Chapter 8: Little Songbird

Franklin's POV

As my mate crosses the stage and embraces the blonde she-wolf, I sit there in surprise. I try to learn as much as I can about her, but she lives quite a distance away. Aside from her appearance, I haven't much to say about her.

Mark clears his throat, and I quickly turn my head. You okay, Frank?

I cannot keep this from him, shit.

That redheaded woman down there. I say this quietly, but sternly. He nods and turns to face her. How about her? For his privacy, I decided to mind-link him.

F- She's my Mate Mark.

No way at all? She is pretty stunning.

He pauses for a second.

M: What are you asking me to do?

F: May we bring her up here after the set? I need to ensure that it is her.

M: I can speak with Lark, ask for some information, and suggest that you want to visit her.

As the band begins their song, I offer him a nod and return my attention to the red-haired beauty on the stage's left side. The suspense builds throughout the song, and it kills me. I thought I wouldn't hear her voice, but holy duck, it finally reached my ears. I know when something shakes me to the core. I believe she's my match. You cannot refute it. If she wasn't, something as simple as listening to her sing wouldn't have had the same effect on me.

I watch her sing while seamlessly blending in with the bands, clearly relaxed and having fun, her voice compelling. The audience is yelling their encouragement and moving in tune with the music, thoroughly immersed in the presentation. The song will soon stop, and as I turn to face Mark, his eyes are wide.

Whoa, that was.

Perfect. I can't wait to hear her voice when she is alone.

I don't blame you, Alpha; I feel the same way. I'm going to speak to Lark. I offer him a nod of agreement and proceed downstairs. When another song starts, I stare at her once again.

My little bird's singing...

Ariana's Perspective

As I exit the stage after Sarah's performance, I can't help but smile widely. It was amazing to be back on stage, and the audience relished every moment. To relieve my dry throat, I go backstage, grab a bottle of water, and have a couple of drinks. I take a seat and enjoy the euphoria I'm experiencing before noticing someone enter.

I take another sip of water before turning to face him.

Hello.

You sounded wonderful out there. As he sits alongside me, his weight causes the couch to blend slightly, he says. Regards! It was an insane crowd.

That they were. But I've got a question for you.

Confused and concerned, I turned to give him more. What is it?

Do I really want to know?

He hopes to see you.

My eyes narrowed with bewilderment. Who?

Franklin...

My eyes widen. What? He wishes to visit me, but why? Lark gives me a shrug. His beta came down and expressed his want to meet you because they appreciated your performance with Sarah's band. He rises from the couch and extends his hand. I grab his hand and stare up at him, nervously. I can't say no, right? Lark laughs. Probably not a good idea.

Yes, probably not. Lark held my hand in comfort before letting go. You'll be okay.

I take a deep breath before returning to the main floor of the bar and ascending to the VIP area via the stairwell. Adam, another bouncer, steps away to allow me space. My feet become heavier as I climb the stairs, and I start to think about what he might have done to me if I made a mistake.

He is not Ashford. Stop worrying.

I try to remember that each Aloha wolf is unique. He might not look like Ashford at all. Who knows. When I look up the stairs, I see a man waiting for me. He is tall, with shoulder-length black hair pulled back in a braid. His amber eyes meet mine as he stretches out his hand to me.

My name is Mark. Beta for the Aloha Kings. I clasp his hand and shake it. It rattles a much. But gentle, and I am aware that he must be a well-respected and strong wolf in order to be the Alpha king's beta. Alphas are in charge of betas, who help them in every way possible. They sacrifice their lives to protect their Alphas, and they share an unbreakable bond with them.

What's your name? As he releases my hand, he asks me. My name is Ariana. I'm pleased to have met you.

Ariana is a beautiful name. I nod, then mark the person walking in front of me and follow, taking care not to approach too close in case I run into him. Kindly follow me. After a little trek, I noticed that we had arrived at one of the booths in the back of the VIP section. Approach the booth and mark shifts left of me so that they no longer block my view.

God's Holy Mother

I gasped a little when Franklin rose from his chair and approached Mark, his strength radiating from him. I give him a short glance. Despite being the same height as Mark, he is obviously an Alpha. It's clear from the strong stance and muscular body. He has jet black, unruly wavy hair that reaches just below his ears and startling deep blue eyes that look like the ocean. He's a sight in his grey unbuttoned dress shirt and black jeans. Unsure of his desire for respect from the other wolves, I quickly lower my sight so as not to offend.

