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Ariel's POV

Raphie leans against a tree, smiling away at me. I'm smiling right back, walking over towards him.

He wraps an arm around my waist. "Hello princess."

I giggle. "I like that one."

"Good." His smiles widens before he leans down and kisses me.

I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him ba-

"Ariel." Raphie's voice interrupts a wonderful dream. "Ariel, wake up!"

I slowly open my eyes. "Raphael it is not right to wake me up." I growl.

"Not even for food?"

"Well... What kind of food?" I sit up quickly.

"I made pancakes!" Though he doesn't smile, I can see the excitement in his eyes.

"You made them...?" I raise an eyebrow.

He nods and takes my hands, pulling me upright. He takes me downstairs and to the dining room where two plates sit beautifully.

"I made them." Raphie smiles.

This can't be real. "Is this another dream...?" I ask slowly, narrowing my eyes.

His rare smile is quick to fade. "What dream?"

"Nothing," I blush. "Let's just see how your pancakes are." I sit down quickly.

I start to eat. Wow... These are actually really good. But Raphie said he couldn't cook, I think pancakes fall into that. My first pancakes sucked... In fact I burnt mine, and every single time I made them after.

"Who actually made these?"

"I did... Justin helped me." He mumbles, sitting at his own plate.

I smile a little. "Thanks Raphie." I lean over and kiss his cheek. His eyes seem to spark happily before he starts to eat.

This was super nice of Raphie. Though it doesn't even seem like him. He really must have looked this stuff up. No way he came up with this on his own.

I eat the pancakes and when I'm done, I stand up and stretch. "You working today?"

He nods a little. He's really not one of many words.

"Can Parker and I go out then? To the city? I wanted to get donuts and cake!" I smile sheepishly.

"Yes, but with Parker and Justin." Raphie decides. Well, that's better than nothing.

I eat off his plate since I'm done and still hungry. He doesn't mind like most times we eat.

Parker and Justin arrive soon after we finish and Raphie leaves almost right after. I would rather go into the city with him but I like Parker and Justin much more than Ana and Liam.

Justin drives and Parker sits in the back of their car with me. We sing along to the radio in terrible voices. Though, my thoughts are focused on how I can shrug Justin and Parker away. I wanted to go out into the city by myself more than anything. Raphie is the best second option. But I'm sure I can shake Justin and Parker.

We climb out of the car downtown.

"You play any video games?" Justin asks.

"She kicks ass at Mario Kart." Parker replies which makes me laugh in turn.

"Wanna check out EB Games then?" Justin smiles. "A start to our day out?"

"Sure!" I smile.

We walk into the little outlet store that isn't too far from where we parked. And the boys make it all too easy for me to slip away. A quick 'bathroom break' and then arguing is all it takes.

I'm quick to move a few streets before relaxing into the crowds of people. Now, I came here on a mission for cake and donuts. I'm going to find them.

I walk skillfully through the busy streets. School hallways and my many trips into town back home have taught me how to get through a crowd. I catch snippets of people's conversations, listening in on more interesting ones.

I see a little coffee joint and grin to myself. They've got to have donuts in there!

I walk in and the music that plays softly from speakers in the room fills my ears. There's no line but those are definitely donuts I see in there. I walk over and order three for me, myself and I. That and a hot chocolate despite the warm weather. What can I say, hot chocolate is delicious!

When I sit down with my things, I eavesdrop. A bit of a guilty pleasure. Other people's conversations are just so much more interesting. Besides, it's not like I'm talking to anyone right now.

"Three donuts for yourself?" A man snorts walking up.

"Yeah, you got a problem with that?" I narrow my eyes.

"Well if you ever wonder why you're fat, I think you better blame the donuts." He replies. A girl is attached to his arm, giggling at his words.

Now, I know I'm not a stick thin girl. But I'm not fat, in fact, I've got a hell of a lot more muscle than your average girl. Comes from dad. But his insult has my wolf going crazy. She wants to show this man his place.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware being a fit woman meant I was fat. So what, I eat more than one donut? I'm not on a diet so I'll eat whatever I want." I retort.

"You need to go on a diet. You look disgusting eating those things."

"I'm not here to impress you with my looks. I'm here to satisfy my stomach, with my donuts. Now if you don't stop with your comments, you'll get more than slick words slapping your face."

His face reddens and the girls at his side pulls at his arm.

"Listen here, girl," his voice is like venom. "You should know to respect a male."

"I'll respect you when you have respect for me."

His hand grabbing my face is what makes me snap. He pulls himself closer and is clearly about to say something as he squeezes my chin with a hand.

I punch his jaw hard, refraining from werewolf strength. By now I must have this whole coffee place watching. But I could care less. He touched me. His girl stumbles back with him, letting go of his arm.

The man doesn't stop. He advances, holding his hand up to slap me. I bet there's many phone cameras pointing my way now. But I was taught how to defend myself, and despite my one wrist still sore from the break, I use it.

It's all too easy to knock the man out. I grab my things and leave after that, stepping over his body. The girl and a few others going to see if he's okay. Though I could care less.

When I walk out, Parker and Justin stand there, they look furious. Shit...

"Alpha Raphael is going to kill all of us." Parker snaps.

"Well, well, look who it is." Another voice speaks.

"The two male thirds of Alpha Raphael's pack." A second voice snickers.

"Ariel," Parker says slowly. "You're going to run to the car and you're going to go back home."

"I'm not going to take orders from you." I snap, turning around to see who it is.

Four big werewolf males stand before us.

"Not here boys, not with all the humans." Justin says slowly.

"Fine. Come along." One of them motions. Apparently we have no choice but to follow them, even though Parker keeps encouraging me to run, I deny him that. I'm going with them, these men are clearly not to be messed with.

