Under the Alpha's Umbrella

Chapter 2

Elsa Pendragon

I turned 19 today, but nothing seems to change. Everything feels just as it did yesterday. I miss Caelum with a deep ache every day.

This morning, I dreamed of him again. On my 19th birthday, he visited me in my dreams, stirring up emotions I thought I’d buried. I grabbed my canvas and began to paint him, desperate to keep his face from fading away from my memory.

When I turned 18 and my wolf never came, I gave up on that hope. In a world where werewolves are the norm, I’ve accepted my fate: being wolfless and mateless. It feels like all the men I meet see me as nothing more than an object for their desires, to use and discard as they please.

Today, as I painted Caelum’s face, my sadness grew, but I forced myself to push through. I work in a bar on the outskirts of Siltravania, not far from where I live. Finding work in the city itself is nearly impossible for someone like me—an outsider. Siltravania is a city of high standards, and immigrants like me struggle to find a place unless we are needed.

Deep down, in the quiet corners of my heart, I held onto a slim hope that someday I’d make it into the city. I worked tirelessly toward that dream. I met a man who promised employment in Siltravania, but he warned me it would cost a fortune. Determined, I took every job I could find, scraping together every coin.

Despite my vow to stop stealing, I found it nearly impossible to raise the money legally. Desperation often overpowered my resolve, and I slipped back into old habits. Today was particularly tough, and my mood darkened further when a group of men came into the bar for drinks.

I approached them to take their orders, trying to mask my frustration. One of the men had the audacity to slap me on the backside. My rage flared instantly, and when I met his gaze, something in his eyes struck a chord.

“Wait, I know you… Elsa? Do you remember me?” he asked.

Panic gripped me. His face looked disturbingly familiar.

The man smirked with malicious satisfaction. “It’s Charles. You might not recall my name, but I remember you well. Those piercing, seductive eyes… your succulent breasts… and those thighs, fair as the sun…” He paused, letting his eyes linger.

His friends chuckled and teased, “Oooo… she’s still got it.”

Charles’s tone turned bitter. “It’s a shame your exterior doesn’t match the beauty within, you thieving wench. Do you think I’d forget? I’ll never forget.”

His words cut deep. Charles was one of the many men I had drugged and robbed after learning of their vile intentions. The weight of his recognition threatened to crush me as I struggled to maintain my composure, knowing that my past might finally catch up with me.

I stood frozen, my body refusing to move as Charles’s wicked laughter echoed in my ears.

“Well, isn’t fate a curious thing? Out of all the bars in the outskirt of Siltravania, I walk into yours… ain’t that something?” His voice dripped with malice.

He rose from his seat and advanced toward me, his presence menacing. “I’m one of the law enforcers here. I put people like you behind bars. I know your little game of drugging and stealing isn’t a one-time thing. I’m sure a few men could back that up…”

Charles’s hands grasped my face, his grip cold and unforgiving. “But here’s the deal: I’m willing to overlook your past crimes if you meet my friends at the law office on 7th Lane tonight after your shift. Be prepared, because I will be.”

He delivered a final, painful smack to my backside, making me wince. “And don’t even think about running. I have eyes everywhere.”

With a cruel chuckle, he left the bar with his companions, leaving me trembling behind the counter.

I cursed my carelessness. This was not how I had envisioned my life in Siltravania—caught between the bars of my own making. Panic gripped me. I didn’t have enough money to escape, and the thought of being imprisoned was unbearable.

Sinking into a chair behind the bar, I stared blankly at the worn wood, my mind racing. What could I do? How could I get out of this mess without landing in prison? I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.

I couldn’t believe it. On my birthday, of all days, I was tangled in this mess. Charles, or whatever he calls himself, had no good intentions for me. The thought of giving my body to that creep was unbearable.

I grabbed a bottle of whiskey and started drinking, hoping to drown my worries. The alcohol hit me harder than expected, and soon, I was tipsy, lost in thoughts of what to do next. Charles had made it clear: he wanted me to show up at the law office tonight, with his friends watching. Why was he making such demands?

As I brooded behind the bar, the door creaked open. I hoped whoever it was would see we were closed and leave, but no such luck.

A man walked in, his voice deep and soothing. He asked for a drink, and even though I was in no mood for conversation, I had to respond. He then requested a room. I tried to discourage him with the price, but he seemed unfazed.

