Her Alpha's Sweet Traps

(Los Angeles, California).

11:24 PM, 2012.

~Eliana~

As I drove my Mercedes Benz, a 1990 model passed down from my sister, through the streets of Los Angeles, high on alcohol and weed, I turned up the volume of the music, "Teenage Dream," which was used as an excuse to have teen sex and just feel good without feeling guilty, like every other wild sexdriven teenager in America.

Candice was vigorously kissing her idiot boyfriend, Nick, in the backseat. I cast a sidelong glance at them, seeing the poor guy, who could only boast of owning two shirts, pull off her pink underwear and drop his tongue on her vagina, making her cry out loud, yearning for more of what she was feeling.

“Eyes on the road, Eliana,” Sam, who was in the passenger seat, said.

“My eyes are on the road, Sam. Where else?” I asked rhetorically, as I continued to speed up the aging car, like I was anchoring it into its demise and final exit from the earth.

“You only live once" and “Life is short", were the popular phrases my friends and I lived by. We were just focused on living in the moment, and living our lives to the fullest, and in several years from now, I’d come to appreciate that we had lived the way we did, because not all of us got the chance to live that life again.

“Wanna make out?” Sam asked.

I shot a look in his direction, and I could see his penis pointing out, and I giggled at the sight of that. Candice and Nick were making him horny apparently, and if I were being honest, I also was in the mood to feel sexual pleasure.

While my brain told me to tell him no, my body wanted something else. Hence; my car screeched to a halt, and I bit my lower lip flirtatiously, and with a wink, drew Sam by his collar to myself.

“Now, that’s the spirit,” Candice said with a chuckle, before going back to moaning and screaming off our ears.

Sam crushed his lips on mine. It was warm; inviting, and I responded, with my lips telling him not to stop. He slid his tongue into my mouth, and one by one, I unbuttoned his shirt, pulling myself closer to him.

He unzipped the dress that I had worn to prom and undid my bra. I helped him unhook his belt, and enclosed my palm on his manhood, about to give him the naughtiest blowjob ever. He trembled before me, and began moaning, while stroking my hair, whispering a lot of sweetnothings.

“You’re truly the best,” He said.

I giggled. “It’s not like you’ve had any except me,” I said in response.

“Whatever. I’m sure no one could ever beat you in this, he said, sliding my satin panties down, circling his finger around my vagina, sending my heart racing faster, as I moaned softly. He thrust his index finger into it, and brought it out, and while I was maintaining my cool since he was doing it so slowly, I couldn’t help but start moaning louder, as he began to repeat the process more rapidly, making me wet all over.

I wanted him...in me.

Spreading my legs wider; one on the car's glove compartment, and the other on the passenger seat, I begged him to give me an orgasm as I couldn’t wait anymore. He smiled like he had accomplished a big victory, and stroked his penis, then as the tension in the car built up gradually, he inserted his dick into my vagina, and began riding me better than he had ever done in the past.

I moaned, savouring the ecstasy he had given to me on a platter of gold, begging him to go harder and faster on me, because I really wanted him.

“I swear to God, Eliana, I love you,” He said.

“What did you say?” I inquired, making sure he hadn’t said what I thought I heard.

“I said I love you,” He said.

From the look of things, Candice and Nick had also stopped grinding, and were eager to know what would happen next. They were the only ones who acknowledged the fact that Sam and I had no boyfriend and girlfriend relationship whatsoever with each other.

“You’re saying that because the sex is good, right?” I asked.

He heaved a deep sigh. “Actually, I’ve always wanted to tell you that...”

“Stop! Stop, okay? I don’t want to hear any more of it,” I thundered.

Sam licked his lips. “I’m sorry. It’s just that in a few weeks from now, we’d all be off to college and I wanted you to know how I feel before then,” He said.

“Well, you chose the wrong time to bring it up,” I said.

“Eliana"

“Get off me,” I said.

“You can’t be serious,” He said.

“Well, I am serious. Get the fuck off me,” I requested harshly.

He put his hands up in surrender, and got away from me, just as I had requested.

I didn’t feel horny anymore. I just wanted to get the hell out of here, go home and crawl up in my sheets, wondering why I was scared of being loved by anyone.

Ten minutes later, I had successfully managed to put on my dress and had begun driving off again. Initially, we had wanted to go to the club behind the motel, but after what had happened, Candice had decided that it was best if we all just went home. I’m sure they were all angry at me and hated me for being such a bitch, but I didn’t care.

It just didn’t make sense, and aside from his confession being a hard thing to process, it was probably going to destroy our friendship.

As the car sped in the cold dark lonely road, no one said a word and probably just had several things going through their minds. Suddenly and without warning, a huge man popped out in the streets, in front of my car, and I managed to step on the brakes as quickly as I could, but not without knocking him off the road.

“Oh my god!” I screamed out, panicking.

“Good Lord! What have you done?” Nick asked.

“I...Did I just kill somebody?” I asked, trembling with my heart beating ten times faster than it usually did.

“Hey, stay calm. Let’s just get out of the car and see what happened,” Sam said, squeezing my hand, helping me calm down a bit.

“Guys, look!” Candice said with a spark of fear in her voice, pointing at the windshield.

Slowly, we all looked in the direction in which she had pointed, and to our greatest dismay, saw a gorillalike human standing on his two feet, partly covered in black fur, with eyes that had a white glow. His mouth widened and his teeth shot out, looking like he wanted to eat us all up.

“Please, tell me I’m dreaming,” Candice said, in a shaky voice.

My lips quivered and I swallowed hard. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Sam prick his arm, apparently praying for what we were seeing to be just one of those nightmares you couldn’t wait to wake up from.

“What do you think it is?” Nick asked, somehow managing to remain calm, even during a crisis, such as this one.

“I don’t know. A gorilla?” I responded, very unsure of my suggestion.

He scoffed. “Looks like a werewolf to me,” He said.

“Werewolves aren’t real,” Sam and I said in unison, throwing his idea under the bus.

Candice was too stunned to speak, and just kept shivering like someone who was suffering from a bad cold.

The animal remained there panting, and staring at us with cold eyes. I knew it was only a matter of time before it ate us up alive, but I was soon going to find out that it didn’t want us to be his supper. He just wanted to end us.

I took out my phone, and dialled my dad’s number, just as the beast took up the car in his bare hands, leaving us hanging in the air for a moment.

Our highpitched screams filled the air and we yelled our lungs out.

“Ellie?” My dad’s voice came over the phone's speaker.

“Dad, it’s a gorilla,” I yelled.

“You fool. It’s a werewolf!” Nick voiced out loud.