We walk into a building only werewolves seem to be in. Like a bar sort of place. Justin and Parker press me between them protectively.

"So, who's this girl you've got with you? Thought you two only had it out for men." The ugliest of the four man says.

"Gay shaming isn't very effective." Justin groans, and it's true for him. Though, it's very effective on Parker, despite him trying to protect me, he's blushing like crazy.

"Fat shaming is very effective for driving up my anger though if you'd like to give it a try." I mutter more to myself. Parker gives me a strange look but it's quickly taken by his embarrassed-brave face again.

"She's actually decent. I want her. Deal with the gays." The biggest man says, reaching to grab my arm but Justin smacks it away. "Huh, you hit like a girl."

Again my wolf is fired up. Too much anger for one day... She lashes out at the man with such a forceful hit he's fallen backwards.

"Thanks," Justin chuckles. "If hitting like a girl means hitting like Ariel, I'll take that any day."

And then it all happens fast. Liam and Raphie are here in seconds, along with more men from our pack. I'm pulled out of the place by strong arms though they don't belong to Raphie. That worries me.

When I look through the window of the bar, I watch Raphie- no, it's not my Raphie in there. In there is the cold monster Alpha Raphael. The four men lay on the ground in seconds—dead or unconscious, I can't be quite sure.

"Luna Ariel, we can't stay here." The male who carried me out says. "Alpha Raphael wants you home."

I allow myself to be taken away, my mind replaying the scene over and over. He really just killed those wolves, because they were threatening me. I wonder who those wolves were, if they had a family. Something inside told me they didn't, at least, not anymore.

"Who were they?" I whisper to the man driving me home. It's not a very long drive, hence why Raphie probably got there so fast.

"Rogues. Cities are mutual land in a way. To an untrained wolf, their scent, when they're in human form, makes it seem like they're from another pack."

I nod slowly. I had only ever seen rogues in wolf form and yes, they had a very distinctive scent. Mom was terrified of rogues, but I was never very scared. Not all of them are like the ones that did that to her. I bet some of them are just trying to survive in such harsh conditions. That's what drives most to be rude, but that's understandable. What's not understandable is when they start kidnapping and killing.

We're back at my house soon and the man walks in with me. But his eyes cloud over, telling me he's mind linking, and he's quick to leave. I frown, Raphie never left me without a guard.

And then his car screeches to a loud stop and he storms in. As soon as he sees me... I was expecting a hug or something, not what I got.

Raphie slams me against a wall and his teeth sink down into my neck. I scream in pain, and although it fades, I struggle against him.

I knew exactly what he was doing and my wolf was so furious she was threatening to shift. I couldn't have that, we can't shift now. There's business with Raphael I need to take care of first.

As soon as he pulls away, my fist is punching at someone again. Him this time. It his cheek and he stares, stunned, his eyes dark but not yet black tells me Raphael did this, not his wolf, but not my Raphie.

I don't cry. So despite the fact angry and frustrated tears want to spill, I easily push them away as I storm upstairs.

He marked me. Without my permission.

I look the door to one of the extravagant bathrooms and take a deep break, not prepared for what I'll see in the mirror. My neck bares Alpha Raphael's bite mark, blood pricks still stain each little teeth mark.

My phone still on me from today, I pull it out and I call mom. June would be too busy to listen and Aubrey doesn't care about me anymore, only his mate. Dads always doing pack work if he's not with mom. And mom always has time for me. She always has time for everyone.

"Ariel?" Mom answers softly.

"Hi mom," I whisper, missing her voice. Missing her. Her brown hair and her hugs and the way she would check on me in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep, bringing me cake or candy.

"What's wrong?"

"He marked me mom..."

She knew what I meant instantly. "Oh, sweetie," I can hear her heartbreak for me. I can hear her start to cry. But I have to stay strong, I'm not going to cry. "I'm sorry Ariel. I'm so sorry."

"Mom I miss you."

"I miss you too, Ariel I miss you so much. Aubrey too, he's always busy, Darren's teaching him all the last minute things and otherwise he's with Selene. I miss my children Ariel."

"I have to go now mom." I whisper, hearing Raphie come upstairs, I don't want him to hear my conversation. "I love you."

"I love you too." She replies before I end the call.

Raphael is quick to find me and he bangs on the door. It's like he finally realized I had punched him and he had something to say about it.

I stand, head held high, and I open the door.

"What?" I snap.

His eyes are black now. I'm not facing Alpha Raphael, I'm facing his wolf. He's furious with me but in turn I'm furious with him. Both myself and my wolf and I know full well that I don't have to let my wolf take over to show how angry I am.

"You're coming to bed with me. Now." He demands.

"No. I'm not. I'm going to sleep on my own thank you very much."

"Ariel-"

"Raphael, if you don't let me go and sleep on my own I will be a very angry woman." I say lowly, simply a warning. When I lost my temper at home, even my dad was scared to be around me. My angry words hurt too many people to count. June-Bug included. I still don't know how they've forgiven me.

I'm not a nice woman. I'm rude and when I'm mad, it's taken to a whole other level.

"Ariel I am your mate. You will do as I say."

"I never wanted a mate! Ever think of that? I never wanted you! Especially you of all people! You the alpha everyone hated! You the alpha that most rumours were about! I didn't even know you were meant to be my mate when we first ran into each other, tells you how much I didn't want you, doesn't it? The moon goddess was being absolutely idiotic when she thought you deserved a mate, when she thought I could be your mate. If I could reject you Alpha Raphael, I would. Sadly it's not possible to say no to a mate. But you know what, I'm going to do it anyway. Leave me alone, Raphael, I want nothing to do with you." I snap and furiously walk past him.

He doesn't follow.