Enchanted by Alpha

4. Thrown to the Wolves

*Samantha*

I woke up like an energizer bunny, practically jumping on my feet when I uncovered the blanket. It was strange. I stretched as if I had suddenly found a magical way to click all those muscles, vertebrae, and joints tensing on me. I felt their stretching, and the popping of vertebrae made my whole body shiver, giving me goosebumps.

"Oh, my god," I complained when I felt the cold on my skin and quickly, like a rocket, jumped back under the warm blanket, trying to hold on to the heat that had been warming me all this time. "So damn cold." I shivered, trying to wrap myself like a tight burrito, leaving only my head to snoop around the room. I didn't recognize the surroundings, and my heart instantly sped up to hammering. The room wasn't mine and didn't resemble any room in my parent's mansion. It was way smaller and cuter, and despite the coldness hanging in the air, it felt more homey.

"What the f**k is this place?" I questioned when I finally stopped squirming under the warm blanket, and the events of last night flooded my head like a blizzard that had brought me here. It's Archer's home. He invited me here after rescuing me from the cold death. My heart sped up again, but this time not from fear but excitement as I recall our little chat over the goulash and his intense gaze every time our eyes met. I giggled and hid my face in my hands before I heard a soft knock on my door and the voice of a very sexy man.

"Mimi. The breakfast is ready. Hurry up, and I'll drive you to my parent's house." Archer announced, and I jumped out of bed, screaming very excited: One minute' before I stormed off to the bathroom to brush my teeth hair and get rid of sleepiness from my eyes.

Despite the strange coldness in the room, I smiled at my reflection, pinched my cheeks to give them more colors, and adjusted my pajamas so they did not look like slobs. I gave myself a once over before stepping out of the room and headed to the kitchen that smelled heavily of fried bacon, strong coffee, and a spicy goulash he treated me yesterday. My heart was pounding with every step I took, and I couldn't help but wipe my sweaty hands on my thighs while my lips curved into a smile. This man made me feel many emotions, yet I was eager to explore them all with him.

"Good morning. Something smells good and mouthwatering." I entered the kitchen trying to prise Archer's effect but stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed the said man serving the plates to the small dining table.

"Good morning, Mimi. I hope you like it." Archer responded with a chuckle while he pulled the chair for me, gesturing for me to take it, but I couldn't. My legs stood rooted to the floor ogling - no eye raping the half-naked man inviting me to taste him. I mean, taste his cooking. My eyes were glued to the view that was displayed over the chair. I gulped as I stared at the body of a Greek God. A damn well-defined, ripped six-pack, big chest, and arms made of steel before I noticed a smirking face of a freshly showered Archer with his hair loosely framing his face and that damn chocolate eyes looking at me like I was on the menu.

"Judging by the drool and your sparking eyes, I understand you like what you see." He chuckled, and I lifted my hand to my lips, wiping the nonexistent drool and making Archer laugh at my expanse. I felt the heat creep up my cheeks and prayed for the earth to open and swallow me.

"Don't be shy, Mimi. You look beautiful, too, but a bit too dressed; it's about thirty degrees here," Archer said as he walked over to the table with nothing but pajama bottoms hanging loosely on his hips, exposing that damn sexy and tempting V-line. I gulped and licked my dry lips when his words finally registered in my mushy brain.

I felt kinda hot right now, as if the heat from the stove or that damn hot man approaching me finally hit me with full force. I started to sweat, and the flannel shirt suddenly became too much. My heart pounded in my chest with every decreasing distance between us, and I found my voice nonexistent while ogling that damn fine specimen of a s*x god.

"Are you alright? You look like you have a fever." Archer got worried as he pressed the back of his hand to my perspiration-covered forehead. The strange zaps of electricity I felt yesterday reappeared, and I gasped before jumping back at the peculiar yet strangely pleasant feeling. That small action snapped me out of my frenzy, and I looked at Archer without my lustful thoughts.

"I'm ok. It's just too hot in here, and the room I woke up in was like a damn freezer," I answered, finally switching on my brain to get out of this strange situation with dignity.

"Hmm. What do we have here? I am starving." I walked around him, focusing on the table with the whole food feast. "Not only he's damn gorgeous, but he can cook," I mumbled under my breath, noticing the delicacies worthy of a five-star hotel. I took the chair Archer pulled out for me and tried to erase the awkward moment just a few seconds ago.

"Well, all the best to my sweet Mimi." Archer chuckled before he joined me at the table and started to eat.

