Olga had made eggs, bacon, toast, and orange juice. All for herself. She was feeling very hungry but really didn't know why.

Her uncle had already headed out to the mill. He had his own mobile home and would always visit on weekends.

Her hands still shook a little when she managed to empty her plate. The young woman kept seeing Jax shift into an animal. It was amazing and equally as scary. She didn't know if Rollo would believe her.

A knock came from the door.

Olga hoped it was the buyer. She turned off the stove and wheeled herself over to the door.

She had the paperwork ready on her lap and opened the door after checking the window.

"You must be the buyer! Sorry, Rollo's at the mill already for the day. He told me you were coming. Are we set on the fifty grand?"

"Yes, I come buy property. Why is Rollo not here?"

Olga recognized the voice immediately. With a flushed face, she dared a prolonged look into his twinkling eyes after checking out his aloof smile.

He recognized her too.

Her gut told her to shut the door. She put on her glasses and thumbed through the packet anyway under the burly man's hard gaze.

"It's not for sale by him. I own the business, I mean, the property."

He scoffed while taking a lazy look up at the cabin's eroding roof.

"You live here?" he asked.

She looked at his bloodshot eyes trying to be patient. He looked like a stoner, but he seemed alert...and rude.

To think he was the one who helped her to her car.

"It is my house."

The man crossed his arms, a sour look forming on his face as he glanced above her head and into the cabin.

"I smell dog."

She knew the offer was too good to be true. Figures he'd be allergic to her thought-to-be pet. She didn't think it really made sense though. She knew he was the one who helped her at the kennel.

No wonder his eyes were red.

Why would he work around dogs if he was allergic to them?

"Yes," she began. She feared for the worse. "But we can have the cabin cleaned. It airs out very fast," Olga rushed out.

"No."

Olga's heart stopped. She needed the money.

She tried handing him the paperwork anyway, but he sniffed the air, turning his face away. It was riddled with disgust.

The man's short hair was dyed a peculiar white and appeared very silky. His ears were sort of pointy. Those teeth...they seemed sharp too. Did men really have such bigger teeth than women?

He bit into the cherry doughnut he brought with him, more gross red jelly stuck to his teeth. It looked like his mouth was caked in the dried substance too.

"So, you're not interested anymore?" she asked in defeat.

His voice was soft, it didn't fit his demeanor, "Oh, I very interested."

She watched him lick his lips slowly.

"How long you live here?"

Olga crossed her arms feeling small in her permanent metal seat. "All my life."

She forced a smile watching him lick the jelly off of his fingers.

"We not find dog yet. I so sorry," the man admitted. Behind him, was a white truck with the kennel's logo written across it. "But, so funny how I buy your home now. Do you come with it?" he teased.

Olga felt her face turn red.

"N-no," she mumbled feeling awkward and unsure of how to take his words. "I-"

"You are beautiful woman. Why selling property?"

"I want to move."

She was put off a little by his new intense stare.

"Why?"

Olga's chin trembled. She tried to keep it together, but it was the one thing she longed to eventually get done.

"So I can fix my leg," she admitted softly.

And get away from my newly discovered man-pet, her mind went on.

"No healthcare?"

"It's not free here," Olga explained.

The man began to sign the papers. After a few minutes, the deed was done, and he left as quietly as he came.

***

The woman shut the door. She did welcome him to take a look around the property.

Ulrich turned away from the cabin.

He already had his look around, of course. He remembered passing another wolf on his trek around the property today. Black and big. Average. Typical traits of an alpha.

What was it doing running around his mate's home?

Did they have pups?

She's human, his beta reminded him lightly through their shared mind-link.

Blood-red were the alpha's eyes as he shifted back into his wolf form. It was a rare condition he inherited and a stark contrast against his white fur.

He was very pleased with the terror it gave betas.

Ulrich wondered what his mate would think about it.

Her inheritance of his business interest was just the icing on the cake. There was no dire need to kill the old man, but it would still need to be done. The town was so cut off from society no one would ever know.

She was his mate, she'd forgive him, he thought, eventually.

Why hadn't he smelled her sooner? The mutt spotted earlier must have been covering her scent from him. He chuckled, peeing on the ground to mark the territory as his own.

My property, my cabin, my mate, the alpha quickly came to conclude.

He didn't bother getting in his truck. Instead, he turned off to the powdered pines to face his waiting pack.

❄

A/N: Who is your favorite character so far? Thank you for reading!