically it hurt. This is it, I thought; this is how I die.