The nickname did things to my body every time he said it. I never knew that a short word would have this effect on me, but he proved me wrong. Unlike the regular me, I couldn't focus on my meal when all I did was check his upper body whenever I took a small sip of my coffee. I love my coffee hot and drink it that way, so I'm known for finishing it in a few quick gulps, not sipping it like it was a very expensive scotch to savor the taste. But for that kind of view at breakfast, I'm willing to swallow it cold and endure its horrible aftertaste.

"What do you mean your room feels like a freezer? I set the temperature before I left your room. It should be warm enough, " he asked after devouring his almost overflowing plate. I was halfway through my small one, avoiding his eyes the entire time without engaging in conversation.

"I guess you set it wrong," I answered, putting down the cutlery, feeling strangely full after eating so much. I lifted my eyes and finally met his confused gaze. "I was too cold and probably too exhausted to notice it yesterday, but the moment I stepped out of bed, I felt like I was in the freezer," I explained, trying not to offend him. He did offer help, so it would be rude of me to complain.

"I'll check it. Take my room to get ready. We'll leave in ten minutes, " he announced before putting his plate in the dishwasher and leaving the kitchen. This gave me a great view of his broad back, which exposed his tattooed skin.

My eyes focused on the one peculiar just below his shoulder, and my breath hitched, and my eyes almost popped out of its sockets. I didn't have much time to get to know him, but I could have sworn that the top of his shoulder was decorated with a wreath of tulips, and one of them had my name, Mimi, on it.

Archer left without a word, and I sat frozen in my seat, wondering if what I saw was real or if my mushy brain imagined it. I love tulips, and I prefer them over any majestic flowers. But seeing them tattooed on Archer's skin made the damn zoo in my stomach. Did he do it for me? Did he have feelings for me? I wondered, but as quickly as that enticing idea came to my mind, I dispersed it. A man like Archer would never look at me. He had a line of girls lining up to ask him out on a date.

I quickly finished my plate, put it in the dishwasher, and put the uneaten things in the fridge. I felt at home, probably because his little cottage was modestly but practically made, without unnecessary glitz or frills. I walked out of the kitchen and followed Archer to my room, but not before my eyes gazed over the windows, and I cringed, seeing the damn white fluff gathering around us at a terrifyingly fast pace. If it snows like this, it will cover us completely, cutting us off from the world. I noticed that his living room was also furnished minimalistically, with one large couch, a coffee table opposite a sparkling fireplace, and a shelf with books, photos, and a few potted plants on one of the shelves near the entrance to my room. The floor was covered with a fluffy carpet, and the only thing missing from this fairytale picture was a decorated Christmas tree. I was surprised that I hadn't noticed this earlier, because the front of the house was decorated but there was no Christmas tree. Does he even celebrate Christmas? I thought while my feet took me down the small hall to my room, and I peeked inside to see the very focused Archer working on the thermostat on the wall.

"What's the verdict?" I asked, standing in the hall, unwilling to spend any minute in this icy chamber. Archer seemed unbothered by the frosty air and stood barefoot in his pajama pants.

"I have no clue. I'll get it fixed later. Right now, we need to hurry up." He groaned as he slammed his hand on the panel, frustrated. "Grab whatever you need and come to my bedroom. It's a lot warmer than this one." He offered again, looking at me with such an intense gaze that I shivered, not from cold.

"I think I'll manage a little bit of chill. The water in the bathroom will warm me up." I protested, moved from the hall, and shivered towards the adjoined bathroom. Another shiver ran down my spine when I felt Archer's warm, muscular arm sneaking around my waist, pulling me to his firm chest. I gasped when the electric current appeared when our skin touched.

"Don't play with me now, Mimi." He growled into my ear, sending that electric current straight to my p***y with his almost animalistic voice. I moaned internally and gulped as a very dirty thought ran through my mind, and even the cold room wouldn't stay in my way.

"Grab what you need, and come to my room. It's not a request, baby." He nipped at my ear, and I gasped, opening my eyes at the tone, words, and endearment he used again. "We've got about an hour before the real storm hits this part of the forest, and I need you in some safer place than my small cabin." He kissed my earlobe, and my heart pounded into my chest. I was speechless, and I managed to nod in response, earning an amused chuckle from Archer before he let me go to gather all the necessary clothes.

I have no idea how I went through all the steps with my shower, dressing up, and blow-drying my hair. Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to walk hand in hand with Archer to his warm room and spacious bathroom. My mind was someplace else, nirvana perhaps, or at least dreamland, where I have played a lot of scenarios with my sexy half-naked high school crush. His touch was electrifying, his words allured my senses, and his musky, masculine scent intoxicated me entirely. I was putty in his hands, and the guy barely touched me. I dressed in warm pants, fuzzy socks, and a solid, warm turtle neck pullover in my dream state. I braided my hair in a single braid, and with a hesitant step, I walked out of Archer's room and into the living room.

