Someone's Coming

Aria

As soon as the door slammed shut behind Lilith, the tension she left in her wake lingered like a dark cloud in the room.

Her words, sharp, biting, still echoed in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that wrapped itself around me.

So, this is her? Let's hope you're worth the trouble you've caused.

The look she'd thrown at me, so utterly and arrogantly cold, left me feeling nothing but minuscule, and unimportant. I hadn't even spoken a word to her, and yet, I felt like I'd already done something terribly wrong.

My heart was beating so fast, my thoughts going wild with unanswered questions. My heart was beating so fast, my thoughts going wild with unanswered questions. Why was I here? Why did I feel so out of place in this pack? I wasn't sure how to make sense of any of it.

But before I could get too deep into the rabbit hole of my thoughts, Kiera's voice cut through the tension, like a blast of fresh air.

"Ugh, don't mind her," Kiera replied, rolling her eyes in disgust. "Lilith thinks she owns the place just because, she's...well, her. Don't let her get to you."

I blinked, taken aback by Kiera's casual tone. Despite the harshness of Lilith's intrusion, Kiera seemed completely unfazed, as if she'd seen it a hundred times before.

"She's... intense," I murmured, still unsure how to process the encounter.

"That's one way to put it," Kiera laughed, her cheery nature immediately lifting the somber mood. "But seriously, don't worry about her. She likes to throw her weight around, but most of us just ignore it. She's harmless... mostly."

I couldn't help but smile a little at Kiera for the effort she made to lighten the room. Despite everything, her energy was contagious and gradually, I found myself beginning to like her.

"Why does she hate me already?" I asked softly, still trying to understand why Lilith had been so hostile.

Kiera waved her hand dismissively. "She's just jealous. You're new, mysterious, and, well...let's face it, competition and she's no fan of competition." She winked mischievously as if this was all just some kind of game. "But enough about her! Tell me about you. Where did you come from? What's your story?"

The way she asked the question was so lighthearted as if my story might be filled with fun adventures or interesting anecdotes. But I could only lower my gaze, the weight of my past too heavy to put into words just yet.

"I...I have no idea where to start from," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kiera's face softened at my hesitance. "It's okay, there's no need to explain everything at once. We'll get to know each other, little by little. I've got time."

She smiled again, for the only time since I awoke in this uncanny atmosphere, I sensed a small spark of comfort. Maybe... just maybe, I could trust her.

We were, for the better part of the day, just talking, although Kiera did all the talking while I did all the listening. She had a knack for infusing the room with her babble, her jovial nature making it hard to stay withdrawn for too long.

She told me stories of the pack, the family, and all the mischief that came with living here.

I found myself laughing at some of her fantastic tales, her animated expressions, and her exaggerated gestures too tempting to resist.

For a little while, I forgot about the darkness that loomed in the back of my mind. I forgot about Lilith, about the fear of not knowing where I truly belonged.

It wasn't until I caught a whiff of something intoxicating and very addictive that I snapped out of my comfort. The scent came out of nowhere, earthy, rich, and undeniably alluring.

Every inch of my body froze from top to bottom as the scent grew stronger and stronger. It held me in a cocoon of warmth like a warm blanket, but something was unnerving about it, something that made my wolf stir deep inside me.

Kiera sighed, a knowing look crossing her face. "Well, I guess we'll have to pick this up another time, won't we," she replied, playfully but with a hint of seriousness. "Someone's coming."

I glanced at her, confusion and apprehension filling me. "Who?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she gave me a small, almost mischievous smile. "You'll see," she teased, standing up from her chair.

The scent continued to grow stronger, and with it, my unease. My wolf stirred restlessly in the recesses of my mind, a low growl echoing through me.

I didn't have any idea what was happening but every cell in my body was alert, tense.

Then, the door creaked open, and he stepped inside.

The moment I laid eyes on him, and my heart froze in my chest. He was...there was no other word for it...breathtaking. His presence filled the room like a hurricane, overwhelming and too powerful to ignore.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with a strong jawline and striking eyes that seemed to see right through me. His hair was dark, almost black, and his skin was tanned from years spent outdoors. There was an aura around him, something powerful and commanding that left no doubt in my mind, this was the Alpha.

