Heart of the Unknown Alpha (14 page)

Chapter 18 Second chances

Aryana, pulled into her drive glad to be home. With a deep sigh she climbed out and opened the back door to her SUV. Hefting a bag in each arm she nudged the door shut with her hips and climbed up onto her front porch stopping short at the site in front of her.

In front of her door was a very large bouquet of calla lilies and roses in a crystal vase. It was almost as big as the one Darian had shown up with not so long ago. Crouching down she set one bag on the ground then reached out and plucked the small envelope that nestled in the top of the flowers. Sliding her finger under the flap she drew out the card and read.

                                         
Please forgive me. I can explain.

                                                                      Darian.

She hefted the bag up again and continued on her way into the house.

She finished putting away the food and eyed the bouquet sitting on her table. It looked good enough there even if it would make using the table difficult so she shrugged and left it. 

Later that evening Aryana was curled up on the sofa when there was a knock on her front door. Marking her place she set it on the sofa and went to answer the door.  When she swung the door open she was greeted to a giant wall of flowers in front of her.

“Is there a person behind there or is this thing floating in mid-air?” She quipped trying to figure out what was going on.

“No I am back here.” Came a young male voice. “Ms. Barstin?”

“Yes, that is me.” Aryana blinked at the wall of talking flowers. “How can I help you?”

“Well ma’am these are for you. “ The disembodied voice thrust the heavy vase and flowers out at her.

Left with no choice she grabbed the vase before it fell to the floor. Before she could even thank the man she heard the delivery van door slamming shut and drive away.

Sensing more than seeing her way to the coffee table she carefully set the heavy vase down. Stepping back to stare at it she saw the card tucked into the top. Pulling out the large red envelope she flipped it open and pulled out a card with the picture of a silhouetted man and women holding hands

With her stomach twisting she opened the card to read the inscription. In the standard print that came with most cards was written
The minute I saw you my heart was claimed forever.
Below it scrawled in Darian’s bold handwriting was
Please give me a chance. I promise to explain everything. D.

Closing her eyes and exhaling at the strings he was trying to tug Aryana stared at the flowers. She tried to make sense of everything that had happened in her life since she had helped him. Unfortunately none of it made sense and if she were honest, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear his explanation. Tossing the card down next to the vase she settled back onto the couch with her book for the rest of the afternoon. Better to be distracted then stew right?

She was just getting up to get something to feed her growling stomach when there was another knock at her door. Wondering who it was this time she cautiously looked through the small window first. Seeing nothing but a wall of yellow purple and yellow she pulled it open.

It was Déjà vu all over again from earlier. The delivery guy thrust the vase into her hands and then left in the same manner.  Struggling under the weight of the flowers she managed to get them to a side table before she dropped them. This time the flowers were yellow, purple and red roses and the envelope was a cream color.

Sighing in mild annoyance she opened this envelope to find another card. Inside was the same plea.  Frustrated at the continued interruptions she tossed the card on top of the other one and scooped up her keys and purse. Forget eating in she was going out.

Several hours later she returned home from a wonderful meal at one of the corner café’s and a small shopping trip to pick up some new clothing to find two large boxes and another massive bouquet of flowers on her porch.

Aryana didn’t even bother reading the cards that came with the latest deliveries. After hauling them inside she plopped the cards down on top of the others and turned her attention back to the boxes. Opening the first one she found a large stuffed dog with a heart shaped pillow in its mouth. Cute but also a bad reminder of what had happened.  The next box contained a stunning couture dress of shimmering gold material and diamantes.  It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She carefully tucked it back into the tissue lining the box and set it by the fireplace along with the dog completely unsure what to do with them.

The next day she woke up to another bouquet of flowers on her doorstep and another box. This time is was an obscenely expensive pair of shoes that matched the dress.  The flowers went upstairs to her office. She went out for a walk and came home to another bouquet of flowers and a man standing outside her front door.

“Ms. Barstin?” He asked.

“Yes. Can I help you?” Aryana stayed back out of arms reach not quite sure what the man’s intentions were. She blinked as he handed her a dark royal blue bag and a clipboard.

“I am James Soltare from Soltare Gems. Would you please sign this for me?”

Aryana blinked at the man and then numbly signed the paper on the clipboard. She blinked at him confused as she accepted the bag and watched him walk away. Soltare Gem was the most prestigious jewelry store in the area. The handled some of the finest and most famous gems from around the world. They did business with the likes of movie stars and billionaires so to have the son of the owner show up to her house and hand her a bag left her nonplussed.  Peeking in the bag she saw nestled among royal blue and silver tissue paper where several small dark royal blue boxes with silver trim.

Looking quickly around Aryana hurried up to her door scooped up the flowers and got inside. She put these ones by the fire place and the bag with the other two gifts that had arrived the day before. She didn’t even bother to read the cards with them, just added them to the small pile forming on her coffee table.

The rest of her day and the next four saw more deliveries of flowers and gifts. Among the gifts were a garment bag from a well-known furrier shop, a box from one of the finest chocolatiers in the world, more stuffed animals, several boxes of electronics devices from the top electronics company in the world and more. Her house smelled like a florists shop and was starting to resemble one as well. This morning she had woken up to find a small carrier on her front step. Beside it had been a large box and a bag of puppy food. Inside the carrier and been a small puppy that looked like a wolf cub. Oh and 2 more vases full of flowers.

