Chapter 5 She's not human

EDWARD

The sun was setting over Veridia City, and the sky was turning a deep blue.

I stood by the window of my office, because I couldn't focus on the paperwork on my desk. My skin felt tight, and my wolf was still pacing, agitated by the scent of the girl down the hall.

I couldn't stop thinking about the blood results Evan had shown me. Someone had been drugging her for years, and I needed to know why. I decided I couldn't wait for Theo to give me another update, and I walked out of my office to check on her myself.

I reached the guest suite and nodded to the two guards standing at the door. They straightened up and opened the doors for me. I stepped inside and stopped.

Alria was pacing the length of the room, her movements jerky and restless. She had kicked off her shoes, and they were lying forgotten near the silk rug.

Her messy brown bun was falling apart, and loose strands of hair hung around her face. She looked beautiful in a way that made my wolf let out a low, possessive growl deep in my chest.

She spun around when she heard the door close, and her green eyes snapped to mine. "You again," she said, her voice sounding raspy. "I was starting to think you’d forgotten you were holding a person hostage."

"I don't forget anything that happens in this tower, Alria," I said, walking further into the room. I kept my hands in my pockets so I wouldn't be tempted to touch her again.

"Then you haven't forgotten that I have a life," she said, stepping toward me. She looked flushed, and there was a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. "When can I go home? I’ve done your tests, and I’ve sat in this room for hours. I’m done with this."

"You have no home to go to until I find out who swapped that dagger in your delivery," I said, my voice cold. "The moment you walk out those doors, you become a target for whoever tried to kill me. You’re safer here, whether you like it or not."

"I don't care about being safe!" she shouted, her temper finally breaking. "I care about my job and my grandmother and not being locked in a cage by a man who thinks he owns the world."

Before I could respond, there was a sharp knocking at the door.

I stiffened, recognizing the pattern immediately. The door opened, and Victor Matteo stepped into the suite. He was dressed in an expensive gray suit, and he was leaning on his silver-headed cane.

The moment the metal entered the room, I felt a sharp, stabbing pang in my chest. It felt like a needle was being driven into my heart, but I kept my face a mask of coldness.

"Ah, Edward," Victor said, his voice sounding fake. He didn't look at me; he was staring at Alria. "I heard you had a guest, but I didn't realize she was so... unique."

He walked toward her, the cane clicking loudly on the marble floor. Alria didn't shrink back from him. She stood her ground and crossed her arms over her chest, looking him right in the eye.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice flat.

"This is Victor Matteo," I said, stepping between them. "He’s a family friend and a member of the board. Victor, you shouldn't be here."

Victor ignored me and leaned toward Alria, offering her a thin, fake smile. "I’m just a concerned mentor, my dear. It’s not every day a delivery driver ends up in the Alpha’s private quarters. You’re quite the charming little assassin, aren't you?"

I clenched my teeth. He must have found out.

Alria’s eyes narrowed, and she didn't hesitate for a second. "I'm a courier, and I'm not your 'dear.' Why don't you mind your own business and get that ugly stick out of my face?"

I almost smiled. I had never seen anyone talk to Victor like that, especially not a human. Victor’s smile faltered for a second, and his grip tightened on the silver head of his cane.

He looked at her with a new expression, and it wasn't anger. It was something much worse. It was a look of triumph, like he had just found a missing piece of a puzzle.

"Feisty," Victor murmured. He looked at me and tapped his cane on the floor.

"You should be careful, Edward. Sometimes the things we keep in the dark have a way of biting back. I’ll leave you to your... guest."

He turned and walked out, the clicking of his cane fading down the hallway. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and the pressure in my chest eased as the silver left the room. But I couldn't shake the look I had seen in Victor’s eyes.

He knew something about Alria, something that Evan’s blood tests hadn't told me yet.

"I hate him," Alria said, rubbing her arms. "He feels like a snake."

"He is a snake," I agreed. "Go back to bed, Alria. I’ll have Theo bring you dinner."

I left the room before she could argue more. I spent the next few hours in my dark living room, staring out at the city lights. I didn't turn on the lamps. My mind was racing, trying to connect the "Moon Salt" to Victor Matteo and the silver dagger.

A soft sound at my door made me turn my head.

Alria was standing there, leaning against the frame. She wasn't wearing her oversized hoodie anymore, just a thin t-shirt and leggings. Her skin looked flushed, almost glowing in the dim light, and she was breathing heavily.

"Alria? What are you doing out of your room?" I asked, standing up.

"I... I don't feel right, Edward," she whispered. I walked towards her and she stumbled toward me, her footsteps uneven. "I feel like I’m burning up. Everything is too loud and I can hear your heart, and it hurts."

I reached out to feel her forehead for a fever. I thought maybe she was having a reaction to the blood draw or the missed doses of her salt. But as soon as my skin touched hers, she let out a sharp, ragged gasp.

Her body went limp, and she collapsed forward into my arms. I caught her, pulling her close to my chest to keep her from hitting the floor. She was shaking violently, and her skin felt like a furnace. I looked down at her hands, which were gripping my shirt, and my blood turned to ice.

Right before my eyes, her fingernails began to grow into long, bone-white claws. She let out a low, pained groan, and her hands shifted, her claws digging through my shirt and scratching deep into the skin of my chest.

I didn't pull away from the pain. I just stared at her in total shock. The scent in the room changed instantly, the human smell vanishing and being replaced by a powerful scent from her.

My back landed on the wall and I slowly slid down to the ground, still holding her tight. We were now both on the cold floor as I watched her eyes tightly shut while she groaned in pain.

“Edward…” She called out breathlessly.

“Yes Alria…I know it feels…”

“I need you to kiss me,” She whispered, slowly wrapping her hands around my neck while we stayed on the floor.

Her eyes flashed open, revealing a bright green eyes.