Schemes and mishaps

Alessia’s POV


After the irritating conversation I had with Erin, Beta Becks *bitchy* mate, I made my way into human territory towards the Tavern. Moe’s Tavern was one of the first business owned by Leon’s family, and one of the most well known. It was opened years ago by his grandfather when Leon’s father, Alpha Kai, was just a pup. Everyone comes to the Tavern for live music and a night on the town, even the oblivious humans. Business from humans is usually wonderful for finances, they love to drink and party, and usually toss money around like fools.

Which is what led me to wonder, why the hell Leon would be *here* doing the strategy plans for the new business expansion. I get it, he manages this place with his buddies, but there are plenty of other places he could go over those plans.

Besides, normally he is wasting his time singing or playing around on his guitar, when he should be educating himself properly in what his father wants him to do. He has some gall, which is why I feel he needs me around, so I can keep him on track. I could help him grow in *many* ways, *if you know what I mean.*

*’He doesn’t want you, and he doesn’t need you. Alright?’* My wolf snaps, her tone stirring the pot. *’He has a destined mate, and it’s **not us**’*

I choose to ignore her grossly annoying commentary as I park my civic. I look around the parking lot, scanning for his car, but I don’t see it anywhere.

“Great.” I groan under my breath, thinking of the waste of time this has been. “I’m all dressed up and he’s not even here.”

I watch people walk in and out of the bar, thinking about where he could possibly be. Suddenly I see Derek and Alex, Leon’s human bandmates, fooling around with some girls nearby. “Hmmm…” I hum to myself, why would his band be here tonight without him?

I decide to step out of the car and walk inside to look for him, assuming maybe he parked out back. Though when I reach the doors, the line is long and the usher isn’t allowing people inside. I groan loudly, whipping my hair over my shoulder and turning on my hip.

I make way towards the small group outside the Taverns doors, in an attempt to talk to his idiotic bandmates. I turn to Derek, pushing past the females surrounding him, and put my hands on my hip.

“David, right?” I ask him, squinting and tilting my head. If anyone knows where Leon is right now,* it’s his dumbass of a friend.*

“No sweetheart, it’s Derek. ” he raises an eyebrow with a scoff, trying to pin down my familiarity. Alex, who is standing next to him, starts speaking before I can ask them what I need to know.

“Yooo, you’re *hot!* Wanna catch a drink with me?” He slurs a little, looking me up and down. My stomach churns at his mortal scent, *’this nasty human thinks he can speak without being spoken to?’* I think rhetorically, earning a scoff from my wolf.

He tries to snake his way towards my waist, while the girls around all give me snarky looks. I roll my eyes and huff, annoyed with how long this is taking.

I furrow my brows, showing my obvious irritation, pushing him away from me with a single finger. “I don’t mess around with *trash*, sorry love.” I state, turning to Derek. He watches me, with his hands in his jean pockets. When he stands that way he almost looks… attractive. Alex scoffs, grumbling under his breath and going back to flirting with the other women nearby.

“Now I remember where I know you from.” Derek utters with a chuckle, “you’re that chick that always follows Leon around like a lost puppy, *and bullies all my staff.* how cute. Is that what you’re here for?” He leans closer to my face with a cocky smile, raising an eyebrow. I can smell the musk on his shirt, mixed with cigarettes and alcohol.

“U-uh…” I lose my train of thought, staring into his rosey tinted brown eyes. I shake off the blush on my face and the discomfort growing in my pit. *What the hell is going on with me?*

“Well yes, actually. Do you know where he is?” I cough slightly, trying to seem dominant.

He stares at me for a moment, as if contemplating what he should say, carefully. He observes my face, stopping at my lips, dangerously.

“He came by, but he didn’t stay. He didn’t say where he was going, just that he was meeting someone.” He leans back again, relaxing his face and crossing his arms.

