CHAPTER 003

CHAPTER 003

Emily's POV

A cool autumn breeze snapped me awake, and I gasped as the door shut behind me.

Why had I felt an urge to visit these gardens? Nothing seemed unusual here—all was quiet save for my racing heartbeat.

Unable to resist its immense draw, I walked towards the garden fountains, walking down towards them until finally reaching one.

Soon thereafter, I made my way over towards it, taking one last step, eventually arriving at its center point, sitting idly down upon its cold white marble bench, and gazing upon water and fountain alike before finally taking another step forward—an experience that left me perplexed and questioning whether I was losing my mind! Sighing deeply, I wondered whether or not this experience would last!

"Why haven't you given my wolf back?" I whispered agitatedly to Mother Moon's statue at the center of my bowl, where powerful wolves howled at it with enormous intensity. The scene unnerved me even further, and my temper flared wildly.

"Why have you punished me like this?" I cried out and fell backward. "Am I not worthy of Your blessing?" I begged.

"Why have you brought me here?" I sobbed uncontrollably, venting every emotion stored up for months. Mess. The cold statue stared back with its usual cold smile as my anger flared further, and I demanded, "Tell me why!" "Just tell me!" was my enraged demand. Where exactly am I in captivity?

My shout echoed across the quiet of the nighttime forest and disturbed any wildlife present there.

"I should have known you wouldn't answer me!" I bellowed angrily before rising from my seat and running again.

As I began leaving, beginning again, I started again at

As soon as my eyes blurred from crying, I began racing through the gardens. By the time the packhouse came into view, I stopped speeding and wiping away tears with my hands. Surely, by that point, my make-up must have become unruly from crying so hard?

As I reached to open the door, an intoxicating scent of apple crumble pervaded my nostrils.

My hand stopped short on the handle as my breathing quickened; Alex's familiar, deep voice called out from behind me with pleasure, "Mate!" brought chills down my spine.

"No!" I whispered as I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump. The present must be some dream!

Alex suddenly stretched out his arms, holding open the door as he drew closer, frightening and surprising me. Yelling in shock, I turned away as Alex suddenly opened the door!

I visibly shuddered as his warm breath flickered across my neck. We both stood transfixed for some time, as neither one knew what to do; Alex could wait patiently, as I wasn't sure whether I needed to answer his call! Without my trusty friend Wolf around to provide confirmation (he would know), this moment wasn't going as I expected.

Slowly, I let go of the door handle to turn and face him. I was taken aback at his giant frame towering over my five-foot-five frame, its enormous arms flailing under its black stretch shirt, its gigantic biceps flexed under it, and its dark eyes closed with an amused, playful smile playing across its lips. Was this strange man thrilled that they'd found me? I wondered.

Alex suddenly opened his eyes, and I stared into darkness reflected at me from deep pools. Startled, I took an instinctual step away, hitting the door—his wolf must have taken over!

Alex did not attempt to move out of my way or let me pass. Instead, he knitted his eyebrows together and moved his head from side to side—maybe trying to read my face or rejecting me altogether?

"Why rush, little pal?" He inquired with an unsmiling expression as his gaze darted between us both.

"No big rush?" I nervously whispered as Alex's closeness stirred unexpected feelings within me. Judetean Alex's hand darted closer still when his fingertips caressed my cheek, carefully plucking out any loose hair off my brow—did sparks fly between us?

"Why are you afraid of me, little one?" The man inquired in his deep, emotion-laced tone.

"No, I--I--I am not," I stammer. "No, I'm not," I stammered nervously. "I'm just…

Alex moved his head toward my nape, extended his canines, and scraped my marking spot—sending shockwaves down my legs as my legs gave way under their weight. Slowly pulling his head back, he inhaled deeply of my scent before carefully taking another deep whiff and openly taking in further smells from me.

"Oh," he exclaimed with excitement as he licked his lips. "You smell divine."

For an instant, I wondered what exactly had me sniffling so strongly, but before I could ask any further, he grabbed me onto his shoulders and ran toward the forest—not too deep into it, as I heard water bubbling nearby.

Shortly thereafter, Alex ran up some steps to the cottage door where I lay. Once there, he delicately set me down before wrapping an arm around my waist, pushing open its doors, picking me up in bridal style, and carrying me inside.

"Where are we?" Finally, when I regained my voice, I asked, "Where are we?" My senses had been too shocked by his abrupt departure to ask questions or protest when he took off with me. Alex turned on a light.

