I will protect you.

Days passed and no message came from Veera. Leo knew something was wrong. He and his girlfriend Cora came to Veera’s apartment, but only to find her roommate Emerald.

"I mean it's weird she took off in such a rush and all she left was this just a note. Her phone was shut down" Emerald said in worry. Leo quickly went towards her room. No signs of her return.

Leo rushed out the room in hurry. He needed to check something.

"Hey, is everything ok?" Emerald asked.

"Everything is fine, see you later Emerald." Leo said before shutting the door.

"Hey, calm down, she’s going to be alright!" Cora tried to calm him.

"What’s going on guys?" Jack came cover as they stepped in to the police station.

“Jack, did you find the trace of Ares Cascata?” Leo asked anxiously, “where is he?”

“Hey, relax!” Jack laughed at Leo’s porker face, “he’s not in the town. He flied to Hawaii a few days ago and—”

“What!” Leo cut him off, “did you just say the killer was in Hawaii.”

“Yeah, but now he’s probably back in Italy.” Jack shrugged.

Leo hit his hand to the desk and said in fury, “Veera must be taken!”

“Haha, finally? I thought she never leave.” Jack remarked sarcastically, and Leo didn't take his humor well this time. He punched his face.

"Ow! What the hell dude!"

Cora pushed Leo away and looked at Jack in anger.

“Veera was taken by Ares Cascata!” Leo shouted at Jack, “don’t you understand? You fucking dick!”

"Hey, hey! What are you talking about? Why would the billionaire Alpha go after dirty poor Veera?" Jack shook his head. According to his investigation, that Alpha had slept with a bunch of beautiful charming girl. And Veera? Veera was just..average looking. “Who’d care for an ordinary girl like her?”
“She’s NOT ordinary!” Leo said angrily before storming off, leaving Cora and Jack speechless.

*She’s special. Very special.*

***
Veera refused to look Ares throughout the car ride. She was angry and nervous at the same time.
What’s wrong with him? Why did he order her like she’s a pet?

"Are you going to tell me who you are Veera?" Ares ended the silence, “it’s just us now.”

No. Again?

Then she realized why he brought her out. The mansion, too many *guards* there. Too many ears.
Isn’t that his place?

Veera thought about this question. Even though, there’s no reason for her to take any risky.

"I'm just a wedding photographer." She replied.

"I know that,” Ares stared at her, “but I was thinking… perhaps… maybe… are you a witch?"

A witch? Veera exhaled, almost burst into laughters. She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him in humor.

If she was a witch, she would just magically open a portal back to her apartment and use her magical soup to poison this asshole. Or she would just turn him here into a frog.

“Nope.”

“A troll? An ogre? Or an alien?” He guessed again and again.

Ahh why her ancestor didn’t gave her wings so she could fly away from this foolish guy. Did I look like I have two antennas sticking out of my forehead?

“Nope, nope, nope.”

"Then what are you?" Ares asked curious than ever, going back to his gentle talking self.

"It's not your business." Veera curtly replied.

"Why not? I’m your friend." Ares chuckled.

Friend? Fuck it.

"Because you kidnapped me!"

"Ahh don’t use that word baby girl.” Ares winked and smiled in amusement, “It’s just a treat. Which kidnapper would bring his captor for shopping?”

Shopping? Veera noticed the car was stopped.

“Get up girl, welcome to your closet.” Ares opened the door for her like a gentleman. The shopping mall in front of her looked like a palace.

No girl could resist beautiful clothes.

At first, Veera said no but then Ares reminded her that she would be stuck wearing the same dress for the days if she resisted.

*I may not give you anything to wear.*

When Veera decided to try some outfits, she was completely astonished by the price of those clothes and shoes. She wanted to make a calculation here but then she found Ares bought all the things she tried on.

Crazy.

“That didn’t worth it.” She whispered to him, trying to stop him, “That’s way too expensive.”

Ares looked at her in smile and gave his card to the assistant, as if he didn’t hear anything from her.
“Not expensive for me” Ares winked, “Besides, I like them on you.”

Ares quickly took the shopping bags and walked out the mall He bowed at her and then opened the door for her. Perfect gentleman style.

“You don’t have to do these,” Veera was somehow annoyed. He had definitely nothing to do gentleman. Why he did this, making her feel like a fucking idiot.

"I will always open doors for you, lady." Ares said looking at her deeply. The stare made her blushed.

Oh forget it.
Rolling her eyes, Veera walked out with him.

“Where are we going now?” Veera questioned. She wouldn’t be that stupid to think that Ares only took her out for a shopping.

"You will join me for dinner."

Veera scoffed and glared at him. Then she turned on her heels without saying anything.
*Could he just stopped playing with me? Don’t act like we’re fucking lovers!*
Before she stepped any further, Ares suddenly grabbed her elbow, making her crash into his hard chest.
She gasped. She never looked up at the Alpha so closely like that.

