The Masked Wolf

Sally or Ava

Ava’s point of view

Gloria insisted that I store my phone in her locker alongside hers, and I couldn't help but agree. It had only been a few days since I got my phone, yet it had already become a significant distraction.

Bart informed us about a server who had to quit because her Alpha disapproved of her working here, and one of her pack members recognized her.

"It's quite unfortunate that she had to resign. Do you believe Alpha Ace would respond similarly if he discovered our employment here?" I inquired of Gloria as I carefully fastened my mask.

"No, she hails from a more conventional pack. Alpha Ace, on the other hand, is distinct. As long as we avoid jeopardizing our pack, he isn't overly concerned. Despite his challenging nature, he is unexpectedly forgiving. Some Alphas are far more oppressive than Alpha Ace," Gloria explained, readjusting her mask as she spoke.

"I'm relieved to be wearing masks. It's comforting to know that all the customers are also following the safety protocols. And I doubt any Alpha would like me any less than Alpha Ace is," I commented, flashing a smile at Gloria.

"Trust me, Ace is a nice Alpha. Yes, and with our masks, customers won't realize we have rejected them before when they hit on us, so they will still tip us nicely." Gloria replied with a laugh as we put in our earpieces.

The bar was pretty much the same as my first night working there. I was exhausted by the end of it. My feet were throbbing, and hunger gnawed at my stomach once again. On my way home, I couldn't help but wonder if life would be better without a pack.

"You'd have to let me shift first," Sage, my wolf, playfully teased in my mind. She had a mischievous streak that could be annoying at times.

I couldn't help but giggle at her remark. "Oh, come on, Sage. You'd say anything to have the chance to run free," I replied, knowing how much she longed for the exhilaration of the wild.

Sage's tone turned serious as she reminded me of the potential dangers. "Maybe so, but if there was ever an attack out here, it's every person for themselves. And without my heightened senses and abilities, you wouldn't be able to defend yourself."

"How do you know so much about this place?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

It seemed like Sage had a wealth of knowledge about the neutral pack lands I was unaware of.

My wolf chuckled in response. "Silly pup, I am much older than you," Sage replied, her voice echoing from the depths of my mind.

It made sense; our wolves returned to the goddess when we died, patiently waiting for their chance to be reborn.

My phone chimed, interrupting the silence with a message from Tom. I furrowed my brow, wondering why he was still awake at such a late hour. I read the text, my heart sinking as I absorbed its contents. "I spoke to my connections in the Blue Moon pack. The Alpha wants to speak to your friend Ava alone, and he promised to be kind. If he's not, I'll handle him myself."

My frustration bubbled over, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh no! I can't believe this. Damn it!" The sudden outburst startled Gloria, who was focused on driving.

My anxiety and fear overwhelmed me, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

Gloria turned to me, concern etched on her face, but she kept her eyes on the road. "What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with shock.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I responded with a whine, "Tom talked to his connections to our pack, and now the Alpha wants to speak to me personally."

Uncertainty gnawed at me as I pondered how to address the message.

"Well, does he want to talk to the real Ava or the persona you created, Sally?" Gloria asked, her confusion evident.

My sudden outburst seemed to annoy Gloria a little, and I felt a pang of guilt for startling her.

I sighed, trying to gather my thoughts. "Alpha Ace wants to speak to me as Ava," I replied, my voice dripping with disbelief.

The audacity of Tom's claim left me rolling my eyes. I was convinced that no one could genuinely tame the formidable Alpha Ace.

Gloria's voice held a hint of admiration as she responded, "Tom must be a powerful man if he can control Alpha Ace."

I scoffed, a twinge of doubt creeping into my thoughts. "Or Tom thinks he can. I don't know what to text him back," I admitted, my fingers hesitating over my phone.

Uncertainty clouded my mind, leaving me unsure of how to respond.

Gloria chuckled, her playful tone mocking the situation. "Well, you could always say, 'Thank you, Tom. However, I haven't shifted into my wolf form yet. If you're interested, we could shift together so I can determine if you're my mate. And, uh, maybe we can explore the woods together...'" Her words trailed off as we both burst into giggles, the absurdity of the suggestion causing my cheeks to flush.

"Thank you, Tom. I really hope you're right. Maybe if you can make her Alpha be kind, I should let you take care of my ass of a boss, too," I replied, reading the message aloud for Gloria to hear.

