Ariana
I did not know when I got to the entrance of the club.
The club was high-end.
I had heard whispers of it being the venue bigshots congregate. Most of the people patronizing this club was the rich and the influential.
Thankfully, I had not dropped my work bag. I was permitted entry when I showed my identification to the guard.
I had to pay for a ticket on the spot though.
I wanted to let go of my worries for the night. I would plan my next course of action later.
I did not mind that I had to spend money for the ticket.
'Ruby? Are you okay?' I asked my wolf mentally but there was no response.
I could understand.
Our wolves take the mate bond as something sacred.
I could remember that Ruby had been assuring me that William wouldn't betray our trust.
Our worst nightmares came true.
I was already feeling like this. I can not imagine how my wolf would feel in the face of William' betrayal.
I was regretful.
Parents might be wrong sometimes but in my case, my parents turned out to be right.
They saw what I didn't.
I had let love blind me.
My phone rang but I didn't bother to see who was calling me.
It would not be William or Rhodes anyway.
The moment I left without him doing anything to stop me, I knew that I had lost him forever.
It means I meant nothing to him.
The club was exquisite and luxurious.
The ground floor was the dancing floor.
There was more people here.
I caught a glimpse of the top floor.
The decoration was better than the ones used in the dancing floor.
Besides, I saw men discussing something.
Those people were alphas.
It seemed this club catered mostly to werewolves.
I sat at the counter.
The colorful lights overhead teased my eyes.
"Hello pretty lady, what do you want?" The bartender asked with a smile on his face.
He was a beta.
"Just give me the strongest thing you have." I said as I rested my head on my palms.
"Your order is coming up." The bartender said before he turned around to get me my order.
Someone slid into the seat beside me.
It was an alpha.
I did not look at the person, I just watched as the bartender mixed drinks.
Although I was innocent in things of the bedroom, it didn't mean that I was dumb.
I knew what this alpha wanted and I wasn't going to give him.
Truly, I wanted to lose myself this night. All I can guarantee is that it was going to be someone my, spirit, wolf and body agrees with.
Right now, this alpha didn't make me want to get closer.
"Hello there. I am Caleb. What's your name?" Calab introduced himself.
The bartender finally brought my drink.
I grabbed my glass cup and brought it to my lips.
I didn't see the mental message Caleb and the bartender shared with their eyes.
"Well, you are fiesty. Are you interested in dancing with me?" Caleb continued despite my silent treatment.
I could not flare up at him because he didn't do anything that was drastic.
He phrased everything politely.
I downed my drink in one gulp.
The color of the drink the bartender mixed for me was purple. The liquid in my glass gave off a pink glow when the lights hit it in a special way.
Tiny bubbles rose to the surface of the drink with beauty. It was like the bubbles had a special dance.
The liquid burned down my throat like a fiery tsunami.
It finally settled in my stomach.
The bartender might have noticed that I wasn't human. The drink he gave me was too powerful.
I could feel a tiny bit of euphoria creep in.
Still, it wasn't enough. I want more of what that drink can offer.
"Bring me another drink." I said to the bartender before turning to Caleb, "I am not interested."
"Okay." Caleb said before he stood up. His hands was in the air in a sign that he surrendered.
Seeing his action, I felt like I had misjudged him.
After he finished talking, he turned around and blended into crowd on the dance floor.
It didn't take too long for the bartender to prepare another drink for me.
I raised the cup to my lips and finished the contents in a gulp.
Ruby let out a weak whimper.
The euphoria multiplied but something else was getting mixed in. Something I didn't expect.
I felt like I was riding on clouds but that new feeling anchored me to earth.
I recognized it.
It was the monthly thing every omega had to go through.
It was my heat.
This heat wasn't like the normal ones I had to go through.
It was fiercer than ever and the warm feeling blossoming at my core spread through my body.
I gasped as I leaned all my weight on the countertop.
Whenever I had my heat, William always helped me with his pheromones. Mating could help the heat go away but I didn't chose that option. I wanted to wait for a special time to be together with William in a special joining.
Even when William' cold attitude started, he still consoled me with his pheromones monthly. I guess that gave me hope that there was still a way for our relationship to work.
This particular heat wasn't something that could be solved by an alpha releasing his pheromones or scent. I had to mate.
What was happening?
I only asked for a drink not an heat inducer.
Soon, it dawned on me that I had been set up.
"You! What did you do to me? Why did you tamper with my drink?" I asked with a growl. Anger laced my words.
"I did not do anything, I just gave you your order." The bartender replied with an innocent expression that did not do anything to hide the evil glee in his eyes.
I glared at the bartender but he shrugged me off.
The smile on his lips was too demeaning.
I tried to curb the effects of the heat but it wasn't working.
I knew I can never go against the bartender now. Putting the fact that I was incapable of doing anything to him in my current state, I dio not know the type of connections the bartender would have built in this club.
