This is the twelfth time or more that I have been pacing in front of the elevator, holding a white envelope, while trying to muster up the courage to do the needful.

Why do I always have to pay for these fool's inability to control their dicks? This is the third job that I was sacked from this year alone.

Is it a crime to be beautiful and also curved in the right places?

I can't afford to be fired again. What would happen to my plans of going back to college?

Someone should pay for this, but it definitely won't be me.

"I won't stand for it anymore," I blurted out, and I punched the elevator button a little too hard like I was stabbing it. With my gloved hands, I tried calming my nerves when the door dinged and swished open.

"This is it," I reminded myself, to either back down now or remain silent forever.

I slipped in, and the door closed right back. I was still holding the stupid sack letter Mark gave me this morning.

I had always seen him as a professional kind of guy; little did I know that he was a low-life swine.

I should give you a little backstory.

My name is Anabella Stone, an orphan. I never got to meet my father before he died, but I heard he was the Alpha of a Pack. My mom, Kristina Stone, died a few years after I graduated high school. I have been fending for myself ever since.

I have a stepmother and siblings somewhere, according to my mom, but I don't know them either. She said she fled the pack with me when people began seeking to kill me, and we have been hiding out among the humans ever since.

I didn't find it odd that people would want to kill me; everyone here called me a freak, as I normally get visions when I touch someone or when I get touched; hence, I cover myself pretty well.

Anyway, Mom never told me why people would be after me or who they were; she only made me promise her to always wear wigs and contacts when I want to go out to cover my white hair and purple eyes color, and I understood her because if someone was really after me, then I would be spotted easily.

I guess this made me take on jobs that hide me pretty well. until I was sacked a few minutes ago, I worked as the sleep concierge at the Venus Hotels, owned by Mr Reed. I helped troubled guests sleep better. I had a blast working at the hotel, the fat paycheck, and the little perks of talking and being gifted by our wealthy customers until I turned down my direct supervisor's advances towards me.

He threatened a couple of times to sack me if I didn't have sex with him. I thought he wouldn't have the balls to go through with it until he handed me a sack letter this morning. Thankfully, I had him recorded for a rainy day like this one.

"Bastard!" I cursed,

The slight shift in the floor signaled I'd arrived. I sighed, and immediately the door swished open, and I got off.

"Wow," I whispered. It was my first time at this part of the hotel, as a matter of fact, everyone working at the hotel knew the penthouse was strictly out of bounds. Although there are rumors of the owner locking himself away on this floor, no one has seen him for sure.

I don't know if I am going to survive this, but going to the hotel manager is useless since Mark is the manager's son.

I want blood, and the manager wouldn't give me that. I wasn't sure the rumors were true, but there's no turning back now.

I pressed the doorbell; it was the first time I saw a doorbell in a hotel room. I didn't get any response, so I rang again, praying he answered this time.

But there was still no answer. I ran my hands through my black wig, almost in tears, wondering if I should give up already. I held the door handle and leaned in when the door creaked open.

I jerked away, startled. "I didn't open it," I screamed.

"Hello!" I said, but the silence was the response I got, which piqued my curiosity. I pushed the door open and slowly walked in while searching around.

"Hello!!" I said while walking into the room. honestly, the designer of this room needs an award; everything in the room speaks luxury and wealth.

I could imagine how much it would cost to sleep in a place like this for just one night.

"Focus," I scolded myself.

There were clothes stacked in the wardrobe, the bed wasn't made, meaning someone slept in it, there was a large portrait of a man on the wall, and there were a few plates on the table with crumbs that looked like pancakes and whatever sauce he ate it with.

"Someone slept here," I whispered under my breath. I thought about taking a peek at who it was, staring at my gloves, but I couldn't handle those creepy images flooding my mind.

I shoved out the temptation to take it off and decided to accept it as fate. I turned to leave, my heels grazing the tiles as I walked dejectedly in defeat. I guess Mark was right after all; he could fire me, and I wouldn't do a

thing about it.

I was almost at the door when suddenly the door flew open as if it were opened by a gush of wind, it blew past me. And It felt like I was touched by some cold hands, sending chills down my spine.

Before I knew it, flashes of images flooded my mind: a beautiful gigantic mansion, a pack of wolves hoping freely in the woods, a man lying dead on a bed locked away, a handsome man sulking in this penthouse, and an image of...

The image didn't finish when I felt something shove me back, and then I was back in the room, in the arms of a man. He was dangerously handsome, our eyes were fixed, and I felt a feeling that overtook me, setting my whole body on fire.

