Chapter Five

"Good morning, Alpha."

The Alpha didn't seem the least moved by his Gamma as his bright grey eyes shielded by the smallest pair of glasses I had ever seen. Only from the podiums when our Alpha addressed our pack in some sort of barbeque or Moon festival celebrations. Even as stubborn as Clio was,she felt submissive at his presence. This was his territory after all.

Sorta, though.

The Alpha clicked his pen as he dropped it down, breathing a sigh of relief."Good morning, Derek." The Alpha greeted, jostling out of his chair, walking up to where we stood. My heart tightened within my chest. "What do we have here?" He said, fixing his eyes were on me, probably interpreting my scent."Though this is rare, very few lycans actually transfer into Packs in New York here."

"Was what with these wolves and transfers? Were they some kind of hot shot Pack here in New York?"I couldn't help but wonder. Clio was in agreement.

"Alpha,she is not here for a transfer. Apparently, she and her father popped up, lodging in one of our hotels and she says she is from Howldrigde pack." The Gamma concluded with his hands behind him.

"Howldrigde, in the country side?" The Alpha asked, looking in my direction. Lowering my gaze, I muttered a yes. He went to his table, settling on its edge and looked up to me.

"Where is your father?"

"I don't really know. He left early this morning but spoke last night on looking for some apartments. We arrived here last night." Derek muttered something which I couldn't quite catch, huffing a disappointed sigh. The Alpha's gaze turned to Derek.

"Something you like to say, Gamma?"

"Actually Alpha, after some routine interrogations, she informed me that her father is Commander Dave Vengua- from the Crimson Talon."I immediately shot Derek a skeptical look though withdrawing from it immediately.

The Alpha raised a perfect eyebrow. "Hmmm, interesting." He said, settling down on his seat, adjusting his tiny spectacles which ominously slid down the bridge of his nose.

"So I take it you are pyrogenic by birth?" He asked, tilting his head to the left, supporting it by his left hand.

"Yes?"

"Show me your flames. You know just as proof since Alphas can't fully interpret lycans." Clio instantly rolled her eyes. I was absolutely irritated.

"Okay." I said trying not to roll my eyes. I closed my eyes and conjured up some flames to the best of my ability. The flames shone brightly in the Alpha's mystic embers."Beautiful,"He began brusquely." You have a beautiful gift. Too bad you are a she-wolf,you would instantly have a chance in the Order. Your natural gift is something many others give their lives for."

Here it goes again.

"I heard that going closer to the Spirit of the Phoneix grants one more intensity in their flames. Some say that is Dave Vengua's secret." The Alpha began ostensibly, rubbing his hands on a diamond ring on his finger.

"Alpha,"I began respectfully,"Honestly, I don't know and neither am I interested in the Crimson Talon."

"Hmmm, pyrogenic wolves by birth are rare. Such a waste!"The Alpha said curtly. My wolf couldn't hold it anymore, this Alpha was more than subtle, he was annoying. I had to bite my lip in order not to give him a befitting reply. My wolf was obstinate though.

"Alpha, do I have your permission to remain in your territory?"I said, my eyes twitching as I awaited his reply.

"Yes, you do." He turned around abruptly, facing me."Tell me, what is your name?"

"Sophia Vengua." I muttered, looking away from his gaze.

"Bring me your father."The Alpha said, getting up from his seat. The dour expression on his face told me he meant it. "I want to see him tomorrow morning."The Alpha said, stopping before us and crossing his arms firmly.

"Yes, Alpha."I said with my gaze still stuck to the ground. "You can leave."He said, gesturing towards the door. With a firm grip on my arm, the Gamma dragged me out of his office, though not without a bow of respect towards his Alpha.

He stomped down the corridors with a stern look across his features. Out of sheer irritation, I pulled my arm from his grip. My super strength had to count for something.

"Why did you tell the Alpha about my father? You didn't have to bring him into this!"I demanded.

",You are forgetting something. You and your father are the outsiders around here." He said with his golden brown eyes, hard and intimidating. I looked away from his gaze. "I want to go home-I mean the hotel. You have had your way long enough."I said, crossing my arms, looking up to him. His gaze had softened and his eyes were filled with affection..... for me?

"Why do you want me to stay? Besides, I'm only staying in your pack for a week-"I was cut off as he leaned in closer. Overwhelmed by the flirtatious behemoth, I moved back till my back hit the wall. I swallowed my raspy breaths, almost panicking.

