I woke up with a slight ache in my head. With last night's incident sinking in, I knew my wolf seal would soon be broken.
I hastily got up from my bed and found myself standing right in front of my mirror. My hands gently touched my eye bags as I leaned closer to the mirror.
It wasn't golden, yet I was sure of what I had seen last night.
Now I knew I couldn't waste any more time. I had to find a way to leave this town.
I stood up from the bed, entered my bathroom, and washed up, taking off my clothes. After bathing, I made my way out and changed into one of my work dresses. Today, I had more work to attend to, but at least Rhea had promised to help a little. The last thing I wanted at that moment was to cross paths with him again, Alpha Kieran.
I had to stay away from his sight, and for that, I needed to return home earlier than my usual routine. At least, that was what I told myself.
I made my way outside my house but paused in my tracks when I witnessed who was standing right at my doorstep. From their dressings and appearance, I knew who they were—the soldiers I had seen with Alpha Kieran when he arrived. Why were they here?
I hoped I could ghost them, leave like they weren't there. But I should've known better—that wouldn't work.
"Alpha Kieran seeks your presence..." one of them said.
My presence? But why?
Could it be the way I acted last night, leaving his presence in a sudden hurry? Or maybe he sensed it when my wolf seal was close to being broken. Many questions found their way to my mind.
"I'm sorry, but please inform him that I have some work to attend to..." I thought of saying that, but a reflection of the outcome came to my mind. He was an Alpha, after all. Disobeying his orders—I doubt I would be let go scot-free. They were no different from all of them.
I gave a nod in response, even though I wanted to decline so badly. "Alright..." I said as they led me back to their campsite. I gazed upon him doing some push-ups, as though it seemed like...
He stood after noticing my presence. He was half-naked, with only a towel wrapped around his waist. He should at least have some class; he was an Alpha, after all. And yet, he cared less, standing half-naked outside. Yet, one question came to mind at that moment—I couldn't look away. My eyes traced those sweat drops that trailed down his shirtless muscles. A weird, muffled feeling sank in, and my voice caught in my throat.
"What took you so long?" I heard him ask, his words jolting me back to my senses as he grabbed a bottle of water, gulping up the whole bottle in a minute only to squeeze and throw the bottle away.
"I had some work to attend to this morning, Alpha..." I was saying, avoiding direct eye contact with him. He was just a visitor in the town, but the fact that the orders came from the Lycan King himself made things different.
I could sense his presence getting closer.
"I know," he replied, his response causing my downcast gaze to rise to meet his. "You work at the motel in this town. That was why I called for you..." he said.
So that was the reason. But how did he find out about my workplace just a night ago? This only proved he had done some digging about me, so I was right; he suspected something off about me.
His words last night, whispering that I was hiding something...
"I want you to take us to The Tranquil Willow Motel, where we'll be staying from now on. And after that, you're to show us around the town properly as our guide," he ordered.
I wanted to utter some words; I mean, I wasn't their servant or anything, but my voice only cracked, and the words halted when I caught his narrowed, darkened gaze.
"Alright..." I agreed unwillingly.
He distanced himself, going into one of the camp's makeshift tents, only to come back out, dressed.
"Let's go, then..." he said as I took some steps, with them trailing my movements.
The soldiers' eyes scanned the town on our way, some with amusement. The town was small but had some great sights to wow even those who came from the big cities. I'd call it the town's natural wonders.
"He's still staring at me..." I thought and was right. His gaze never left my side.
Eventually, we arrived, standing in front of the motel.
"Go on," I heard Alpha Kieran order, urging me to continue.
But at that moment, my eyes were searching for Rhea, hoping that if I could change this post I never wanted, she could handle it instead. Yet, I caught no sight of her. It only seemed she didn't come to work today. I had no choice now; I just had to get this done quickly and leave.
I hoped to take further steps only to slip from the wet ground. My eyes flinched, anticipating impact. But they sprang open when I felt a hand grabbing me in an instant. I gazed upon Kieran standing there. "It seems this has become one of your habits, little wolf," I heard him utter in a whisper.
My gaze wasn't able to leave his. At that moment, the same feeling sank in—one that came when I saw him and he had approached me last night. This weird pull, a side of me wishing for him to draw me close in his arms. What was this? Why couldn't I look away? I felt my cheeks almost turning red.
I felt it also from him, gazing at those darkened eyes of his. The wild hunger flickering in his eyes, as though he barely restrained the urge to kiss me.
Alpha Kieran released his grip on me as he suddenly retreated in haste.
But what was this feeling? It couldn't be right. My bond with Rendell was still intact. He hadn't rejected me yet, so Alpha Kieran couldn't possibly be my mate, right?