“What are you kids saying? Is this another one of your pranks?” My dad hollered.

Before any of us could give him a response, the beast threw the car in the North, sending the car landing with a thud.

My car was still intact. It was the oldest car alive, but hadn’t yet been ripped apart, despite all that it had been through.

“What are you waiting for, Eliana? Drive!” Sam yelled.

Luckily, the car had landed on all four wheels, and I stepped on the brakes, turning the key in the ignition, and started driving. How the car managed to still move is something I’d never know, but at the time, I was grateful it did.

We heard the heavy footsteps of the beast approach us, and I shook my head, even as I drove as speedily as I could, knowing in my heart that we were all done for.

“Hey, about what you said earlier...” I started, casting a brief glance on Sam, before focusing once again on the road.

“Now’s not the time, Eliana,” He yelled.

A tear slid down my cheek. “We may never get a chance again. I love you, too. I always have,” I said.

He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, the animal that had attacked us for no just cause, held the trunk of the car, and started pushing it.

I was in a state of panic, and I had no control over the car again.

“Let’s just get out, and run for our lives,” Sam said, unfastening his seat belt.

“What?”

“I agree with Sam. It’s better than being driven into that big tree, because that’s where I think we’re headed,” Nick said.

“Okay, then. Let’s go,” I said, and immediately, Sam and I opened our respective doors, and ran out of the car.

Candice and Nick probably thought we’d never make it out alive, and while they were giving their goodbye kisses to each other whereas Sam and I were already out of the car, the beast successfully drove the car into the tree, and I think something in the car came loose, because it caught fire and in a matter of two seconds, the car exploded.

“Candice!” I screamed out loud, unable to believe my eyes.

I decided to run back to the car in order to save my best friend and her boyfriend, but Sam stopped me.

“It’s already too late. We need to go,” He said, pulling my hand.

“No, you don’t understand,” I said to him.

“Then, make me understand...After we get out of here!” He thundered, and reluctantly, I began to run away with him.

The beast's heavy footsteps sounded heavily behind us, and in a split second, he drew me by the ankle, lifted me high in the air, tightened his hand around my neck, strangling me and digging his claws into my throat, then shoved me into the woods by the east. I hit the stump of a tree, and I began to bleed from my head, coupled with the amount of blood I was losing from my neck.

I gasped for air, but it felt like I was choking, and slowly, my spirit was leaving my body. It was like I was being pulled away from the realms of the earth, but even though I was weak, something in me didn’t want to just watch it all fall apart.

A tear slid down my face as my breath slowed down, despite my body’s will to live.

Someone, anyone, save me. If I’m to die, let me do so after I’ve lived.

That day, I think someone heard the prayer of my weak heart, as a tall muscular person towered above me, just right at that moment.

I was awake, but with a hazy vision. I wanted to tell him to help me out, but I couldn’t speak, so I let my tears flow freely instead.

He crouched to his knees, and let out a sigh, then clasped his hands around my neck. Maybe he had come to finish me off, I wondered, but then, a warm soothing feeling embraced my body, and I didn’t feel like I was dying anymore... I felt alive.

I saw him stagger backwards, and he seemed weak. What had he done to me? Why wasn’t I dying anymore? Had I made him weak?

“Why’d you save her life?” I heard a female voice ask.

“Because she’s the key,” He responded.

I wanted to make sense out of what I had heard, but couldn’t, because as soon as I saw what was definitely a smirk playing around his lips, my eyes gave way to sleep.

10 years later

~Alistair~

I picked up the small picture frame, which showed my foster parents smiling broadly. Dad’s hands were wrapped around mum’s waist, and they looked incredibly happy together. They had always loved each other; little wonder they had died while holding hands. None of them would have been able to survive without the other.

Dropping the picture frame on my desk, my eyes caught another frame hanging from a nail on the wall. I took calculated steps towards where it hung loosely from the nail, and was likely to fall in any given minute from now. It was a bigger frame, and it was a picture of myself, and my foster parents, who had died in a car accident exactly a year ago. I halfsmiled as I stared longingly at the photograph, before adjusting it, so that it was firm on the wall.

The police couldn’t find anyone or anything related to me, and Mrs Caroline Duke, a devout Christian, was sure that I had been sent by an angel to her. She and her husband had been skeptical about adopting a child after failing to have a child of their own, but when I had just showed up in front of their mansion, they decided it was time.

I heaved a sigh, and took my eyes off the picture, deciding to not think any more of the past, but of the present. Staring at that picture had brought about sweet old memories, but had also left a disturbing hole in my heart.

“Alistair?” I heard Jenny's voice call.

I turned around, and nodded at her, acknowledging her presence.

“Don’t think about it too much. You’ll be fine,” She said, with a concerned look plastered on her face.

“Think about what? Do you even know what’s on my mind?” I asked, feigning pretence.

“I may not know what’s on your mind, but I can sense that all is not well with you,” She said.

I bit my lower lip. “I just really wish that I had taken that family photograph that mum kept desiring. Anytime she’d ask, I’d just say I’m busy, and we still have all the time in the world to take as many pictures as she wanted. I was wrong, and now, the only family picture we ever took is this one...” I pointed at the frame on the wall. “...this one we took when I was seven years old.”

“It’s not your fault you thought you had all the time in the world, you know. Who thought you’d lose your parents just like that?”

I heaved a deep sigh again. “You’re right. I should stop beating myself up about it.”

“Exactly,” She said, with a smile, then walked closer to me.

“Do you think they’re proud of me though?” I asked, as she started helping me to button the white shirt I had on.

“They were always proud of you. They’d even be more proud of you in their graves. I mean, look at how well you’ve handled the company,” She said, licking her lips lustfully.

“You’re right, but you know something? I’ll never believe that the accident happened just like that. It seemed like it was planned,” I said.

She scoffed. “Here you again. Who do you think would have planned a car accident for your parents, who were loved by everyone?” She asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe"

“Sweetheart, there’s no maybe. You either have proof to back up your allegation, or you keep it to yourself,” Jenny said, touching my lips with her fingers.

“You think I’m wrong?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I’m just saying. Methamphetamine was found in the driver’s blood if you recall, and of course, you do recall. We have the best memories after all,” She said, then crushed her lips on mine.

I kissed her back, then slowly slid my hands to her ass, groping it intensely, and kissing her longingly. She pushed me to the bed, unbuttoning the shirt she had just buttoned up less than a minute ago. I turned her over, making her lay beneath me, and I proceeded to kiss her neck, making her moan softly, pulling me closer. I was about to peel off her dress from her skin, when I felt claws, not nails, digging my back roughly.