Feeling like she was having her hand forced she opened up the envelope accompanying the puppy. It was indeed a wolf cub and in the box were the supplies she would need to take care of him, a bed, toys, bowls, leash’s, etc. He was only a month and a half old and his mother been hit by a car and killed. He didn’t have a name but was in perfect health otherwise. The second page of the letter contained the name and address of a vet, care instructions, and a hand scrawled not from Darian saying that all vet bills for the pup would be taken care of for the life of the puppy and that he was leaving the name up to her.

As she watched the chubby little thing waddle around on its little legs inside her house she decided that the gifts had to stop and so did the flowers.  Not only where they not helping but now she was responsible for a pet she had never intended on having in the first place. Besides which she was running out of room in her house for them!

She watched as the puppy came over to her and began to let out little whimpers. She reached behind her and picked up the small bowl of food she had prepared according to the directions. She watched as the puppy rooted around in the food like a little pig. Once he was finished she wiped off his tiny face with a wet wipe that she had found in the box.  With his belly full and rounded the tiny little ball of fur climbed up into her lap, snuggled up and went to sleep. Realizing she had no way to contain the puppy when she worked she decided she had better make a trip to the pet store.

An hour later she was back with a larger child’s play area like gate for the puppy in the back of the SUV. It wasn’t until she almost to her door that she realized there was something in front of it. Actually it was more like someone…

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

The dark head of hair resting in two hands raised up and wet, brilliant green eyes met hers. “I came to see you”

Aryana’s throat caught at the simple statement. Yes she had wanted to contact him and to tell him to stop with the flowers and gifts but she figured he could have done that by phone or email. Now that he was here in person, she found herself weakening.

Darian’s heart thudded heavily in his chest. When he had shown up at her doorstep and she hadn’t answered the door he thought she had gone. That he had pushed her to far away and she had taken off to avoid him and any of the gifts he sent her. He had felt so completely empty and defeated. He had known that he had lost her for good then. Seeing her standing there holding onto the small wolf pup had kick started his heart and his hope again.

“I know you probably don’t want to see me, don’t want to talk to me. I can explain everything if you will just give me a chance. It’s all I am asking for. Just a chance.” He begged her, pleading with eyes.

Aryana looked down at the little pup who let out a sleepy yawn.  “Do you promise to stop with the flowers and the gifts if I listen to what you have to say?”

Darian gave a silent nod in agreement. If he had to stop he would. He would do anything, promise anything if he could just get a chance.

“Fine then. Come on in. I have to get this guy to bed. He's tired.” Aryana brushed past his seated form and opened the door. The scent of flowers came pouring out of the house and almost knocked him over.

He quietly followed her inside and watched as she placed the puppy in the carrier he had arrived in. Looking around the living room he saw the large pile or boxes and bags of gifts he had sent her. Most were unopened. Also everywhere he turned there were flowers. Every delivery had roses in it. Roses of every color mixed in with all kinds of different flowers filled the living space and kitchen. He followed her to the sofa and spied the toppled over pile of cards. His heart sank a little at the sight.

“Aryana you remember the night we met? You found me naked and unconscious. There is a reason I didn’t have any clothes on.” He stopped and looked up at her waiting.. she sat there silently watching him. “The reason I had no clothing on was because shortly before that I was running through the woods. On paws instead of feet.” He stopped and waited seeing what her reaction would be.

Aryana just sat there staring at Darian. She had no clue where this was going but if she had to listen to it to get the deliveries of stuff to stop then she would tough it out and listen.

Seeing she wasn’t going anywhere Darian continued. “You see I come from a world where people just aren’t people. We change. We can change at will anytime but during the full moon there is a more powerful urge to change than any other time..”

Aryana shook her head. This was silly “And just what do you change into? Bunnies?” She asked sarcastically.

Darian’s face became dead calm and all traces of humor or sadness vanished leaving nothing but extreme seriousness. “No. Wolves. We change into wolves.”

Aryana burst out laughing. What a joke! He actually expected her to believe he changed into a wolf? Oh man, first an abuse controlling fiancé and now a deranged wannabe boyfriend! WOW could she pick them! Tears started at the corners of her eyes and as she wiped them away she realized Darian wasn’t laughing. That in fact he sat there staring at her deadly serious. “You’re not joking. You ACTUALLY think you’re a werewolf? They are legends. Nothing but a myth made up to frighten little kids.”

“I don’t THINK Aryana. I KNOW what I am. What I have been my whole life. Think about what happened. What you saw with your own eyes. You know I am telling you the truth.”

Suddenly uncomfortable sitting next to him on the sofa she got up and passed across the room. Wrapping her arms around herself she thought about it. Him changing into some kind of half dog didn’t make sense but if he really WAS a werewolf it would kinda make sense… Oh hell! She was starting to buy into his story!  Man was she going mental or something? Yet if she didn’t want to believe him then what else explained that night? Wait a minute, if he WAS a werewolf then did that mean he wanted to make her one as well? Oh GOD!

She turned quickly and stared at him her eye large with terror. ”You came to bite me didn’t you?”

Darian looked up at her startled. “What? What are you talking about?”

“You came here to bite me didn’t you? To make me into the same thing you are?” He voice started rising in panic. She started eyeing the distance from where she stood to him and from her to the stairs trying to gauge if she could make it to them in time.

Taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of his nose Darian tried to calm her down since it looked like she was on the verge of hysterics. “NO I didn’t come to bite you. Well not unless you asked me to. But even if I did you STILL wouldn’t become a werewolf. That is not how a werewolf is made.”

Aryana inched back towards the fireplace still not fully trusting him. “It’s not?”