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Ariels POV

I push myself up, the room unfamiliar. It's dark and I can hardly see.

"Aubrey?" I whimper. Hotel rooms are always so scary. And I'm not scared of much. But they're like, murder central in my opinion.

I slide off the bed and make my way out to the balcony where there's some light from the moon.

Mum and I both have such a connection to the moon. It's just... Somethings there. Dad got me a matching moon necklace to mom's. For my fifth birthday, I cherish the necklace and wear it all the time, just like mum.

I sit on the floor to the balcony, since there isn't a chair, and I stare up at the moon. It's soothing, like Aubrey would have been if he were here.

"Ariel?" Comes a voice from inside the room. Is that... I'm in Raphie's room! "Ariel where are you? I do not want to play any games."

I try to see him in the room but the moonlight makes it impossible to see inside. I sigh and just wait for him to find me instead of me calling out.

"What are you doing Ariel?" Raphie growls, stepping out onto the balcony.

I point up to the moon. "I can't sleep." That's part truth...

A plate is set in front of me with food on it. "Eat. You fell asleep and missed dinner."

I eat some of what's on the plate, not feeling particularly hungry. More angry. I just want to go home. I hate this stupid hotel and meeting place.

Raphael walks over and sits beside me. He doesn't say anything and he doesn't touch me, but I mean, what else am I supposed to get from him?

I lay back on the ground and look up at the city lit sky. No stars to be seen, just the moon. I wanna go hunt, and make fun of mom as she joins me since she can't catch anything. And I wanna go for a long run around my territory, that's what I wanna do.

Not be stuck here with some new mate.

"Go to sleep Ariel." Raphie says.

I roll my eyes but soon, I do feel myself falling asleep. And then the city lit sky disappears.

***

"GET YOUR FUCKING PAWS OFF ME!" I shriek as I wake up. Raphael has the nerve to hold me like a baby as he sits on the bed. Not to mention, while I'm asleep.

Light shines in the windows, making me squint. My anger bubbles. How dare this man touch me when I don't know he is!

Raphie growls at me and I growl back. He sits me on the bed and stands up while I look over myself. I can't trust him.

After a moment, I've made sure I'm all good. Standing up and stretching out, I walk past Raphie to my suitcase. I search for my workout clothes, wanting to go for a run.

"What are you doing?" Raphael asks lowly.

I pull out the shorts and sports bra with my tank top and disappear from his view into the bathroom. I pull the things on before walking back out. Now where's my phone... I grab it from its spot and put the earbuds in.

"You aren't going anywhere in that." Raphie growls.

"You aren't the boss of me." I snap.

"I'm your mate." He says through narrowed eyes.

"Doesn't mean you can tell me what to do!" I raise my voice a little before storming out. I turn my music on and quickly make my way downstairs and outside.

It's not long after I start to run that I can smell Raphie close to me. I narrow my eyes and look back to see him running up to me.

"What are you doing?" I growl.

"Joining you." He replies smoothly. "You can't go out alone."

I swear to the moon goddess I will punch the life out of him one day. He's that guy. The one who gets what he wants, and uses his power, and is one of those guys that's attractive and you want to bang but at the same time you want to choke him and watch as the life drains from his face... I think I need help, mental help that is.

I turn my music as loud as it can go, ignoring him as I run. I'm not in the mood for alpha bullshit this morning. As I'm distracted, I run into someone. What's with people? Can they not see me and move out of the way?

I stumble back a little and turn a hard glare to the person. Oh I must have a curse called 'running into alphas at inappropriate moments.' I could smell it on him.

"I was just- you just- sorry?" I stumble about my words. Let's include, 'stutters because doesn't know how to act' to that curse. Groaning I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"It's fine... Ariel, right?" He raises an eyebrow and I swear I can taste tension in the air. Raphie? I glance at him, looking over his tense body.

"Yeah... Ariel." I offer a little smile. "And you are?"

"Blake Harrs." He smiles back. "Friend of your brothers."

"Aw I feel bad for you. Hanging out with Aubrey will lower your IQ." I pat his shoulder.

"You lived with him, does that mean your IQ is lower than normal?" Blake raises an eyebrow.

I snort. "Oh please. He doesn't affect me, I'm used to all his stupidity."

"Don't be talking shit Ariel." Aubrey says from behind Blake. He's walking with two other guys. They must've went out into town for breakfast or something.

"I'm not talking shit!" I snort.

Aubrey rolls his eyes before his gaze turns to Raphie.

"How was your night?" He narrows his eyes, speaking to me but looking at Raphie.

"Terrible!" I whine.

"Did you do anything to her?" Aubrey growls in Raphie's face.

"You'd smell it dipshit." I roll my eyes.

"Well he could of hurt you." Aubrey mumbles.

"It's okay Aubrey, Raphie may be an idiot but I don't think he'd hurt me... Well... Emphasis on think." I pat his shoulder.

Aubrey starts to laugh. "You're letting her call you Raphie? That's gold. The big bad alpha Raphael letting Ariel call him Raphie."

"It's better than Aubrey." I snort. "Where's your mate anyway?"

"She's with her friends inside, we're just waiting for them." Aubrey replies, glancing back at the building looking almost worried.

Raphael remains silent, staring down the Blake guy. "Do not call me Raphie, Aubrey." His gaze flicks over to him for a moment before back to staring down Blake.

Selene walks out with two other girls. Aubrey walks over to Selene with a smile, he looks so happy... Her brown eyes fall on me and her gaze turns curious. Oh I do hate people sometimes, you know when they ask the annoying, 'so you're gonna be my sister-in-law' question... Or is it more a statement?