I pushed her away, and stood to my feet hurriedly. I started buttoning my shirt all over again, as she looked at me apologetically, controlling her claws to be invisible once more.

“I’m sorry,” She said.

“It’s not your fault, Jenny. It’s just the stupid full moon,” I said, then reached out to her, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“But you remain the same, even during full moons as if nothing has changed,” She objected.

“You and I are not the same, Jenny. Besides, it also took me several years to fully control my emotions during the full moon. Back then, I’d chain myself in the attic, so my parents wouldn’t find out. However, I mastered it with time. All it takes is time. Soon, you’ll be in charge of who you are and what you want to do,” I told her.

“Sure?” She asked.

I nodded in the affirmative, shooting a small smile in her direction.

“Thanks,” She said, then sat up, adjusting her dress.

“I don’t think you should still come with me today though,” I told her, grabbing my black suit and jacket.

“Come on. I’ll be able to control myself, I promise,” Jenny said.

“Like how you controlled yourself when that goodfornothing waitress mistakenly spilled milkshake on your dress?” I teased.

She chortled, and put her hands up in surrender. “Fine. You’ve made your point.”

“I always do make my point,” I said, with a wink.

She stood up, cupped my face in her palms, and drowned me in another one of her passionate kisses, and circling my hands around her waist, I responded to her kiss, inserting my tongue into her mouth, and pressing her chest to mine, arousing a deep sexual urge within her.

About five minutes later, she broke the kiss and looked me in the eyes, still with that same concerned look. “Just be safe, okay?”

“I will be safe,” I told her, nodded at her as some form of acknowledgement, then walked out of my living room.

“Let’s take the Gwagon,” I announced to the driver, immediately I stepped into the garage.

The poor man looked like he had been waiting for hours, and would have absconded and given up on waiting for me, if his salary wasn’t mouthwatering.

He nodded his head, then suddenly pointed at my collar, trying so hard to stifle a laugh.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, then looked at the collar of my shirt, only to find out that Jenny's strawberryflavoured peach lipstick had stained it.

I rolled my eyes, super annoyed because I warned her all the time to avoid the use of lipsticks, whenever she knew she wanted to have sex with me.

“I’ll never understand women’s obsessiveness with makeup, will I?” I asked aloud.

The driver, Mr Coleman, gave a small smile. “Not all women apply makeup,” He said.

“Hopefully, I’ll find one someday,” I said, then entered into the car, whose door had been held by the driver.

It was the day of my parents’ remembrance, and I just wanted to drop off some flowers, and spend sometime at their graveside, in peace and serenity. That was why I was leaving around 5:30 in the evening, when no one would be around, and I could dwell in the serene environment and feel the presence of my parents.

However, when the car pulled over at the cemetery, I was surprised with the fact that a car was packed just at the entrance. Who the hell was still around and couldn’t just leave me alone to be with my parents?

Swallowing hard, I heaved a deep sigh, counselling myself to not think so much of the matter, and that everyone deserved to see their loved ones whenever they pleased. I’d have asked Mr Coleman to just turn around, so we could just be on our way, but it was a necessity for me to say hi to my parents today since it was the day of their remembrance.

Mr Coleman rushed to open the door, motioning for me to alight.

I picked up the flowers that Jenny had bought oh my behalf, and the bottle of whisky I had taken from the house, and stepped out of the car.

“I’ll be back soon. Just sit in the car and wait for me,” I told Mr Coleman, and took quick strides to where my parents' graves were located.

It was definitely not a worker's car that was packed outside, as my eyes caught her, sitting on a bench five steps away from where I stood, sipping a glass of what was definitely alcohol.

Her long brown hair fluttered in the wind, and my heart began to beat faster. It was as though my heart remembered who she was, as it raced fast, even before I got a chance to look at her.

It was impossible for someone to stare at you for sometime, without you knowing that someone’s eyes was definitely on you. I had forgotten about this fact, because I kept staring at her, and before I could dart my eyes away, she turned her head slowly, and her eyes rested on me.

It wasn’t the first time we were meeting as I could vividly remember she looked the same way as she did ten years ago, except that she was now an older version of the girl who had been struggling for her life back then, and was on the verge of giving up, until I had showed up and given her a second chance at life.

Her scent was still the same, and maybe that’s why my heart had raced the way it did. It was because I had come in contact with her after so many years.

She stood up, and while I was expecting her to throw an offended look in my way and scream that I was either a pervert or a stalker, she unexpectedly smiled broadly at me, her dimples sending a tingling sensation down my spine.

I swallowed hard. Was it possible that she remembered me? Why was she smiling instead of getting annoyed that a total stranger had been staring at her for no reason at all? Was she thankful that I had saved her life ten years ago?

The tension in the air built up as her adorable puppylike brown eyes met my cold blue eyes, and for some reason, neither of us let go of holding each other's eyes.

Instead of dwelling in the awkward silence that bewitched the environment, I walked slowly towards her, and stretched out my hand for a handshake with her.

Her smile broadened, as she took my hand, thereby shaking hands with me. Her palm was soft, and felt warm.

“Hi. I’m Alistair Duke, and who’s this graceful lady I’ve been honoured to come across?” I asked, a mischievous smirk playing around my lips.

“I am Eliana Venator,” She said, with a smile that depicted innocence.

Eliana Venator... I had never ever thought in my wildest imagination that I would meet her again in this manner, or in a place that smelled so much like death. Although meeting her again was far from the timing I had had in mind, I was glad the universe had brought her along at the time I really wanted to pour out my anger on the whole world. She’d never know what hit her.

~Eliana~

It was for that reason that I had gone through therapy for a year, and when I didn’t change my story about what had happened, and how what I had finally agreed to be a werewolf had attacked my friends and I for no just cause, everyone assumed I was going crazy, and never even tried to believe a thing about what I said had happened ten years ago.

I took a sip of the glass of alcohol by my side, crossing my legs.

Someone’s eyes were on me... I could feel it.

It was probably just another one of the spies my dad sent out to make sure I was safe from a far distance, even though I had told him countless times that I was fine on my own.

I turned my head slowly to make sure I caught his gaze just in time and without warning, before he could hide, and once again, make me question if I was sane and in my right senses.

When I caught his eyes though, it was quite obvious that he was no spy, because none of the spies my dad ever hired were goodlooking like the one standing just five feet away from where I sat. He had fair skin, pink lips that I so badly wanted to kiss even though I didn’t know him, and straight jelled black hair. His sparkling blue eyes didn’t dart away, not even for a second, and he seemed awed by me.