But there was something off about him. I have spent a lot of time in the human world to know a human when I see one. And the one staring at me isn't. I looked from the portrait to the man, and I needed no one to tell me it was the same person.

He was above 6 feet tall, with black hair, and his eyes were kind of confusing. One was red, while the other was black. His face was well-chiseled, and his muscles were well-defined like he had been exercising all his life. And he was a wolf. I couldn't go wrong with that scent.

I stylishly pulled off my glove and placed my hand back on him, but I could see nothing—no images whatsoever. This had never happened before, so I goti away from him and fell on the chair behind me. Images after images started to come through, so I stood up from the chair immediately I didn't want to see another image of where the chair had been, I turned to face the man who was staring at me like his prey.

"What do we have here?" He whispered, walking close to me. At first, I thought about running, but somehow I felt safe around him. My wolf was jumping in the back of my mind.

He came closer, covering the space between us. He took in my scent, and I leaned in more to inhale more of his scent. He was so close that I could feel his breath on my face.

"Touch our mate," my wolf said while he was staring at me. I felt a fresh wave of fear run through my body.

My mom had always mentioned this mate stuff. I thought she was joking until I started reading about it, but I never imagined I was going to find my mate since I'm more than 10,000 miles away from any wolf, but here we are.

"How did you get in here?"

"I'm sorry.... sir..... but the door.... it was open," I stammered all banged up.

"He left it open again. I think I won't feel guilty if I decide to kill him, this time" he whispered, but I heard him anyway, thanks to wolves super-hearing stuff.

"What do you have there?" he pointed at the white envelope I had been clutching all this time.

"Are you Mr. Reed?" I asked, now understanding why he was so rich, to own or be a shareholder in most of the companies in Los Angeles. Wolves live longer than humans, and most usually have family wealth. I was sure my father might be rich too because my mother's ring was super expensive, but she forbade me from selling it.

"Is that for me?" he asked, and I offered him the letter while I started explaining the reason I was here.

He took the letter off my hands and tore it open, and while I went on with my reason for coming here, he read through the letter.

"Hold on, you are a what?"

"A sleep concierge, like I help people sleep better, I have..."

"We have that at this hotel." he blurted out, cutting me off and staring at me strangely.

I ignored him while I went on to explain things to him. I pulled the orphan card, and the job is all that I have right now.

"An orphan! And you have nothing, not even a strong family name?" He asked, looking at me so demeaningly.

For the first time in so many years, I wanted to disappear from someone so badly.

"How could the moon goddess pull off this mockery of a match? How could the moon goddess match me with a nobody like you? This would only make me seem weak to my people; they are already on my neck. With this, no one would ever respect me," he barked, pacing the room, but stopped abruptly.

"No one would find out we are mated if I just killed you here and now," he said, smirking. It was as if something overtook him; his eyes glittered, his teeth elongated, and I knew for sure that this would be my very last day on earth.

I slowly moved backward, crying internally and cursing every damn book I read about this mate stuff.

I thought a mate was like someone's soul mate and not some freaking maniac trying to kill me. I had sometimes fantasized about meeting my mate, and I thought it would be the most romantic experience ever.

Who was I fooling? The manic standing right in front of me was the perfect mate for a weirdo like me. But I wasn't going to stand around until he killed me.

His eye color suddenly became pitch black, and he advanced toward me, smiling like the maniac I called him. I spun on my heels to run out of the penthouse, running as my legs could carry me, but the door snapped shut before I could run outside.

I turned frantic and breathed heavily; he was standing behind me. I can't have him corner me; I made to move, and he held me against the wall.

I noticed that his eyes were not just pitch black but they were glittering, with mischief lurking in it. I tried to push him off, but it only made him move into my space more.

"Let go," I said. I tried to knee him in the nuts, but he held my leg with his.

"This is the end," I pitifully said to myself. If I knew I was only going to meet my end here, I would have lived more freely.

I felt life seeping away from me, he suddenly groaned and staggered back.

Released me, and I fell on my bum, crawling away from him while coughing so hard.

I looked up to see him clutching his heart while on one knee; his face was all red, and you could tell he was in a lot of pain.

I jerked off the floor, turning the door handle. I bolted out, ran without looking back for a second, got to the elevator, and kept on stabbing the button nonstop while stealing a glance behind me to make sure he hadn't caught up with me.

