The Alpha's Contractual Human Mate

Ariella POV I was walking casually on my way down the dark alley to my apartment from work when suddenly I heard a deep howling sound. My brows creased looking at every corner of the place to look for its source. A deep howl echoed in the whole place again, sending shivers down my spine as I swallowed the off feeling. I bite my lips nervously while trying to advance my feet as faster as I can. I heard a low growl after and I stopped in my tracks. “Who's there?” I asked, taking a deep breath and looking around bravely. I quickened my pace as much as I could, carefully moving not to make any noise with my feet. While crossing the dim part of the street, I saw a shadow. My reflexes told me to cover my mouth. I studied the shadow dancing with the rays of light but when my mind started to process the image, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Oh my goodness! Lord, please save me from this creature and have mercy on me,” I beseech all Saints and Gods, gesturing a cross sign. “I need to cross another street, just another street, and I'll be on the other side of the road,” I repeatedly told myself, but my chest throbbed more. The shadow is approaching hearing the sound of cans being trampled from nowhere. I pretended to be unaware of my environment, gulping for the air and the remaining water in my mouth, trying to relieve the uncomfortable feeling. I slowly turned to forage for the source of the noise, but I couldn't find it. I swallowed and exhaled deeply. “Perhaps I'm hallucinating or overthinking because of the book I've read,” I shook my head and set out to persuade myself. But, when I face the road…. “AHHHHHHHHH —hmmmp. Lhetttt ghooo oshhffdd mheeess!” I frantically shouted, but a large wet hand covered my mouth. My pupils dilate as I look down at his hand. When I saw his bloodied hand, I felt the blood in my body rising on my head and the arteries popping out of my skin. I struggled and attempted to kick and punch him, but he was as tough as a bull.I struggled to get away, stubbornly pushing him away from me. “H-help m-me,” he said hesitantly, which brought me to a halt. He also moved the hand that had been covering my mouth to his chest to cover his bleeding wound. “I've got nothing to do with you! W-what if you're being pursued by mafias? Oh my gosh! I won't meddle in your affairs! I-I can't help you!” I panicked, half shouting, half whispering to him as I was swallowed up by the concession that was persecuting me. “Ahhh,” he bleated, still clutching his wound and kneeling on the cold street. I quickly opened my backpack and extracted my first aid kit. I attended to him and started treating and cleaning his wound. I also bandaged it so that it didn't drain his blood. We're still in the middle of the street, and I promised myself that I'd help him tend to his wounds before fleeing. Then I won't be sought by my conscience. I was about to let go of the sudden strong wind blowing around as I helped him stand on his two feet. “I see. You are fortunate to be alive,” a deep, cold tone of voice says, causing me to jump in surprise. “W-who are you?” I asked, pretending to be brave as my knees began to tremble, searching for the source of it. “How could it be? Is the air talking? Have I gone insane and am I imagining these things? Oh, please my dear Almighty, I'm begging you with my knees to wake me up,” I mumbled in the air, clasping my palms. “My luck is on my side,” said the man at my side in a baritone voice. I turned to face him, but I wasn't expecting what he did. He snatched my arms and made my body a shield, shielding him from the silhouettes in the distance. “What are you doing?” I demanded angrily, but all I felt was a sharp object pierce my neck. “I'm going to kill her if you go one step further,” he threatened, taking one step backwards. “What are you doing?! After I helped you with your wounds, this is your payback?” “How callous you are! Heartless! Merciless! Unsympathetic!” I tried elbowing his wound, but he pointed the sharp knife into my flesh, stopping me from moving. “Kill her if you want,” the cold voice replied, sending shivers down my spine. No! I still haven't experienced falling in love! I still haven't traveled the entire globe! I'm still virg — never mind. “W-wait! I uhm hehe, please let go of me,” I awkwardly interrupted, until I noticed the silhouettes changing shapes. I took a step back, but the man behind me grabbed my arms firmly to keep my feet in place. “W-what are you?” I gulped nervously, my throat parched. My gaze remained fixed on the shadows in front of us until they emerged from the shadows and spat like hairy creatures. “W-wo-wolves?” I guessed with uncertainty. “No,” the man by my side replied. “We-we-werewolves?” I said, chasing