Chapter 3: Knock at the Door

OLIVIA

~Thud! Thud!~

The insistent knocking on her door was what yanked her from her drowsy slumber.

She rolled over in her bed, her white satin sheets tangled around her waist, and she flopped onto her stomach. Olivia rubbed at her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering sleepiness. Last night had been a tough one.

She’d left her job without any notice—a move that would surely have repercussions—and she’d holed up in her apartment.

The alpha—his identity unknown—had stirred her up so much, she had to take matters into her own hands.

It had consumed a significant part of the night. The evidence was still in her bed: a pink vibrator. She groaned, grabbing it before tossing it into her open nightstand.

The pounding on the door persisted.

“Yes,” she snapped, annoyed.

Her feet hit the chilly wooden floor and she picked up a large sweater that was discarded on the floor.

She pulled it on, adjusting it until it covered her backside, and she made her way to the front door. ~Good grief.~ She flung the door open, her eyebrows furrowed as the door revealed the uninvited guest.

“Will,” she murmured.

His brown eyes roved over her from head to toe, a smirk playing on his lips. “Is there someone else here or is this for me?” he asked, pointing at her outfit.

“Hilarious,” she retorted, stepping aside. “I wonder if Jess will find it as amusing.”

“You know I’m joking,” he said, shutting the door behind him. “But seriously, anyone in your bed?”

“I avoid people during that time. You know that.” Granted, she almost didn’t last night, but that wasn’t her fault. How was she supposed to know there would be an alpha at the ER, ready to pounce on her?

She couldn’t be held responsible for that, could she?

“There was a time you didn’t.” There was a twinkle in his eyes, fleeting but hard to miss, especially as his gaze lingered on her.

Will was her first.

He was a beta, expelled from his pack when his parents died. His mother had been human-born, his father a werewolf from birth. He’d moved in with his maternal grandparents after they passed away.

He was much like her, a wolf out of place. What little she did know about her new life, she had learned from him.

He’d forgotten a lot of it since he had been so young when he moved in with his grandparents.

But he did have a lot more instincts than she did. He had always been a werewolf—unlike her. At twenty-five years old, Will was a few years older than her, and he’d experienced his first heat well before her.

But he was there when hers hit. And he’d taken her virginity with him. She always had a small crush on him. Olivia could be honest with Will, she could be who she was without reservation.

He was the one who found her the first time she transformed. He took her back to his house and helped her through the transformation.

That was how they met. If it weren’t for him, she might have hurt someone—or died.

He had saved her life and she would always owe him for that. He had guided her through her learning curve as best he could, sometimes treating her like a little cub.

She never regretted what happened.

Not the first time, not the other times that followed. It never completely satisfied the urge, but it did take the edge off.

After the first time they slept together, she had almost expected something to come out of it, but it never did. He slipped back into his friend role as though he hadn’t made love to her the night before.

The first few days, she had felt awkward, but he had picked up on it, explaining to her that wolves didn’t always behave like their usual self during their heats.

They were on autopilot, some letting their instincts take over more than others.

He was that type. He didn’t have the best self-control since no one taught him.

She had more control because she had a stronger human side.

Maybe that was what kept her in check yesterday…

“That was before,” she finally replied. Ever since Jess entered his life, they hadn’t been together in that way.

There were a few times where the urges brought them close to crossing a line, but they never did. Olivia would have never forgiven herself if they had. Will and Jess were her version of a pack, her family.

They were all she had left in the world.

“Right.”

“Guessing you had fun last night.”

He chuckled. “I did.” He lifted his gaze, peering at her bedroom through the open door.

“I’m guessing you had a good time too, judging by your open drawer.”

She had fun distracting herself from the real fun she almost had. She wasn’t planning on telling him that. Or was she? Who else could she confide in, who else could she ask?

He was the only one. He’d be livid though… He was the one who warned her about alphas, educated her about them… “Will—listen…”

His eyebrows furrowed. “I don’t like the sound of that…,” he interjected.

