Chapter Three: Saved By An Alpha

My suspicion is confirmed as Bill closes the door, forcefully leading me into the living room. He restrains me with handcuffs and secures my legs before heading to his room for something. As he locks his room, the living room door creaks open, suggesting an intruder or possibly a rogue figure meddling with the doorknob while Bill's dog remains confined in its kennel.

The door swings wide open silently, and an impulse to scream arises, but my instinct urges freedom without explanations. I press my lips together as my eyes mirror the wide-open door. A masked stranger enters, unveiling his face while tiptoeing closer to scrutinize me. Just as the stranger reveals more, Bill unlocks his room. Startled, the stranger swiftly dashes to the opposite side of the living room with extraordinary speed, revealing his true nature – a werewolf.

"How did you open the door?" Bill questions gently, though I expected him to be furious. "You want Big Joe to deal with you again, right?"

"No, I'm sorry, sir." I apologize, withholding details to protect the stranger hidden in the corner. Bill continues, "I'd have taken off the fetters already, but my dog is not yet awake. Well, are you a Werewolf?"

"Yes, sir." I admit with a clipped response.

"Where's your pack house?" Bill inquires, but before I can respond, a sudden noise startles him. Bill recoils as he discovers a masked stranger in the room. Initially, he wants to attack but remembers his dog and rushes to retrieve it. Taking advantage, I grasp his feet with my slightly loose left hand, urging him to release me for a chance to escape. Instead, he strikes my head with his fist and tightens the thick rope and fetters. Reflecting on the situation, I ponder that humans should consider their actions more carefully, grateful that wolves don't resort to guns. Bill should exhibit more humanity, I believe.

The stranger swiftly joins my side as Bill tends to his dog in the kennel, providing a momentary relief with Big Joe's absence. The stranger discards the mask, lifts me and hastens out of the living room, though the building's CCTVs document our every move. As the stranger struggles with the gate key, panic sets in—Bill's massive dog hurtles toward us with alarming speed. Bill smirks, anticipating my demise unless the stranger prevails. As we eventually unlock the gate, the stranger's narrow escape is halted by Big Joe. As I assess the stranger's eyes, I note his determination. He may not match Big Joe's strength, but he's willing to fight. The dog advances with ferocious intent; my scream prompts the stranger to retaliate with swift kicks.

Big Joe and Bill join the fray, with the stranger realizing shifting is his only recourse. Amid the chaos, Joe's punch sends him to the ground, and I collapse alongside him. In the frenzy of the dog's bite and Joe's brutal blows, the stranger, in a swift move, shakes his head vigorously. His hair bristles, eyes ablaze in red, momentarily unsettling the dog. Bill and his dog step back, observing Joe. As the stranger's transformation progresses, he doesn't fully shift to his wolf, opting instead to use his finger to swiftly free me. His gaze locks onto Joe, prepared for a potential second confrontation. Sensing the poisoned intent, he clutches my hand, cold to the touch, and in a whirlwind, we escape, leaving only his dropped mask behind.

Bill persuades Joe to halt the pursuit, relying on the mask they possess to track us down. After hours of relentless running, we become tired. I voice my exhaustion to the stranger. Without a word, he carries me on his back, darting through the forest with incredible speed.

"Won't I fall?!" I shout, initially fearful, but my anxiety turns to laughter as we reach our destination. The adventure, tinged with fear, becomes a fond memory as I lie in a vast field. The stranger walks away swiftly, leaving me alone. I realize I know no one in this unfamiliar place, surrounded by the aftermath of our daring escape.

"Hey, you!" I point and yelp, fortunate that he pauses and turns to face me. Rushing towards him, I open my arms for a hug, and he warmly accepts, my head resting on his chest.

"T-thank you for saving me," I express, but he remains silent.

"C-Cayden?" I inquire, recalling the only male wolf I've encountered before. His thick voice responds, "It's nothing. And, I'm not Cayden. Guess we can take a stroll."

I shake my head, captivated by his ability to maintain eye contact. "I hope you didn't leave anything behind," he says. "The long stroll is forward only." implying we won't be returning. I confirm that I haven't left anything, and we set off.

"Look!" He exclaims, drawing my attention. "The pack house over here is our mission field. I'm not a rogue, don't be scared." He reassures me, gazing into my eyes with his hazel ones.

"Can you tell me your name at least, since you're not Cayden?" I inquire. He scoffs, visibly tired, collapsing beside a tree and yawning. I sit at a stone's throw from him.

"I don't know who the hell Cayden is that you've been mentioning," he retorts sharply. "I saved you, and all I think you should do is what I say. Don't go beyond my orders."

"But I need to know how I'd call you, don't you think?" I solemnly ask, realizing I've traded one peril for another. My eyes wander to the pack house logo nearby, then back to the mark on the back of his neck—it matches. I shudder, almost caught, but manage to conceal it. Only an Alpha can bear that mark, and it dawns on me that I've been rescued by an Alpha.

"Ahh…" I stutter, contemplating revealing my weakness as a wolf to dissuade any thoughts of being a mate.

"What's it?" the voice growls. "Cayden is right here. You should clutch to him."

Confused, I close my eyelids, assuming the stranger said that due to my mention of Cayden. As I open my eyes, two palms extend towards me for help. I respond and discover the real Cayden. When I look back, the stranger's gaze is both questioning and intense.

"Everest," Cayden softly calls. "I'm back..." He spreads his arms for a hug, but I raise my fist in the air to halt him.