“Oh.” There goes my plans for the night, I just wanted to spend a little time with Leon. Sadness weighs down on my chest. I'm not even sure where to look next, or if I can even find him at this point.

“Come on inside, I will set you up with a drink.” Derek ushers me towards the door, his hand touching my shoulder softly. Tingles light up my skin where he touches me, Arya hums in response at the back of my mind. *’Whoever this person is, he’s got a lovely aura.’*

“No, it’s okay. I will just go back home.” I sigh, somewhat defeated and still ferociously irritated. As I attempt to turn and leave, my ankle rolls, plunging me towards the hard concrete.

Before I can catch myself, my knee painfully hits the rocky ground below. Someone's hand grabs my shoulder before the rest of my body can roughly crash into the ground.

“Tch… ouch.” I groan under my breath, turning over my shoulder to see who had their hands on me. A soft, tingling sensation trickled down my arm where Derek’s hand held on to me.

I smack his hand away in reflex after he has helped me up, trying to hide that I found his touch minimally pleasant. “You could have caught me faster, *Idiot.*” I try to groan, but I swallow it by accident. Making it sound like a weak *meow*.

He snickers, before bursting out into a rabid laughter. “GAHAHA… you uh, try too hard don’t you?” He manages to urk out in between his laughs.

“Come on, let me at least clean your knee up.” He chuckles, wiping a tear of laughter away from his cheek. He holds the door open ahead of me, as I pause and curiously watch him. Was he trying to be… nice to me? Even after my outbursts?

A strange warmth built up in my core at that thought, someone being nice to me without a reason. What had I done to deserve this? Everyone usually barks back at me.

I hesitate, looking at him for a moment. *’He is right, that could get infected.’* I think to myself, still gauging his intentions internally.

*’Maybe if it did I would be rid of you, such an Indecisive **and** stupid girl. Just follow him!’* Arya snaps at me, the poison in her voice clear. She jolts my body forward harshly.

I give in, and decide to just follow him through the door, shuffling myself just behind him as we squeeze through the late evening crowd. He guides me around the side of the bar, jingling a keyring in his hands. He unlocks the office door, and gently ushers me inside.

He rustles around in a few drawers in the desk, as I look around, getting to know my surroundings. In the corner, a large sofa sat with a blanket sprawled across it. Beside the door was Leon’s desk, piled with paperwork and multiple empty cans of Dos Equis littering the area. It’s clear he works *and* sleeps in here, his scent is everywhere.

“Found it.” Derek calmly announces, walking towards me with a red and white first-aid kit in his hands. “Sit on the couch.” He orders, his natural aura slipping out. How strange, a human having such dominance about him.

Obediently I follow what he asks, he sits across from me in Leon’s desk chair. I watch his brown curls whip around as he takes what he needs from the box. Part of me grows curious, wondering what he is thinking of while he does this.

As my mind wanders with questions, Derek scoots towards me in the rolling chair. When his hand reaches for my knee I jump, pulling myself away from what I was thinking. I look up, realizing how incredibly tall he is, and how fit his figure is. His shoulders are fairly muscular, yet athletic and slim. He doesn’t quite have that rugged look that Leon has, but he is.. *very attractive*, In his own way.

Arya purrs in my head as his hands fixate on my minor wound. He dabs it off with peroxide, before applying a medicated bandage. His hands are firm and large, yet gentle and smooth. He carefully places everything back into its place in the first-aid kit, clearing his throat.

“*Ahem…* There.” He pats my thigh, looking me right in the eyes as I stay frozen in my seat. His brown irises change color in the lighting, revealing a bit of orange at the center of his eye. The scent of my own arousal hits me, and mixes with… *His arousal.* My core grows strangely heavy, like I have swallowed a stone, as his warm lips near mine.

*’My god! Just kiss him already!’* Arya howls mentally, pushing my head forward.

Before I can intervene in my wolfs crazy behavior, my lips meet with his.

His *intoxicating* scent takes over my senses and..

My wolf takes control.