Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 55: The He-Wolf She Couldn’t Ignore

Emma woke up on Monday morning with eagerness to succeed, her wolf stirring with quiet determination. She refused to be a captive of all the things that happened to her in the past. She also thought it was time to give a he-wolf a chance in her life, but her heart was still skeptical. The scars she carried were not visible to the naked eye, yet they ran deep within her soul, whispering warnings whenever she tried to take a step forward. Still, today felt different. There was a strange calmness in her chest, as though her wolf was urging her to try again, to live again.

She had her bath and dressed in a short blue skirt that showed off her wolf’s curves. She had a stylish crop top that accentuated her figure, but she hardly put it on because the last time she did, wolves couldn’t take their eyes off her wolf and she hated to draw wolves’ attention. On this fateful day, she felt like wearing it and showing off her flat midriff and tiny waist a bit. She filled in her eyebrows to make them bold enough. She picked up her sunglasses, put them on, and stepped out with confidence and courage. For once, she wanted to feel powerful in her own skin, not afraid, not hiding.

She quickly turned her face away when she saw Faith, their neighbor, running toward her. She hadn’t forgiven her for what she did, and she wouldn’t even allow her to mourn in peace. The pain of that memory tightened her chest instantly, threatening to ruin the fragile confidence she had built that morning.

"Emma, please, talk to me. Your silence is killing me!"

"What do you want me to say to you? You promised you would take care of her. You know how much my father hated her, yet you allowed her to...."

"She never regarded me as her moonpet. She kept looking for you, and it was hard for me to control her. Do you know how many times I went to your den to get Amy back? I cried the day they told me that a moving machine ran over her. They did not show me her remains. Emma, I know it’s my fault, please forgive me."

Emma’s anger slowly softened as she saw the genuine pain in Faith’s eyes. Holding onto the grudge suddenly felt exhausting.

"It’s okay."

"Thank you. So where are you off to?"

"I got a job last week."

"Congrats!"

She was still talking to her when a customized Alpha sovereign road beast stopped right in front of them. She stepped a few paces away, and Faith did the same. The machine reversed and stopped exactly where they were standing and began to wind down, clearly signaling her to enter. She ignored whoever was inside and continued talking to Faith, pretending not to notice the attention.

"Do you know him?" Faith asked.

"No, do you?" Faith stared at him and nudged her.

"Emma, he wants to talk to you," Faith said, waved at her, and ran off.

A young handsome he-wolf stepped out and leaned against his machine, staring at her as though he knew her. His face was partially concealed like hers. She removed her glasses to see him clearly. He removed his own too, but she didn’t recognize him. She turned and began to walk away, refusing to entertain whatever interest he had in her.

He got into his machine and drove slowly behind her.

"Emma," he called calmly after some moments. She smiled when she saw the transport she had called approaching. Aware of his admiring gaze, she swayed her hips as she walked toward the transport, drawing his attention even more. The driver sped off immediately. She kept looking back to ensure he was not following them. Only when she was sure did she finally relax, though a strange feeling lingered in her chest.

Her first day at work was a bit unsettling for her wolf. She didn’t know how to make a strong first impression on her Beta and the wolves who would come as clients. She decided to remain as composed as she could be. She reminded herself that this was a fresh start, a new Chapter where she would define herself, not her past.

She looked around when she arrived at the therapeutical den and saw some she-wolves standing in front of a bed-like table. She joined them immediately and looked up. It was a duty roster. She searched for her name and moved to her assigned post at once, determined not to make any mistakes.

This moon-cycle, she was assigned to work with she-wolves who massaged alphas and warlords who came to ease the tension in their wolves after a day’s stress. The next moon-cycle, they would be assigned to another den to tend to injured wolves. Brooklyn stood behind the counter, preparing alchemist lithos oil for the high alphas, and she was among those chosen to serve the clients. Emma felt a slight pressure knowing the caliber of wolves she would be attending to.

After some moments, clients began to arrive. She kept receiving greetings and smiles from the he-wolves clients. She ignored them and pretended not to notice. Her focus remained sharp, though she could feel their eyes linger longer than necessary. It irritated her wolf, but she maintained her composure.

The morning rush ended around 09:05 am. She and her colleagues gathered around a table and began to talk. A hand gently tapped her shoulder, and she turned.

"That new client over there wants you to massage him," Nora, one of her colleagues, said before walking away with a hint of annoyance.

Emma looked at him and frowned. She couldn’t believe he had followed her to her place of work.

"Oh my Moon Goddess!!!"

"What is it?" The she-wolves she was speaking with turned and followed her gaze, frowning as well.

"Do you know him?" they asked almost in unison.

"I...No!... but...." She paused. "I’ll be right back." She stood and walked toward the counter where Brooklyn stood, her mind already racing with questions.

"Brooklyn, that he-wolf over there wants me to massage him." Brooklyn looked at him and grinned.

"What is it?"

"He is incredibly attractive, Emma."

"Who cares!"

"What type of massage does he want?"

"I don’t know."

"Go and find out. I love your outfit today," Brooklyn grinned, her eyes briefly resting on Emma’s midriff.

"Brooklyn, he looks like the he-wolf I blocked on social media," she whispered.

"Oh... yes... you’re right."

"He came to our old pack territory this morning. I think he followed me here."

"What does he want?"

"I don’t know."

"Emma, this he-wolf looks wealthy and attractive. I think you should give him a chance."

"He hasn’t told me what he wants yet. I’ll wait until he decides to speak."

"Maybe he needs my touch."

"Is that what he says?" Brooklyn giggled.

She glanced at him; he sat relaxed, legs crossed, his gaze hidden behind dark lenses, yet she felt him watching her. She quickly turned her back to him and faced Brooklyn.

"I can’t ask him that."

"Why?"

"I don’t want to give him an opportunity to talk to me."

"Do not forget the Head Beta is observing everything. Emma, today is your first day; he is paying close attention to you," Brooklyn said softly.

"Alright, I’m going."

"Please, wear a smile. Do not forget he is our client," Brooklyn said, and Emma rolled her eyes slightly, forcing a faint smile.

"That’s my moonally," Brooklyn grinned. Emma turned and walked toward the waiting client. He remained composed as he drew in smoke from his cigar, exuding an aura of quiet dominance that made her wolf uneasy.

"W...what do you want?" she asked, standing beside him.

He removed his glasses and looked up at her. Her heart skipped as she shrank slightly under the intensity of his rare golden eyes. There was something dangerous about him, something commanding that her wolf instinctively recognized.

"I want a thorough sensory and relaxation massage with lithos oil... the finest ointment," he said calmly, placing his glasses back on.

"Just a moment, I’ll be back," she replied politely before turning and leaving immediately. Brooklyn prepared his request within moments, and she returned to him, trying to steady her breathing.

"Sit," he said after she placed the ointment beside him.

"Please, Alpha, I’m here to work."

"Emma, sit. I want to speak with you," he said, attempting to hold her hand. A flash of anger crossed her face. She shot him a sharp look, and he immediately released her. She stepped away from his side, her boundaries clear and unshaken.

She returned to her colleagues, her expression hardened.

"Emma, what does he want?" one of them asked.

"What else, if not to cross boundaries?" she replied sarcastically, casting him another sharp glance.

But deep down, her wolf stirred again—not in fear this time, but in wary curiosity. Something about that Alpha was not ordinary, and whether she liked it or not, she had a feeling she couldn’t ignore. Then Brandon adjusted his glasses and stood.