The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

“Home?” Ariel scoffed at his ridiculousness. Maybe it was once home to her, but not anymore.

“Come on, let us go inside.” Kane said, and Ariel’s gaze drifted towards the pack building. The walls have been repainted to a light gray color in preparation for the new year, and the Christmas decorations still adorn the wall, their bright red lights twinkling in the night.

The meadows were a little overgrown and unruly, but people could still pass through, and the lights lit up the dark pathway.

Ariel noticed the lack of restraint in her hands, and she looked down to see her hands were free of the offending instrument, but she didn’t say anything.

Instead, she walked inside the pack, opening the door with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed.

It was too late to run away, and she had come to the fact that no matter where she may be or hide, Kane was always going to find her, so she decided to resign herself to fate.

She opened the door and let her eyes wander across the common room, holding her breath unconsciously. It was as she had left it, only devoid of anyone, and she released the breath she had been holding.

She wasn’t ready to face anyone now, especially with the fact that they may or may not have been involved in the lies.

She entered inside, with Kane at her trail, and she headed for the stairs, taking it one at a time and all too aware of Kane’s presence behind her, watching her ass as it swung.

Ariel flushed red, suddenly conscious of the eyes that followed her every movement, but she didn’t acknowledge it, instead, she headed for her room-well, it was technically theirs since she didn’t have a separate room in the new pack-but she was too tired to start fighting with him for a different room.

Ariel held the doorknob and pushed the door open, and almost immediately she was hit with his scent; his pheromones rushed at her like they had been looking for an opening, and she staggered, resting her hands on her knees to catch a break.

“What is it? Are you alright?” Kane rushed to her side, holding her waist to steady her, but she slapped it away, annoyed that his touch could still trigger something in her.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Don’t be so stubborn, Ariel; I was just trying to help.” Kane hissed, scolding her, but Ariel pursed her lips, not ready to hear anything he was saying.

She entered inside, discarding the jacket she had been wearing, and she laid on the bed, making sure to lie down farthest from the bed.

Kane looked at the scene in front of him, and he shook his head, fighting the urge to smile. His mate was a little dramatic.

“You don’t have to cramp yourself in that small space, love; you can have the room to yourself today; I will be outside with the pack.” Ariel barely acknowledged what he was saying; instead, she shifted further to the edge and shut her eyes tight.

But she could barely get any sleep; she was all too aware of his movement around the room, and she had frozen when she heard the sound of his fingers working on his buttons.

Was he actually doing what she thought he was doing?

Another button snapped, and she nodded. Yes, he was actually getting naked in front of her, well, behind her, but you get the gist.

She was tempted to steal a peek, but she was aware that any movement would alert him and he would know she was looking at him.

“You are free to look; I promise I won’t bite.” She heard Kane say, and she rolled her eyes, but she remained strong in her resolve, and she focused on the wall in front of her.

He finally pulled another shirt over his head, and only then could she breathe well again.

“The pack will be holding a new year countdown at the yard outside; you are welcome to join. I am sure everyone would be excited to see you.”

But Ariel kept quiet, and Kane stood there for a moment waiting for her reply, and when it was obvious that she wasn’t going to reply, he decided to leave her be.

“There will be a barbecue grill outside in case you are hungry, or you could still go downstairs to get something. I am sure there will be something for you to eat.” Kane waited, and when he got no reply, he continued. “Goodnight love.”

Ariel listened for his footsteps until he was out of the room, and she exhaled.

It was going to be a torturous stay.

We could hear the screams coming out from the windows, and she stood up, moving towards the window, and she looked down at them. All of the pack members were around, and with her improved sight, we could make out their faces.

Toby was standing beside Maddie, and although there was a little gap between them, no one would doubt they were together. But what shocked her was seeing Liza holding hands with a man she had never seen before.

There were a lot of new faces she hadn’t seen before.

They had hung a digital clock for the countdown, and it was still fourteen minutes to the time.

Ariel gazed at them in longing, wishing she could be with them, but she was reminded of Kane’s betrayal, and she went back to her bed.

Ariel closed her eyes to sleep, but no matter what she did, sleep didn’t seem to be coming any time soon. She continued turning and tossing on the bed, their screams bothering her, and she couldn’t take it any longer.

She stood out of her bed and went towards the wardrobe, taking any winter coat her hands could find, and it happened to be hers.

Kane had not bothered moving her clothes; everything was as she had left it, and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel.

But she draped the coat over her body, digging her hands into the pocket, and she made for the door. Ariel was a firm believer that the way you start your new year would determine the way you end it.

And she couldn’t start it lying on the bed and angry with him. She couldn’t allow him to steal her joy on such a day.

So she slipped out of the room and headed to the backyard, the noise getting louder as she neared them until she got to where they had all gathered.

Her eyes took in the party people; there was a lot of booze passing, and the smell of meat being grilled in the open fire made her tongue water.

Ariel stared at them with a certain longing; if things were different, she would have been in the crowd. Probably coordinating them, but she forced herself to stay close to the door, watching them in their festivity.

She was happy to just watch the fireworks and soak in the atmosphere.

The clock continued to click as it got to the final 30 seconds, and when it got 10, they began to chant aloud, the excitement in their voice, but Ariel couldn’t be left behind.

She began to chant with them, their excitement very contagious until it reached the last five seconds.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy new year!” Their screams rose up to the sky along with the thousands of people around the world.

But it was the new voice close to her that startled her. There was her mate, looking as dashing as ever, standing close to her, but he made no attempt to come close, and she was grateful for that.

There was no telling her actions if he did.

She stared at him, the fireworks highlighting his features, and she saw his lips turned in a smile, and for that moment, she pretended she wasn’t angry with him.

“Happy new year.” Kane whispered, letting the wind carry his words.

But Ariel was the one to close the distance, and she leaned into him, connecting their lips together.