"Okay, I'm just gonna keep running..." I say quickly, starting past them. Aubrey grabs my arm to stop me, opening his mouth to speak, but I interrupt. "Sh, you're lowering the IQ of the whole street."

"You aren't Sherlock, Ariel." Aubrey snorts.

"Sadly, but I would love to be!" I run off.

My run comes to an end back at the hotel. Raphie is awfully quiet. But then again, it's Raphael I'm thinking about here. I've spent enough time with him to know how he works.

The building is quiet when I head to the room. I'm quick to grab clothes and lock myself in the bathroom to shower. Raphie doesn't say anything as I do, fortunately for myself.

I change into shorts and a crop top before walking out. My wet hair dripping on the ground. Raphael looks up and growls. "Must you wear that?"

"Yes." I snap back. I don't like him very much. He's annoying.

I lay down on the bed, not in the mood to go out and socialize. I mean, maybe with June... I wonder where she is. My phones still in the bathroom and I groan, must it be so far away. And where Raphael is taking a shower?

I huff, well, I don't really care about walking in on him. Hopefully he doesn't mind either. Heading into the bathroom, I go to pick up my pile of clothes, but his sweaty clothes are piled on top. Ew.

"What are you doing?" He asks in a monotone.

"Getting my phone," I reply... Where did I leave it? This bathroom isn't that big that I can just lose it like that! Curse my damned memory.

"And what are you waiting for?"

"I don't remember where I put it!" I whine, looking around the room.

I huff and sit up on the counter beside the sink. You put it down, then took your clothes off then showered. So where'd you put it down Ariel? I check under Raphie's towel and clean clothes... Nope.

The water stops and I instinctively look over. But as Raphie steps out I quickly turn away.

"You don't have to look away." Raphael says, sounding amused?

"I'd rather not be disappointed." I retort.

I'm pretty sure he rolls his eyes, but I can't be sure since I'm not looking. "We have a meeting to go to in half an hour."

"No I don't, it's not one for kids." I reply in a duh tone, assuming he'd be mostly covered by now, I look over.

"Ariel, I'm blah blah and blah blah. You blah blah come to blah blah with me now." Raphael replies, though I think I missed parts of it since his chest is bare and wet and the towel is hanging low on his wait and I kinda zone out.

"Uh... Y-Yeah... Uh, wait what?" I shake my head trying to focus myself. Stupid teenage hormones and hot men.

"You have to come to the meetings with me." He speaks slowly like someone would to a child who isn't getting it.

I scrunch up my nose. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." Raphael bends down and moves the pile of dirty clothes out of the way, revealing my phone. He picks it up and hands it over. I smile and grab it, walking out of the bathroom, well, after another look at him that is.

I sit on the bed and call June.

"My little mermaid! Where are you!?" June exclaims.

"Bed. You?" I yawn.

"With Calvin, eating lunch. Ariel you missed breakfast and now you're missing lunch! What's wrong?"

I realize I am pretty hungry. But when I'm running, I don't really think about it, and right now, an almost naked, wet, Raphael is in my head.

"Nothing. Had a run. And Raphie has drool worthy abs and the perfect v-line. And really nice biceps. Huh, I wonder what it's like growing up hot..." I trail off in thought.

"Ariel, I swear to the moon goddess if you've already done something with him-"

"No, no. He just had a shower dumbass. You think I'd fall for that this early?" I snort.

"Good point. You're to stubborn for a guy to seduce." I roll my eyes. "But Raphie...?"

"Yeah, Raphael. He's Raphie."

"He's letting you call him Raphie?"

"Everyone keeps asking that..." I mumble. "Anyways, might head for some lunch soon, I'm starving! See you June-Bug!"

I hang up and look over at a now dressed Raphael. "We can have a quick lunch before the meeting." He sighs after my stomach makes an awful dying whale sound.

I smile and run downstairs to the big room where they do the meals. It's pretty full, but most people are already eating so I fill my plate up. I look around for someone to sit with.

Uh... I see June and Calvin so naturally I go over, sitting next to June. Leaning away from Calvin as he reaches to grab the salt. I don't need boy-cooties.

Raphie soon sits next to me with a plate of food for himself. I eat mostly quiet, June talking about some icky new fashion trend.

"Look at it!" She shoves her phone in my face as I'm shoving my mouth full of food.

"June I'm eating." I say with my mouth full, pushing the phone away. "And it's good. Don't interrupt. But... Ew, that does look pretty bad."

"I know!" June groans.

I pat her back before starting to eat again. I finish and look at my empty plate sadly, June is already done too. But Calvin and Raphie aren't. I take some of Calvins food when he's talking to June. He notices and gives me a weird look.

"What? I'm still hungry and going to get more food is too much work." I reply, shoving the forkful into my mouth.

"She's like that. Get used to it." June sighs.

"It's not my fault my parents raised me lazy." I snort.

"You get it after Aunt Blaire, she makes your dad do everything without even meaning to." June laughs.

"Mm," I nod a little. Mom wanted something, Dad usually got it for her. Dad gave her a walk in closet before. She doesn't ask for much though, mostly things like cake and to swim.

I start to eat off Raphie's plate since Calvin finishes the last bit of his lunch.

"You shouldn't eat so much you'll get fat on your lazy butt." June says, poking my bare tummy.

"But food." I reply.

"But keeping in shape so you don't get all pudgy." June replies playfully and I burst into a fit of giggles. The word pudgy is funny.

"But pudgy-" I start but more giggles burst through. "Is the cute fat!"

"Come on Ariel, we have to go to the meeting now." Raphie says after my giggle fit has calmed.

That ends my happy mood. Must I really go to this dumb meeting?