“I worked last night.”

“During a heat?”

“Yes… I had—I had to cover for Cassie.”

“That’s not wise.”

“I know…can you just let me finish?”

He nodded, raising his hands in surrender.

“Okay, okay, I apologize.”

Okay. ~One chance~. She could tell him. ~Just like ripping off a band-aid, Olivia.~ “There was an alpha in the ER.” She averted her gaze from him, suddenly finding the hem of her sweatshirt fascinating.

“An alpha?”

“Yes.”

His dark eyes clouded with emotion, his jaw tightened momentarily before his entire body relaxed. “Liv, did you sleep with an alpha?”

She stomped her foot, spinning around to glare at him. “NO. I already told you. I didn’t do anything last night.”

“You were in the middle of a heat, with an alpha, and you didn’t sleep with him?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of her story.

“No.” She exhaled sharply, nostrils flaring. “It happened so quickly—I think he tried—but I ran.”

“You ran from an alpha?”

“Yes. Are you going to make me repeat everything?”

“And he let you?”

“What do you mean he let me? I’m not an object.”

“An omega in heat? To him, you might as well have been, Liv. You don’t understand, do you? Alphas do what they want, they take what they want.

“The alpha of my old pack murdered my parents and then discarded me. They do what they want and they don’t care.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up. “I’ve told you this a million times. I can’t understand why he’d let you go.”

“Maybe he didn’t want a human-born omega.”

Will had once told her that wolves looked down on those who weren’t born this way or those with mixed blood like him. There was no honor in becoming a wolf. You had to be born one.

“I don’t think it mattered to him. In the throes of a heat? An alpha would sleep with anything—anyone.”

“Well, he let me go. What do you want me to say?”

“Did he touch you?”

If she didn’t know better, she’d think she detected a hint of jealousy in his voice.

But that couldn’t be. Because he could have had her but he didn’t want to—and she couldn’t blame him. There was too much at stake. Too much to risk, too much to lose. Besides, he was happy with Jess…right?

“A little.”

She wouldn’t go there. She’d moved past that initial heartbreak a long time ago. It wasn’t his fault she clung to him because he was the only one she had after her terrifying transformation.

“A little?”

“Yes. Okay. And I told him no but—”

“But what?”

Her ears turned red, her chest constricting as she lowered her head. Was she going to say it out loud?

“It felt like I was saying yes…” She didn’t run fast enough. She didn’t resist him.

She let him touch her, she let him take more than she wanted.

The mere thought of his hands on her again was enough to stir warmth inside of her. How could that be?

Will rubbed the back of his neck, turning his head to the side. “Alphas are pretty hard to resist.”

He had let his parents’ killer chase him away without a fight—simply because he had commanded it.

She had never experienced the pull of an alpha, the pressure their commands could exert on someone’s mind. He had told her it was unforgettable but she hadn’t understood it until now.

Will had said that was the reason he never joined a pack again. He didn’t want someone to have that kind of control over his life, over his decisions.

He yearned for liberation, and the only path to it was to rid himself of any alpha ties.

At times, he found himself longing for a larger pack, a sense of belonging akin to hers, but the persistent ache in his heart served as a reminder that he was better off alone.

“I hope I don’t have to cross paths with him again.”

He wouldn’t pursue her, would he? She was a nobody. Apart from her job at the hospital, he knew nothing about her. He surely wouldn’t seek revenge. She hadn’t hurt him, she hadn’t done anything.

Well—perhaps she had dented his pride a tad, but that was their secret.

He didn’t need to assert his dominance. He likely had a pack of females ready to fawn over him.

He didn’t need her.

“Are they truly that merciless?”

“What do you think?” he retorted, his words seething with anger.

Will had instilled in her a fear of them.

As a human-wolf, she knew it was best to keep her distance from them and their packs. She surrounded herself with humans, as wolves seldom ventured out of their territories. They didn’t mix well with humans.

