1. Emma.
I stared at the old plastic wall clock with dread. Each second inched closer to half past eight in the morning. I had work at nine, and I already hated my life.
I had just moved out of the orphanage a year ago and gotten myself a new place in the city, a shabby one-room apartment, all thanks to the Orphanage's matron, who put in a good word for me with the Landlord, and I got a lucky one-time discount.
But that wasn't what made me hate my life. It was my workplace, which was basically a shop that sold fruit at the marketplace. Mr. Erik was the boss, a man who had it for me the day he first laid his eyes on me.
"So you are the orphan that the matron recommended to work here?" He snarled at me on the first day, licking his lips from corner to corner as if I were a meal to him. It was very creepy. "I didn't know you were a girl," he said, staring at my breasts for a very long time. I will never forget.
I should have known, because he made it his life's work to torment me. He did that by gaslighting me, saying I was incompetent and I could never last a day in the real world. He was a real jerk.
I couldn't reject the work because the matron had tried her best to get me some work. I owed it to her, so I wanted to make the best of it.
I threw on a top and noticed how it curved around my breasts. I shuddered, remembering when Mr Erik was peeping at me when I changed. I opted for a jacket instead and threw on a cap on my head.
"You can do this Emma." A word of encouragement as I locked the door and stepped out of the house.
I pedalled to the marketplace, which was at the centre of town and noticed the numerous banners and posters of the Alpha of our current pack, Lord Mason.
I had heard stories about him, and how young he was in person. The women around me where I worked wouldn't stop talking about how handsome and caring he was.
I never cared about it. I just wanted to work without any incidents that would make Mr Erik yell at me.
"You are only four minutes early." Mr Erik glanced at his watch as I parked my bicycle at the side of his large shop. He wore his usual grumpy expression, but he seemed rougher today.
"Good morning Mr Erik," I greeted.
He cocked his brows and I noticed he reeked of alcohol as I walked past him.
"I always told you to be here at least ten minutes early. There are a lot of things to be sorted out—are you even listening to me?" He followed me inside his shop and watched me wear my apron.
"Well Mr Erik, the good thing is I'm here on time. I don't think that's a problem," I tied my hair into a bun.
Mr Erik stared at me for a long time. "Why are you wearing a jacket? What are you hiding?" He growled at me.
"Mr Erik, it's—it is my choice." For the first time, I stood my ground.
He didn't seem too happy about it and made himself look big. Something was wrong, and it wasn't me.
"And so? You are my worker. I get to decide what you wear." His voice was low, almost into a growl.
I paused what I was doing and stared at him. "No, you cannot." I shook my head. I noticed that Mr Erik was suddenly standing between the door and me. "What's—why are you...what's going on?" I stuttered.
He grinned creepily and glanced at the glass door. "It's about time you give back to me what you owe me." I noticed his belt was undone and his staff was hard against his jeans.
I was thrown into horror and stepped away from him. "Mr Erik, what are you thinking?!" It came out in a gasp.
"I think it's time you repay me for all I've done for you! I gave you a job and paid you my hard-earned money. It's only proper that you sleep with me today. I will double your salary and give you bonuses!"
"No!" I screamed. I went to the back of the shop, trying to put several meters between me and him.
"If you don't do it, I will fire you! I won't pay you this month! You have no choice, orphan! Let me have a taste of your body!" He squealed and followed me around the counter of mango fruits.
"Get away from me!" I threw the fruits at him but he grabbed my arm across the counter. A line of pineapples on my left caught my eye, and I picked one and shoved it in his face, which would have been quite unpleasant.
"Holy—fuck!" He cursed and held his face, which left me an opening to run to the door.
"Not on my watch!" Mr Erik chased after me with incredible speed. He was almost gaining on me when I ran into a body at the door.
Luckily, an interested customer had walked in to buy some goods.
"You have to help me!" I begged. I didn't even look at the face. All I know is the body was very muscular and hard. He held me by the waist but I was so terrified of Mr Erik that I didn't look up at him.
"Don't worry, step behind me, lady." His voice was smooth and reassuring. I only got to look at the back of his head as he stood between me and Mr Erik.
"Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?" Mr Erik spat and walked up to him. He was at least two heads taller than Mr Erik.
Was I the only one who felt his imposing presence?
"You stay away from the lady," he warned.
"That's none of your business! Get the hell out of my way!" Mr. Erik pushed on, but the stranger grabbed his hand and in one swift motion, Mr Erik was suddenly crashing into the counter and smashing it into pieces.
I stared in disbelief as Mr Erik gasped for air. All it took was one move!
"Oh my gosh! I can't thank you enough!" I walked up to the stranger. "Thank you for saving me, I wouldn't know what would have happened if not for you—"
"My lord! You shouldn't move away from us like that!" Two heavily armed soldiers entered the shop. They were so big that the shop looked smaller. "You should have told us you were taking a detour, my Lord!" One of them spoke rapidly into a device.
"My lord?" I questioned. "Who are you—" the question came out before I could stop myself. He didn't seem like someone from this part. He was probably a high-ranking official if guards were escorting him.
He turned around and behold, the land's beloved alpha stood before me.