The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

Ariel was floating in and out of consciousness. It was a sort of out-of-body experience; her spirit was floating in the air, but her body was still on the bed.

She tried to shift in bed, a very bad idea, as pain flared up in her body, robbing her of every rational thought. She couldn’t even scream out her pain because it hurt to even open her mouth.

She could only whine from the displeasure, but she felt firm hands on her, brushing her hair and whispering sweet words of kindness to her.

The voice lured her to sleep, but in that near-half-sleep state, she heard a growl.

“Never again, never again!” The man was vibrating beside her, his voice barely coherent from the anger that was laced in it.

Ariel didn’t know what to make of it because she felt a sharp pain in her neck, like two large pins entering her, and she blacked out, falling deep into the abyss.

When Ariel woke up, this time she managed to open her time, but it hurt so much that she was closing it back. In fact, everything hurt; even drawing breath was a cautious endeavor.

“Ariel?” The familiar voice called her name, but even responding hurt. “Baby?” The voice was coaxing her out of her slumber.

“Kane?”

“Shh, don’t say anything. You are too hurt to speak; just focus on recovering, and we will talk.”

Shit.

Ariel tried to put two and two together, and she was almost freezing in fear. If Kane was here with her, it was obvious he had learned what went down.

What she could believe was a very foolish decision on her part.

“K-Kane, I-I am…” She was whizzing, but Kane shut her up before she could get anything out.

“Like I said already, just focus on recovering. We will have a long talk when you are out of here.”

“Hmm.”

Yeap, he was angry, and she was really in for a long talk.

A shy knock on the door interrupted the death gaze Kane was giving her, and she was grateful for the interruption.

The door opened slightly, and a short buxom woman entered inside, marching straight to her.

“Hello Ariel, I see you are awake. How do you feel?” Ariel was in no mood for a cheerful patronizing voice, no when every part of her body was on fire, but the woman was the one treating her.

And there was a saying: never be rude to the one who cares for you.

“Like shit.” It was the only word she could manage out without upsetting the demons that were playing football on her head.

“It is quite common for people suffering from concussions. You have taken quite a beating that your human body could not handle, but nothing is too much for Denise.” She said everything with a smile, and Ariel was sure that she would literally announce the demise of a family member with the same weird smile, and she wanted to punch it from her face.

“When will she be out of here?” Kane asked, coming closer to Denise. “I want her in my room.”

“Unfortunately, that will not be possible. Any sudden movement will do more harm than good. It is better that she recuperates here.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Hmm.” Kane nodded, and he was pacing about the room, his boots heavy on the marble as he tried to control himself.

Seeing his mate lying helpless in bed was still triggering the murderous instinct, and he wanted to go back and kill everyone that was involved in it.

“This should help with the pain.” Denise produced a needle that should have scared Ariel, but a needle prick was a small price to pay for her stubbornness, so she gladly accepted it, and soon she was floating on her way to dreamland.

***

This time, when Ariel came around, the pain had reduced to a rather dull ache that left her surprised. She knew the extent of her injury, and in a normal sense, she should be confined to her bed for more than 2 weeks, yet she could move some parts of her body.

The curtains were still closed, but the little ray of light that had escaped from the slit told her that it had been some days since she had been confined here.

She looked up to see that the IV line was still connected to her, slowing pumping medicine and nutrients into her veins.

Her gaze shifted across the room to the shelves that were almost overflowing with flowers, and it was hard to keep the shock from her face.

Apart from Kane, she was only close to two other people, yet she could identify more than five bouquets and a lot of get-well-soon notes. She could even spot a chocolate bar.

How do they even know about her?

It must be the perks of dating the alpha.

The door opened with force, and Ariel needed no soothsayer to tell her that Kane had just entered the room. His whole presence saturated the air.

He walked towards her and took his seat beside her. “How are you doing today?”

“Quite better.” Ariel replied, even managing to put on a smile; otherwise, he would sniff her discomfort.

“Hmm.” He nodded to himself, not convinced by her facade. “Do you need anything?”

“No, thank you.”

Shit!

They were back to being cordial-her worst nightmare yet-and it was better he said whatever he was going to say then to keep her in this choking suspense.

The couple sat-one laid down, but you get the picture-in a rather uncomfortable silence. The worst one yet.

One could literally feel the tension in the air and could even attempt to cut through it. And the occasional tapping of his foot on the floor was driving her crazy.

Ariel could no longer take it anymore, so she was breaking the silence. “Are you angry with me?”

“Is that the question you are asking?” The manner in which Kane had asked made her feel stupid, and Ariel wished the earth could be swallowed right now, but she managed to put on a brave face.

“I think you are angry with me.”

“There you go, Sherlock, one thing you are good at.”

Ariel rolled her eyes, already fed up with his attitude. “There is no need to be sarcastic. I was just asking a question.”

“A question? Really?” Kane stood up from his seat, his anger unable to contain him anymore. “You are asking if I was angry.”

“A simple yes or no would have done it.” Ariel insisted, refusing to back down.

“Oh, you are asking if I was angry when I watched my mate lying on the floor, a little between life and death. May I add that this is not the first time?” Sarcasm was literally dripping from his words, and Ariel flinched, his words cutting her deep.

“I had to do it.” She said it in a small voice, picking at the lint on her dress.

“There was nothing you should have done. Only a stupid human would go against a werewolf in the hopes of winning. Have you forgotten what I taught you?” Now Kane was shouting, and Ariel was sure they could hear his voice from outside. “If you had accessed the situation, you should have known it was suicide and backed down!”

“They were calling me names!” Ariel retorted, her voice rising to meet his pitch.

“Are you a child? What are you trying to prove?” Kane balled his fingers in a fist, his body shaking so much with anger. “I have told you how much you mean to me and what I feel about you. Why do you care what some people think?”

Ariel had nothing to say; instead, she lowered her head. “I am sorry.”

“Sorry wouldn’t take back the time, but I know what will.”

“What are you-?” A crazy thought came to her mind, and Ariel shook her head. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“No more training for you; it is canceled.”

“But-”

“If you are looking for ways to occupy yourself, I will get a human job for you. Somewhere, I can be sure you wouldn’t try to kill yourself.”

“Kane.” Ariel whined, unable to believe what you had just said, but the alpha had no plans of changing his mind.

“In fact, you are grounded!”

And he was walking out of the room.