Alpha Hole

Ch. 3

"Drink this." Aunt Clara's words cut through the air like a knife, her voice holding an edge of authority as she placed a steaming cup on the table in front of me. I eyed it warily, the tension in the room thick enough to slice with a knife. Those red marks on my wrist throbbed, a stark reminder of Alpha Dominic's grip that had left more than just physical imprints.

She took a seat beside me, her presence a mix of reassurance and calculation. I glanced at her, a complex array of emotions swirling within me.

"You're one of these shifters too?" My question hung in the air, the uncertainty in my voice a reflection of the chaos that had infiltrated my reality.

Aunt Clara's lips curved into a sympathetic smile, a hint of amusement beneath the surface. "Yes, Layla, as are you." she replied.

"How can you be certain? I mean, I've never once..." My voice trailed off, skepticism and disbelief tainting my words. How could she claim such knowledge about me when she didn't even know me?

Her lips twitched into a wry smile, as if she could read my thoughts better than I could. "Oh, darling, shifters have a scent that's hard to miss."

I studied her, every word and gesture a clue in a puzzle I was still trying to solve. "But what about the physical changes? I've never transformed like—"

She waved away my words, her nonchalant dismissal a stark contrast to the chaos that had been unleashed upon me. "You're still a juvenile, sweetie," she drawled, her tone patronizing as if I were a child who needed things spelled out. "But don't worry, it's coming. I can practically taste it in the air."

The room felt too small, the weight of this newfound reality pressing down on me.

I shook my head, disbelief clashing with the sense of unease that had been plaguing me ever since the encounter with Alpha Dominic.

Frustration caught in my throat, a counterpoint to her insufferable calm. "Why didn't my parents prepare me for any of this," I bit out, my anger a wildfire in my chest.

Aunt Clara's smile softened, a fleeting glimpse of something almost maternal in her gaze. "Perhaps they thought they were protecting you in some way." She offered cryptically, leaving more questions than answers.

I clenched my fists, the knowledge that my parents had kept me in the dark about something so monumental was a betrayal that cut deep.  If any of this was in fact real.  "I'm still not sure that either of you are telling the truth."

Aunt Clara's gaze was steady, her tone a mix of empathy and pragmatism. "Believe what you will, Layla. But the truth has a way of making itself known, whether you're ready to accept it or not."

As the air hung heavy with unspoken truths, I stared at the cup of tea before me, its contents unknown. I picked up the cup and breathed in the heady scent of it before taking a gulp.  It was floral and sweet but also creamy. 

It's contents drained, my arms grew heavy and Aunt Clara took the cup from my grasp.  I sunk further into the cushions. Minutes later I was vaguely aware when a blanket was draped over me.

She'd left first thing the next morning, leaving me alone in her apartment. The need for an escape had pulled me from the confines of her place, and though the journey through the maze-like structure had been a test of my patience, I had finally managed to slip away.

Now the forest was closing in around me, a sea of shadows growing deeper as the sun surrendered its hold on the day. Lost in my thoughts, and just lost in general, I was oblivious to the subtle rustle of leaves until the silhouette emerged behind me.

"You shouldn't be out here," a strong male voice sliced through the air, a growl layered with a dangerous edge that sent a chill skittering down my spine.

I pivoted to face him, my defiance solidifying like a shield even as my words trembled. "I can handle myself."

Aiden's lips curved in a cold smile that failed to reach his eyes. "Is that right?"

In an instant, he was upon me, his presence like a stormfront, pressing me hard into the solid trunk of a massive oak. I met his intense stare, even as his proximity robbed me of breath. Heat radiated from his body, his breath stirring the hair near my temple, a dangerous caress that felt almost predatory. My body shook violently.

His jaw clenched, his demeanor shifting from guarded to something more primal, predatory. "This pack isn't a place for games. It's about survival. And trust me, not everyone here plays nice."

I couldn't tear my gaze away from his intense stare. "Including you?"

Aiden's grip on me tightened, his fingers digging into my arms as if he wanted to imprint his warning onto my skin. "Especially me."

I met his gaze with unyielding determination, my pulse pounding in my ears. "So, you're here to show just how defenseless I am?"

A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, his lips twisting in a half-smile that was more challenge than amusement. "Among other things."

I pushed against the tree, the rough bark scraping against my back, trying to regain some distance. "You think you can intimidate me?"

Aiden's gaze darkened, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. "I don't need to intimidate you. I just need you to realize what's at stake."

I scoffed, a mixture of bravado and unease. "And you're here to enlighten me?"

He held his ground, an unyielding force in the darkness. "No, I'm here to make sure you don't end up dead."

"Oh, and why do you care?"

His words were cold and calculated. "I don't, I'm just following orders."

A chill ran down my spine, the weight of his words sinking in.