It had been very long since a guy last got awestruck by me, or maybe not, but this was the one I had noticed in so many years. I didn’t know why, but my lips gave way to a smile. I should have yelled and asked why he was staring at me, but instead, I smiled at him. Was it my fault though? Was I wrong for being completely mesmerised by him? I mean, who wouldn’t be held spellbound by a guy that looked this good?

I stood to my feet, still smiling broadly as he made his way towards me, with fine calculated steps, that made my heart start racing fast, which was not usual in every sense of the word.

“Hi. I’m Alistair Duke, and who’s this graceful lady I’ve been honoured to come across?” He asked, extending his hand for a handshake, which I took gracefully.

“I am Eliana Venator,” I said, with the smile never leaving my lips.

He released my hand, and gave a halfsmile. “What are you doing here all by yourself?” He asked.

I cleared my throat, trying not to be noisy in doing so. “I... um... I just came to say hello to my...” Pointing at their graves which were close to each other, I added, “...friends.”

“Friends?” He asked, looking confused.

I gave a nervous chuckle, nodding my head in the affirmative. “Surprised because there’s an ‘s’?” I asked.

“Yeah, I am,” He honestly said.

I swallowed, and stared at my feet for a while, before looking back at him. “I was involved in a car accident with my friends...three of them...and only I survived,” I explained.

“What the Jeez! That must have been really hard for you,” He said, expressing a look of worry on his face.

“Yeah. I still think about it every single day. I can never get over it, Mr Duke. They were all I had in the whole world, and it’s been so unimaginably painful to live without them,” I said.

“I’m sorry about all you’ve been through, I really am,” He said.

I forced a smile. “It’s not your fault,” I said.

“So, how long has it been?” He asked.

“Today makes it ten years, but it still feels like it happened only just yesterday. I’ve never really been able to move on,” I told him.

“No one ever really moves on from shitty things like that. You know what’s surprising though?”

“What?”

He shrugged. “Today’s also my parents’ death anniversary,” He said.

“Oh my goodness! So, that’s what the flowers are for?” I rhetorically asked.

“No, they’re for you,” He responded, with a clear sarcasm.

I chuckled. “I’m so sorry about what happened with your parents. Has it been long?”

“No. It happened a year ago. Car accident,” He responded.

I shook my head, sadly. “Isn’t it funny how we all feel so happy when we get a car, but could reach the end of our lives in that same car?”

“It truly is funny. You strike me as a smart woman,” He said.

“I do?” I asked, wondering if there was another person present in the cemetery apart from me, who he could possibly be talking to.

“You do, or am I wrong?” He asked, giving me a look that sent butterflies dancing in my stomach.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Everyone around me just seems to have a different opinion,” I said, hinting that it was probably the first time someone said that I was smart.

He held me by the shoulders. “Well, everyone around you must be wrong,” He said, wearing a halfsmile again.

“Thank you. You should go see your parents. I’ll just go home,” I said.

“You’re right, I can’t believe I almost forgot. Believe me when I say that I wish we didn’t have to part, but there’s nothing we could possibly do. I’ll see you around,” He said.

I gave him a small smile, then as quickly as he had come, I watched him walk away, and soon, he was out of my sight.

He’d see me around? Seriously? Where would he ever see me? He should have just asked for my number, goddammit!

A small feeling of anger surged through me and I just picked up my purse, then walked off, with many thoughts going on in my head as to why Mr Alistair Duke had just left when I had told him to, without so much as a kiss on the hand, and without bothering to ask for my number, because he obviously didn’t want to ever see me again.

Perhaps, he hadn’t enjoyed our conversation. I was just so bad at making long interesting conversations with people, but for once, I really tried to have one with him, because I felt he was worth the effort. I didn’t even tell him that a wild animal we had never seen again was the reason for my friends’ death; I had simply told him that we had been involved in a car accident, in order to be taken seriously for once.

“Shoot!” I exclaimed, upon getting outside and discovering that Davies, my driver was nowhere to be found.

I took out my phone to dial his number to order him to come back as quickly as he could from whatever tavern he had found himself in.

The message that greeted me as I turned on my phone, however, read:

“Received a call that my mother choked on something, and was rushed to the hospital. I’m sorry, ma’am."

I rolled my eyes, clenching my fists hard as the anger in me multiplied four times over, and tried my best to be calm. The idiot had practically left my keys on the driver’s seat. I mean, what if someone had stolen my precious baby? It was a White Maserati, and I had only just gotten it last year as a birthday present.

I sat in my car and touched the steering wheel, and my fingers trembled. It had been so long since I had touched a steering wheel, because I just couldn’t drive a car after that incident.

“You strike me as a smart woman,” Mr Duke’s voice echoed in my head.

A tear slid down my cheek as I remembered the only encouraging thing someone had said to me in a very long time.

“I can do it. I can do it.”

Those three words didn’t make a difference like it usually did in movies, as even though I tried to convince myself that I could actually pull off driving a car after ten long years, my hands failed me.

The memory of our car being tossed in the air like it was nothing filled my head. I was hyperventilating, and I was shaking all over. Tears formed in my eyes as I remembered trying to flee for my life with Sam, while Candice and Nick were getting burnt to ashes.

I heard a tap on my window, and fearfully turned around to see it was, with my heart beating rapidly, afraid that I may see the creature that had haunted me a decade ago.

“Are you fine?” He asked, staring deeply into my eyes, as if to make sure I was fine.

I wanted to nod my head as a positive response to his question. Instead, I shook my head profusely, as the tears that had been threatening to fall came rushing down in torrents.

In that moment, he opened the door to the driver’s seat, pulled me by the arm, and placed his hands on my shoulders, as a means of trying to calm my nerves down.

“Try to breathe,” He said.

I opened my mouth trying to get air, but I couldn’t stop myself from just shaking like a leaf being blown by a cold wind, as my heart pounded with fear.

“Inhale and exhale, please,” He said, expressing a look of concern, staring into my eyes.

I drew in deep breaths and exhaled three times, and I was beginning to get a grip of myself.

“You’ll be fine, okay?”

I nodded slowly.

“Er do you need me to do anything for you?”

“Anything?” I managed to ask.

“Yes, anything. What should I do to make you feel better?” He asked.

Impulsively, I wrapped my arms around him, and just when my brain told me that I shouldn’t have done that, he pulled me closer into a tight embrace, and made sure my head was buried in his chest, then started patting my hair slowly.

With him, I felt safe, and I wanted to remain in his arms, comforted by his warm embrace. I really didn’t want to ruin his suit with my tears, but I couldn’t hold my tears back, and started sobbing quietly, while he held me close to him, like he was never going to let me go.