The door swished open, and I hurriedly went in, stabbing the button to close right back. My heart began racing when he stood up, still clutching his chest.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, stabbing the button more furiously. He staggered forward, his once-pitch black eyes now back to how they were before.

"Wait, please, don't go," he said calmly while advancing towards me. I was beginning to doubt if he was the same man who decided to kill me a few minutes ago.

He was almost at the door when the door closed, and I fell on my buttocks, breathing heavily. I hurried out of the elevator once the door open and made my way out of the damned hotel.

I pulled open the door and rushed outside. Hailed a cab and immediately got in while checking around.

I fished out my phone from the jacket I was putting on, and I screamed out when I noticed the screen was broken.

"Another expense when I don't have a job," I yelled out angrily, banging my hand on the chair.

"Is everything okay?" the driver asked, looking in the rear mirror.

"Yeah." I stuttered, clearing my throat.

"4325 Seneca street?"

"Yes, I will be getting off here," I replied. I got off from the car immediately, made to get money from my imaginary bag, and screamed.

I had dropped my bag while running from that monster.

The driver gave me a weird look, and I quickly searched my clothes in case I put a dollar in them.

"I don't have all day," he blurted out.

"Are you looking for this?" I heard someone say from behind, and my heart skipped a beat. I turned to see my bag dangling in his hands while smiling.

"Did he follow me?" I asked, shakingly looking at the man smirking.

"You left the hotel room in such a hurry," he said, smiling. The driver cleared his throat and I immediately understood what he was saying.

I grabbed the bag from him and paid the driver. "So this is where you stay, and you were clinging onto life as if you had anything to live for," he said, staring from me to the house in front of us.

"Get the hell away from me, or I will call the police," I yelled at him and ran into the house.

I climbed the staircase heading to my apartment. I fished the key out of the bag and opened the door. And was about to get in when a gush of wind blew past me.

The last time it happened, I was almost choked out in a hotel room. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you; I might have hesitated from killing you, but I wouldn't hesitate killing anyone that tries to arrest me, and their blood will be in your hands," I heard him say from my apartment.

"Hello, thank you for calling 911. How may we help you?" I heard a lady's voice from the other end of the phone.

I quickly hung up and shoved the phone back into my jacket.

"Good, now come have a seat," he said, then pulled out a seat for me.

I walked into my apartment, not sure I was going to walk out alive. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him seated comfortably on my couch.

I could think of a thousand curses to haul at him, but I know better. Even though he acts cool, the guy is a walking time bomb.

"Please, let me go. I promise no one will ever find out I am your mate. I will leave the city if you want, please," I begged. If there is one thing Mom taught me, it is to choose your enemies wisely.

He instantly jerked off the couch, paced a few times, and suddenly stopped.

"It's stupid enough that the moon goddess matched us, and I can't kill you without hurting myself; that is even crazier, but I won't be stupid to let you out of my sight." His eyes suddenly became pitch black like before in his penthouse, before he went all maniac on me.

I moved back gently, praying he wouldn't lose control again. He smirked, and his eyes color changed back to the normal color. Maybe I am the crazy one to think two different eye colors are anything normal.

"I promise you, I won't tell a soul that I am your mate; I don't even know you."

"But you do; besides, what if you decide to go looking for trouble like you did today and get yourself killed?"

"But they won't know that I am your mate. So how is that any of your business?"

"You must be as dumb as you look; if anyone kills you, they weaken me. Great, now I have to babysit you all the time." he announced gently massaging his fore head.

I was speechless, wondering what the fuck was going on. I remembered reading something like that in one of the editions of the Wolf dictionary, but I thought it was just one of those stupid folklores, now that he is repeating it,

"I.... "

The door quickly flew open, and two tall guys walked in. They weren't humans, judging by their scents, but I had no idea what business they had in my room.

"Pack up your stuff; you're going with me," he blurted out, getting off the couch. He stretched his hand, and one of the men who had walked in earlier opened the file he was holding and handed him a piece of paper.

"Sign this, bring it with you downstairs; I can't spend another minute here," he got up, staring at the room like he was looking at garbage, then walked out.

While the men stood guard at the door, one was inside, staring at me like a zombie.

I picked up my suitcase and packed up a few of my essentials. I went through the paper, and my mouth fell open while reading through the contract.

"I will be dead rather than sign it," I said and got up. I pulled open the bathroom door, and he followed me immediately.

"You are going to watch me do my business in the bathroom also?" he sighed then looked and moved back.

