Chapter 5 The Element Within

• I stand before the heavy oak doors leading to the quarters of Alpha Rich Landry, Mikos's father.
• My senses tell me Alpha Rich Landry is present, just as Tyler had said, but at this moment, I hesitate, my fist poised to knock.
• Doubt blossoms in my heart. If Mikos himself does not consider me good enough, how am I to convince his father that I am?
• Before I can fully put my thoughts together, a deep voice calls from within.
• "If you are going to come in, then do so."
• That commanding voice belongs to Alpha Rich Landry, but there is something strange about his tone, something I cannot place.
• My hands tremble as I turn the knob, I take a tentative step in, to find Alpha Rich already staring at me, his brows furrowing in displeasure.
• "Who are you and what do you want?" Alpha Rich Landry demands, his tone cold yet his voice is slurred.
• The stench of alcohol is heavy in the air and it hit me from the very moment I stepped in, flooding my senses.
• I resist the urge to scrunch up my nose in disgust, for fear of offending him.
• My eyes quickly scan the room, sure enough, empty bottles of beer lie all around and I realise this is not a good time.
• "I... I... excuse me, Alpha." I stuttered out, about to take my leave but the door slams shut right in my face.
• The thought dawns on me at this very moment, stirring a chill of terror, 'Alpha Rich Landry's element is the air element.'
• "Rich... just Rich now." Alpha Rich Landry corrected.
• He stands up to his feet and slowly walks over to me. Meanwhile I can only stand, frozen in place, the door firmly shut behind me.
• "You must be...Kyra. Carroway's niece." He continues, proving he did know exactly who I was.
• I nod slowly, too terrified to even say a word. His aura is imposing, a different kind of imposing from that of my uncle who was of the same generation.
• Instead, Alpha Rich's aura feels predatory at this moment and I question if I have made the right choice coming here to seek his help.
• "You are already here, tell me why you have come." Alpha Rich Landry instructs, his tone though slurred, still holds an imposing command, impossible to ignore.
• I slowly retreat a step backwards, my hands clenched nervously at my sides.
• "I am your son's mate..." I begin in the worst way possible.
• Even to my own ears, my opening statement sounds ridiculous.
• Alpha Rich quirks a brow and I wince visibly.
• "Interesting. I seem to recall Mikos saying the same about Lana. So who is it then? Carroway's girl? Or his niece?" Alpha Rich asks,
• "I... I... Alpha Mikos knows the truth. If you ask him..." I trail of, unsure of what else to say.
• "What business of mine is it who Mikos wants to fuck and who he doesn't?" Alpha Rich asks coarsely.
• I wince again at the harsh words, it is clear to me in this moment that Alpha Rich is not in the right state of mind to be of any help to me.
• "I... I apologise for disturbing you. May I leave now?" I ask, my voice unsteady.
• Alpha Rich steadily closes the distance between us, one step ahead of the other, slowly...stalking.
• I equally back away until my back is flat against the door, with no further path of retreat.
• My heart beats rapidly and I wonder if Tyler would hear if I scream at this moment. But if he did hear, would he come to my aid?
• The man before me is after all Alpha Rich Landry.
• Alpha Rich now stands toe to toe with me, and he leans down, peering closely at me.
• The stench of alcohol on his breath nearly knocks me out but I bite down on my lip.
• "You look just like your mother..." Alpha Rich Landry slurs.
• "I... I...you knew my mother?" I ask, my tone is shaky.
• "More than that..." Alpha Rich says,
• Leaning even closer to whisper in my ears, "I fucked her... once. Before she was carted away by your father and never looked back at me."
• My breath hitches in my throat and as he pulls back, his eyes reflect a potent lust and as the stench of his arousal becomes prominent, his intent dawns and disgust crawls down my spine.
• "I am...not my mother..." I say.
• "No...you are not. Your father wanted your mother...but you... Mikos does not want you, does he?" Alpha Rich taunts.
• My heart drops to the pit of my stomach, I came to seek a solution but instead, I had walked into Alpha Rich's grasp.
• Alpha Rich leans down close to my neck, inhaling deeply and I shudder in disgust. He seems to mistake it for encouragement and immediately pounces, kissing up my neck in a lust induced frenzy.
• "No... please..." I beg, desperately struggling against him.
• Fear blossoms into terror, my mind races , desperate for an escape but I'm pinned, his breath hot and sour against my neck.
• "Stay put. No one is coming to save you." Alpha Rich snarls.
• Something deep inside of me snaps, there is a sudden surge within my veins, seeking an outlet and my skin feels heated.
• The air shifts, becoming hotter and thicker. Alpha Rich is too distracted to notice, but I do.
• My skin tingles, a strange light flickers at the edges of my vision and I can pick up on the smell of smoke.
• Alpha Rich releases a hiss of pain and stumbles back, his eyes shifting from lustful to alarmed.
• I tremble from head to toe, feeling the heat as intense as being burned alive.
• "What the..." Alpha Rich begins but his words are cut off as a powerful wave of flames burst out from within me, erupting all around the room.
• Alpha Rich screams in horror but his vo
• ice now sounds so distant, my mind is too clouded to take note and the flames?...They just keep growing.