~Eliana~

Let it out. It’s okay to cry when you want to. Don’t keep your feelings bottled. Pain never truly goes away if it’s just stuck in your heart. When you give in to tears, you give out your pain. I’ll ne right here till you’re done with letting go of the pain that is making you cry this much, so, feel free to pour out your tears and soak my shirt. You’ll be just fine at the end,” He said.

As true as his words were, they were of no use to me at the time. I raised my head, and pulled back from him a little. His arms were still around my waist, and we stared deeply into each other’s eyes.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yes, I am. It’s just... I don’t think I’m ready to stop feeling this pain yet. If I let go of the pain that made me cry so much, maybe I’d forget about Candice, Nick and Sam, but I’m not ready to forget about them just yet. They died, which is way worse than the pain I’m feeling. People say I’m lucky I survived, but they also deserved to live as well. That’s why I bear the pain in my heart every single day, so I won’t feel like their lives didn’t matter,” I explained.

“Um...”

I let go of him, and shook my head nervously, then wiped my tears with the back of my palm. “You probably don’t get it. I’m sorry. I’m sure you think I’m crazy right now,” I said, trying to brush off what I had said.

He wore a halfsmile again, and cupped my cheeks in his palms. “I don’t think you’re crazy at all. To me, you’re a really good friend with a good heart, and I get it. When you’re ready, let it go, and if you’re never ready, it still doesn’t make you crazy,” He said, his gaze never leaving mine even for one second.

I swallowed hard as I also continued to look into his eyes, unable to look elsewhere. Slowly, I reached out to him and placed my hand on his neck, a new emotion called passion, rushing through me.

He tilted his head, and slowly, brought his face closer to mine. Promptly, my eyes shut close, expecting a kiss from a total stranger.

A tingling sensation pricked my heart when his pink kissable lips finally came upon mine, fuelled by passion and an intense sensual desire. He moved his lips against mine, and his tongue found a way into my mouth, and I dug into his as well, touching; exploring the sweet savoury goodness that he had.

I wanted him... I craved him like a drug I was addicted to, not until he bit my neck, and his nails dug into my ass.

I released a gasp from my mouth, but he was probably clueless as to what had happened, and why I still wanted him to continue with the good job he was performing, I couldn’t withstand the pain any much long, especially when I perceived blood, and felt it dripping from my neck, and from my ass unto my legs.

Immediately, I let go of him, fear taking over the initial emotion of sexual desire.

“Who are you? What have you done to me?” I asked, my heart pounding excessively with fear.

He bit his lower lip, looking like he was searching for answers.

“You’re not human, are you?” I asked, my psychic and inquisitive nature taking charge of the situation.

He spontaneously looked at me, and I could see him clench his fists, with a look that hinted that he was angry that he had been caught.

I folded my arms underneath my breasts, and scoffed, with a defiant look written all over my face, and a smirk playing around my lips, waiting to hear his explanation which I was sure would be a total lie, but how good of a liar was he? I’d like to know.

~Alistair~

She had this look on her face that told that she knew that something was definitely up. Fuck me! Why the hell had I groped her with reckless abandon, and ended up sinking my claws deep into her fleshy and round butt? Actually, no. Fuck the full moon! It always ruins everything no matter how hard I try to control it.

“I’m still waiting for an explanation,” She said, as a kind of reminder, with her arms folded under her breasts.

Honestly, right now, I’d like to see them without any stupid fabric covering them up.

“What are you looking at?” She asked, tightening her arms under her breasts, suddenly becoming selfconscious.

“Er"

“Are you actually looking at my boobs in a time like this?” She asked, shaking her head to express her disappointment.

“No, it’s...it’s not like that"

“It’s not like that? Really? Then, what’s it like?” She asked, cutting in.

“Hey, I’m sorry, okay? You don’t need to take this matter too far,” I said, then regretted it almost immediately, because the statement I had made didn’t even seem like I was trying to offer an apology.

She scoffed. “Well, now, I’m going to take this matter way too far, farther than you could possibly imagine,” She said, with a tone that screamed of determination.

I rolled my eyes, wondering why I had even succumbed to kissing her in the first place. “Just calm down, please,” He said.

“This is how I’m going to explain what you’ve done to my lawyer. First of all, you kissed me...”

“Are you nuts? That was consensual,” I argued.

“Fine then. Go ahead and report everything to the police, and sue me to court if you must. I don’t care,” I said, unwilling to trade words with a nutjob like her, and turned around, heading towards my car which was packed a little further than hers.

“You think I’m joking, don’t you? You seem to not have any idea as to whom my parents are. I’ll see you in court, Mr Alistair Duke,” She called after me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the anger that was surging through me, then turned back to face her.

“I may not know who your parents are, but I know that they’re alive. Good for you,” I said, as a mere intention to poke at her conscience, then continued walking to my car.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry,” She yelled, when I had gotten to the door of my car.

Unbelievable! A woman actually saying sorry? Now, that’s the definition of a rare gem. I had guessed that she’d call me back after I deliberately reminded her that I was an orphan , but I never expected her to actually apologise.

I stood by my car, not turning around.

I heard her footsteps draw closer to where I was, and I just stood still, continuing to play the victim’s card.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was hers...warm, soft, soothing and relaxing.

“I’m sorry, Mr Duke,” She said, and came in front of me, giving me a puppy face.

A smile tugged at the left end of my mouth. Oh, human beings. How gullible they can be!

“I should be the one apologising. I hurt you,” I said, trying my best to sound modest.

She shook her head, dismissively. “You may have caused me physical damage, but the words I said pierced your heart, and everyone knows that a wound in the heart takes so much time to heal, even though no one can actually see it,” She said.

I felt my heart melt at the words she said, and how sweet her voice sounded.

“Thanks for understanding,” He said.

“It’s not a problem. J was actually expecting you to um... spend some more time with your...you know, your parents,” She said.

I licked my lips. “I realised I didn’t get a chance to ask you for your number, and who knows? There may be several Eliana Venator(s) on Facebook,” I said.

She chuckled. “You know what’s funny though? I’m not on any Social media platform, so...”

“...So, I’d have wasted my time in searching,” I said, helping her to complete her statement, then we both burst into a hearty laughter.

As fake as everything else was, the laughter was real. I hadn’t laughed in so long, and when I did but, it was all a pretence, but there was something about the way Eliana laughed. It made my heart sink, and made me laugh as well, even though I couldn’t get what was so funny.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. I don’t even know how that happened. There were too many emotions which got heightened, and I don’t know...I just sort of lost control,” I said, giving her a sincere explanation, hoping she’d actually believe me because I sure as hell wasn’t telling a lie.

