The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

“You are my mate, Ariel.”

The words were ringing in her ears nonstop, like the annoying 5 a. m. alarm, and she was frozen to the spot, finding it hard to process what she had just heard.

“Haha, very funny. I know you are saying all this to make me stay, but it is not going to work. I am over this, Kane.”

“Ariel, listen to me. You are my mate!”

Ariel shook her head, as if trying to shake the words off her body. “I refused to believe it; you are lying. If I were really your mate, you would never hide such a thing from me. That would have been the first thing you said when you met me.” She sniffed, clearing her voice before she continued. “I know you are trying to lessen the blow for me, but it is fine; I can take it; I am a big girl.”

“Ariel, you are not listening to me. You are my mate! Only you could ignite such a fire in me. Only you can calm the raging storm in my head. Don’t you feel the sparks whenever we touch? Can’t you feel the way your body yearns for me?” Kane ran his fingers on her arm, and Ariel drew a sharp breath, slowly releasing it as the electricity developed between them.

Ariel closed her eyes as the sensation continued to build. “You are lying; it is all fake. You have used one of your werewolf powers to bewitch me, get into my head, and confuse me. I refused to believe that.”

“Ariel!” Kane yelled, taking her head in his hands and letting their lips collide. There was nothing soft in the ways he kissed her, asserting his dominance over her even through his lips.

He bit her bottom lips, earning her a gasp, and he took advantage of it, gaining entrance to her mouth, and their tongues danced with a hungry passion, entwining like flames licking at the air.

“Kane.” Ariel gasped, her hands reaching up to coil around his neck. Flames danced around them, the sparks flying from wherever their skins met, and Ariel couldn’t get enough.

She clawed at his shirt, seeking desperately to get rid of it so she could feel his body against her, but his chuckles reached her ears, and they slowly parted.

She was a mess, her shirt falling off her shoulders, her lips all red and plump and glistening with saliva, and Kane’s eyes zoned on the soft swell of her breast, rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.

Shit.

Ariel ran her hand through her hair as she tried to catch her breath, her cheeks stained red with embarrassment. She was supposed to be mad at him, yet she was sucking lips with the enemy.

“Do you believe me now?”

“I-I d-d…” Ariel was finding it difficult to get the words out.

“Shhh, I understand; it is all new.” Kane said, bringing his finger to shush her, but Ariel slapped his hands away.

“Fine, I believe you, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that you have been hiding it from me all along. Do you know how foolish I feel right now?”

“I should apologize for that. You were already overwhelmed with the whole werewolf thing, and I didn’t want to confuse you with us being mates.”

“But that doesn’t excuse the fact that you lie.”

“I didn’t lie, love; I didn’t just tell you. If I had, you may have been compelled to love me even against your will, and I don’t want that for you. I love you so much to take your choice away from you.”

“I know, but it doesn’t excuse the fact.”

“That is why I am apologizing. Come on, let us talk better inside; I am sure there are some spying eyes around.”

“Fine.” Ariel allowed him to lead her inside, away from the watchful eyes of the pack, till they got to his office, and he took his seat while she sat on the visitor’s seat. “Now I want you to explain everything I have to know about being a werewolf and your mate. I don’t want to be ignorant of everything that is going on.”

“You already know that we are werewolves, and we change at will. We have been ordained a partner from birth, which we call a mate. And for me, you are the one.”

Ariel rolled her eyes at his words. “And you didn’t deem it necessary to tell the one that was made for you?”

“I already explained that I wasn’t sure how your reaction was going to be, and I didn’t want to love bomb you with all that information. I wanted you to love me because you do, not because a bond is asking you to.”

“Hmm.” Ariel shrugged. He had a point there. “Anyways, go on.”

“The mate of an alpha is called Luna, and she, together with the alpha, leads the pack. She could also be a link between the people and her mate.”

“But I don’t understand. Why did it have to be me? I am not even a wolf, and I don’t know how your community works, not even about leading a pack. I can’t even feel the bond between us; how do I know you are just not lying?”

“I would never lie to you, Ariel. I understand you are a human, and you may not be able to feel everything I can feel for you. But you know deep in your heart that I am telling the truth; you can feel that this thing we have for each other is unnatural.”

“Hmm.” Ariel grumbled under her breath. “But you shouldn’t have lied to me.”

“I know love, and I apologize.”

“Fine, if you have something to say to me, just say it now. I don’t want to be finding out things about myself or you from others.”

Kane gave it to him, and he shook his head. “I don’t think so. You are caught up with everything.”

“Fine. I am choosing to believe you. But if I find out that you should have told me something or purposely withheld information from me, it is over. There is nothing I hate more than liars.”

“I understand. You can rest assured that everything I am telling you is the truth.” Kane’s sweet smile seemed to put her weary mind at ease, and she melted.

“Alright, I think you are busy, so I will leave you to it.” Ariel walked out of his office, this time closing the door gently, and she headed downstairs to get dinner.

Somehow all that talking and shouting had made her hungry, and she needed something more than a snack to fill her up.

She was taking the next flight of stairs when she heard voices raised in argument and she stilled.

“Why are you so stubborn?” She heard a voice that was no doubt Toby’s.

“I didn’t ask to come here; you brought me here without my will, and I will continue protesting until you let me be.” The female argued back, so loudly that her voice could be heard through the hallway and even the next floor.

“When will you ever get it that I will never let you go? What is going to happen to our bond?” Toby yelled back, matching her energy, and Ariel frowned.

It seems like there was trouble in paradise.

“I don’t give a fuck about a stupid bond. I never wanted a mate. I was perfectly content with living in my pack until I grew old and died.

Their conversation came to an abrupt stop as they heard the crunch of Ariel’s feet. “Ariel.”

“Heeyyyy.” Ariel gave a tight-lipped smile, embarrassed that she had been caught eavesdropping. “Is everything alright?”

“It is none of your business, bitch. Get out!”

“Maddie!” Toby yelled at his mate, but the female couldn’t care less. “I am sorry about that, Ariel. Excuse us, please.”

Ariel shook her head as she watched the couple leave, although one was quite unwilling, and Toby had to drag his female with him.

At least her mate wants her.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.