XXX. Paradise on Earth

Raine’s POV:

I died.

And went to Heaven.

I couldn’t help but squeal after the momentary shock. Everywhere inside the room and I mean, everywhere, had a large flat-screen television attached with gaming systems plugin.

I wave my hands in front of my face. “Calm down, Raine. It’s just a gaming room.” I close my eyes and squeal again. “The best gaming room ever!”

Colorful screens lit up the dimmed room. Cautiously, while tugging on my strap, I walked around the room and took every single moment in.

In the center of the room lies a massive bed. It’s perfect. The area the mattress rests on allows proficient distance to every screen available. I place my hands on top of the sheets, soft like I imagine it. My instinct tells me to jump on it, but I push it down.

My brows furrow when I see something shiny on the wall, much too small to be used to play games. I touched it. The screen was attached to the wall, so there’s no way it can be removed.

When I accidentally pressed a button, the flat screens separated to reveal a massive collection of games. Every single game possible was stored inside the wall.

It was paradise on Earth.

My eyes widened when I caught a game controller. It was the newest edition.

I couldn’t help but hold it.

It’s shiny, and it feels nice.

I want one.

“What are you doing?”

I jumped back and dropped the controller. It was the most horrible moment of my life. I was having a taste of Heaven before hell crashed.

Steadily, I look up from the controller towards a pair of feet. Then, his ankles, legs, and towel. My eyes stopped at the towel. I don’t want to go up any further. I’m not a pervert. I’m just scared to look at him in the eyes.

The controller was set in the middle of the cabinets, so it must mean something.

It means I’m about to die for touching his controller.

Steadily, Leon bends down and grabs the controller. He scans it for a while before he threw it on the bed.

I guess it doesn’t have a lot of sentimental value.

Good, I can still live.

“Why are you in here?” He asks.

I stared at the controller. “Miguel took me in here.”

“Ah, I see. Did he tell you I was going to meet you downstairs?”

“No.” That bastard! He was offering me to the wolf.

Leon exhales, “I see.” His lack of response tells me he isn’t surprised by his Beta’s action. “What do you want to talk about?”

Shit. What did I want to talk about? I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. With the fantastic room and half-naked guy a few inches away from me. I can’t think. My brain literally broke.

“Can you make it quick? I’m meeting someone soon.”

I close my eyes and exhale, “I’m here about my friend, Helen.” I finally remembered the reason why I’m here.

“What about her?”

“She’s a witch.”

“Okay.”

“And she’s out of supplements.”

“Ah-” Leon responds emotionlessly. “She needs to go home to get more?”

“No, she needs to go home before its dawn so she won’t set this place on fire and kill everyone.”

Leon laughs, “That’s cute. You think your little friend can kill everyone here. Most likely, one of our witches will burn he-” he stops talking.

I stared at him with what I assumed as my dumb look. “What? Someone will burn her?” I swallow multiple times before the short breathing emerges.

“Oh, no.” Leon scratches his head. “I mean, they kind of have to if your friends try to kill them.”

I can tell he has talent when it comes to comforting girls.

Silence.

Leon scratches his nose, “I’ll book a flight for your friend to get home before dark. Tell her to call her parents to bring supplements and pick her up.”

“Thanks.”

“Anything else?”

“Can I go with her?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Unless you want my father to kill you.”

“Oh,” I bit my lower lip. “I would not like that.”

“I bet you won’t.”

I stood there, swaying back and forth as Leon walked towards the closet. I’m not going to lie. That is the finest ass I’ve ever seen.

Leon stops and turns around. “Do you need anything else?”

“No.” I turn around.

“Oh,” he said. I paused and looked at him. “Arrangements will be made for you to stay in the Pack House. You’ll be on this floor. In the future, don’t go in my room without direct permission from me.”

I ran my tongue across my cheek, “Mind me asking how long do I have to stay here?”

His lips twisted in this cute spiral manner. I know, I would find him charming even without the mating bond. While he thinks, my eyes drop towards his stomach. His sweet six-pack tummy. Rather than being turned on, I became envious. I place a hand on my stomach and squish the fat. I want a six-pack.

“I’m not sure-” I drop my hand and pretend I did not dream of having his six-pack and height. It would help me so much when I try to reach for the top shelf. “Probably 3-6 months?”

I laugh, more in a sarcastic kind of way, “What? 3-6 months? Do I look like I have 3-6 months to spare?”

He shrugs, before making his way towards one of the cabinets. He leans against it. “Think of it as a vacation. Miguel told me the forest makes you feel like you’re at home. Well, congrats. Look outside, and you’ll feel at home every day.”

“I have school,” I said.

“Email your professors.”

“High school,” I clarify.

“I’ll prepare temporary transfer documents to Lunula High School.”

“I have a job.”

“I’ll give you a job here.”

“But, what happens when I go back to the human community? I can’t pay rent afterward,” I attempt to reason.

He chuckles a single one. “Who are you trying to fool? You don’t pay rent. The government pays it for you.”

Okay, true. Since I’m declared as an orphan, the government does pay for rent, school, medical, food, and everything deemed essential. “I’m graduating in a year. The government will pay for school, not rent afterward.”

“Then, you have a year to find another job.”

“What about my stuff?”

“They’re stuff. Leave them there.”

“I have to meet my therapist, lawful guardian, and social services.” I tried to make it sound as dramatic as possible so that I can go with Helen.

He exhales, “You’ve been skipping therapy for the last month, so going now won’t make a difference. Your lawful guardian is Helen’s parents. Tell her to tell them that you’re safe. As for social services, be happy, because my father already informed them of your special circumstances.”

No matter what I said, he always manages to smoothly rebuttal.

“I need the job for extra spending money,” I pout. At the moment, that’s the only excuse I have left.

“I’ll give you money. Anything else?”

“My pride won’t allow me to take it.”

He smiles, almost. It’s irritating how he does everything half-ass. “I told you that I’d give you a job earlier.”

“I don’t like working hard.”

“It’s a job that requires the minimum.”

“Which is?”

“Act like you hate this place.”

I quirk a brow, “What?”

“Yeah. Behave as if you’re extremely miserable here. Make sure to do it in front of a lot of people, so they sympathize with you, which means when I finally reject you. Members of Crescent Moon won’t be sad that you’re gone.”

“You want me to act miserable in front of everyone?” Well, that won’t be a hard job at all.

He nods, “Try to run away a few times.”

Not try. I actually will. It’s like he is reading my mind. “Okay?”

“It may sound odd, but I don’t want them to feel that emptiness after you leave. A pack can get quite attached to a good Luna. I would like to minimize the amount of burden after you leave.”

After some thinking, I nod. “Okay. Consider myself employed.”

“Excellent.” He got up and went towards the closet again.

“Wait,” I said. He halts his step and turns back towards me. “I need to ask you a few more questions.”

He exhales dramatically, “Look. Have you not heard that I have to meet someone? Get a notebook and write all your questions down.”

I nod, “Okay.”

He turns around again.

“Wait,” I said.

Leon’s lean back slightly before he turns around. His lips were pinched together, “What else?”

“How will you respond?”

“Get out.”

“Excuse me?”

“Out,” he said. “Now.”

I guess I’ve crossed his line. I place my hands up in the air. “I’m out.”

“Close the door.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I said mockingly. Then, the growl. I guess I crossed more than the door. I can see him heading towards the closet. My eyes pinned towards the remote controller. I’m trying my best not to become a thief. Inhaling a sharp breath, I passed the bed and headed out.

I open the door and turn around. “I’m just doing my job!” I scream, before slamming the door. It may make me look like a chicken, but I already did it.

Then, it happened.