She wore a small smile on her face. “It’s okay. Just don’t keep long fingernails anymore,” She said.

“I won’t, I promise,” I said, glad that she had believed me.

“However, there’s a price you have to pay in exchange for my forgiveness,” She said, wearing a toothed grin.

“I’m listening,” I said, wondering what her request might be.

“You have to drive me home,” She said.

“Wait, what?” I honestly did not see that one coming.

“My driver had to leave due to an emergency, and I am too disoriented to drive right now,” She explained.

“Okay then. I’ll have my driver drop you off at your house. I’m glad that I’ll get to spend more time with you,” I told her.

She let out a chuckle. “Thank you so very much. I’ll go get my purse and my keys. I’d send someone to get the car tomorrow morning,” She said, then began to walk off.

I held her by the handing, preventing her momentarily from going further, and our eyes met each other. Her pulse was racing and I could hear her heart beat loudly as seconds ran past us. Our eyes were locked in each other, and I couldn’t just look away, not until we heard Mr Coleman clear his throat.

Immediately, I let go of her hand like someone who had been caught in a bad act, and we looked away from each other awkwardly.

“I’ll go get your purse and keys, miss ,” Mr Coleman said, opening the backseat door for Eliana to get in.

“Thanks. Please, ensure the door is locked. I’d die if I lose that baby,” She said to him.

He gave her a crooked smile. “Sure thing, miss,” He said, then walked to where her car was parked.

“I wonder when he got out of the car and appeared in front of us like a ghost,” I said, when I was sure he wasn’t within hearing distance anymore.

“When you grabbed my hand for no reason, dummy,” She said, like I was actually expecting an answer to my question.

“It was for a reason,” I said.

“Oh, really? What reason?” She asked, looking like she didn’t believe me.

“I just wanted to confirm if you’re truly okay. The bleeding stopped early enough, but doesn’t it hurt? Should we stop at a hospital on our way?” I asked, feeling concerned.

“I appreciate your concern, but what exactly are we to tell the doctor at the hospital? That you dug your nails in my ass and gave me injuries?” She asked, in a sarcastic manner.

I ran a hand through my hair. “That would sound really weird, truly. What do you think we should do then?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Let it be. In all sincerity, I’m fine. I feel the sting a little bit, but it’s not all that painful. I’ll treat it when I get home,” She said.

“Okay then. I’m sorry again,” I apologised.

“Sure you’re human?” She suddenly blurted out, shooting a funny glance in my direction.

“If I’m not human, what am I?” I asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. “How the hell am I supposed to know that? What you did was totally unheard of, but for the sake of peace to reign, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” She said.

“Thank you, I guess. Anyways, I’m totally human being. I mean, look at me. What else would I be?” I asked, trying to coerce her into saying what was on her mind.

“You’re right. You’re definitely human,” She said, then with a small smile, she stepped into the car on sighting Mr Coleman coming back with her purse and keys.

I entered the backseat through the other door, and when the doors were closed, Mr Coleman revved the engine into life, and soon, we were on our way.

There was a beautiful silence as he started to drive through the streets of Los Angeles on that cold evening, and my eyes were closed, as thoughts started to fill my head, particularly about the beautiful innocent young lady sitting beside me.

When she asked if I were a human being, it was almost as if she could tell that I wasn’t. However, she probably just spent a lot of time watching stupid movies with the fantasy genre, and it was plausible that she had believed that the crap they showed in her television was right for a second, but she had come back to her right senses.

~Alistair~

“When are you going to ask for my number?” She suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

I opened my eyes and looked at her. She was fiddling with her fingers, and wasn’t even looking up.

“You forgot to ask for it again, didn’t you? It means it’s not important to you then,” She said, looking up at me.

“I didn’t forget. How could I?” I lied. Then, backing up the lie I had just told, I added, “Since we’re going to drop you off at home, do I really need to ask for your number again? I could just come and see you whenever I want to,” I said to her, removing a strand of hair that was in her face.

She chuckled, as a pink blush swept through her cheeks. “You’re good with words, I’d give you that,” She said.

“I am? Well, I meant every word I said,” I lied.

“I know you did. So, what if you come to see me and I’m not in the need to see anyone? If you have my number, you could just easily call me, and I’ll tell you that I’m in my feelings, so that you won’t show up and waste your time,” She asked, subtly.

“Coming to see you will never be a waste of time, and on the contrary, I think you’d always want to see me. Didn’t you ask for a ride because you wanted to see more of me, when you could have easily requested for an Uber?” I retorted in a gentle tone.

She gave a muffled chuckle. “Honestly, calling for an Uber didn’t cross my mind,” She said.

“Of course, it didn’t cross your mind, because all that was on your mind was just to see more of me,” I told her, drawing closet to her.

“Are you really flirting with me right now?” She asked, biting her lower lip seductively.

“Take a guess,” I said, and without waiting for a reply, locked my lips with hers.

At first, she was numb and I could tell that she was trying to resist the urge to kiss me back, but when I circled my tongue around hers, she wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing me back like her life depended on it. A groan escaped from my mouth, and I drew her closer to me, loving the way she tasted in every little way. She moaned softly when my hands pressed against her soft full breasts, while my lips were still crushed fully against hers.

My groan turned into a suppressed growl, and my claws shot out. I opened my eyes immediately and removed my lips from hers, while her eyes remained closed, waiting for me...longing for me.

I watched as my claws sank back in, and I smacked her head jokingly. As soon as I did that, her eyes flew open, and she began to rub her forehead gently.

“What did you do that for?” She asked.

“To wake you up, obviously, and yes, I was flirting with you,” I said, answering the last question she had asked before my emotions had taken over.

“I wasn’t sleeping though,” She said, glaring at me.

“Whatever you say,” I said, with my hands put up in surrender, and all I did was look out in the window, leaving her to wonder if she was a bar kisser.

I could sense that she was furious; but who wouldn’t be? I had led her on only to leave her wanting more, without finishing what I had started. I wanted to apologise to her, but if I did, I’d need to come up with a very good explanation for my actions, and I was done with cooking up stories all in the name of explanations for today.

“That’s where I live,” Eliana said thirty minutes after our awkward kissing situation, pointing at a huge mansion that was covered in diamonds.

My mouth flew agape. “You guys have never been robbed?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Even if anyone wanted to, they won’t be able to. They’ll be gunned down immediately,” She said.

“You’re a reallife American princess to be honest,” I said, amazed at not how big her mansion was, but at how her parents could cover it all up with real diamonds. I was so sure my family had more money then they did, but why were they so stupid? Of what use were the diamonds to anyone as they were used as a means of decoration? Truly, a lot of people are mad, but only a few are roaming the streets.

