Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall
Chapter 2

Reid's POV

Having just finished one meeting, my Beta Zane texted to tell me the next meeting I had has beenmoved to Joe's diner. Apparently, it was on neutral territory; the Black Moon Alpha didn't want tomeet on my territory. Pussy, I thought, shoving my phone back in my pocket before adjusting my tiewhile walking to the elevator. I stepped in the elevator, hitting the button to the bottom floor whenthe elevator doors closed. I watched the buttons, watching the floors go down. When it got halfwaydown, it stopped, the doors opening. I growled, annoyed. Two women, one with red hair and theother a blonde both were quite attractive. One of them I recognised, the redhead. Michelle was aPack member. The other was a human I didn’t know, and a short stumpy man from the tech floorwalked in after them. They quickly stepped back, realising who I was. They dropped their headslooking at the floor. “Sorry Boss,” said the man. I'm fairly sure his name was Peter. I remember himcoming up to my office to update the computers. I pushed the button for the doors to close.Listening, I heard them let out a breath just before the doors shut completely. I stared down at myRolex watch, 2:30 PM. Shit! I was going to be late.

Once down at the foyer, my Beta was waiting with my keys in his hand. He tossed them to me.Catching them, I quickly threw them back at him. “You drive, I don't know where this place is.” Iwalked out to my black Bentley getting into the passenger side and opening the window. We weredriving to the south of my Pack's territory, and just as we left the border, I felt my wolf stir, trying tocome forward.

"What's gotten into you, Ryder?” I asked. He didn't reply. I could feel that he was anxious. Maybethis meeting wasn't a good idea, I thought to myself. Feeling him pressing beneath my skin, I knewmy eyes must have changed when I let out a growl, warning him to stop.

My Beta pulled the car over to the curb. “You alright boss?” he asked. Hair was spreading across myarms, my wolf fighting for control.

That's when it hit me, the most intoxicating scent. I looked around; we were pulled up out the frontof a primary school. I couldn't see anyone, so I stepped out of the car. My wolf instantly calmeddown, happy that we stopped. I looked towards the primary school across the road then looked upthe street. I couldn't see anything except trees along the footpaths and a group of mothers waitingalong the school gate, none of them standing out to my wolf and they were definitely human. As Iwas getting back in, the breeze shifted, and the intoxicating scent got stronger. It smelt likestrawberries and citrus; it was making my mouth water.

My Beta got out staring at me questionably, and that's when I noticed her. She was standing behinda tree next to the gate of the school. She had long dark hair that was pulled into a ponytail and anhourglass figure. I stared at her back, hoping she would turn around, she was dressed in jeans and aplain white blouse with long legs. I wanted to run my fingers through it. "MATE. MINE.” I growled.Ryder echoed the same thing in my mind.

Zane smiled, a knowing look on his face. I went to walk across the road when the bell rang, and thelittle girl jumped up into her arms. I stopped before crossing and growled. Turning my back on her, Iquickly got back in the car.

“What are you doing?” asked Zane, staring at me in disbelief. “Go get her,”

"What do you expect me to do? She has a kid,” I said, pointing at her.

"First of all, you don't know if she has a kid. Secondly, I don't think she would be old enough to havea kid that is already in school,” he stated.

“Fine, cancel my appointments and follow her,” I snapped back. I watched Zane as he instantly senta few messages before pulling out from the curb to follow her. My wolf wanted her. She wasextremely attractive, but I am not one to separate a family. I watched her hips and arse move whenshe walked into the diner, feeling my pants becoming a little too tight. I adjusted them, stupidbloody wolf giving me dirty thoughts of what he wanted to do to her.

My eyes followed her through the window of the diner that I was supposed to be having a meetingat. The little girl ran to a woman that was seated in the booth. Zane and I watched her as she walkedout the back before returning with an apron on and a glass jug with water and filled a glass upbefore handing it to the little girl. She must have felt me staring at her because she suddenly stoodup, looking around cautiously.

“So, what do you want to do?”

"Drop me back to my office and come back to watch her for now. Try and replace out which Pack shebelongs to,” I ordered him. Zane nodded his head before driving me back to my office.

The entire drive back, my wolf wouldn't settle down, trying to come forward, wanting me to go backand claim the girl. Stepping into the elevator, I hit the 20th floor where my office is. My wolflurching forward, making me hit the elevator walls, trying to fight me for control.

"Settle down, Ryder, or I will reject her,” I growled. The thought of rejecting her caused a stabbingpain in my chest and my lungs to restrict. How could she have such an effect on me already when Ihaven't even spoken to her yet? Stepping into the corridor, my secretary came running over to me.She was a nice girl, not much to look at, very plain Jane, in my opinion. She was like a stick figure,no arse and no boobs, but she was good at her job.

“Sir, I couldn't stop him. He said it was urgent, he is in your office,” she said, fear evident on herface.

"Who is?" I asked, annoyed.

"He said his name is David, sir.” I nodded before throwing open my office door and glaring at AlphaDavid. I cancelled my meeting with the Black Moon Alpha earlier; I didn't think he would have theballs to show up to my office.

When I walked in, he was sitting behind my desk in my seat, his muscles bulging from his shirt. Itlooked ridiculous, as if it belonged to his little sister. He stared up at me with a smirk on his facebefore cracking his knuckles.

“Alpha, you're back,” he stated. I growled warningly at him.

“Yes, I am. Now get the fuck out of my seat,” I spat the words at him. He put his hands up insurrender before getting out of my seat and leaning against the window, looking down towards thestreet. Taking my seat, I sat back before asking Melody, my secretary, to make coffee and bring it in.“What can I do for you, David? Why the sudden interest in meeting me?” I asked.

“That's Alpha to you,” he snarled.

“Don’t push me, David. You're in my territory now. You may have one of the strongest Packs in thecity, but you know as well as I do that you don't stand a chance against me or my Pack. Now whatthe fuck do you want?” I said using my Alpha voice, forcing him to submit.

“I'm sure you're aware of the rogue attacks at my borders. I need help. I'm losing too many of mywarriors. My guys keep pushing them back, but they keep coming.”

“So, you dare come to my territory, try and challenge me in my office and then ask for my help?” Ilaughed, shaking my head. “You got balls, I will give you that. Now, what do I get out of this?”"What do you want?” he asked.

“Nothing you can give me clearly. I don't need anything, and I don't want to get mixed up in yourgang rivalries and drug business. I will do this as a favour for now, but just know when I do needsomething, you will do it. Understood?”

Alpha David nodded his head before giving me his hand to shake. “Deal,” he said.

“Fine, 1 will organise my Beta to send some of my men over to watch the border. Tell your guys toexpect them. If any of your Pack attacks one of my men, I will declare war.”