If I make a fuss here, I would only end up in worst situations.
I smiled wryly. It seemed my wish of giving every bit of myself away tonight was coming true in most unexpected ways.
Caleb appeared by my side.
His hand landed on my shoulder.
"Let me help you up. I can get you to a safer place." Caleb said with concern coloring his voice.
I was losing control of myself.
Mists gathered in my eyes and red color coated my cheeks and neck.
I shrugged his hand off with all the power I could muster at that moment.
"You planned this with the bartender. Why?" I said as I stared at him with an unfriendly gaze.
For some reason, the place his hand touched disgusted me. I wanted to tear that piece of flesh away.
I knew it was stupid to ask for his motive but I went ahead with it anyway.
I blamed myself for almost believing that Caleb meant well.
Caleb's green eyes shone with a depraved light, "I want you to be my woman. The person I, Alpha Caleb wants would always be mine. There is no second option."
His eyes reminded me of Rhodes.
Old anger merged with new fury.
I don't know where the power came from. I pushed him away from me roughly before staggering to my feet.
Caleb growled and my heat surged.
He released his pheromones. It was an attempt to subdue me through my heat.
His scent smelled like rotten oranges to me.
It wasn't attractive at all.
I ignored the blossoming heat within me and I stumbled into the dance floor.
I didn't know where I was going, I just wanted to be far from Alpha Caleb.
My face collided with a wall.
I looked closer.
I didn't collide with a wall, I had been stopped by a man.
His aura was confusing to me.
I felt like he was an alpha but alphas weren't made to be this strong. His aura showed me hints of his enormous powers.
His eyes was captivating. His left pupil had a red color that rivaled rubies and his other eye spotted a blue color that threatened to drown me.
Ruby said something but I was too preoccupied to notice.
The heat could not make my head function anymore.
I looked back.
Caleb stayed where he was. He was bowing his head in a humble way.
A scent washed over me and a sweet sound slipped from my throat.
The scent was made up of other scents that cohabitated well.
It was like a wind carrying multiple scents as it moved.
It smelled like comfort.
Since I was going to give away every part of myself away today, I chose him to be the one to be with.
He was everything I wanted.
I wrapped my arms around his waist as I leaned on him.
His body and scent calmed my heat a little.
I was going to give all the things I can offer this night to him.
My heat didn't allow me to think further.
His lips captivated me like a love curse.
I tightened my arms before leaning for the prize.
∆∆∆∆∆
Chapter 4
Ariana
The sun's rays settled on my face.
My consciousness cleared up.
I woke up and stretched a little. The tiny ache between my legs made me pause a little.
I observed my surroundings.
Elegant decorations filled the whole room with a low-key luxurious vibe.
This was a place that fits my former identity but it didn't match with the current person I am now.
I didn't remember coming to this place.
I paused and then, memories of what happened yesterday rushed into my mind.
I remembered everything.
William's betrayal and Rhodes' deceit.
I didn't miss a thing.
I got out of the bed in a quiet manner.
A large expanse of honey colored skin came into my sight.
It was the man that took my first time.
His powerful muscles seemed to be in a relaxed state.
The white bedsheets barely covered his powerful body. I wanted to lift the bedsheets and see the masterpiece it hid away.
Yesterday, I was in heat so I wasn't able to savor the night we spent together.
My heart throbbed and I wanted to get back in bed.
I wanted to cuddle with the stranger laying before me.
I stopped staring at the man. I did not give in to my urge.
He was someone I would never meet again.
There was no need for feelings.
What we had was a one night stand. There was nothing more, nothing less.
I met him at a club.
He should know what to expect.
Besides, after going through William's betrayal, I don't want to dive into the muddy waters of love again.
A single experience was enough for me.
If my fated mate could treat me this way, a stranger would treat me worse.
I trusted William, I loved William but this was the result.
I can't expect a stranger to do what my mate couldn't.
After getting into my wrinkled clothes, I walked to the door.
Although we had seen the most intimate parts of each other, I didn't want to face him when he was awake.
It was better to leave quietly with no traces.
I turned the doorknob but the door remained closed.
I began my search.
My efforts was rewarded. I saw the key on a small table near the bed.
I had wasted enough time in this place so I unlocked the door and stepped out.
I closed the door behind me gently.
I looked around for any straying eyes.
Men and women clothes in both luxurious and normal clothes walked pass me.
They didn't spare me another glance.
It seemed seeing a disheveled woman in this place was a normal occurrence.
When I left the room, I discovered that this was an hotel.
A very luxurious and up-end hotel.
The stranger that brought me here must be a man of status and wealth.
I discarded any unnecessary thoughts from my mind as I walked towards the hotel's exit.
His wealth and status didn't have anything to do with me.
Nothing is between us and nothing would tie us together after I leave.
I walked out of the hotel briskly.