Setting me down on a couch next to the fireplace, he explained, "This place used to be known as Alpha Cottage when I needed a break from reality."

I nodded in agreement; Mila knew where I would hide in the riverbanks. Meanwhile, Alex pulled his shirt over his head, dropped it onto the floor, and then headed toward the fireplace, where he squatted down in front of it before starting it himself.

Alex appeared lost in thought for some time as he stared into the fire without responding or making eye contact with me. I turned toward the window when I heard gusts of wind outside; Alex continued staring into it silently as my gaze also moved toward it.

Did I see signs of an impending storm? A couple of minutes earlier, the sky had been calm, with only the moonlight showing through. Tension grew within me as I called out, "Alpha Alexander." To my relief, he answered, "Alex." We then laughed as Alex stood to his feet to greet me resolutely: he wanted no part in being identified as such in any capacity whatsoever—call me Alex from now on!

"Uhh," I murmured to Alex. "We should head back to the packhouse; it looks like rain." But Alex quickly shrugged his shoulders, pulling me closer. Pinning his arms around my shoulders like cage bars around a caged animal, he said, Take a look," winking back at me with an impish smile.

Unplug. "Yes. Take a look," and winked back with an impish smile at me.

"Leave me alone!" Alex moved back, giving me space to get up. Once on my feet, I quickly ran towards the door and opened it abruptly—only to discover everything had already been blanketed in at least three feet of snow!

To my utter disbelief, it had never snowed here before—my tongue tightening at such an incredible sight! "How is this possible?" I gasped, as no snow had ever fallen here before now!

Alex gave me an innocent smile, and for some reason, I already knew the answer: his wolf must be to blame. "Our bloodline finds their fated partner!" he proudly stated as his eyes turned back towards their gorgeous gray hue.

"Alex?" I whispered his name to myself with ease. When Alex opened his arms for me and invited me in closer, my legs somehow seemed drawn towards him without my conscious effort directing them there. I felt an immediate pull towards his embrace until my legs pulled me like magnets towards his side—as though their presence were pulling my body closer involuntarily.

As soon as he had me in his arms, he pulled me closer, and his warm apple crumble scent enveloped me—this felt like home; this felt right. Control, I breathed out deeply with contentment as Alex lifted my chin with an index finger carefully while surveying my gaze, perhaps looking for signs of approval.

His eyes shifted back towards my lips, leaving me nervous and quivering with excitement. Was he about to kiss me? My mouth had never tasted anything as delicious before as when tasting Alex! "Sht!" I groaned internally as Alex's scent filled my senses, numbing them completely yet making me crave certain sensations within myself and creating intense desires within.

Alex looked over at me with wide eyes. His minty breath wafted over my face before landing inches away from mine; I could feel his heat radiate through them as his lips approached mine; my core tightened in anticipation, and my juices spilled onto the carpeted floor beneath us both.

Alex's eyes darkened as soon as I became aroused; his lips licked to signal his awareness. I must have smelled something delicious on him! "You smell so mouthwatering," he whispered before continuing, "I want all of you! All of me!" The heat radiated down through me, causing my pssy to hurtle like never before as my face warmed rapidly.

"Can I?" Alex's question momentarily caught me off guard; was he requesting a kiss, a fck, or both?

Before I could respond, Alex's lips brushed against my own and gave me my first kiss ever, sending shivers down my spine as he lifted me without breaking our embrace, carried me up the stairs into his room, and laid me on his bed—but as soon as he pulled back away, I whimpered! Wanting more!

"Take it easy, little mate," Alex replied humbly as he reached toward his dresser to remove his jacket while my gaze wandered around the interior of his room.

Alex entered and took my hands in his before coming closer, taking them over his lap, holding me close, and sitting beside me on a nearby chair before asking, "What's up?" without even pausing to consider my answer before asking again, "What is it?" I said.

He struggled to find words for what had just occurred: he couldn't be sure whether his friend realized I didn't possess one. Or was it simply a misunderstanding? Erfüllung: "This is my first experience making love to anyone before," he stated quietly through his eyelashes in embarrassment.

My heart leaped with joy when I saw Alex. I instinctively cupped his face, followed by an audible shudder from him, before giving a small and relieved grin to show my appreciation.

"So have I," I replied, with Alex gently pressing against my lips before gently pushing me back onto the bed. His hands roamed all over me as if they'd unwrapped an exciting Christmas present. The sensation was so right and delightfully fulfilled that my happiness was unbelievable! This experience made my day!