First Impressions

~SLOAN'S POV~

I stood before the Alpha's palace, the Vallum with a jaw that touched the floor and pure infantile disgust in my eyes.

All the pictures and videos I've seen of this place don't hold a candle to the architecture of this building. Its height could almost touch the heavens. The royal colours of gold and blue that breathed life into the bricks that still held the cries of the wolves that worked tirelessly to erect this masterpiece.

But why the hell was it so big? It doesn't matter. It's not like there's anyone still alive to answer that question. And what exactly was I expecting from a bunch of self-absorbed Alphas who have nothing better to do than to pry on the weak.

An exasperated sigh left my lips and I took slow, carefree steps till I stood before two guards who stared at me with indifference In their eyes.

“I'm here to see the Alpha,” I spoke with my head held high and the two men raised their eyebrows, both probably wondering what business a girl like me could be having with the Alpha of a powerful pack.

“And who might you be?” his companion snickered and his eyes shimmered with mirth.

I didn't have to address his subtle denigrating words or mocking tone in his voice. All I had to do was fling the invite in his direction as I watched with delight as the edge of the card poked him in the eyes.

Take that, bitch!

Security boy number two’s eyes widened and security boy number one rubbed his eye in anger and a readiness to smother me in his non–existent manliness when the gaze of his good eye fell to the floor and ran over the cursive writing.

He lifted his gaze from the invite and looked me over with a scowl on his lips before sharing a look with security boy number 2.

“What the hell are you two waiting for? The Alpha isn't going to meet me outside, is he?” annoyance and venom dripped from every word that fell from my lips and the scowl on their lips deepened as they reluctantly pushed the doors open till I waltzed through them as though I was the first Alpha to set foot into this building.

But my temporary state of power flew from my fingertips when the door shut and those two brutes grabbed me on either side of my arms and pulled me through a dark hallway.

“Have you both lost your minds?! Put me down this instant!!”

They didn't listen. If anything I feel their resolve to drag me to our destination solidified. So I made sure that my resolve to frustrate them also solidified.

After what felt like an eternity but couldn't be more than five minutes, they stopped in front of a door and knocked three times before they opened the door and all but pushed me through it, causing me to stagger like an Intoxicated human on the 4th of July.

Bitches!!

I recovered my footing and continued cursing out the two security bitches when my eyes took in the extravagance of my surroundings. From the porcelain white marble floors, to the hues of blues and gold that stained the walls in an annoying perfect manner, to the paintings of the past Alphas that adorned the pristinely painted walls.

There was nothing in the room that could escape the heat of my gaze. Especially not the over-the-top throne that stood in the center of the room and the man that sat on it.

A chiseled jaw, blond hair, pouty lips and forest green eyes could easily put him on the “most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life” list I keep stashed away in the back of my head next to my overly passive wolf.

I stood before him watching as his eyes ran over my form with a condescending look in his eyes and an uncharted amount of aura exuded from every pore in his body and there was no mistaking the title attached before his name.

He's intimidating. He's strong. He's the Alpha of the Exex pack. He's Trager Vance. But he doesn't scare me.

~TRAGER'S POV~

Three knocks sounded from behind the door and a woman was all but pushed through the open doors causing her to almost fall to the ground.

This must be the healer.

I straightened my back and fell into my most dominating pose as I waited for her to notice the powerful man sitting on a literal throne.

And it didn't take her long to feel my presence. Not that I'm surprised. It has always been next to impossible to ignore an Alpha.

And sure enough, it didn't take long for the gaze of her orbs to crash into mine and my eyes narrowed.

“So, you really need to fire your security.”

The woman before me was nothing short of breath–taking with long, curly brown hair that reached her waist and a pair of blue eyes that rivaled the iciness of the Antarctic.

There isn't a being alive who could deny that she's a work of art but I'm also sure that they can all agree that this painting is a fucking mess.

Her wild hair looked like it hadn’t been combed in days and the loose T–shirt, sweatpants and dreadful–looking sandals did little to ease the feeling of distaste that brewed on my tongue.

Was this woman here to see the Alpha at the Vallum or to sneak a chance at an epically, unprepared attempt to end her life?

No matter. She doesn't have to look like a supermodel to help me and who knows, maybe looks can be deceiving?

“You got a problem, fancy pants?”

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a cold voice and my gaze returned to the woman before me who now had her hands on the top of her hips as a scowl sat on her lips.

“Are you the healer I sent for?”

Her scowl deepened and I didn't know if it was because of the fact that I had intentionally ignored her question or that I had used an authoritative tone on her.

“I am Sloan Deveraux. I got your invite and my father unfortunately talked me into accepting to come here. And not only has your pathetic excuse for security ruined my mood, I have to stand here and listen to you order me around like I'm your play thing, which I am not by the way.”

I shot up from my throne and before either of us could bat an eyelash, I stood before her with anger bubbling in my blood.

“Who do you think you're talking to, woman?”

“No one but a man who fails to understand that he's being a bitch.”

Nope. I take it back. Looks aren't deceiving. She's definitely a shitty person.

And I pray to the goddess that I don't end her life before she helps me fulfill mine.