Chapter 4

TESSA

He kisses her as if every moment is the last. So lost in the moment savoring the lips of the woman he craddled on his lap to the point he didn’t notice I had been standing there. My heart stopped as I watched Odette's hand reach for his shirt button to undo it.

She’s my sister’s friend who had been nice to me over the past few weeks and promised to keep my secret when I told her about my feelings for the Alpha.

Odette was the first to notice my presence. She pushed him slightly until there was a few inches of distance between their face.

She gave me a sugary sweet smile and said. "Oh hey, Tessa. We didn't notice you. How long have you been standing there?"

Alpha Frederick just glanced at me with a hint of reluctance, as if he were sick of seeing me.

He gave Odette an apologetic smile before lifting her from his lap by her waist, and then he rose from his seat. Alpha Frederick stepped down from the pulpit and walked over to me.

“What brought you back here? I ordered you to find the father of your baby on your own and weren't you running away from me this morning?" He looks at me like I'm his foe rather than part of his pack.

"I-i need t-to t-tell y-you s-something."

He stood there, waiting. But minutes passed and I kept quiet. Odette looked over at us with a curious expression; I could tell she was eager to hear what I was about to say.

"Odette, could you give us a moment alone? I'll meet you later right away."

Turning to her, Alpha Frederick said.

Odette's face fell into disappointment, her lips forming a pout. However, she nodded in agreement.

"Sure thing, darling. I’ll be in your bedroom. Don't be too long 'cause I'm waiting for you." She gave him a seductive wink before striding out of the study.

"What is it?" Alpha Frederick's voice brought me back to reality. "What’s so important that you have to tell me face-to-face?"

I could sense that his aura was different compared to how it usually is. And I realized it was none other because he was still mad at me. I, who usually felt a sense of awe whenever I gazed upon him, now find myself gripped by fear.

"I-i j-just had m-my first s-shift," I said it. And feel the urge to run away immediately.

Saying it made my heart race, but waiting for his response felt like my heart was ready to jump right out of my chest.

"You just shifted and connected with your wolf?" He asked.

"Y-yes, Alpha."

Alpha Frederick paused to take a look at me. It felt like forever being under his intense gaze. Then he said,

"Good then. At least you are not a complete failure like they all claim."

I looked at him for a moment, feeling a wave of disbelief at what he just said. His words brought tears welled up in my eyes.

"At least you won't embarrass Collins by being wolfless and no longer being a burden to everyone else."

He brought it up again. The way I haven't been able to defend myself when there's an attack because I haven't tapped into my inner wolf.

It crushes my heart. But I set those feelings aside for the moment, I have something more urgent to tell him.

"I-i can't m-marry Collins S-smith, A-Alpha. H-he i-isn't my m-mate."

A storm of anger flickered in Alpha Frederick's eyes, but before he could let it out, I offered my explanation, hoping to help him see my side.

"M-my w-wolf attacked C-Collins. S-she w-wouldn't do something l-like that i-if he w-were m-my mate."

I'm not sure what did I say wrong. But my words only fueled his anger, making it even more intense. Alpha Frederick stepped closer, letting his power suffocate me.

"What did you just say? So this is the reason he didn't attend tonight's meeting? All because of your doing?"

His hand tightened around my upper arm.  I trembled with fear. No words came out of my lips as I watched his irises shift in color, a clear sign that his wolf was coming to the surface.

"Tell me where is he now and what you did to him. Did you kill him?"

I just shook my head. I was sure that I hadn't killed Collins. Yes, I injured him. But he didn't die.

"Answer me, Tessa!" A low growl escaped from deep within the base of his throat.

I felt terrified and completely overwhelmed by the power that radiated from him. And I had no idea why the strength within me just vanished all of a sudden.

Alpha Frederick let go of my arm with a shove that sent me staggered backward.

"A-alpha-"

He lifted his hand, cutting me off.

"I’ve had you all wrong this whole time. You tricked me with your weak and vulnerable facade, but the truth is you’re a monster." He said, emphasizing every word. "I will never forgive you for what you did to my gamma."

A tear escaped my eyes. "I-"

"Get out, Tessa." Alpha Frederick cut me off. His hands resting beside his body were clenched tightly. "Get out of here before I lose control and end up killing you. I don't want to do it because I still respect your father."

My heart shattered as I heard the word "Kill" escape his lips.

I hurried out of his study with my heart racing and my legs shaking. I run and run. I have no idea how I got past the mansion's guards, but when I stopped I was standing right in the middle of the woods with no clue where to go.

My vision blurred with tears.

It breaks my heart to know that my own mate wouldn't hesitate to kill me if it weren't for his respect for my father.

I let my sobs fill the dark woods. Nobody can hear me since I was alone here. But just then, I heard a step behind me. I glanced over and saw two men dressed in all-black clothes. The moonlight reflected on the surface of the knives they were holding.

For a few minutes, we both froze as we stared at each other. Then one of them said.

"Here you are, weakling. Finally, you can't run from us anymore." I couldn't tell who he was since their faces were hidden behind full-face masks.

In the blink of an eye, he hurled a knife my way. But I managed to dodge just in time, and the knife lodged itself in a tree trunk.

Realizing that they weren't just after me but were out to kill me, I got to my feet and pushed my legs to sprint as quickly as I could.

"Do you think you can escape? We'll make sure to bring your corpse to him this time."

Their voice is so near behind me. But I just couldn't bring myself to look back. I kept running ahead, not caring about where I was going, but I could feel myself venturing further into the woods. I can't stop and give satisfaction to those who want me dead.

Darkness made me couldn't see properly and I gasped as my feet missed the ground that should have been there, and then I fell hard.

I rolled down into the abyss. My body hit the ground hard, my stomach slamming against rocks and tree trunks over and over until I finally came to a stop.

I lay helplessly on the grass, crying out in agony, and held my stomach tightly. The pain I feel is so intense that I forget those murderers can hear my screams. Then I feel a liquid trickling down my thigh.

"H-help m-me..."

The moon hanging above was the last sight I had before my vision faded into darkness.