"I don't have a coat. Are you sure I can't stay here?" I asked once I noticed him wearing the same coat from yesterday that made him look like a giant. Archer turned to look at me, and I fidgeted with my fingers under his scorching gaze. If I'm not mistaken, I noticed something dark in his eyes and a deep groan in his chest before he turned his chocolate eyes back at my face, and he smiled, satisfied.

"Come, I have something for you." He offered me his hand, and I took it without hesitation; he led me to the hangar on the wall near the exit door, and he took a smaller-looking coat and offered it to me. I slid my arms into the sleeves, and surprisingly, it fit me perfectly. I felt at least a few pounds heavier, but it provided warmth and shelter from the snow.

"Here are the boots. They're Ellie’s, but she already grew out of them. It looks like your Cinderella's feet will fit, " he joked as he helped me into the snowy booths and laced them. I blushed, watching that mountain of muscles kneel before me, lacing my shoes. Sweet baby Jesus, my ovaries. No one ever does such a simple thing for me.

"Now, there's only one last thing, and we're ready, " he said, standing up, opening one of the drawers, and pulling out a warm hat and a pair of winter gloves. I quickly thanked him for everything, and armed with the warmest and heaviest clothes in the world, I waited for him to open the door. His encouraging look motivated me to leave this fairy tale cabin and enter reality.

I hesitated the moment I stepped out, but with Archer pushing at me from behind, I walked onto the porch and gazed at the almost-covered snow car. The blizzard was already here, spreading the snow everywhere and carrying it to another place. Archer said this place would be entirely snowed in an hour, so I had no other option but to move forward. I tried to take a first step onto the snow but was stopped by Archer, who pulled me back to him and shook his head disapprovingly.

"No, Mimi. It's too much for your delicate body. Let me take care of you." He said before he bent down and scooped me up into his arm. I squealed in surprise, but my hands went around his neck to keep me in place. He chuckled again at my reaction, but his warm breath on my cheek made me look at him with a gasp. He was close, too close for my liking, and his lips turned into a little smirk that was too tempting. If I could lean a bit closer, I would kiss him. That thought made me blush, so I pushed my face away.

"Later, baby. Now let me take you to my parents." He whispered lovely, and his eyes again turned that darker shade of chocolate, and my p***y started singing her alluring song again.

I kept my mouth shut, not knowing how to react to his words, actions, or anything regarding this incredible man, and I let him carry me to his car and even strap me with the seatbelt. Archer did something before he closed the door, leaving me with a racing heart and a million thoughts running through my head. He pecked me, very so gently that it would be considered a graze an accidental graze, but I knew deep in my heart that it wasn't an accident. His lips felt smooth and warm against mine even though it all lasted a second, and it was like a feather against my skin. I stayed quiet and almost unmoving the entire time he drove us through the snowy road toward his parent's house, but after thirty minutes, we came to a clearing. I noticed an oversized log house surrounded by smaller ones scattered in a short distance with paths lit with lanterns. I understood that we had entered a city deep in the forest, which I was forbidden to enter - Forbidden forest. My heart sped up again, not with nervousness or arousal but fear. My parents told me numerous stories about the savage people living inside these forests that had no respect for law, rules, and even human rights. They are rumored to be ruthless with their woman and treat her less than dogs. I fidgeted in my seat the closer we came to the log house, and my heart rate increased abnormally.

"Hm, Archer, I don't think... I think it's better... I don't want to offend you, but..." I started blubbering, trying to make him take me home politely, but I suddenly had no idea how to speak coherently. Even my parents' loveless and cold mansion was better than the place rumored to be a seat of degenerate freaks. He noticed my unease and pulled over before we could enter the driveway lit with every possible Christmas light. He parked and looked at me, and I shivered, almost on the verge of tears, begging him to take me back home.

"Mimi," he said my name very gently, but I refused to look at him. My gaze was fixed on the log house, and I noticed a few people starting to look over the windows to watch us.

"Mimi, look at me, baby," Archer leaned closer and put his hand on my tear-stained

cheek. I flinched for the first time since I met him, and I felt awful because I knew that Archer wasn't evil; he was a good, caring guy, or was I just trying to see him this way?