"Derek-"

"You look cute when you are nervous."He said with those golden brown eyes of his filled with pure affection. I raised an eyebrow at him. Clio wasn't particularly happy with this- yeah, yeah she enjoyed the company of the opposite sex but one thing was certain- first impressions took a lasting impact on her."You just me-"Okay, I was literally getting tired of him cutting me off.

"What's the first thing I told you?" Derek asked, pulling a little bit from me. Well that was a relief.

"Uhmm... your first impression was that you loathe me...then you said something weird. In fact...you are weird."I explained, my raspy breaths becoming slower.

Ignoring what I said, he continued, his lips curling up a bit. "What was it?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "And why should I say it?" My cheeks were tingling a lot, probably because I was blushing way too hard.

What the hell was wrong with me?

'You need some help. You're pathetic. Sometimes, I wonder why the Moon Goddess matched me up with you.' Clio growled in the back of her head. " Oh shut up."

"Ok, you said you like me."I admitted with my face as red as a tomato, as I attempted to keep my face straight. I pushed him off but he came closer, attempting to capture my lips.

"Oh, would you look at that?" Diana interrupted with a sharp raspy tone and as usual laced with sarcasm. I rolled my eyes in relief as Derek moved away from me. I never thought I would be this relieved seeing Diana.

"Your scent is literally every where- got me chasing around the whole pack house and you are messing around with this chic?" Diana continued with a frustrated look. Derek gave her a victorious smirk.

" I mean how do you do it? It's one thing you're confusing me with your scent and another is you don't even try to communicate with me over the link. I mean what the hell?!" Diana scolded, throwing her hands up in the air as she rambled on.

" The meeting has ended, okay?" Derek said calmly, slipping his hands into his pockets."Why do you always have to stress it?"

"Cause we didn't get a damn thing outta the whole meeting! I mean, someone was raped and this had been happening for several years!! Sometimes, I feel like you are never supporting me with this?!" Diana said, almost on the verge of crying. Her brown eyes were glassy as she stomped off. It was weird seeing her cry as she always gave the impression that she was some sorta tough badass.

"Gee, she's acting like she was the girl who got raped." Clio huffed. I rolled my eyes internally at her. I mean,she was so inconsiderate. Wait, what if she was really raped? My eyes immediately widened at this. Feeling so uneasy,my eyes shifted to Derek who's golden brown eyes were glassy, like tears were threatening to fall any minute. So it's true.

She was indeed raped.

"Uhmm.... when are we going back?"I asked, feeling odd in this situation. I didn't want to be here anymore. He rubbed his eyes, cleaning whatever was about to leave his eyes.

"Right now." He said, walking away with me trailing behind him.

*******

I looked over to the clock at the reception. It was 5:15 pm. I looked back, seeing the driveway empty. It wasn't in the literal sense but Derek's car wasn't there. I sighed in frustration. The entire drive here was silent,he didn't even speak to me once. Not that I was asking him but was just really worried about him. His eyes were emotionless, not showing any sign of the flirtatious Derek I had known within the few hours I'd met him.

I walked over to the elevator and stopped at my room. Opening the door labeled 319, I walked into the room and plopped on the bed. Dad still wasn't here. I pulled off my sneakers, taking a look around the room. The room was still concentrated with his scent....

"Sweetheart!"I heard him tell in front of me. He was in the bathroom. Funny, I didn't even hear the door open. His happy expression immediately creased into a frown."Where did you go?"

I tossed my shoes under the bed, prepared to face him."Firstly, before I answer that, do we have some progress about the house hunting?" He sighed, rolling his eyes. I guess that is where I got it from.

"Nope. The apartments weren't up to my standards." He crossed his arms firmly."Now,where were you, young lady?"

"Alright, fine."I said, dropping my hands on my laps. I narrated the whole story."The Alpha wants to meet you tomorrow morning."I concluded, blowing a piece of hair off my face. Dad had a troubled look on his face but quickly changed his expression to a slightly vapid one.

"Alright, I'll see him tomorrow."He said, loosing his arms to stretch on the sofa."And also, keep your shoes in the wardrobe."I didn't even notice he saw me tossing my shoes under the bed. "Ugh, fine!" I groaned in frustration. My Dad was a bit of a neat freak.

"But that was literally an assault Dad. That could be have been a real life kidnapping for real, Dad." I whined getting on the bed.

Dad chuckled, whipping out his phone. "I have to admit, I hate the way they handled you but it's all protocol. You know, rogue attacks aren't something to joke with. And it must be really strict cause you

know, this is the busy New York city after all."

"I guess so." I said, staring at the ceiling.