The Alpha

Chapter 2

     For the remainder of the day he was in my head. Like a high I couldn't escape. His husky voice was the narrator of my thoughts. Each blink, he reappeared behind my closed eyelids and the familiarity that waded in my gut was stifling. 'He's probably just one of those people who tends to remind others of someone. That's it. Either way, I'm thankful to be employed.' I bristled through the house, the night sky blackening the world as I peered out the window. I smoothed my dress, flicking off the hallway light when I ran into my mother coming out of her bedroom. "Jesus!"
     I let out a deep breath, hand pressed against my chest as I tightly closed my eyes from her startling me. She chuckled softly before I felt her feathery touch along my wrist. "Rae? Where are you going?" When I finally opened my eyes, I noted her expression of concern. I placed my hand over here and reassuringly squeezed before she pulled away and let her arm hang by her side. 'I almost don't want to tell her because she's been so worried about the move and this town. But she'll worry more if I don't tell her.'
"I got a job. Taking care of an elderly man. It's very good pay and we need the money."
I gently rubbed her arm and offered her a soft smile. Her brows knitted together warily, and she shook her head. "Rae, I just want you to be careful, okay? This place... this town. There's a lot of negative memories I've had here."
"Like what?" She shook her head and sighed. She was never open about her time here. As close as we were, she never trusted me enough to relay her secrets. I was hurt by it, but I masked it with a tight lipped smile. "I should go." I turned around, glad she couldn't see the disappointment wavering in my eyes, as I began to move towards the stairs. "Rae, please be careful."
"Noted."
     I jogged down the steps, the skirt of my dress swaying as I hastily moved to the door and threw it open. 'If it's not worth mentioning, it must not be much of a threat... maybe it was just me, but Luca was intense. And I swear it was like he was reading my damn thoughts or something.' I hopped into the drivers seat and huffed out a deep breath. 'I've never had a man stare at me so intently. Regardless of age.' I pulled out of my driveway, eyes moving over to the window besides the front door where I noticed my mother with her face practically pressed against it and her eyes were slightly widened. 'She worried too much.'
     His house was the way I left it, only this time there were a few lights on and somehow in the darkness, it seemed even more still then when I first ever arrived. No moment inside further heightened my anxiety as I moved to the door. I checked my phone again quickly to make sure I made it on time. 'Punctuality is important.' When I lifted my hand to knock on the door, it was yanked open before my fist made contact, and there he stood. Every bulging inch of him. I blinked a few times, inwardly cursing at myself as I found my eyes sliding over his shoulders and upper body. "I- Luca. Sorry."
     I shook my head, completely flustered by his presence, before I laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck. His downcasted eyes held a maturity of someone way older than me. 'Much older than me...' I typically found price of my maturity, especially at the age of 23, but now, standing before a man who seemed mentally aged, I found myself feeling like a damn infant. 'To him I probably am. I'm most likely just a girl I'm his eyes. Not a woman.' My disappointment hit me powerfully and I almost saw what looked like his eye twitching in annoyance. "Am I late?" He slowly quirked a brow and his jaw tensed. "Are you?"
'Uh... is he answering a question with a question?'
"I'm sorry... if I upset you."
     Wordlessly, he spun around and stalked into the house. From his behavior earlier in the day I knew this was my cue to follow him into the depths of the house. I closed the door quietly behind me, not wanting to wake whomever else lived in the house. 'Does he always look like he's in a foul mood?' My steps faltered when I noticed a couple people scattered around his living room. 'What the...' I felt my face warm as all eyes moved to me, Luca standing there watching me as well. "Hello."
'I'm confused. And a little worried... am I safe?'
"No ones going to hurt you. Don't mind them." I passed my eyes over the small crowd of people, offering them a small smile and a quick wave. "Hi. I'm Rae."
'Not that it matters.'
     A woman with long brown hair sitting on the couch, narrowed her eyes at me as I waved. My discomfort amplified. That is, until I heard Jaxon's voice from the next room. I turned, spotting him in the kitchen eating whip off of some kind of hot beverage. "Rae?" He rose, tossing his spoon on the table and walked over to me. My face lit up as he neared. I threw my arms around him, thankful for the familiar face. "Whoa, you alright?" He chuckled, unkeen to my lack of caution. He patted my head as I apologized and stepped back. "Sorry, sorry."
"Don't apologize. It's nice to see a friendly face. Unlike this bunch." He gestured with his thumb to the girl I was just warmly acknowledging. He laughed. "I hope Luca isn't giving you a run for your money."
'No, but he's intimidating as hell.'