My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the overwhelming urge to bow before him, my body instinctively reacting to his dominance.

His scent wrapped around me, intoxicating and almost unbearable in its intensity. I shivered, unable to stop myself, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning in his presence.

But even as my body responded to his power, there was a pull, an irresistible urge to meet his gaze, to peer into his eyes despite the overwhelming pressure to submit. Slowly, almost hesitantly, I raised my head, slowly and quietly, and as soon as our eyes met, the world froze.

Those eyes... dark and stormy, intense and unrelenting. They kept me prisoner, trapped me, and for a second I couldn't get a breath.

Kiera, who seemed completely unfazed by the weight of the Alpha's presence, grinned and gave a small wave. "Hey, Kael," she said casually as if she were greeting an old friend. "I was just keeping Aria company."

The Alpha, Kael barely glanced at her, his focus entirely on me. His eye was piercing, analytical, as if he was trying to read out every secret I was keeping with a single glance. I felt exposed under his scrutiny, vulnerable in a way I had been unprepared for.

Kiera, still completely at ease, chuckled. "Well, I'll leave you two to it. Looks like you've got some things to discuss." She shot me a wink before turning to leave, pausing just long enough to add, "Don't worry, Aria. Kael's not as scary as he looks."

With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with him.

The silence that followed was thick, and heavy with tension. I froze there, helpless, and unable to comprehend what to say or do. My wolf was pacing in the mind, agitated and restless, the weight of her presence was intensifying.

The scent of him was so strong it made my head spin, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was standing on the edge of something monumental.

Kael took a step forward, his gaze still locked on mine, my breath hitched again. He was so close now, too close, and yet there was something magnetic about him that made it impossible to pull away.

"Aria," he said, in a deep, gravelly tone. It sent a shiver down my spine. "I've been waiting to meet you."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "You... have?"

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "You've been unconscious for days. The entire pack has been waiting for you to wake up."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. My mind was still reeling from everything, waking up in this strange place, the encounter with Lilith, and now this. Standing in front of the Alpha, feeling the weight of his presence, it was almost too much to handle.

"Why?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why does everyone care so much?"

His eyes darkened, a shadow passing over his face. "Because you're important. More important than you realize."

The indecipherable expression on his face and the cryptic nature of his words only added to my discomfort. "I don't understand," I admitted, shaking my head slightly. "I'm just... me."

Kael stepped even closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "You're not 'just' anything, Aria. You are mine, and therefore you are now part of this pack whether you realize it or not. And as Alpha, it is my responsibility to take care of you."

His proximity was overwhelming, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty as I tried to process his words. There was something about him that unnerved me, something that made me feel small and out of control. But at the same time, there was a strange pull, a connection I couldn't quite explain.

"I... I don't know what you expect from me," I stammered, my voice shaky.

"I don't expect anything," he said, his tone softer now, though still laced with authority. "But you should know that you're not alone anymore. You have me and the rest of the pack who would do anything for you."

The intensity in his words, in his gaze, made my stomach flip. I could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on me, but for the first time, it didn't feel quite so suffocating.

Just as I started to feel the smallest hint of relief, there was a sharp knock at the door, and it swung open to reveal a man I hadn't seen before, tall, muscular, with an air of authority that paled in comparison to Kael's.

"Alpha," the man said, his tone urgent. "We have a situation. You're needed."

Kael's expression tightened, and he shot me a look that made my heart skip a beat before turning to the man. "I'll be right there, Jaxon."

Jaxon nodded, glancing briefly at me before stepping back out of the room. Kael's eyes drifted back to mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I detected something in them, something close to....remorse.

"I have to go," he said, his voice firm but reluctant. "We'll talk more later."

And with that, he turned and left, leaving me alone once more, my mind swirling with questions, my heart pounding in my chest. What did this all mean? Why did I feel such a strong pull towards him, and yet a drop in my stomach at the sight of him?

I had no answers, only this uneasy feeling in my chest.