“LatinAmerican princess,” She corrected, then picked up her purse.

“You’re LatinAmerican?” I asked, acting like I dint know.

“You can tell from my brown skin,” She said with a wink, and stepped out of the car, whose door was being held by Mr Coleman.

I alighted from the other end, opening the door by myself for the first time in years, and walked over to where she stood. We had stopped in front of the big black gate that shielded her mansion, which was the last building of an estate covered with trees and gardens.

“So, this is where I say Vale,” She said, wearing a smile.

“I’d assume it means goodbye,” I said to her.

“You’re not wrong,” She said.

I handed my phone over to her, then asked her to punch in her digits.

Smiling, she put in her number, and handed the phone back to me.

“I’ll give you a call as soon as I can,” I said, saving her number.

“Okay. Take care of yourself. I’ll be expecting your call,” She said, then without warning, she put her arms around me giving me a warm embrace, and I hugged her back tightly, like I was never going to see her again.

However, it was crystal clear that I was going to be seeing more of her. Her heartbeat was steady, signalling that she didn’t suspect any foul play or wasn’t planning anything herself, but how fast will her heart pound when she realises that I wasn’t going to give her a call as soon as I could just because I wanted to get to know her more, but because she was all I needed for my master plan? That would be the most satisfactory thing ever.

~Alistair~

Do you know the good thing about expectations? It can work in your own favour. A week ago, I had come in contact with Eliana Venator, and before we had parted ways, she had said she would be expecting my call.

Right there and then, the plan was to give her a call when I got home, and ask how her butt was faring, if that made sense. However, on second thoughts, how do you make someone grow fond of you? By not being close to them. Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder. In order to get a longing attraction from her, I needed to play my cards right, in order not to mess things up.

Rolling a die, I kept asking myself these questions: Should I call her? Should I not call her?

“Don’t call her,” Jenny's voice said aloud, as she stepped into my office, with her heels making a noisy sound I was irritated by.

“Sorry?”

She slammed some files on my desk, and holding the desk with both hands, she leaned closer to me, “Do not give her a call,” She answered, then wore a mischievous smirk.

“And if I do?” I asked.

“Why would you do something I clearly said you shouldn’t?” She retorted.

I scoffed. “It seems like your memory’s been a little dimmed since I’ve let you know me more than anyone else. I don’t take orders from you, do I?” I asked, shooting her an annoyed glance.

Wearing the same mischievous smirk, she replied, “You don’t do so directly, but you take every of my suggestion into consideration, or am I telling a lie?” She asked, then walked closer to me, placing her arms on my shoulders.

“What are you trying to imply?” I asked.

“That you won’t call her because I said you shouldn’t, because you treat my words with importance. You know I have a reason for everything, right?” Jenny asked.

“Probably. I’d like to know what your reason is this time,” I said.

“I’ve been watching you for a week now. Everyday, you ask yourself if you should call her. That simply means that you’ve been thinking about her every single day since you last saw her,” She said, massaging my shoulders.

“What’s your point?” I asked, insisting she hit the nail on the head, instead of beating pointlessly around the bush.

I heard her swallow hard. “If you’ve been thinking about her, you may end up becoming attached to her,” She said.

I shook my head in disapproval. “That’s ridiculous. I can’t be attached to anyone, and you know that.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore,” Jenny said.

Without warning, I stood up, making her jerk backwards as a reflex action, and I clenched my fists, without bothering to turn around to look at her.

“This is about you, isn’t it?” I questioned.

“What...what do you mean?” She asked, with a stutter.

I turned around slowly, and looked her dead in the eyes, causing her to take a few steps backwards.

“You know you can’t lie to me, right?” I asked.

“Why would I even want to lie to you?” She asked, her heartbeat slightly rising up.

“There. Your heartbeat went up because you’re lying,” I pointed out.

She scoffed. “You’re scaring the shit out of me. That’s why,” She retorted.

“You’re jealous and scared that I may desert you because of a pretty girl who I’m likely to spend a lot of time with in the coming weeks, isn’t it?” I asked her, like I was a detective interrogating her.

She folded her arms, without responding, and just looking right past me, not daring to look at me.

“I can sense fear and jealousy coming from you, and I don’t get why you’re so afraid or jealous. Why? Are you seeing your period?” I asked her, knowing women became different creatures when they were menstruating.

“It’s just... Since that day you saw her, you haven’t even been kissing me back, and you’d just pull away with the excuse of not having time for all that right now,” She explained.

I scoffed. “And so?”

“Why must it be her? I mean, she’s not even in her family’s business, and everyone thinks she’s a psychopath. She has two elder sisters, why can’t you use any of them to play her part?” She asked.

“It has to be her, because she’s the only different person in her family. Even before the accident, she was different, spoiled and clueless. We’d get caught if we decide to make use of any of her other relatives,” I explained.

“I guess you’re right, but that doesn’t mean you should ghost me because of her, okay?” Jenny said, coming close to me, in a seductive manner.

“I don’t take orders from you, Jenny. I’m your boss, as well as the Alpha. Don’t ever forget that,” I said, with my eyes glowing in a fiery colour of red.

She bowed her head, looking embarrassed.

I could have walked out of the office immediately, and perhaps that would have been better for everyone, because she wouldn’t have needed to hear the truth.

“Jenny"

Before I could say a word, she crushed her lips on mine, and started kissing me. In that split second, Eliana’s face came to my mind’s eye, and I saw her stand up from the bench at the cemetery, and smile with her beautiful set of white teeth, as the wind blew her long straight brown hair.

There and then, I knew that Jenny had had every reason to become jealous. I had thought I was ignoring her because I was busy, but I had truly only been ghosting her because there was someone else I wanted to see, and someone else I wanted to kiss. That person was Eliana.

I pushed her off me, and cleaned my lips with a roll of tissue paper, wiping off her lipstick and every trace that showed I had just been kissed by someone.

“What’s this about?” She asked, looking like I had really hurt her feelings.

“I just realised Eliana doesn’t apply lipsticks,” I said, and I’ll never understand why I gave her a reply that was so insensitive, but it wasn’t like I was lying.

“You’re comparing me to her now?” She asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

“You started the comparison. What’s even your problem? It’s not like we’re in a relationship. Do you have feelings for me? Do you like me?” I asked, trying so hard not to raise my voice.

She hiccupped like a 12year old who just told her crush she had feelings for him, and I understood then why she was so worked up about Eliana.

