"Where are you going?"

I groaned, spinning around to face him. "What do you want?"

I had managed to walk for a further hundred yards before he started to follow me. His footsteps and breaths were purposely heavy, but he otherwise remained quiet. They quickened as the time went on, growing with his burning temper. I made it to the edge of the trees ten minutes later when his hand clamped down on my shoulder.

"What are you doing?" He grunted.

I threw my arms in the air, huffing in exasperation. "Walking."

His eyes narrowed, his jaw twitching with annoyance. He walked into my personal space and this time I didn't back away. His eyes were dark in colour, his canines sharp in his mouth. I assumed that meant his feral side was more in tune than his human side, going by what Eve and Mya had told me. He was about to retaliate when the words died on his tongue.

"You have your bleed."

I fought back the flaming embarrassment, scoffing. "And?"

"You are embarrassed." He stated, pulling his face away.

I gritted my teeth, avoiding his direct gaze. "Why does it even matter?"

"Do you have sufficient supplies?" He wondered.

Staring at him, my mouth fell agape. What was this man doing? He went from one extreme to the next so quickly that I lagged behind in the thought processes. I thought Darius was a wacko but Asra's mood swings were incredible.

Shaking my head, I stepped away from him. "I don't understand you."

"It was a simple question," He blinked.

I groaned. "We have just had a huge argument, and yet you follow me here to start asking me questions about my period?"

His eyebrows furrowed, a frown lining his lips one more.

"What is going on here? Because I really am not understanding." I grumbled. "You just told me that you want nothing to do with me, that my only use is to keep up pack standards? Now you are asking things that are none of your concern."

He watched me closely, his dark eyes flickering between my own and my mouth as I spoke. I hoped he was taking in what I was saying and not just looking at me and pretending. When I scowled, his eyes followed the motions of my face, taking in the details. Grunting, I shook my head and turned to walk away.

"Ailia... You cannot flaunt away. You are a claimed female." His words warned me.

I almost screamed in frustration, spinning around to face him. He had walked up behind me, and it only took two steps for me to reach him. My hand came out to push him in the chest, his head darted down in surprise, watching it.

"You do not own me!" I shrieked. "How many times do I have to say I don't want to be here, I don't want to be yours and I don't want to be your Luna."

His eyes sprung back to mine, an excitement firing in them that wasn't there before. "Then listen to me when I say, you won't last long here."

"There we go again with the mood swings." I groaned, pushing my fingers into my eyes. "This is one of the reasons your whole soulmate thing doesn't work. I cannot even stand to be around you, you are intolerable."

"And you are pretty brave for a pesky human," He growled lowly.

My eyes twitched, preventing me from flinching. We remained staring at each other for a while, our chests heaving with exertion. This man, this intolerable, confusing man drove me insane. Behind his damn beautiful blue eyes and striking facial features and exquisite body... no, side tracked, Ailia. This man was danger and ego mixed all together.

When his eyes dropped to my lips, so did the heavy weight of dread in my stomach. I didn't know this man, but when emotions were high, they always came out on top. So, when the moment happened and his tongue came out to wet his lips, I dropped my gaze and turned away. This time, he remained, and I fought the urge to call him a good dog when my back was turned.

Walking into the hotel-like house, I sought out a nearby clock. I could smell lingering food coming from the kitchen so it had to be around lunch time...

Ah, there we go. Four o'clock nearly. What to do now... I could go to bed but I was feeling hungry and didn't want to go into the kitchen alone.

People would stare and speak in their strange brain links.

I'm the ugly duckling on this occasion.

I stood at the door leading to the wonderfully smelling room for longer than normal, the adrenaline building in my veins. The anxiety that grew in my mind fought for a win and eventually it came out on top. I exhaled heavily, turning to walk away and back to my room. To safety and familiarity.

Just as I spun on my heel, I caught a glimpse of Asra stood on the porch. It only caused me to run up those stairs faster. I needed to have a good old talk with myself, that was all.

Running into my room, I headed straight to the bathroom to relieve myself. Sighing once everything was done, I stared at myself in the mirror.

I was so close to getting out of here but the damn Alpha had spoiled my plans. He wasn't even supposed to be there, he was training. That's where he was meant to be.

Was he keeping tabs on me?