When I finally looked up at him, I was taken aback. He was tall, dark, and shrouded in an air of mystery. His presence was majestic, his voice a perfect match for his striking appearance. Yet, he seemed troubled, and I couldn’t help but feel drawn to him despite my own troubles.

I was quite tipsy but still aware of my surroundings. When I finally caught a glimpse of his olive eyes and his short, curly hair, I couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol or just him, but he had a profound effect on me. His presence stirred something deep inside, a longing I hadn’t felt before.

I didn’t know his name or where he was from, but he exuded an air of wealth. As he spoke, my body betrayed me— I felt a strange, unfamiliar warmth between my legs. It was disconcerting, and I tried to shake off the feeling.

I led him up to his room, trying to ignore the intense attraction. His uneven breathing suggested he was carrying some tension, and I wondered why he’d come alone to this hotel.

Every fiber of my being was shouting for him, this mysterious man who I couldn’t quite understand. When we reached the room, I used the chance to step inside, hoping for a chance to talk more. But he was dismissive.

“This is your room. If you need anything, you can call me…” I started, but he cut me off.

“You can leave now. Thank you.”

I was taken aback. This was the first man who looked at my beauty and seemed completely unaffected.

In my 19 years, I’d never met a man who wouldn’t take advantage of me, especially when I was practically throwing myself at him. This intrigued me and, perversely, made me want him more.

“Hey, what’s the rush? It’s not like you have any company,” I teased, stepping closer with newfound boldness. I’d never acted this way with any man before.

He tried to push me away, but I grabbed his hand, holding it firmly. How was it possible that the one time I wanted a man, he didn’t want me back? I wondered as I clung to him.

“Wow, what a strong man. A man with money and strength,” I murmured, moving so close that our breaths mingled. My eyes fell on the bulge in his pants, pressing against me.

“Wow…” I whispered, my hand exploring him, massaging him slowly.

“Stop… sto—” he hesitated, but deep down, I knew he was just playing modest. The tension in his body began to melt as he responded to my soft touches.

I pressed my lips against him, and he kissed me back with a passion I hadn’t expected. Every touch and kiss elicited soft moans from me. My body accepted him, responding eagerly.

It was my first time with a man, and I didn’t know what to expect. But I knew what my body was telling me. And that’s how I gave myself to a stranger.

****

I woke up hours later, my head pounding as the fog from the night before began to clear. As my surroundings came into focus, I couldn’t believe what I had done. I had given myself to a man whose name I didn’t even know.

My heart raced as I remembered Charles—the lawman who had threatened me. The danger he posed was real, and it made my situation even more dire.

Then I noticed how well-dressed this mysterious man had been. As I searched through his clothes, I found far more than I expected. Money. Gold. It looked like an heirloom, but right now, all I cared about was that it was enough to take me anywhere I wanted to go. I took it all.

As I prepared to leave, I glanced back at the man, who lay sleeping so peacefully. He looked almost too beautiful, and for a moment, I was tempted to kiss him. Why was I so drawn to him? I forced myself to look away and left the room, desperate to escape.

I returned to the bar, hoping to contact my link the next morning and arrange my entry into Siltravania. I went home, determined to leave before anyone could catch up with me.

But as I slept, my dreams were troubled and strange. Shadows twisted and whispered warnings, leaving me uneasy. I woke up feeling more anxious than ever, knowing that my plans and my future were now uncertain.

I kept dreaming of myself as a silver wolf, playing in a field with a golden creature. Its fur shimmered in the sunlight, and even though it looked like a monster, I wasn’t afraid. We played together like old friends.

I woke up drenched in sweat, and pain surged through my joints. It was as if my body was protesting, urging me to go outside. I put on my tracksuit, despite the agony, and stumbled into the night.

As the moonlight bathed me, the agony in my bones grew unbearable. I heard them cracking, reshaping into something new. This was it—I was changing!

The pain was unlike anything I had ever known. I had never expected my wolf to awaken, and I hadn’t prepared for this kind of torment. My joggers ripped apart as my body twisted and contorted, and I howled in agony. My senses warned me that I wasn’t alone in the woods, but I couldn’t focus on anything but the pain.

In the dense fog, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a creature. It looked like the golden wolflike creature from my dream, engaged in a fierce struggle I couldn’t fully grasp.

Then, a sudden explosion shattered the fog and knocked me into unconsciousness. When I awoke, I could barely remember what had happened after that.