my breath as they walked. “Take a guess more,” he smirked into my ears as he pushed me into the ground, sending me flying a meter away. “Be their food!” yelled the man, transforming into a brown creature and fleeing into the darkness. Almost five hairy men from the silhouette group chased him down the street, leaving me on the ground. “Are those creatures really wolves and are they that big now?” I groaned, attempting to stand but failing miserably. I believe I fractured my ribs and dislocated my hips. “Arghhh! You filthy dogs!” I yelled, but was cut off by a low but dangerous growl from behind me. I turned around to see a large black dog with sharp teeth and a saliva-dripping mouth. The hairy creature smirked and stepped forward, his four legs pointing in my direction. He made a demeaning sound as he clawed the cement floor. “He-he-hey.” I exclaimed, covering my ear. I cast a glance at him, my gaze drawn to his gleaming green eyes. I stared at it for a few seconds as his body changed, and a howl came from his mouth. I was left speechless as I watched the hairy dog transform into a muscular, tall, and stunning man. His face is still hidden in the shadows, but I can't take my gaze away from his orbs, enchanted by the way they drown me. He chuckled darkly, “Wipe your saliva dripping on the side of your lip.” I felt that foam as I wiped my mouth. “I don't have any!” I defended, which elicited a sinister smile from him. “Do you know what you did?” He asked coldly, wearing his clothes. “Me? You might have mistaken me for someone else; I didn't do anything,” I responded quickly. “Do you know who that man is?” he inquired once more. I bit my lower lip and looked in the direction the man had fallen earlier. “I-I-I don't–” “Then why did you help him, aid his wounds!” he yelled, the soundwave aching my ear. “I'm just trying to help him—” I tried to explain but gave up when I realized everything. “What has gotten to you, huh? I aided and assisted him in tending his wounds! That is what we call conscience and helping the needs,” I explained further, slowly rising. “Because you! You are not human and you don't have that conscience!” I mumbled. “You are too naive, weakling. You didn't know he's the enemy of our pack who killed tens of my men?! He attacked and killed them! If you didn't help him and meddle in our fight, he should be lying on this ground, paying for the life he'd taken!” He burst out, clasping his hands, revealing his veins popping out. I couldn't help but feel bad. If I don't help him, my conscience will come after me. I took justice away from those who deserved it by assisting him. ARGHHHHHH! All I want to do is go home and sleep! “Uhm, sorry. I really felt sorry for what I caused, but I really needed to go home now. Here's my phone number,” I said awkwardly, stretching my arms and handing him my written number. I walked slowly, turning my back on them. I was only a few steps away when I realized I was being followed, forcing me to turn around. “You!” I slashed him angrily. “Choose,” he said coldly, causing my brow to furrow. “Choose from what?” I asked, perplexed. He grabbed my arm and pushed me against the street wall. My back smacks into the hard cement, eliciting a groan from me. “FIRST,” he said as he slammed his palm into the wall, squeezing me against his body. My throat seemed to be blocked by something that I couldn't swallow my own saliva. My insides are burning and I can't explain why. “You prevented us from killing Greg by allowing him to flee,” he said, bringing his face close to mine, causing my breath to hitch and my heart to pound violently. “SECOND,” he said emphatically, staring darkly into my eyes. “You saw us shift,” he stated solemnly. “I-I can zip my mouth!” I exclaimed, a little too aggressive, raising my voice as I quickly thought of a solution. “Every mere and weak human has a rule in our pack,” he mocked, looking from my toes to my head. “DEATH,” he added, making my knees tremble. A lump formed in my throat, but I subpoenaed all of my courage and asked another question. There's nothing wrong with asking. “Is there any exception?” I ask, hoping for a positive response. “I can spare your life, but I have one condition,” he proposed, slyly smirking. “W-what is it?” I asked, a little nervously. He moved his face closer to mine. I steered clear of that as he moved, putting his mouth against my ear. My heart thumps violently trying to escape from my ribcage. “Dont be nervous little kitten, it's not that hard compared to death”, he said. His hot breath touches my neck, giving me an unexplainable feeling. I tried my best to put distance from the both of us but he grabbed the curve in my waist and put my body into his. “Be my human mate,” he said quietly, sending chills down my spine.