Chapter 3 You're not human

ALRIA

I sat on the edge of the king-sized bed and stared at the gold-trimmed curtains.

It had been twenty-four hours since the guards dragged me out of Edward’s office, and I was still stuck in this guest suite.

The room was huge, easily three times the size of my entire apartment. There was a silk rug on the floor and a marble bathroom with a tub big enough to swim in, but none of it mattered because the door was locked from the outside.

I felt like my body was vibrating. My skin was hot to the touch, and there was a strange, itchy feeling deep under my muscles that wouldn't go away.

I stood up and paced the length of the room, but the movement didn't help.

My hearing was acting up too. Every time the guard outside the door walked or let out a breath, it sounded like he was standing right next to my ear. I could even hear the thud-thud of his heart through the door.

I rubbed my temples and tried to think. I had missed my morning dose of "Moon Salt." My grandmother was always very strict about it, and she said the salt was the only thing that kept me balanced and healthy.

I figured I was just having some kind of withdrawal, like when Miller at the courier office didn't get his third cup of coffee. The salt was bitter and gross, but clearly, my body was used to it. I sat back down and tried to ignore the heat crawling up my neck, but the room felt hot.

The lock clicked, and the door swung open. It was Theo. He just gestured for me to follow him. "The Alpha wants to see you," he said.

"His name is Edward," I snapped, standing up. For a reason , I just hated the title ‘Alpha’ they called him with.

I was dizzy for a second, but I pushed through it and followed him down the long, carpeted hallway. "And I have things to say to him too. Like where is my phone and when am I getting paid for my overtime?"

Theo didn't answer. He led me back to the massive penthouse office.

Edward Ashbourne was sitting behind his desk, and he looked much better than he had yesterday.

His face wasn't gray anymore, and he was dressed in a fresh white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I could see a thick white bandage wrapped around his forearm where the silver had sliced him.

He looked strong and powerful again, but his eyes were still cold as he watched me walk in.

"Sit down, Alria," Edward said.

"I’d rather stand," I said, stopping a few feet from the desk.

My temper was bubbling just under the surface, and the heat in my blood made it hard to be polite. "You’ve been holding me here for a day. That's illegal, and I’m pretty sure my boss has called the police by now."

Edward leaned back in his chair and looked at me. "Your boss was told you took an emergency leave of absence. I paid him enough to make sure he didn't ask questions. Now, tell me the truth. Who sent you here?"

"I told you yesterday," I said, raising my voice. "I work for a courier service. I was given a box and a delivery address. I didn't even know what was in the chest until it broke on your floor. You should be thanking me for pulling that knife away, not treating me like a criminal."

Edward stood up.

He was so tall, and he walked slowly around the desk until he was standing right in front of me.

I refused to back away, even though my heart was racing so fast. He leaned in close, and for a second, I thought he was going to yell. Instead, he tilted his head and sniffed the air right next to my neck.

I froze. "What are you doing? That’s weird."

Edward pulled back, and he looked completely confused. His brow furrowed as he studied my face. "You don't smell like a human," he muttered, almost to himself. "But you don't smell like a wolf either. What are you?"

I let out a loud, frustrated scoff. "A wolf? Are you serious? You billionaires really are crazy. I’m a human, Edward. I eat, I sleep, and I pay taxes. I don't know what kind of weird games you play in this tower, but I’m not a part of them."

"Nobody is just a human," Edward said, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Not when they can stabilize a silver-poisoned heart just by touching it." He turned toward the door and raised his voice. "Evan! Get in here!"

A small, nervous-looking guy with glasses and messy hair hurried into the room.

He was carrying a small black medical bag, and he wouldn't look me in the eye. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but in this office.

"Take her blood," Edward commanded. "I want a full panel. Check for everything."

"Wait, what?" I stepped back, my hands curling into fists. "No way. You are not sticking a needle in me. I don't give you permission."

"I don't need your permission," Edward said. He moved faster than I could react, grabbing my upper arm to hold me steady for Evan.

The moment his fingers clamped onto my skin, the world seemed to tilt. That strange heat in my body turned into a massive surge of electricity.

It was unbearable, and it felt like a bolt of lightning was traveling from his hand directly into my heart.

I gasped, and my legs felt weak, but I wasn't the only one who felt it.

Edward’s grip loosened, but he didn't let go. His eyes softened for a split second, and the gold color flickered back into his pupils.

His thumb brushed over the pulse point on my wrist, and I felt a strange pull toward him that made me want to lean in. We stood there for a long moment, just breathing the same air.

Then, Edward blinked and shoved my arm away like he had been burned. He looked disgusted with himself, and he stepped back toward his desk. "Just do it, Evan," he snapped. "Now."

I was too shocked to fight back this time. I felt like I was floating outside of my own body.

Evan quickly wiped my arm with an alcohol swab and took a small vial of blood. I didn't even feel the sting of the needle because my head was spinning so fast.

"Get her out of here," Edward said, turning his back to me to look out the window. "She stays in the suite until I have the results. I want to know exactly what she is."

Theo grabbed my shoulder and led me out of the office. I didn't fight him this time.

My vision was starting to blur, and the heat in my skin was becoming a dull roar.

As we walked back to my room, I felt a strange sensation in the back of my mind.

It sounded like a long, mournful howling, coming from somewhere deep inside me. I stumbled into my room and heard the lock click behind me, and I collapsed onto the bed.