ALPHA HOUSE
I woke up to the sound of shouting.
At first I thought I was still dreaming, but the voice was too loud, too sharp. It echoed through the walls like thunder.
Kael.
My eyes opened slowly. Morning light spilled through the narrow window beside the bed, painting pale lines across the wooden floor. The gray blanket had twisted around my legs during the night and my body felt stiff from sleeping in an unfamiliar place.
Then his voice came again.
"Ariella!"
My stomach tightened.
I quickly pushed the blanket away and stood up. The cold floor made me shiver as I walked toward the door. For a second I hesitated, wondering if stepping out would only make things worse.
But staying in the room would probably make him angrier.
So I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
The house looked very different in daylight. Tall windows allowed sunlight to flood the long corridor, revealing dark wooden floors and thick stone walls. Old pack symbols were carved into the beams above, and the scent of cedar wood lingered in the air.
The voice came from the living room.
I followed it.
Kael stood near the center of the large room.
Seeing him during the day made his presence even more overwhelming. He wore a dark gray shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders and chest. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular arms marked with faint scars. His black hair looked slightly messy, and his sharp gray eyes were fixed on me the moment I appeared.
Lysa stood near the door beside Rohan.
Lysa wore a soft cream sweater and a long brown skirt that reached her ankles. Her black hair fell down her back in loose waves and her warm brown eyes looked worried when she noticed me.
Rohan stood next to her, tall and solid. His bronze skin and strong jaw gave him a serious appearance. His dark hair was cut short and neat. He wore a dark green jacket over a black shirt and simple dark pants.
Kael's gaze hardened.
"So you finally decided to wake up."
I swallowed.
"I didn't know there was a specific time."
The moment the words left my mouth I knew I had made a mistake.
Kael stepped forward.
The air grew heavier instantly.
My wolf stirred inside me.
Alpha dominance pressed against my shoulders like invisible weight. My body wanted to lower itself, wanted to submit.
I forced myself to stay standing.
"You live in my house now," Kael said coldly.
"You follow my rules."
I lowered my gaze slightly.
"Yes Alpha."
He continued speaking.
"This house will be maintained properly."
I frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
His expression stayed completely serious.
"You will clean. Cook. Wash. Handle every chore inside this house."
My eyes widened.
"All of them?"
"Yes."
Lysa stepped forward immediately.
"Kael that's too much for one person."
Before Kael answered, Rohan spoke calmly.
"It isn't unreasonable."
Lysa looked at him in disbelief.
"What?"
Rohan shrugged lightly.
"Everyone in the pack has responsibilities."
His eyes flickered toward me.
"She lives here now."
Lysa frowned.
"But she just got here."
Rohan's expression remained calm.
"That doesn't change anything."
Kael looked satisfied with the answer.
His gaze returned to me.
"You start today."
My chest felt tight but I nodded.
"Yes Alpha."
Kael turned and walked away like the conversation was finished.
Lysa looked like she wanted to argue more but Rohan gently touched her arm and shook his head.
She stayed quiet.
KITCHEN
The kitchen was large and bright.
Sunlight poured through a wide window above the sink, lighting up the stone counters and wooden shelves. Pots hung neatly above the cooking area and jars filled with herbs lined the walls.
Everything looked organized.
But it didn't feel warm.
It felt like a place meant for work.
I stood at the counter holding a knife while chopping vegetables.
My thoughts were messy.
The sound of the blade hitting the cutting board echoed softly through the room.
Then a familiar voice appeared in my mind.
Well look who finally remembers I exist.
I froze.
"You finally decided to appear?"
A quiet snort answered me.
Yeah. After you told me to get lost yesterday.
I sighed softly.
Sky always had a way of sounding offended.
For anyone else it would sound strange, talking to a voice in their head. But Sky had been part of me since my first shift. My wolf. My other half.
She had dark silver fur and bright alert eyes inside my mind, always watching everything with sharp curiosity.
Sky spoke again.
Our mate is interesting.
I rolled my eyes slightly.
"He's cruel."
Sky sounded thoughtful.
He's Alpha.
"That doesn't mean he has to treat us like servants."
Sky paused.
The bond is new.
"Sky."
Give him time.
"No."
My knife struck the board harder than I meant.
"He made it very clear he doesn't want this bond."
Sky stayed quiet for a moment.
Then she spoke gently.
He still gave you the cloth.
My hands stopped.
"That meant nothing."
You were crying.
I tightened my grip on the knife.
"Stop defending him."
Sky sounded patient.
He is still our mate.
The knife slipped.
Pain shot through my finger.
"Ah!"
The blade clattered loudly onto the counter.
Blood appeared instantly across my finger.
I grabbed my hand tightly.
The kitchen door opened.
Kael stood there.
His eyes immediately landed on the blood.
"What did you do?"
His voice sounded annoyed but he walked closer quickly.
"I cut myself."
He reached me in two steps.
Before I could react he grabbed my wrist.
His grip was firm but steady.
Blood continued running down my finger.
"You can't even cut vegetables without hurting yourself."
"It slipped," I muttered.
His eyes examined the wound carefully.
Inside his mind another voice stirred.
Damon.
His wolf.
You felt her pain.
Kael ignored it.
He grabbed a clean cloth from the counter and wrapped it around my finger.
His movements were surprisingly careful.
"You will slow down next time."
I stared at him.
"You didn't have to help."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I didn't."
Damon spoke again inside his mind.
The bond pulled you here.
Kael released my hand quickly.
"Finish preparing the food."
He turned and walked out of the kitchen.
I looked down at the cloth wrapped around my finger.
Sky spoke quietly.
He came because of the bond.
I exhaled slowly.
"Maybe."
But even as I said it the strange pull between us refused to fade, and something deep inside me wondered if the bond between us would become stronger no matter how much either of us tried to fight it.