We giggled together as she pulled up to the pack house. I had left my mask in her car so I wouldn't forget it when we went to work at the bar again.

I was engrossed in my phone as I entered the back door of the pack house, not watching where I was going, and bumped into someone.

"Oh, my apologies," I stammered, my eyes widening as I realized I had collided with Alpha Ace. My head instinctively dropped, avoiding his piercing gaze.

"I'm truly sorry, Alpha," I murmured, berating myself for once again making a fool of myself in front of him.

"Yeah, you're always so graceful. What a surprise! Follow me," Alpha Ace retorted, his voice dripping with arrogance and annoyance.

Despite Alpha Ace’s dismissive tone, my heart couldn't help but skip a beat at the sound of his voice. My attraction towards him was undeniable, causing a flutter in my chest.

I followed Alpha Ace to his office, trying my best not to make too much noise with my heels. He was irritated, and I could sense it. We arrived in front of his office, and he unlocked the door with a key.

"Come on in," he huffed, still annoyed but showing a bit of kindness.

I entered his office, and he walked around his desk, taking a seat in his chair.

"Sit!" he demanded, ending it with a slight cough to soften his tone.

I hastily settled into the chair opposite Alpha Ace’s desk, feeling the weight of the unfamiliarity.

Sitting in front of Alpha Ace was an odd sensation; I had never been granted the privilege of being a guest in his office. Typically, I was only present in this space as a maid, fulfilling my duties.

"You've been going out a lot lately. So, you're a party girl now," Alpha Ace asked, clearly curious.

"Not exactly. Just meeting a few new people," I replied, not entirely lying.

"Well, I heard from a friend of a friend of yours today. It seems that you don't know why you owe a debt to our pack. Is this true?" the Alpha questioned, leaving me stunned. Did he speak directly to Tom?

"Yeah, that's true, Alpha," I nervously admitted, biting my fingernails.

"Well, I can't say I have all the answers either," Alpha Ace reassured me, leaning back in his chair.

Alpha Ace’s voice was smooth and confident, calming my racing thoughts. "But don't worry, I'll dig into my father's files and figure out the answer for both of us," he assured me, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.

As Alpha Ace’s words washed over me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for his willingness to help. At that moment, he became even more attractive to me, and I silently reminded myself to gather my thoughts and maintain my composure.

"Okay. Thank you, Alpha Ace," I replied, looking down at my hands. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to conduct myself.

"Can you tell me more about this friend Sally of yours? My friend mentioned being really into her and asked if I knew anything about her. I couldn't provide any details," the Alpha inquired, making me smile.

Tom was really into me, or rather, the fake version of me, Sally. Either way, it made my heart flutter.

"I don't have much information about Sally," I confessed hesitantly to Alpha Ace, averting my gaze and fidgeting with my hands.

"We crossed paths in the neutral pack lands, and I'm uncertain of her pack affiliation. However, she has been kind and supportive towards me. You can assure your friend that she has been a good friend to me," I lied, feeling a pang of guilt for deceiving Alpha Ace.

Lying to the Alpha was a risky move that could potentially lead to severe consequences. This situation was becoming increasingly complex, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of it all.

"Well, that's all I needed to discuss with you. Nice outfit, by the way. Your wardrobe has certainly changed a lot in the past few days," Alpha Ace complimented, attempting some small talk.

I couldn't help but think he must be afraid of Tom if he's being this nice. It brought a smile to my face.

"Thanks. My friend Sally gave me a few things. I'll be going now if that's okay. I must get up early for pack house cleaning duties, Alpha." I replied to his compliment.

"That's fine," the Alpha replied calmly as I exited his office.

As I leaned against the door, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Why was I so drawn to Alpha Ace? I silently scolded myself, reminding myself of his less-than-pleasant demeanor. It was crucial to keep my feelings in check.

"Hey Ava, you did a great job cleaning my office. Thank you," Beta James complimented with a smile, his hand absentmindedly running through his blonde locks.

Despite his appealing appearance, I refused to let myself be swayed by Beta James’s charms. After all, he had quite the reputation as a playboy.

"Thank you, Beta James. It's just part of my job," I responded, maintaining a professional tone as I turned to walk away.

As I stepped into the shower, seeking a moment of tranquility, the sound of my phone suddenly interrupted my peacefulness.