Of course, they had to run errands, interact—some even had jobs, according to Will—but for the most part, they kept to themselves.

This made it easy for her to blend in with humans.

It allowed her to forget the events of that dreadful night, to pretend that she hadn’t been irrevocably altered. One bite—that’s all it took to turn her world upside down.

And there was no one to mend the wreckage.

It was just her and her new existence.

“I’m sorry. I know what they did to your family.”

“That’s one way to phrase it.” He sighed. “Maybe you should take a few days off.”

“Will, I can’t do that.”

“Tell them you’re ill. He might be lurking. They enjoy a challenge. Let it blow over for a few days, then return.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “You really think he’s going to be waiting for me? I think he has better things to do than stalk a human hospital.”

“Why was he there in the first place?”

Memories of the previous night washed over her. Bare skin, large hands caressing her body…~Wrong memory, Olivia~. Blood—the wound. “He was injured.”

“And he went to a hospital?”

He clicked his tongue. “A ~human~ hospital,” he emphasized.

She shrugged. “I don’t know—”

“That’s odd. He wouldn’t risk exposure like that.”

“I don’t know. I didn’t admit him. But there should be a record…a file…something.”

It would also contain his name, or whatever name he provided—if he even spoke. Sometimes patients divulged minimal information, even when it was crucial to their survival.

She couldn’t exactly rely on whatever he provided. But it was worth investigating. She hadn’t given much thought to his presence there until now. If Will was suspicious…could he be a rogue alpha? Was he unaffiliated too?

That would make him even more dangerous.

“Can a human-born be an alpha?” she asked, hoping for a negative response.

“I doubt it. I haven’t been around enough packs to know, but I’d be surprised. And even if it was possible, who would want to follow them?”

“Right.” They wouldn’t—so perhaps he’d chosen exile. Great, now she needed to learn more about him. “I could go back and—”

“No.”

He clutched her wrist, his thumb pressing against her pulse. “I told you. Stay away.”

His brown eyes sparkled with an emotion she couldn’t identify, but his words resonated within her. Was it fear? She swallowed and nodded.

“Okay, I’ll wait.” Maybe.

She thought he was being overly protective. She hadn’t harmed anyone. Why would he care? Besides, what was he going to do? Confront her in a crowded place?

He couldn’t harm her in the middle of the hospital. And if he tried to follow her, she could easily lose him. He would quickly lose interest.

Will shook his head, a sigh escaping his chest.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“Because you know me?”

“A little too well.”

He hadn’t released her hand yet. His fingers tightened around her wrist, their warmth seeping into her. Sometimes, she could remember.

His large frame pressed against hers, the sensation of him entering her, was etched in her memory. He’d been a bit rough their first time, but she hadn’t protested.

They’d both surrendered to their primal urges. She was the first wolf he’d been with.

It was the first time he’d been with someone he didn’t fear hurting. With Jess, he had to be careful because she was human.

Their shared moments had been free and uninhibited, giving in to their desires.

Olivia’s heart fluttered, and she quickly averted her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t let her mind wander there. That wasn’t who she was.

She didn’t daydream about someone else’s boyfriend. She would never snatch a guy from another girl. Besides, she liked Jess—they were friends.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if Jess would still let Will be around her if she knew about their past.

Will had chosen not to tell her. Olivia had been against it, but he believed their friendship would end if Jess found out. Jess wouldn’t allow them to be around each other.

The thought of losing her best friend was devastating, but lying? She hated it. However, it wasn’t her relationship, and despite the guilt eating at her, she was letting Will make the decisions.

She just hoped Jess wouldn’t discover the truth on her own. That would be far worse.

The uncomfortable silence was interrupted by the ring of his cellphone.

He finally looked away from Olivia to retrieve it from his pocket. He answered, a smile spreading across his face. “Hey, Babe.” He paused. “Yep, on my way.” He chuckled. “Love you too.”