This is Ariana, Alpha. Ariana, I'm Alpha Franklin. After Mark introduces me, I raise my eyes to see those blue ones again, and my breath catches.

I am Franklin, Ariana. Come sit, please.

I can feel the pain in the back of my neck tingling in response to his deep, powerful voice. Unable to respond, I nod and proceed to the booth to sit. Mark asks me what I would like to drink, and Franklin sits next to me.

I've finally discovered my voice. The water quality is good. I need to stay hydrated because I still have another set to complete.

He grinned. Sure, I'll be right back. After he leaves, it dawns on me.

The Alpha King and I are sitting alone.

Franklin's Pov

It takes a lot of self-control on my part to refrain from reaching out to touch or hold Ariana as she sits beside me. Shiba is pacing furiously in my imagination, clearly thrilled that our companion has arrived. Her aroma is overpowering now that she is closer, there is no denying it.

She is the person I was intended to be with.

As we sit in momentary silence, I can sense her hesitation; she has undoubtedly heard me to some extent. There's something peculiar about her, and I'm curious if she feels the same way I do. She speaks first but avoids making eye contact, which reaffirms my confidence in her.

What shall I say to you? I don't want to insult anyone. I haven’t been across many other Alpha other than the Alpha at my pack. I contemplate. She did not claim her pack's Alpha as her own. I wonder whether there's any tension there. Although it is usual for some pack members to disagree with their Alpha, Alphas are nevertheless regularly mentioned as personal figures. Fascinating.

You can call me Alpha, or simply Franklin or Frank. Whatever makes you feel more relaxed. I also disagree with the BS about not establishing eye contact. I prefer to glance at the person I'm speaking to. She takes a quick breath in response to my response, looks up at me, and our gazes lock for a longer period of time.

Despite the stark contrast to her hair, her emerald green ones complement her.

I could become lost in their eyes.

Mark then returns, placing a water bottle in front of Ariana and another bourbon on the table for me, snapping me out of my stupor. She grabs the bottle, delicately twists the top, and brings it to her lips for a sip. It is time to chat.

What is the length of your singing career? When I ask, she returns the cap to the water bottle.

Ever since I was a puppy. I am a pianist as well.

Your voice is unusual; I've never heard anything like it. She looks down to hide a small blush and half smiles. Thank you for this compliment.

Lark indicated that he often engages you to perform at Moonlit Den. Mark adds his voice, and I appreciate him continuing the discussion. She nods and turns to face him. Yes, I am periodically paid to perform here at Park. She stops speaking. I used to perform here frequently, but I haven't been able to attend as often as I'd want due to other duties at my pack. Even so, some folks who come to hear me are more enthusiastic. She reaches down and retrieves her water again.

What pack do you belong to?

Her glance shifts from Mark to myself as she pauses.

I'm from Twilight, I suppose.

Twilight. This sounds familiar. Mark asks, "Isn't Twilight one of the packs I'll be visiting in about a week?" Mark gives me a look and nods, "Yes, Alpha, you're supposed to visit and supervise a pack merger there next week."

Yes, precisely. Thank you. When I restore my attention to Ariana, I notice she has tightened up when I mention visiting her pack grounds. I'm not sure if it's just my nervousness or if something else is going on. I think it's up to me to find out.

Ariana stares at her timepiece. I apologize for interrupting you, but I have a ten-minute solo set. I should go prepare.

I give her a nod and get up, and she follows suit. Before you leave, I'd like to let you know that I will be discussing with your Alpha the possibility of hiring you for the upcoming mating ball. I believe you would be an excellent choice for the entertainment role my parents assigned me for the tye ball and after party. I hope you will think about it. She smiles broadly as her eyes widen and a horrified expression appears on her face. Really? I'd be thrilled! Alpha Frank, thank you for the chance.

She is whispering my name.

It's my pleasure, Ariana. I'm excited to witness your solo performance. It was a joy meeting you.

Similarly, shall I meet you at the pack visit?

Of course. I respond, happier than I have been in a long time as I watch her leave.