Luca cleared his throat and I turned my attention back to him, aware of how every single time I set my eyes on him, the wind rushed through my lungs and I felt my heart flutter in my chest as an electrical current seemingly passed between me. 'Shameless attraction that's probably one sided. Wonderful.' Jaxon crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. It was good seeing you."
"You too. We should get together sometime this week. I could use someone showing me the town. God knows my mother isn't up to it." He nodded and gave me a warm smile. "Sounds good. I'll show you all of the sights."
     The piercing sound of a wolfs howl startled me into jumping. I pressed my hand against my chest, an apologetic expression moving over my face. "Sorry. That sounded close. Is there a lot of wolves in the woods?"
'My mother never mentioned that.'
     The silence in the room confused me. I firmed my lips when no one answered, about to mutter a pathetic goodbye and hurry out of the room when Luca spoke. "Yes. There are."
"Oh wow. Is anyone worried about them attacking?" A chorus of laughter echoed around the room and I frowned. 'What's so funny? I'd be worried about that.'
"You shouldn't worry about that. The wolves keep to themselves as long as they aren't bothered."
'Why does he talk about that like they aren't wolf animals? You can't control them.' He casted a bleak look at me before he nodded. "Come." He whipped around and headed towards the stairs, his back corded with tensed muscles. 'Have I offended him?' I scurried after him, reaching for the banister as we both ascended the steps. 'Maybe I should apologize.' I contemplated what to say to him, hoping that it would dissuade the door mood that overcame him. "Luca, I'm sorry-"
       When I got to the top of the steps, he whipped around and I ran directly into his firm chest. He gripped my arms, and that electricity I had been feeling pulsated so potently I felt my skin heating beneath his large hands. 'Holy... what is that?' I moved to step back from him but my legs didn't listen to my thoughts or commands. They remained glued to the floor. His eyes bored into mine like every secret part of me was completely exposed to him. 'Like I'm utterly vulnerable to him.' His name was on my lips, but it didn't roll off my tongue. I was speechless. Stuck to my spot like just his gaze commanded my body. "Do I make you nervous, Rae?"
'Yes. So very much.'
I shook my head, hoping my blush didn't give away the fact I was lying as I felt the blazing heat along the skin of my cheeks. My eyes slipped to his lips, where they roamed over the darkened pink flesh as his upper lip slowly curled upward a little to reveal a canine tooth. 'He's invigorating.' He used a hand to cup my chin and tilt my head to level my eyes with is. "Answer me." His words weren't a question. He demanded it from me and I found myself shamelessly obeying. "No, you don't." An agitated rush of air escaped his lungs and he began clicking his tongue disappointingly at me. "You're lying again."
'How the hell can he tell?'
"I'm not." He tightened his grip on my chin and I felt slight pain along my skin, but I still didn't move to stop it. "You can't hide things from me."
'He sounds so sure of himself.'
  His thumb grazed my bottom lip, making it pucker out like I was pouting. His gaze keeping me entranced. "Let's try that again."
'He wants me to confess he makes me nervous. So fricken nervous it makes me wet between my thoughts.' I swallowed and pursed my lips before I sighed. "Yes. You make me nervous." My words were a whisper, and within the silent air surrounding me, they sounded deafening. "So nervous it makes my head spin." He moved slightly closer to me and I thought he was going to kiss me. I was almost certain of it as his tongue slowly glided along his bottom lip, moistening and preparing his delectable mouth for the pressure of mine upon it. 'Do I even want him to kiss me? It would be a complication. A wonderful, tempting complication. What's gotten into me?'
  I leaned into him slowly, my lips so close to touching I felt the heat from his tongue. 'It feels so right.' When I slightly parted mine to receive the ferocious warmth of his, he stopped me with the hand on my chin and my eyes opened questioningly. "Soon, animus meus." He trailed his hand up the side of my face to stroke my cheek with his thumb. "Soon enough."
'What does that mean? Animus meus?'
       I was too on edge from his rejection that I didn't think to ask as he released me and stepped back. He clenched his jaw as his eyes scanned my face and he cracked a grin that made my insides flutter nervously. When he smiled, it was in a way that a predator would as he provoked his prey. He was hauntingly beautiful, but dangerous. "Come. We shouldn't waste more time." I shouldn't have been surprised by his unwillingness to divulge any information. He wasn't the type to be open, but more the brooding and scrutinizing type. The one who learned all the ways of those around him, to always be one step ahead.
       I followed him back to the room I visited earlier, a bedside lamp illuminating the room just enough to get somewhat of a clear picture of his uncle who was laying still on the bed. "I must go." He nodded to his uncle who was asleep. "His medications are locked in the night stand. The lock box for the keys, is hanging on a wall in my office. If he wakes and is in pain there's a PRN. It's in there." Luca moved to me, arching a brow. "Do not hesitate to give him the pain med. Do you understand?" The seriousness in his voice frightened me and I found myself nodding desperately. "People do crazy things when they are in pain... say crazy things."
