William
Tonight was supposed to be about bonding with my father. We were supposed to eat dinner at his mansion and talk about me inheriting it, but instead, we are arguing.
My father sucks air into his lungs and raises his voice at me. "Another pack member went rogue, and do you know why? It's because you can't accept or control what you are!"
I lift my gaze to my father, Giovanni Rossi. He was the alpha before me: another white wolf, the color of the wolves in our family.
"And what am I supposed to do about it, huh?" I snap at him, slamming my fist down on the kitchen table. Food flies off my plate, but I don't care anymore. "I'm a monster—how do you accept that?!"
"You deal with it, William!" my father growls at me. "You should find a human victim and eat them. It would calm down your fairy blood, and you would be able to control your fairy blood!"
"Are you hearing yourself?!" I can't believe my fucking ears. Is my father insane? I'm not a cannibal! I raise my voice. "Eat a human? Are you mad?!"
"It's better than the alternative: you will lose control one day, and all the other packs will come for you! They have warned us and said they will kill you if you change into a fairy!"
"Then let them come!" I rub my eyelids. A migraine is building in my head, and I suspect it will stay. I need to fuck Riley tomorrow—she is the only one who can remove the constant despair. "Let them end me!"
"You can't possibly mean that?!" My father is one to slam his fists on the table now. He is a big man, sturdy, and glares at me. "Are you suicidal, son? Because there is help for that!"
"There is no help for people like me!" I spit and stand up, beyond frustrated. Tears are prickling behind my eyes. I'm so fucking lost and lonely that I'm surprised I'm still alive.
"You haven't tried everything!" My father yells.
"YES, I HAVE!" I argue, determined not to look away from him. "I've tried everything; nothing can calm the blood boiling in my veins! Human blood and meat would, but I don't want to eat human flesh!"
My father exhales. "But you can still shape-shift into a wolf, right? Perhaps it would be safer if you..."
"Stayed in my wolf form?" I finish in a mocking tone, scowling at his guilty expression. "Believe me, I would if it worked, but the fairy blood runs stronger. It's wild and wicked and craves human flesh! Every day is a nightmare, and I can't wake up!"
My father palms his sweaty neck. "I don't understand... Your mother... Leafia... She said she couldn't sense any fairy blood running in your veins. Why are you awakening right now?"
"Who knows?" I stand from the table.
"Where are you going?" My father asks. "You've barely eaten anything!"
"I know, but I have to cleanse my head. I'm going for a run. It's a full moon, and my wolf wants to come out and play."
My father swallows. "That's true. You are a sun fairy—stronger during daylight. Hunt with your fellow pack members. It might lower your stress levels."
"I hope so."
I leave the kitchen but don't bother to put on my coat in the hallway. My skin is crawling, and even though shape-shifting inside the city is forbidden, I couldn't give a fuck about rules tonight.
As soon as the door closes, I leap forward and let my skin be replaced by snow-white fur. My fingers turn to claws, and I stretch underneath the moonlight illuminating the ground.
Alpha wolves are giants in the wolf world. Ordinary wolves are the size of dogs, while alphas are more like horses. It serves as a disadvantage in the city, yet I don't care.
I rush out into the night, careful not to be seen. I'm smart enough to keep to the shadows and jump over a fence with my eyes set on the forest in the distance.
A car alarm sounds in the distance, and people are heading home from their jobs. I stay quiet and stop mid-step now and then to ensure no human eyes will spot me.
It doesn't take long until I make it to the forest, but when I'm about to dash deeper into the woods, I catch Riley's scent.
Surprise hits me, and I look around, surprised when I see a black wolf sleeping underneath a tree.
Riley?
What is she doing here? It's past midnight, and she has classes to attend tomorrow...
I walk closer, and Riley lifts her head. Her ears flatten, and she growls before catching my scent and looking me in the eye. The mate-bond zaps between us, and I tilt my head.
'What are you doing here?' I ask, glad that I was born with telepathic powers. 'It's cold tonight. Shouldn't you be sleeping inside?'
Riley averts her eyes. My confusion grows, and I approach her, freezing when I notice blood trickling down her front leg. She is injured and bleeding.
'Who did this?' I ask as I near her.
'It will heal.' Riley says.
I walk even closer, and she shrinks away from me when I stand right by her form. Her wolf is of average size, but she is still my tiny little mate compared to me.
Without asking for permission, I lie down next to her.
I would grin if I could. 'Consider yourself the small spoon.'
Riley breathes a laugh inside her head. 'I thought this was only about sex? What happened to that promise?'
I rub my head against hers. 'Cuddles too.'
'I see...'
'You don't have to talk about what happened, but I'm staying with you tonight.'
Riley laughs; it's a soft sound. I can tell it soothes her having me here, and it warms my heart.
When Riley's voice rings in my head, it's sweet. 'If some poor human sees us lying here, especially you, they will freak out.'
'Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. We will pretend to be Alaskan malamutes. I will get up, wag my tail and give them big licks.'
She snorts, sounding amused. 'I might pass for a dog, but you, Mr. Big Fluffy Boy, will not pass. And if you actually stood up, the human would shit in their pants and call the goddamn police.'
I laugh and crawl closer to her. 'How is it that you always manage to put a smile on my face? My day can be absolutely terrible, and then you waltz in and turn it all around.'
'You're having a bad day?' She asks.
'I don't want to talk about it.'
Riley doesn't argue or try to get into my head. She simply lowers her head and relaxes. 'Fair enough.'
I study her in silence. Riley is a beautiful black wolf, the opposite of my white one. I find that almost poetic.
Eventually, I ask. 'How about you?'
'I don't want to talk about it and would rather just sleep.'
I snort and put my head next to hers. 'Fair enough.'
Riley slightly angles her head. 'Thank you for staying with me... It takes a toll on my pride to admit this, but it makes me feel safe.'
Damn, those words traveled straight to the heart, and now I'm melting. Every man wants to protect his woman, and hearing that Riley feels safe with me? I'm happy and probably screwed because I really like her. I want to protect her, even if it's me who she needs to be protected from.
The irony is hilarious.
I close my eyes. 'You're welcome, tiny girl.'
'I'm not tiny!'
I don't answer her, but I would smirk if I could. Riley got me wrapped around her finger, and she doesn't even realize it. I'm whipped by her, forever her loyal mate and lover. And since I care about her, I can't ever let our relationship blossom because I'm dangerous.
Riley is my forbidden fruit.