Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
VALERIA
M y grip on the steering wheel tightened, wondering how I could never smell my best friend, Morgana, and my boyfriend, Lucien, had their scents all over each other. They successfully hid their shenanigans from me for all these years. They knew how to clean themselves well before coming to me. They had been deceiving me since school. The leather armchair felt cool and cozy on my fingers, but my mind was far away still wrapped in thoughts from two weeks ago. Since then, everyone seemed to be laughing at me for being so foolish.
I had wanted to surprise Lucien that weekend so I left my office early and didn't inform him when I went to his place. We hadn’t spent any time together due to my recent overseas project. I had poured my heart and soul into the project because it was my first major break and I needed to prove my business acumen. I even bought burritos and his favorite wine.
As I entered his home, the familiar comfort of his living space rushed over me. The soothing ambiance, the scent of my favorite candle, and the cozy furniture offered an escape from the chaos of the outside world. Lucien and I had bought everything for his home together. But something was different that evening. I noticed a warm glow coming from Lucien's bedroom. Curious, I followed the light and, to my surprise, heard Morgana giggle.
"How can you be so sure Valeria will never find out about us?" she asked.
"Babe we’ve both known her since school so leading her astray is not a big deal," I heard my boyfriend reply.
I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to see how far they would go, so I peeked inside. The scent of their arousal riled up my werewolf.
Let me come out. My werewolf grumbled and tried to gain power over me.
You stay inside! Let me handle this. I told my werewolf.
They deserve to be eaten, let me rip their hearts out.
You are making it more difficult for me! Please, go and sleep for a while I told her with a heavy heart.
Morgana was lying naked in his bed, and Lucien was about to go down on her. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I sobbed within, but I wanted to witness the betrayal of the two most important people in my life. As Lucien went down on her, Morgana's voice became heavy. "Oh, Lucien you are so wicked."
Lucien spoke before sinking his face between her legs, "Only for you love, only for you."
Morgana began to moan, and I had had enough. I opened the door wide and barged in. They Lucienboth jolted, "Valeria, what…..what are you doing here?" Lucien asked.
I screamed at him, "Really? You really want me to answer that?"
Lucien sat up abruptly, and Morgana wrapped herself in the sheets. "Valeria, it's not what you…"
I raised my hand to silence her. "You both are spineless leeches with no courage. You couldn’t even tell me the truth."
Morgana sighed and revealed her true colors. "Oh, Valeria, don't you know Lucien never loved you? He pitied you because you had never had a boyfriend."
Lucien stood up and shouted, "Shut up Morgana." He tried to come near to me, but I spun around and rushed out of his room. If I stayed there for one more second my wolf would have come out and chopped their heads off. I stormed out of Lucien's house as he repeatedly called my name.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPP!!!!
A police siren startled me back into reality. I looked in my rearview mirror where the flashing lights of a police car filled the reflection. "Dammit," I grumbled realizing I'd drifted into another lane. I pulled over and the patrol car followed immediately behind me.
A sergeant approached, so I rolled down the window."Ma'am, do you know you were speeding?"
I stammered, "I'm sorry, officer...I was… I was running late for my interview."
The sergeant raised an eyebrow. "May I see your license and registration please?"
I looked at the time and realized I was actually late for my interview and in this race against time my emotions from a few weeks ago as well as the memories began to fade away. I needed to get this job no matter the cost. I couldn't continue working for Lucien's father. A new place, new people around me, and new tasks would help me forget about my heartbreak. I handed over the license and registration to him.
"I am giving you a speeding ticket. Also, consider this a warning."
"Damn."
The sergeant stared at me, and I forced a smile. "I mean, thank you, officer. I will be more careful."
As soon as I stepped inside the Parker Tower I felt the presence of an extremely powerful creature nearby. His scent lingered nearby. I called it a creature because it wasn’t a shape-shifter, human, or bloodsucker. Because of my father's Halo lineage, my werewolf is ten times more powerful than an ordinary werewolf as are my senses. My body was resisting my will, and I had to restrain myself from following the scent. It was delicious, powerful, and ecstatic. I was already running late for my interview, but the scent compelled me to find out its origin.
I realized that it wasn't just the scent that was drawing me towards the creature. There was something else, something irresistible that forced me to search for that euphoric flavor. I had to keep myself composed, refraining from sniffing around in a foyer full of humans.
I began to feel an abrupt restlessness, emptiness, and frustration just as I suspected that creature was going through right now. I made sure that whoever was the source, he wasn't in the foyer. I walked over to the elevators and began waiting. Suddenly, a strong scent filled my nostrils, and I realized it was coming from a specific elevator.
