Archie's POV
The echoes of Alisha's departure reverberated through the empty halls of our home. Consumed by anger and confusion, I sought solace within the confines of my work, shutting myself away from the world. Maid Mireya, concerned for my well-being, made futile attempts to coax me into eating, but my appetite had been extinguished by Alisha's hurtful words.
I seethed with resentment, unable to fathom why she constantly sought to reject me, the Alpha of the Golden Crest pack. The audacity of her actions left me reeling, for without my guidance, her uncle Joey and their pack, the Black Furies, would falter in their endeavors.
Alisha had crossed a line this time, pushing the boundaries of my patience with her manipulative antics. I refused to indulge her any longer, determined to make her realize the consequences of her actions. The tempest of anger within me swirled, fueled by the knowledge that her tricks were designed to gain my attention.
Furthermore, my friend Louie, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, called to mock me with his nonsensical remarks. I wouldn't succumb to divorce; Alisha was my wife, bound to me for eternity.
Look at this delicious cake! This was proof that she loved me.
She had dedicated herself to learning the art of cooking, striving to please me. Each day, she meticulously prepared my clothing, catering to my every need. When I stayed up late, no one would came in with a cup of milk and then appeared from time to time to bother me. She wouldn't stop until I left my study room and went to bed with her.
But now, the house stood as a cold and desolate shell, devoid of her warmth and affection. I longed for her culinary delights, so I used tricks to force her back. The weight of my decision pressed upon me, and I sighed, for I wasn't used to the life without her now.
I don't know why, but I have been feeling restless in my heart. I couldn't help but step out of the house, wanting to find a place to clear my mind.
I walked through the bustling streets filled with bright lights and lively atmosphere, but it all seemed distant and unrelated to me. My inner world felt desolate and silent.
Suddenly, my phone sounded, jolting me from my thoughts. It was Alisha! Joy surged within me, the prospect of reconciliation beckoning. Eagerly, I answered, my voice tinged with anticipation. "If you can apologize…"
The words that escaped her lips shattered my expectations, her voice filled with urgency and fear. "Archie, right? Come to the Midnight Rose immediately! Alisha is in danger!"
I recognized this voice was Nova, Alisha's friends. I had no time to question her, for I heard a scream and then no one answered the phone.
Thank Moon Goodness! I was so close to that pub that I passed just now. I rushed to the Midnight Rose, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I burst through the doors of the Midnight Rose, my senses heightened, and time seemed to slow. The dimly lit pub became a backdrop for the impending clash, and my focus narrowed to the despicable man who had laid a hand on my Luna, Alisha.
Rage coursed through my veins, fueling every step as I closed the distance between us. The scent of alcohol and sweat mingled in the air, but all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat, pounding like a war drum.
The man's face twisted from arrogance to fear as he turned to face me, his eyes widening in recognition of me.
He was a rogue! Damn! How dare he have a design on my wife!
That rogue turned to escape right away but I didn't waste a moment, my fists tightening into a deadly resolve.
My wolf went out of his bay and growled with anger immediately, but I couldn’t shift in the pub, but I could beat that rogue in human form easily.
“Stop! I didn’t know she is your lady! I smelt nothing from her!”The rogue begged.
I never marked Alisha, and she had no wolf, so Alisha almost smelt like a human. But this was not the reason that this shit rogue could molest her!
With a primal roar, I unleashed a storm of unrelenting blows upon him. Each strike landed with calculated precision, fueled by a potent mix of anger, protectiveness, and a fierce determination to defend my wife.
My knuckles connected with bone, and the sickening thud of impact reverberated through the pub. I felt a surge of power with each strike, my body moving with an agility honed through years of training and my werewolf instincts guiding every move.
His feeble attempts at defense were easily anticipated, and I skillfully evaded his desperate retaliatory strikes. The chaos around us seemed to fade into the background as I focused solely on subduing the man who had dared to harm my lady.
I could see the fear in the rogue’s eyes, mirroring the fear he had instilled in Alisha.
The pub erupted in chaos, the clatter of chairs and shattering of glasses adding to the symphony of violence. But amidst the chaos, my gaze never wavered.
Finally, as he stumbled backward, bloodied and broken, I seized the opportunity to deliver a decisive blow. The world seemed to hold its breath for a fleeting moment before he crashed to the ground, defeated and subdued.
After dealing with this shit, I turned my gaze towards Alisha, her face flushed and her eyes clouded with the effects of alcohol. The sight of the wine glass before her filled me with concern. Alisha had always had a low tolerance for alcohol, and it puzzled me how she could have indulged so much in a pub.
My frown deepened as I picked up the glass and caught a whiff of a distinct herb that lingered within the drink. It was a herb known to induce hallucinations in werewolves but posed no harm to humans. Stupid Alisha!
But Alisha never went to the pub before. She used to stay at home and wait for me. It must be someone else who has brought her to the pub - Nova!
As I scanned the pub, searching for Nova, who had called me earlier, my eyes fell upon her unconscious form lying on the floor.
Disgust welled up within me at the sight of Nova's unconsciousness, and I briefly contemplated ignoring her and focusing solely on Alisha. However, a sense of responsibility urged me to ensure Nova's safety as well, or after Alisha got awake, she must be mad. I mindlinked Brad to inform him of Nova's condition and to request his assistance.
Without wasting another moment, I knelt down and gathered Alisha into my arms. Despite her disoriented state, she acquiesced to my touch, resembling a fragile doll in my embrace. I couldn't help but find a flicker of tenderness amid my frustration. If only she could exhibit such vulnerability and dependence on me in her waking moments, perhaps my anger would be disappeared.
As we made our way out of the Midnight Rose, Alisha's actions took an unexpected turn. She reached out to stroke my face, her voice carrying a strange confusion as she questioned my identity. "Who are you? Why do you resemble Archie?"
I cast her a scornful glance, my rage boiling over. "Who would bother saving a foolish girl like you? I am, without a doubt, your husband, Archie!"
Alisha's pout deepened, and she shook her head defiantly. "No, you are not Archie! He would never hold me like this. I prefer you. What's your name? You are so cute." Her fingers traced a path down my chin, her words laced with an unsettling allure as she whispered in my ear.
The audacity of her assumption stunned me. Did she truly believe I was a stranger, attempting to flirt with me in her inebriated state?
Holy Crap!