“Jess?”

“Yeah. I need to—I need to leave. But promise me you won’t do anything reckless?”

“I promise.”

He nodded. “And if you do, at least call me ~before~ you get into trouble?”

He knew her all too well. “Yes, Dad.”

“I’m just looking out for you, Liv.”

“I know. Thank you.”

He let go of her hand, leaving a cold void where his fingers had been. She resisted the urge to reach out for him again. He wasn’t hers.

But it was as if he could sense her sometimes. He paused, turned towards her, leaned in, and kissed the top of her head.

“~Please~, for once, listen. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Words lodged in her throat, and all she could do was nod in response. This was why she agreed to lie, even though it made her uncomfortable. Will always took care of her, always protected her.

He wanted what was best for her.

He gave her a small smile before turning and walking away, his cellphone in his hand. ~He was going to see Jess~. Of course he was; she was his world. As it should be.

She watched the door close, leaving her alone in her empty apartment. If she inhaled deeply, she could still detect his lingering scent. It wasn’t a good thing.

As if her emotions weren’t already in turmoil—she didn’t need this. This was why she despised her heat.

It brought back memories she wanted to forget, thoughts she wasn’t supposed to entertain.

To make matters worse, there were two people occupying her mind now, and she wanted neither of them. Why couldn’t she clear her head?

One mistake and her life had turned out like this.

Olivia quickly scanned the room for pants. She spotted black sweatpants draped over the couch and hopped over to them. She pulled them on and swiftly tied her black hair into a bun.

She didn’t want to stay here. She needed fresh air and a distraction.

Maybe he was right, maybe she shouldn’t go to work, but she had to get out of here.

She grabbed her purse from the coat rack by the door and fled the apartment. She slammed the door shut behind her and fumbled with her keys before finally locking it.

Will should be back in his car by now, so there was no risk of bumping into him.

She walked to the elevator and pressed the down button.

As she stepped back, waiting for the doors to open, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread creeping down her spine. It felt like someone was watching her.

She shook her head, dismissing it as paranoia due to recent events. Still, she pressed the button again, impatiently tapping her foot. She muttered a curse under her breath. “Come on.”

Why today of all days for the elevator to act up?

She felt a strange sensation, and despite her best efforts, she found herself looking around. Nothing. No one.

Even a quick peek down the hallway revealed no shadows. She was alone.

This was all because of Will. She’d never even considered the possibility of the alpha coming after her.

Will was the one who planted this seed of paranoia. ~Everything’s okay~. How could he possibly know where she lived? He couldn’t have followed her. No, everything was fine. She was alone and just being paranoid.

She needed to shake off this feeling and get Will’s words out of her mind. ~The alpha doesn’t care~. If he did, he wouldn’t have let her leave to begin with.

Finally, the elevator doors opened with a ding, and a wave of relief washed over her.

She quickly stepped inside, pressed the button, and leaned against the wall. She watched the doors, impatient for them to close. Why were they taking so long?

She nervously chewed her lip, shifting from the balls of her feet to her toes. ~Hurry up. Hurry up~. At last, the doors began to close, cutting off her view of the hallway.

And then they stopped.

She gasped, her breath catching in her throat as the doors remained open just a crack.

For a fleeting moment, so brief it was gone when she blinked, she thought she saw fingers gripping the edge of the doors, holding them open.

But then, nothing.

No one entered.

The doors closed as if they’d never paused.

~It’s all in your head~, she reassured herself. If someone had stopped the doors, they would have fully reopened, right? ~Yes~.

She forced herself to swallow, her heart pounding like a drum. Her stomach flipped, and the sensation felt eerily familiar.

Should she be paranoid?

She’d suppressed many of her wolf instincts, but some had proven somewhat accurate over the years. Could this be one of those times? Or was her wolf leading her astray?

~Forget her promise.~

She had to get to work and find out what she could about the alpha.

~Just in case.~