As I looked at the sign on that elevator, it said, "Mr. Kai Parker Only”. I found myself with no choice but to wait. The elevator descended and I couldn't help but feel a heightened sense of alertness. A few moments ago, it felt like everything was working against me. But now, I couldn’t help but feel like we were coming closer together...
As soon as the elevator doors opened a ginormous man bumped into me and seemed in a rush. I knew instantly why an overwhelming surge of energy was pulsing through my body. I couldn't resist following his captivating scent, here was my fated mate. He had green eyes, a musky, earthy kind of scent, black shiny hair, a lean body, and stood at a towering height of 6’10. I noticed him staring at me and it seemed like he was just as surprised as I was. Thank the moon goddess for revealing my fated mate. I could feel him attempting to push me away, but my strength was far beyond ordinary. I stood my ground unaffected. Had it been any other girl, she would have flown to the other side of the foyer.
I couldn't help but stare at him as he began to scream at me. I couldn't understand why he was reacting so harshly. Sure, I read the notice and I never planned on entering the elevator. It seemed like he was yelling at me, but deep down, he was clearly frustrated with himself. When he wouldn't stop insulting me I attempted to speak, but he abruptly cut me off without giving me a chance to respond. His phone began to ring and he promptly walked away.
I swallowed my frustration and headed towards my final interview. Rachel apologized and informed me that Mr. Parker had to leave urgently, so the interview has been rescheduled for tomorrow. I sighed and slumped my shoulders. My mind was still a mess after a man I had just met.
Could this day get any worse? I asked my werewolf.
If you wanted, I could have devoured that cranky one's head or the girl who informed you that your interview had been rescheduled. My wolf responded.
Would you please STOP and…
“Excuse me?” Rachel inquired.
I pretended I didn’t know what she was talking about, “What?”
Rachel raised her brow. “You told me to stop but I don’t know what you want me to stop?”
I forced a smile onto my face. “Oh no, I was trying to say that would you please stop apologizing for rescheduling my interview? It's not your fault, or anyone's fault for that matter. Emergencies happen."
I smiled and nodded. I stormed out of Parker Tower fuming with anger. I couldn't help but tolerate my werewolf rolling on the ground, laughing uncontrollably at me.
You are truly a pain in the ass. I told my werewolf.
I came back home and my mom asked about the interview. I told her it got canceled at the last moment and now I have to go tomorrow. I was heading towards my room when Mom stopped me. “Valeria, what is bothering you?”
I sighed and shrugged. “Today I stumbled upon a guy and was unable to recognize who he was. I mean, his scent was something else like out of this world.” I refrained from telling her about the fated mate part.
I saw a glimpse of hope in my mom’s eyes. “Do you think he was like me?”
I shook my head. My mom had an unknown past she had no memories before met my dad thirty years ago. She still doesn’t know where she belongs or who she is. She is neither a shapeshifter nor a human. She ages much more slowly. She didn't even know her name before my dad named her Lyra and when they got married she became Lyra Davis. My dad, Jake Davis, is the alpha of the Mooncrest pack. His rules are not only followed in the pack but in a whole world of shape-shifter communities because he is also a prominent member of the World Order Council. To humans, he is an influential figure in pharmaceuticals, but I refuse to tag along in his legacy like my brothers. Instead of following in his footsteps I focused on studying business and aspired to build a career in that field.
I looked outside the windows. “Mom, it's a full moon so I gotta run and practice.” I raised my hand and started wiggling my fingers.
She nodded and I went to our farmhouse. Every full moon I come here to practice my power. My dad and I have this power, but not my three brothers. We can emit electric current from our fingertips. I can’t practice without a full moon because this particular energy also emits light. During a full moon, it's not noticeable. I only get one day in the entire month to hone my skills. We need to control the energy as it is very powerful and the person being possessed is sometimes compelled towards the sinister side. There are rumors in the community that say it is dangerous to live with us.This is the reason we have to hide our Halo lineage.
Once the Halo clan was considered to be the incarnation of the power of the moon god and was respected by everyone. We have strong attack power, high flexibility, and excellent self-healing abilities, and a small number of us can heal others. A very small number of Halos can predict. They can resolve bad events, but the cause and effect will be transferred. It is impossible to predict where or who they will transfer to. Therefore, after using the prophetic ability, you need to think about whether to follow the resolution method to resolve it or not. Careful consideration is required. My dad and I did lack the power to see the future but my brothers can.