"That's not a request." He looked down to her and reminded her dominantly.

***
Veera felt extremely uncomfortable in this glamorous castle.

"How is the food?" Ares asked sitting on the opposite end of the table watching her.

Veera was in her sexy short dress which made her extremely uncomfortable. She didn’t understand why Ares bring her here. The castle was full of strangers tonight. Or maybe, she was the true stranger here. She felt herself had been watched, listened and discussed all the time, although they never really looked at her or talked to her.

“Bland.” Veera retorted. The food was delicious, but the feeling was bland.

Ares seemed not to care about what she said. He sipped his champagne and enjoyed looking the way she ate. Veera looked back at him. She was wondering why he act like this. He kidnapped her but took her for a shopping. He threatened her but punished the perverted one who insulted her. If he wanted to show appreciation for what she did five years ago, then a simple thanks would have been enough. If he wanted to take the secret out of her mouth, then just torture her. Why did he bother to treat her like this? The last moment he was threatening her but now he’s smiling at her as if she’s his precious.

*Why just couldn’t we get things back to normal?*

"Is it true what you said before?" Veera signed, “That you won’t harm me or hurt me?”

Ares got up from his chair and went towards her. He suddenly bent the knee and took her hand in his gently. Butterflies flew in her belly as he looked at her so warmly like that.

No one ever looked at her like that. No even Aunt Rita. She didn’t understand it.

"Do you still not trust me?" He asked softly.

If he wasn’t a killer, she would love to trust him, drown in his eyes and even fall in love with him. But Veera was too tired to care all about these. She just wanted to leaving this fucking places and go home.

Veera recoiled her hand from his.

"What if I let you go?" Ares sighed at that and got up, “Will you trust me then?”

Let me go?

Don’t be joking.

"Tell me who you are Veera," Ares looked at her deeply, “and I’ll let you go.”

Veera heard whispers and inhales when Ares said this. They had done the same when Ares bent his knees. Apparently, they all knew she had a secret. She was a prey.

All of them wanted to know her secret. She remembered what Franko said in the morning.

*“It will add to our pack.”*

“Will you release me if I tell you?” Veera stood up and looked at Ares equally.

“Yes, I will drop you back myself.”

Veera saw one of the pack members even choked under his reply. Funny. Obviously, he was tricking her.

“Veera, I’m sorry for kidnapping you,” Ares looked very sincere, “I realized my mistake now and I just want to make up for this.”

“Tell me the truth, V.”

Veera stepped away. Why did he call her V? How could he call her like that? Only her closest friends use this. Veera suddenly felt loneliness fill up her heart. She missed her Aunt Rita and her friends, Leo, Emerald, Cora and even Jack, she missed them all. Yes, the offer was really tempting. She wanted to go home.

"So, who are you?" Ares asked again, “if you tell, I will let you go home”

"Umm..." Veera hesitated.

“Tell me, Veera.” Ares turned up her head and looked into her eyes, “trust me.”

“Ummm…” Veera looked around. She couldn’t just tell the truth under the stare of so many people like this. She had to be careful if she really wanted to reveal it.

"Can we go somewhere private? There are too many listeners.”

Ares looked around as Veera did. It would be a live coverage of breaking news if she just said it here.

“We can get outside.” Ares led Veera out of the castle. Veera motioned him to come closer and checked around cautiously. She was surprised because no one followed them.

“Mind link.” Ares reminded her.

Oh right. Those werewolf things. He could just command the whole pack without saying a word.

"...eavesdropping." She pulled him closer. Her breath tickled his side of the face.

Ares was a bit surprised. He hadn't felt this way for a long time. In fact, he had never felt something like this before. Warm. Inspiring. Tempting.

Ares pulled away a little flushed on the cheeks, took her hand and led her towards the pool, where they now sat on a two seated swing.

Veera looked very nervous.

“I’m here, Veera.” Ares sighed, took her chin in his hand and made her concentrate on him, “Don’t be afraid. I will protect you.”

His finger brushed softly on her cheek. "I want to know everything about you. So don't leave anything out." Ares was just about to give her a gentle kiss—


"Yeah, you better not leave anything out!! You little geeky hussy!!" A female voice suddenly, sounded angry.

Veera both snapped her head towards it. Then she found Ares stood up keeping her behind him.
The woman walked closer with her glowing eyes.

A female werewolf, with her anger burning in fire.
Veera stood up, looking at that gorgeous lady. She almost looked like Khaleesi from GOT, only taller with deadly sharp features, wearing tight fitted jeans and a boob tube.
"Bitch," She pointed at Veera and warned, “Get away from my mate!”