"Samantha, sweetheart, there's nothing to be scared about. I know what some people say about my home, and your parents are the ones most involved in dragging my family through the mud, but I don't blame them." He brushed my cheek and cupped my chin to turn my face to look at him. His face was sad, almost broken, when he looked at me, and I felt double awful for believing in those horrible things about his family. "I'm sorry," I apologized, but he only smiled at me, shaking his head.

"No, baby. You have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, let me prove how wrong your parents are. But let me warn you." He said with a firm face, and I felt he would deliver something worse than a ruthless attitude.

"They've been waiting a decade to welcome you, so don't mind the hugs, cheeks pinching, kisses, and smothering you. I barely kept them from my cabin the entire night." He chuckled, and I smiled with him. His words warmed my heart, although I didn't understand the meaning of it all. How could they wait for me this whole time when I never even dated Archer in high school? He was my crush who spoke to me a few times and gave me that nickname no one ever knew about. He chuckled, seeing my confusion, but let me go and drove to the driveway and parked as close to the entry door as possible. He held his hand to tell me to stay inside while he went out and rounded the car. Once again, I was carried through the snow and put on my feet at the door. The moment my feet landed on the wooden porch, the door burst open, and a tornado of people screaming, squealing, and crying came to greet us, pulled me inside, and took off all my winter clothes. When I was out of my snowy booths, I was hugged and kissed by so many people that I didn't even register who and what they said. My eyes tried to locate Archer, but even with his noticeable height, he seemed lost in the sea of people around me.

"Alright, Enough!" An authoritative command boomed through the talking people, and everyone quieted, lowering their heads. The silence that followed the command made my heart skip a beat. I recognized the voice as Archer's but was much deeper and guttural. He made his way through the parting small crowd, and I finally made eye contact with him. But he seemed different—a more dominant, commanding, and undeniably sexy Alpha male protecting his woman.

"She's not used to our lifestyle and traditions. Let her absorb our ways in doses. I don't want to wait another decade to claim my girl just because you act like a starved savage and scare her." He oozed confidence, and with every word, my heart fluttered hearing him defend me against the crowd, but what did he mean about claiming? I watched as he walked among the people, not taking his darkened eyes off of me. I felt lost in his eyes, in this man, in a world I had no idea was waiting for me. When he reached me, he cupped my cheeks, leaned down, pressed his forehead with mine, and inhaled me while closing his eyes. I felt those sparks again and leaned into his touch, savoring the incredible feeling. I heard a lot of 'ahs' around us, but I focused on the moment with Archer, even if I had no idea what was happening. When he let go of my face and stood to his full height, he wrapped his arm around my waist and held me close, shielding me while he addressed the small crowd.

"Yes, that's Samantha van der Meer. Yes, she's The One. Yes, she's staying with us. And no, she's not here to complete our bond, at least not yet. She needs to be introduced to our world slowly." Archer said, and again, a few of his words confused me, but when he looked down at me and smiled his panty-dropping smile, I let go and looked at the people who tried to greet me, perhaps too eagerly to my liking.

"Hi, everyone," I waved, earning a few responses and waving with smiles.

"Now, let's start with Mom and Ellie." He said that when he turned us, we faced two women almost crying with their hands clasped below their chins. I recognized Ellie immediately; she hadn't changed since high school, only matured, and she matured well. Her t**s could choke a man or at least knock his teeth out. Besides her was a middle-aged woman with the same chocolate eyes as Archer, but her hair was fairer.

Archer introduced us, "Mimi, my mom, Grace Wellington, and my little sister Ellie. " I smiled at the woman and extended my hand in greeting.

"No handshakes, sweetheart. You do not know how long we prayed for you to return to us," Grace said as she took me in her arms again and hugged me, kissing my head repeatedly, taking me by surprise. "Oh, sweetheart, you're probably hungry. Come. We have just started serving dinner, but everyone came here to greet you." She pushed me toward the house, and I looked back at Archer, unsure what to do.

"Give it a try, baby. By the time I return, you'll be a full-fledged member of the Wellington clan and have many embarrassing stories about me." Archer chuckled as he let his mother drag me inside without hesitation. I smiled at everyone who tried to speak to me, but it was so overwhelming that I didn't understand what they were saying. I just smiled, nodded, or hummed in response to every question that boomed through the crowd. I looked back at Archer to ask for help, but he was long gone, leaving me with the horde of wolves ready to tear me apart. I hoped that I would be mentally stable, physically intact, and emotionally in perfect balance at the end of this day. I walked into the dining room with a smile, but my heart tried to stay inside my chest, knowing that this was a mission impossible, at least not with Archer's overbearing family.