After practicing for what felt like hours I finally made it back home completely drenched in sweat. I quickly headed to the shower to freshen up. Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed. Just as I was starting to relax, my phone suddenly began to ring. It was Luke, my third brother, who I consider more of a friend than a sibling, unlike my two older brothers, Elliot and Emmet.
“Yo, Vienna, Land of Waltzes……….how are you?”
Luke giggled. “Big line of boring meetings.”
“So what did you expect in the World Order meeting?” I asked.
Luke responded immediately, “Hot, feisty, and wild werewolf girls.”
I laughed, “You need to keep your dick in your pants or else Dad and Elliot will cut it off.”
Luke started to stammer. “No….. no….. no…. no they can't do that……be….. Because I just convinced Emmet to give me an hour to drink and have fun with girls in a bar.”
I sighed, “OKai, would you stop with all your nonsense and tell me why the hell you called me?”
Luke kept quiet for half a minute.
”Hello, Luke, you there?”
Luke responded, “There is something unknown little sister and it's about you. Elliot, Emmet, and I had the same vision but we didn't share them with Dad. Is there anything you are hiding?”
As I settled onto my bed I opened up to him, recounting every detail from Lucien and Morgana's betrayal to the mysterious stranger who turned out to be my fated mate. He growled, frustrated by the fact that my werewolf hadn't eaten the heads of Morgana and Lucien. When relaying the moment of betrayal tears streamed down my face; however, as I talked with Luke, laughter escaped my lips. I reminded him of the two crucial rules our father had founded. Not causing harm to one another and refraining from disclosing our true selves to any human. I declined Luke's offer to come back as I didn't want to create a scene after my breakup with Lucien. It's important to remain peaceful because Lucien’s dad is my dad's beta. I don't want any unnecessary conflict to arise in the pack as a result of Lucien's betraying dick. Luke made me promise to keep him posted and then I ended the call. After talking to him I felt lighter and immediately drifted off.
The next morning, I was sitting at Parker Tower and preparing to encounter Kai Parker again. The moment Rachel told me to go to his office for the interview I actually wanted to run away, but I stood up and smiled. I started to feel restless again with him in such close proximity. I shook my head and knocked when he permitted me to come inside.
I entered the room, his gaze locked onto me just like it did yesterday. I started talking before he had a chance to speak, “Hi, I'm Valeria Davis and I'm here to interview for the assistant position."
I sat down as Kai Parker maintained a poker face and gestured for me to join him. I cleared my throat to get his attention. "Yesterday I had no intention of entering your elevator. I was just standing there..."
He raised a brow as I continued. "Something was bothering me, but I was just standing there.”
He didn’t respond and just nodded. and When he stood up, I wondered if he felt the same pull for me the way I felt for him. Kai started pacing behind me. I turned around and he was reading my resume. I felt a volcano erupt in my heart and flowers blossom in my stomach, but I waited for two minutes and then I stood up and asked, “Is there anything wrong, Mr. Parker?”
He removed his gaze from my resume and looked at me, “What do you mean?”
I meant are you out of your fucking mind? Why the hell you are not acknowledging me as your fucking fuckity fated mate screamed the voice in my head.
I shook my head, “Because I think there is something in my resume that you are not getting, so it would save you time if you ask me that and I will explain.”
He came so close to me that I could feel his breathing on my head, he kept one hand over a chair, and with the other hand set my resume on the table until I was between his arms. I felt his anger coursing through his veins. I felt the heat in his body for me. But I didn't get why he was not talking to me about it.
He asked, “Can you start tomorrow?”
I was looking straight at his chest and I had no courage to answer so I nodded. I never felt that weak in front of anyone. His height and his gesture made me feel I was at his mercy. “Can’t you look at me?” he said.
I mustered all my courage and looked up at him. I was enveloped in his musky, earthy scent, mixed with the persistent whiff of whiskey on his breath. It had a euphoric effect on me, leaving me torn between stepping on his toes or whether or not to kiss him. He made the decision for me and crashed his lips onto mine.
I couldn't help but smile under our kiss, I felt a sense of worth and affection. His hands tightly grasped my waist as I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. Our lips met and our tongues began to intertwine. I felt an overwhelming surge of pleasure course through me. His hands moved down to my ass and caressed it hard, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through my body. It was as if my heart was on the verge of exploding in ecstasy.
He pinned me to his table and I slammed myself into his perfectly toned body. Breathless, we both broke our kiss and my eyes landed on his scars. I gasped and looked at him but he wouldn’t say anything to me. I pushed him away and stormed out of his office with a wounded heart.