Unconsciously, my legs led me to the nearest bus station.
Then, I caught myself.
The bus was going to William's place.
The place I considered my safe haven wasn't my home anymore.
I was stranded with no place to call home.
I shook my head and pulled myself together.
The pedestrians passed by side without stopping.
It felt like time stopped but it was only for me.
Other people continued doing what they had to do.
I was the strange one.
I inhaled and exhaled slowly.
I had left my identity for love. It was time to go back.
I never thought of going back home before.
Going back home means I acknowledged that my vision and choice was wrong.
I'm the past, I despised that thought so I sealed off anything pertaining to my former identity.
Things had changed.
I was going to make Rhodes and William pay.
Everything they took from me, I was going to get back.
I didn't have anywhere to stay so I had to act fast.
I brought my phone out.
The battery was dead.
I saw a phone booth near the bus station.
I walked to the public phone booth.
∆∆∆
I paid the fee for the call before takimg a deep.breath.
I grabbed the phone from its perch and dialled one of the numbers I had tried to forget.
A person shoved past me quickly.
Something dropped into my arms.
It was a golden bag with extravagant design.
From one glance, I could tell that the bag was very expensive.
"Hey—" I called out to stop the person that collided with me.
I stopped talking when the person didn't stop.
The man vanished into the crowd a minute later.
Having a stranger's stuff around was the recipe for disaster.
I planned to drop the bag near the phone booth.
Before I could put my plan in motion, a noisy commotion broke out to my left.
The man that dropped the expensive bag went towards my right.
"Catch her! She's a thief! She stole my bag." A female voice yelled in a shrill time.
The voice rang a bell.
It was a voice I was very familiar with.
The owner of the voice stepped out on all her glory.
It was Rhodes.
Four men was standing behind her with a ferocious posture.
Two out of the men had gruesome scars on their faces. The scars increased their danger level tremendously.
The four men were betas but their aura was overpowering.
It was obvious that they had been trained with blood and battles.
There are not the kind of person an omega like me can face.
It was humiliating to talk in a appeasing way to her enemy but Ariana didn't have any other options.
She didn't want a debt she didn't create on her hands.
Right now, she was a fugitive.
She had no home and place to go.
The person she was going to call was her last hope.
Ariana took a deep breath before sighing.
"I didn't steal anything. The thief threw this into my arms after hitting me by mistake." Ariana explained before throwing the bag to knew of the men.
Rhodes words and voice had attracted attention from the crowd.
This wasn't the conclusion that Ariana wanted to see.
Arian looked towards the crowd to see if anybody would speak up.
Nobody said anything.
Ariana didn't know of anyone saw the thief pass a bag to her.
Now, it was Rhodes' words against hers.
The painful thing was that Rhodes had momentum by her side.
"He's your accomplice! Don't try to pretend like it has nothing to deal with you. I am not going to let you go scot-free." Rhodes sneered.
Right then and there, Rhodes' plan became as clear as day to Ariana.
Rhodes wanted to pin a crime on her. Her rival wanted to use a justifiable reason to bring her away from this place.
She didn't know what Rhodes planned for her but it wasn't going to be anything good.
The maliciousness in Rhodes' green eyes told Ariana the obvious truth.
She must not let Rhodes take her away from here.
Right now, she was powerless.
Staying here was her only chance to turn things around.
"I didn't steal anything! I don't know how else to say it. If you keep wasting time here, the real thief would get away. Besides, you got your stuff back." Ariana said before turning around.
She picked the public phone again.
Rhodes snorted, "That's what a thief would say. I am not going to let you go like this. The daughter of a thief would always be a thief."
Ariana's eyes chilled.
"Say that again. Insult me all you what but stay away from my family. They are not worthy of staying in that dirty mouth of yours." Ariana slipped through gritted teeth.
Somehow, she felt like Rhodes wanted to stop her from making this call so she increased her movement.
I keyed the numbers in quickly.
The difference between life and death was before my eyes.
I had to try my best!
The phone began to ring.
I had dialled my father's personal phone number.
If I dialled the business number, my help wouldn't come quick.
"Seize her!" Rhodes instructed in a fierce voice.
Somehow, I felt like I heard a little tremble beneath her overbearing voice.
The four men around her launched into action.
They dashed to where I was in just a few steps.
Their arms grabbed me and the public phone slipped from my hand.
I struggled with all my might but the arms holding me felt like reenforced steel. I couldn't find a breakthrough point.
Despair clouded my mind but I shook it off quickly.
This wasn't the time to wallow in my misery.
I refused to go down like this.
"Help! This people are kidnappers!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I increased my struggles.
Some men and women took a step forward.
"Please, help! Don't let her take me away." I continued my words in a rush.
One of the men clamped his hand very my mouth.
His large palms left little semas.
I wasn't able to speak anymore.
Short sounds came from my mouth.
Unfortunately, the words didn't form.