'I know that all too well. I've seen my mother in so much pain, it was unbearable to watch. Writhing. Screaming.' The thought made me shiver and wrap my arms around myself. "I'm sure we will be fine."
"I will be back in a few hours, and then you can go."
     I peered down at his uncle, worry lining my brows. "Is there a number I can reach you?" His nostrils flared, as he hesitated to answer. "You won't need one."
"What? I-it's just for emergency purposes...."
'Am I that pathetic that he's afraid I'll abuse having his number?' I clenched my jaw in frustration, diverting my face from his to peer anxiously at the floor. 'I was just taking extra precautions. It's his uncle.' He let out a slow, exaggerated breath and moved toward me with his hand outstretched. "Give me your phone."
'He sounds thrilled...not.'
       I handed him my phone which had been resting in the small bag hanging off my shoulder. After I unlocked the screen, he quickly added his contact and slapped the phone into my palm. "Emergencies." He glanced at his uncle before he left me alone in the room without another glance. 'I wonder where he gets that kind of attitude from.' I moved towards his uncles beside and sighed as I placed my hands on the edge of the bed and fixed his blanket. 'Maybe his father. Or his uncle. Whoever raised him. I can't imagine how one comes to be so... forceful.'
     That word made me shudder, the hairs along my body standing on end as a cold chill passed through me. My chest rose and fell dramatically as I took a couple deep breaths. 'Oh well. It's not like I'm going to bring that up to him. He's clearly not the easiest to talk to. So forget trying.' My mind shifted back to the whatever he uttered to me. 'What was it again? Animus?'
     With a resigned sigh, I moved towards the chair besides the bed, and lowered myself into it, the warm glow of the light, the only comfort in the otherwise dark and dead home. Even the sound of the uncle breathing was so quiet it was absent from my ears, but every time I looked at him, I saw the struggled ride and fall of his chest. 'I guess I prefer this over wheezing.' I took a moment to really look at his uncle, biting back the shocked gasp on my lips at his disfigured face. Whatever ailment had him in its clutches, it was a brutal one. I shook my head and rested back in the chair, pulling out my phone and temptingly scrolled through the contacts. 'All he put in is 'L' for his contact. How personal. He doesn't have to worry. I clearly won't mistake the nature of our relationship.'
     I let my fingers hover over his contact. I glanced over to the door, my mind drifting to what he could possibly be doing out and about. 'I wonder where he works. He has money. Clearly takes care of things considering his uncle is incapable of work. The house is a good size.' The urge to snoop over came me and I found myself rising from my seat. 'He did say the keys were in his office. Downstairs? Or up here?' I ventured out into the hallway, cautiously peering down the hall and decided to seek out the office he spoke of. My steps must have been heavier than I thought because the wood floors squeaked beneath each step. 'I hope I don't wake his uncle up. If I even can... he seems to sleep pretty heavily. Wait... what if other people live here? Well, I didn't see anyone. And he didn't mention it, so...' I tried doorknobs down the hallway and frowned when I realized they were all locked. 'Downstairs it is.'
     I made my way to the stairs, descending then and trying to suppress the guilt I felt for snooping. 'It's not like he banned me from walking through the house.' I moved through the living room where there was just a bunch of people, eyes moving over the furniture fixings. At least his house looked loved in. I peered at the walls, eyes moving over some of the pictures hung. I stopped when I spotted a picture of what looked like Luca as a child. 'Awe, he was adorable... but the look in his eyes. So young, but so much pain. He looks aged even in this photo. He still had the same look in his eyes.' I reached for it, running my fingers over the picture before I let my arm drop back down to my side. I moved to the hallway next to the staircase.
     Something inside of me was telling me to pass by the doors and venture deeper into the house until I found a room that was sort of hidden. I tried the knob and smiled excitedly when it twisted and opened. 'The office.' I moved over to the desk, my hands drifting over the wood before my eyes drifted to the vast window that peered out the backyard and into the woods. I blinked a few times, convincing myself I wasn't seeing glowing eyes and it was just the moon shining through tree branches. 'A lot of land. A lot of woods. And he doesn't seem at all threatened by the presence of wolves.'
     I shook my head. 'I don't know if that's brave or stupid.' I turned around to face the desk and screamed when I saw his uncle in front of my face, his hands outstretched and circling my throat. I thrashed and screamed as pressure around my neck made it harder to breathe. 'Luca! Luca! Oh my god!' His uncle violently shook me. My head smacked against the wall and my vision began to fade into the black, but just before unconsciousness violently consumed me, I saw a shirtless Luca emerging from the dark hallway.