That was creepy, right? Knowing everything I did.

I wouldn't be surprised if I had a bodyguard following me from now on. Perhaps that was where Mya may come in handy...

Shaking my head, I scrubbed the frustrations from my skin with soap. Feeling better and more pure, I made my way to my bed and collapsed on top of it. Staring up at the bland ceiling, my eyes found that one bump of plaster as it always did. The one imperfection on the entirety of the roof and I always found it.

Why was that? Why did I have to seek out the tiny imperfection when the rest was so wonderful? I did that a lot, and the more I lay there, the more I realised.

I could've been free, if I had just played my cards correctly. But also, Asra was right. I wouldn't survive out there. I had been sheltered my whole life for a start, the past three or so years were ruled by a man who controlled everything. My diet, my sleep schedule, my friends and sometimes even my toilet time.

The smallest taste of freedom and I was acting like a caged animal. I needed out, I wanted out without realising where I was perhaps wasn't so bad. I may be surrounded by wolves who could smell my every strong emotion and probably even bowel movements, but at least I had safety. Destined to a wolf as a soul mate who ran a pack, it seemed it was most likely the safest space.

But I had no purpose here... What was I supposed to do?

I shot up in the bed when a knock came at my door. Eyeing it suspiciously, I called out to see who was there.

No answer.

Definitely not creepy...

With my heart racing in my ears, I slowly climbed out of the bed and headed towards the door. Creaking it open a little, something shifted and hit the ground with a dull thud. Looking down, I found a brown paper bag. Pulling it into my room, I shut and locked the door, choosing privacy in this absurd moment.

Setting the bag on my bed, I pulled out the first few things only to be confused and strangely shocked at what I found. A fuzzy filled hot water bottle, a reusable drinks bottle, human pain killers, an eye mask and peel off face masks. Beneath that, were slippers and a folded-up tee that smelt oddly familiar. It was dark grey and wide, and I knew it would reach my lower thigh.

Curious...

At the very bottom was a plastic tub with lid. Even stranger.

Cracking the lid, I was astonished to find food. Rice with vegetables and small pieces of white meat mixed in. There was a pot of sauce with cutlery folded up in a napkin at the bottom of the bag. Setting it to the side, I looked around for any inclination of the sender.

A note was in the very bottom, hidden beneath one of the folds of the bag. Lifting it out, my face flushed with realisation.

These are to help you get through the next few days.

You know, before you try to run away again.

Try you may, little flower, I will always find you.

No need to guess who that was from.

Creep.

Despite the ominous and rather stalker-ish words, I felt my face flush. He had gifted me a bag of luxury things, some of which I had never had the pleasure of using or even owning. The food smelt amazing and knowing he wouldn't poison me, it wouldn't look good on him, I sat cross legged on the bed and dug in. The sauce was strangely warm, tingling my tongue but the meat was soft and the rice was tasty.

I hummed in approval as I ate, cracking the drinks bottle open to find it full of ice water with lemons floating inside. Refreshing.

When I was finished with the food, I placed the pots on my bedside and turned to the clock. So much time had passed today, gone in a blur. It was already half-past six, and with the realisation, I decided to get into my comfies.

Standing in just my panties, I hesitated when the t-shirt came into my view once more. Despite the fact that Asra aggravated me to no end, I couldn't help but feel inclined to wear the shirt. A weird feeling encased me as my fingers ran over the cotton fabric. Lifting it to my nose, I was pleased to find it smelt of him and not just clean laundry.

He did smell mouth-watering.

I slipped the shirt on without another thought, correct in my assumption of its length. Pulling it to my nose again, I hummed in approval.

He may be confusing, aggravating, stubborn and definitely not mine. But damn, this shirt felt so comforting, I couldn't help but relax as I fell back into my bed.

If this is what Eliza meant by being 'looked after', then perhaps the cramps and the cravings weren't so bad.

Asra giving me these gifts only confused me more, however. He claims I was his, then claims he didn't want me, seemed down for the conflicting conversation outside and then tells me to run away.

If this was a game, then this was his round one.

I could either not wear the shirt, or wear it and pretend it's nothing.

So, if this was going to be a game... challenge accepted.

******

Question of the Day:
Speaking of games- what's your favourite ?!