I shook my head, disappointedly. “You’re my best friend, Jenny, and I don’t have erotic feelings for you. If you have any feeling for me whatsoever, get rid of them,” I said, in a firm tone, then without looking at her, walked out of the office, angry at Jenny, but mostly angry at myself and the way I had spoken to her.

If Eliana had my number, she’d have probably given me a call. I made a resolve to stop keeping her waiting and took my phone out of my back pocket. I needed something to clear my head. I needed to see her. She was just a tool I needed to get a job done, but I also needed to see her and hear her laughter. It seemed like it was the only thing that could calm me down at that moment.

~Eliana~

The pictures on my laptop had been all I could keep myself busy with in the last seven days, after I had met with Alistair Duke. There was a picture I had taken of my ass immediately I had gotten home that day, as well as my neck.

The general name of his company was: “Duke’s Group", and it was a business enterprise that was known widely not only in California, but in other parts of America, as well as in other countries. There were several businesses owned by the Duke family, in names such as: “Duke Foods", “Duke City Hospital", “Duke Fashion House"; “Duke Group of Schools", and others in various sectors. Everything was practically owned by them, and a large percentage of the economy’s sector belonged to them.

How was it then possible for a billionaire, born to wealthy parents, who had lived all his life in comfort, to be a werewolf? Something just didn’t feel right at all. There was no way in the world that his fingernails had done something like that to me, but what if he had unusual fingernails? I hadn’t really checked.

Burying my head in my hands, I heaved a deep and thoughtful sigh. I had really thought I had struck gold for the very first time to prove that I wasn’t crazy, and that werewolves actually existed. It was unlikely though for a member of such a reputable family to have been bitten by a werewolf. Where the hell would he have come across one? I’m sure that he never went into the woods all his life.

Come to think of it, I was also from a rich home, maybe not as wealthy as his, but I was definitely sheltered and pampered all my life. Yet, I somehow kept friends of the lower class and went into the woods, and even deeper into the forests to play all sorts of useless games. It seemed quite possible that he had also been a rebellious child, and had gotten bitten by a wolf after going into the woods against his parents wishes.

Now, that was quite a possibility, I thought, as I picked up my pen, and scribbled down the idea I had just thought of in one of my notebooks. There were a lot of facts, myths, ideologies and conflicting oppositions in all my notebooks. People said I was insane, but I didn’t mind, as long as they left me alone to do what I was best at doing, which wasn’t just sitting at my study everyday, coming up with several ideas about werewolves and other supernatural creatures.

I heard my phone ringing, and I picked it up from the desk. I almost never received a call from anyone, and I wasn’t even expecting anyone’s call...except his call, which I had been awaiting patiently for a week now. I had contemplated calling his office to request to speak to their boss, but they were probably going to think it was a spam call. Besides, I didn’t know the exact office to call.

I swiped to answer the call, then pressed the phone against my ear. I didn’t say a word, and limited my breathing, waiting for whoever was on the phone to first say something.

“Eliana?” His gravely deep and intense voice, called over the phone.

“Alistair?” I said calmly, surprised that I was pleased to finally hear from him.

“Yeah, it’s me,” He said.

“I... I have been expecting your call. Have you been well?” I asked, showing concern, knowing fully well that he definitely had to be well, seeing that he was popular and the whole world would have heard in case something bad had happened to him.

“Yes, I’ve been well. I just had to deal with some stuff. Why? Were you worried?” He asked, and I could bet that he was presently wearing that halfsmile of his.

“I wasn’t worried, just concerned,” I said, toying with my pen.

“What’s the difference? Anyways, I’m sorry for not calling you since that day...”

“It’s okay. After all, you still called,” I said, interrupting his apology.

“Does that mean you forgive me?”

I chuckled mildly. “I forgave you even before you apologised, I said.

“Great! Then, can I see you this evening?” He asked me.

“Um...”

“Please, don’t say no. I’d understand if you don’t want to go out on a date with me tonight because I’m a total jerk who didn’t call a beautiful lady like you after asking for her number, or probably because you’re getting off work late and you don’t have the time to...”

“Alistair,” I called, cutting in again.

“Yeah?”

“Take a deep breath, and calm down. First of all, I already said I’ve forgiven you. Secondly, I don’t work,” I explained.

“You don’t? Why am I surprised? I forgot for a second that you’re a princess,” He said.

I wore a light smile. “My family’s business has never been my thing, that’s why,” I said to him.

“You have older siblings?” He asked.

“Yeah. Two sisters, and one brother, and they’re all in my family’s business, since that’s the next quest you’re probably going to ask,” I replied.

I heard him heave a sigh from his own end. “You’re lucky then. I’m sure that’s why you’re parents don’t put pressure on you. Even if you refuse to get involved in their business, they’d still have others to do it, unlike me.”

“You’re an only child?” I asked, acting like I already didn’t know.

“Yes, I am. I never got to think of what I truly wanted to do with my life, because right from the moment I was born, my life had already been planned out for me. I couldn’t have any dream or aspiration, because there was no one else to do it besides me,” He said, sounding really emotional.

“I’m sorry about that,” I apologised.

“You shouldn’t be. It’s not your fault,” He said, his voice returning back to normal.

“I still feel sorry though,” I said, over the phone.

“If you really feel sorry, make everything better by going out with me tonight,” He said.

I pretended to think about it for a minute. “Fine then. I’ll go out with you tonight,” I said.

“Yes!” He exclaimed, sounding like he was really happy about me accepting to go out with him.

“It’s a dinner date, right?” I asked, in order to confirm what I should put on.

“Of course, mademoiselle,” He said.

I stifled a laugh. “I’m not French, remember?”

“Shoot! I forgot, and I really wanted to impress you,” He said.

I gave a small laugh. “If you really want to impress me, get me chocolates,” I said.

“I’d definitely do that. I have to go now. I’ll come pick you up at 6:30, okay?”

“Okay then,” I said, and his line went off before I could even say “goodbye" to him.

My phone chimed, signalling that I had received a message. Hoping it wasn’t a spam message, I clicked on it. Lo and behold, it was from Carrie, the only friend I had made in college, where we had both studied zoology.

The message read: “I’ve looked over and over again at the pictures you sent to me. They were definitely from a wolf’s claws. However, reports have shown that wolves have gone in extinction in California, but then again, we can’t always be so sure. Call me.”

I had sent the pictures to Carrie, stating that a friend of mine had been bitten by an animal. I had been sure that the injuries bore the semblance of an animal’s claws, but now, the expert had concluded that it was definitely the claws of a wolf.

Alistair Duke...Who exactly was he? I’d keep playing along starting from tonight’s dinner to find out who he truly was, and if he was hiding something away from the rest of the world.