"Don't pull a fast one on me," he warned.

I nodded and went into the bathroom. Turning the water on, I opened the window and gently climbed it. Thank God my apartment was on the first floor. I landed on the small balcony facing the other street.

I pulled down one of the iron staircases stacked at the corner of the building; it didn't go all the way down, and I jumped off.

I had always hated the stupid old building while living here, but right now I can't tell you how happy I am.

I landed on my butt. I quickly jerked off the ground and turned to run, but I slammed into a rock.

I felt butterflies in my stomach, just like I felt when I was with Mr. Reed.

I looked up slowly, and there he was, scowling at me. I tried to move backward, then he grabbed me and pulled me up. The place he was touching was tingling; I felt goosebumps all over, and my wolf kept purring at the back of my head, asking me to kiss him.

"I remember telling you to go get your bag so we could leave. So, what are you doing now? Answer me?" He growled out.

"I..." I kept stammering.

"So infuriating," he said, then grabbed me by the throat and fused his mouth to mine.

His other hand went to my back, squeezing it. I had never been kissed in my life, but if this was how it felt, I wanted it every damn minute, I I felt him sucking everywhere and his hands on my ass were massaging it.

My hand went to his neck, and he pulled me up into his hands, still kissing. His mouth licked a wet trail to my neck, nipping my neck. His tongue was going to my breast when someone coughed.

"What is it, Liam?" he asked while still holding me.

My face was flaming, so I buried it in his shirt. I could not believe I was kissing a man in the alley.

Hold up, shut the front door. Did I just say a man? I mean a monster that tried killing me earlier today.

"What did I just do?" I exclaimed, jumping off his hands and cleaning off my lips with the back of my hands.

He shot me a glance, ignored me, and turned his gaze at the guy who gave him the contract earlier.

"We are ready to leave Alpha; her bag is already in the car," he said.

"Good."

"He is an Alpha." I heard my wolf whispering, feeling all giddy, but I didn't share the same feeling with her.

"No wonder the aura he exudes." I thought to myself,

"Time to go. Your bag is in the car," he said, and he started dragging me.

"This is kidnapping, and I won't let you take me." I did not finish what I was saying when he lifted me off the ground, throwing me like some sack over his shoulders.

"Let me go!" I yelled while kicking and hitting him hard, but it was like, I was hitting some rock.

"Damn it!" he yelled. I guess I was getting on his nerves. He set me down, still holding onto me. He shook me a little bit, and I began feeling dizzy. It felt like the stress of today was trying to catch up with me. The more I fought to keep my eyes open the more I lost consciousness saw.

I heard him saying something, chuckling dryly, and then he lifted off the ground again.

I wanted to call him a psychopath, but I could not talk; my mouth felt heavy and my eyes closed.

***

When I woke up, I heard the sound of someone. I groaned, then pushed up. I did not know where I was, but the room smelled of money. The bed was extra soft, and the decor was fit for royalty. I was lost for a second, wondering if I had moved to another time in space.

When I looked up, I saw a large portrait of Mr. Reed, I was wondering why that lunatic picture was staring back at me when I remembered what happened

. I put two and two together, and then I instantly knew we were back at the penthouse.

"He kidnapped me!" I yelled, realizing that I was being locked up in this room without my consent.

"This is against the law!" I screamed, banging on the door.

"Let me out!" I yelled out, still banging on the door, but there was still no response. I heard no one outside the door, and I began imagining a lot of things. Since he didn't want anyone to know I was his mate, maybe he locked me away to die in here.

I nearly started to cry, but then I remembered that if I died, he would get weak, so I dried my tears.

I was still lost in thought when I heard a knock on the door, and I hurried back to the bed, but not before grabbing a glass that I saw on the table for safety.

The door revealed a middle-aged woman who started to smile as soon as she saw me. I sighed in relief.

"How do you feel?"

"Great, I mean, I was kidnapped, drugged, and locked in here. I feel so wonderful," I said, smiling awkwardly while still looking at her.

"That's good to hear, Are you hungry? Do you like beef noodle soup?"

My stomach growled immediately when I heard her mention food, forgetting my predicament. "Yes."

"Then come to the dining room and eat, Luna. The Alpha said, To make sure that you eat."

I looked at her in surprise, then remembered the contract guy called him Alpha: "My name is Anabella, not Luna, and where is your Alpha?"

"He went home, Luna; I can't address you by your name."

"What! Where is home? He can't keep me locked in here forever, will he?" I asked her.

