I step away from him and scoff, looking at him incredulously. "You're not even the Alpha. Get a load of this guy."
"I'm related to him."
"No. You're not. Stop lying," I'm looking at him like he's the cause of my problems.
"Seriously?" He chuckles, revealing rows of bloodied teeth. He could be looking like art if he hadn't been beaten to stupor. "You do know the Alpha of Alton Ridge pack, right?"
Is he dense? Or does he think I'm dense? "Yes?"
"And you don't know me?"
"No."
"I'm basically his twin."
I suck a breath and say to him, "Do you want me to take you home or do you want me to leave you at the mercy of your friends?"
"They're not my friends," he spits and I know he's dense. Who thinks those were his friends? He tries to walk but he groans, his lower legs shuddering as if they can't support his weight anymore. "My house is not safe either."
"I'll take you to the nearest hotel and—"
"I have no money..."
I stare at him and he stares back. What? How can a grown man like him who claims to be the Alpha's brother not have a dime on him? Is today an April Fool's day or something? "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"I can sleep in your house. It'll only be a couple of days and I..."
"No way." I say, my voice higher than I intend it to be. "I live with my mom and she doesn't like strangers in the house. Sorry."
"You saw those wolves," he says with wide eyes as if he's now starting to get scared of them. "They must have raided my home by now."
"Did they attack you from your house and chase you all the way?"
"Yep."
"You don't have any friends?"
"They could be stalking them."
"Tough luck." I folded my arms over my chest. He's barefooted and dirty and his lengthy fine hair probably needs a thorough wash. He must be a playboy.
«Leticia, let's take him home. We've nothing to lose. Even if you take him to bed, you—»
"Shut it!" I yell.
"Are you..." He chuckles again, "are you talking to me?"
I swallow. He's teasing me and I don't know why it's affecting me like this. Like it's a big deal. "No."
"Are you talking to your wolf?"
I choke when he calls me out and I yell, "no. Not your business." He looks at himself like he knows what I'm thinking and my face flush. It's embarrassing looking at this gorgeous man despite all the soot and dirt and he's starting to make me lose focus. "You've got no friends you can call for help?"
"Please, take me to your house. I promise to repay you in return. What do you need?"
I look at him like he's a clown and mutter, turning away, "I want gold."
"I've got gold. Just tell me how many ingots of it you want."
I pause and spin to eye him. "You've got gold."
♣. ♣. ♣
The taxi driver keeps glancing at us through the rearview like we're a bunch of kids who ran off and are caught. Of course we're weird. We're both dressed like hikers from the East. Aaron Turner looks at the trajectory of life through the window, his forehead locked on the pane like a little schoolboy. I turn to look at the moving trajectory from the left side of the car and he asks, "where are we going?"
"Home," I answer perfunctorily.
"Your home or my home?"
I turn to him, slightly exasperated by his playful attitude. He freezes and looks at me with amusement. I want to biff him right now. I think his eyes also need some blood too. He has to shed blood. "What do you think?" I snap and turn away.
"You didn't tell me your name."
"Leticia," I say, "Leticia Olsen."
"Very pleased to meet you, Leticia Olsen."
"I'm sure you are."
"Do you always come around the woods?"
"Sometimes, mostly when I'm upset."
"Does it mean you were upset when you're sleeping in someone's graveyard?"
"None of your business." The car whizz past Turner street and I throw a casual glance at him. He is fidgeting with the clothes I gave him. Is his brother really the Alpha? Is he really Regan Turner's brother?
The current Alpha's family. The Turner wolves. The legends of Alton Ridge pack. It's surprising that that family has had the best Alphas that led Alton Ridge throughout the storms that have shaken several werewolf territories. Several clans from these territories also belong to the Turners through the efforts of the previous Alphas. Alpha Cain Turner, Regan Turner's great grandfather who's now late, has ruled with a roar so powerful, it shook trees. He died in a victorious battle against the outlanders. Alpha Sage Turner, Regan's grandfather who's also late has achievements to his name. His wife, Luna Carolyn Reigns Turner was a powerful shaman who made her stand on equal footing with her mate, her husband. Alpha Torem Turner and his wife Lucerne Harvey Turner they ruled with grace and became a monarchy, crowning Regan Alpha. Regan Turner is currently Alpha because someone from Torem Turner's sons refused the title. Is he the one? Why did he reject the title? If he was chosen, it meant the moon goddess knew he would be greater than the great. Why did he refuse?
Not only just in werewolf territory. Regan Turner has taken the Turner business and has made it global in only four years, making him a sought-after businessman that even the humans always sought after him for collaborations. He is the face of Turner group. He's every girl's dream man, including me. A business legend admired by all. So where is Aaron Turner in all of this? I've heard that his two brothers and his two sisters are now married to their mates. Why is Aaron Turner different from his family if he really is a Turner?
I pay the driver and we come down on the pavement in front of a bungalow. Its faded yellow paint is peeled thanks to the sun and rain. Dying shrubs in flowerpots cluster around the freshly mowed lawn. An older woman with pale blue eyes sits by the porch, on a lawn chair, listening to folk songs from the radio in her hand.
"Mom?" I stop short when I see her rise, her eyes trailing the man behind me.
"Who's the gentleman with you?" She breaks into a grin that shocks me. My head tingles. What is she thinking?
Aaron Turner beats me to it and goes to my mom, proffering a hand, "Aaron Turner. Very pleased to meet you, Mrs Olsen."
Mom takes his hands warmly and sniffs it, "I recognize you. You're that big grey wolf that
saved me from those damned outlanders. You risked your life... I thought you almost died, son."