"Home, at Celestial Pack, he is the Alpha King, and as such, there was something that required his attention."

"What, and when will he be back?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know, but I have everything ready for you. Would you prefer to take your bath or would you eat dinner first?"

"Hold, he is not just an Alpha, but he is the Alpha fucking king!" I screamed out, and she looked at me weirdly. I guess my language offends her, but I don't fucking care right now.

For fucks sake, the messed-up maniac is the Alpha King? It now explains why he was pissed off that he was mated to me. I fell on the bed, looking into the space.

"Is everything okay?" the middle-aged woman asked.

"Dinner, I will have dinner; I haven't eaten for so long," I said, then stood up, pretending I was okay.

"What is your name?" I asked her.

"My name is Ana, Luna. Please sit." She pointed at the chair.

Everything about this place screamed luxury; I didn't get a better glimpse of the place when I came the first time. The table was made of silver glass, which was so beautiful. There were three golden buffets at the end of the table. The plates were not the kind I had ever seen anywhere before.

Maybe it's strictly made for the Alpha King. What was I expecting? He dominated the human world with his companies and chains of hotels.

The Forbes listed him as one of the most influential men in the world.

There was no picture of him, as such, no one knew what the mysterious Reed looked like. I thought he would be an old, sickly man. He was wise to hide, though, to preserve the image the public had of him because if he interacted with people more, no one would want to have anything to do with such a monster.

I wonder how humans would react when they found out that one of the most influential men is a supernatural being and not a human.

She dished my food and then brought it to me. It smelled so delicious that I wanted to dig in, but then I remembered.

"Sorry to ask this. How do I know that it isn't poisoned?" I asked. Don't blame me; blame the bastard in the portrait staring at me.

She grabbed a spoon, said, "If you do not mind," and ate two spoons from it.

I started eating the noodles while trying to get information out of her, but she was very tight-lipped. Maybe he had threatened to kill her too; if she breathed a word to me.

"What is the alpha like?" I told her I wasn't going to give up so easily.

"Like every other Alpha," she answered.

"What is every other alpha like?" I have never been to any pack; as a matter of fact, I have only met a few wolves, which were my mom's friends.

"How long have you been working here, and how come there is no one here but you?" I asked.

"I don't recall how long, but it's been a long time, and the Alpha prefers it that way," she said.

"What of the door? Do you have the key to it, and can you get me out of this place?" I begged.

She glanced at me like I wasn't speaking the language she understood.

"Please stop, Luna; I can't help you escape."

I was just being selfish and unreasonable; I was not sure if he wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she helped me.

I stopped asking her questions and finished my food in silence. She grabbed took away the plates.

"Can you show me around?"

"If you want Luna but only the inside, the Alpha doesn't want you outside."

It was on the tip of my tongue to protest and ask her to take me outside as well, but I remembered I was only going to put myself in danger and decided not to. Even if they did take me outside, I have a feeling it would be heavily guarded since I tried escaping earlier.

It's not like I could jump off the building; it's a fucking penthouse.

"Of course," I said, and she went on to show me the main room, two other rooms, a mini library, the swimming room, a small cinema for just two people, and a mini gym. He pointed at his office. I had no idea a penthouse had that much.

There wasn't much to see, but I was kind of impressed with the ones she showed me.

When we were done, I went into the room I was locked in earlier. After grabbing two books from the library, I wanted to dive right in and divulge them, but I decided to bathe before the Alpha came back. I have no idea where that maniac was sleeping, but I don't want a repeat of what happened in the alley.

I got naked since I was alone and started searching for my towel and phone, but I couldn't find them anywhere in the room, not even in my bag I saw on a couch.

I wrapped my body in the sheets and stepped out of the room.

"Ana, I'm looking for my phone."

"The Alpha King took it; he said he would give it back if you behaved, Luna." She said, my grip on the sheets tightened, and I wanted to murder him.

He was scared his threats wouldn't get to me, and I ended up calling the police.

"Bastard," I cursed under my breath.

"Can I at least get a towel?" I asked her, pissed off.

"Yes, Luna," she replied, hastily disappearing into one of the other rooms.

"Here," she said, giving me a towel. I went back into the room and put back the sheets. I went into the bathroom, dropped the towel on a hanger, and turned on the shower.

Memories of the kiss we shared in the alley filled my mind, but I quickly shoved it aside, sticking my head in the shower as water trickled down my body.

I heard the bathroom door open, and I turned, facing a naked Alpha King.