Who did this to you?

Violet's POV

Was he really here with me? The same tall Alpha I had locked eyes with for minutes? The same handsome guy whose scent drifted into my nostrils and made me feel whole?

I felt his palm run through my hair as he quietly repeated his question.

"Who dared to do this to you?"

I whimpered as my mind went blank for a second. His voice, the melody in his tone, it was too much for me to handle. I didn’t raise my eyes. I didn’t want him to see the tears on my face but he wanted to.

My lips trembled as I was about to mutter a response. My father would beat the hell out of me if I dared say his friend caused the bruises on my skin. Even though everything in me screamed to tell him the truth, I just couldn’t. My situation wouldn’t let me.

"I-It was my turn to assist with the activities in my district in the pack, but I came face-to-face with a rogue. I tried to run from it but I got entangled with the branches in the woods..." I mumbled softly.

He snorted and stifled a chuckle, then raised my chin and looked deep into my eyes.

He pulled me into a warm hug and patted my back, freezing me in fear. What was he doing? That look at the restaurant today didn’t seem like he liked me...not at all. He pulled me up and said,

"You don't run from rogues. You fight them. I doubt if you even thought of shifting into your wolf," He murmured as we slowly walked together back toward the pack. My intention wasn’t to go to the pack. I had cooked up lies and now I couldn’t say I was going back. Truthfully, I didn’t want to go home.

I bit my lower lip. I had no words to say to him. His scent grew thicker in the air. He sniffed it too, smirking broadly at how sweet it was, but the look on his face showed it didn’t matter to him. He sniffed it like something he could have anytime he wanted.

He stopped midway and turned to face me. He wiped the tears from my face with the back of his hand and touched my cheeks while smiling boldly.

"I hate seeing tears on this pretty face."

Mhm. My wolf stirred with joy inside me. Was he going to claim us? I wanted to chuckle like he did or look away. I was too shy to even think of a clever response. Then he took my hand and we zoomed toward the pack. I felt the breeze blow hard around us and I was close to screaming, but he stopped and I crouched.

"Are you okay?" He asked, lowering himself, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. I nodded but he wasn’t convinced.

"Are you sure you feel okay?"

His lips were closer to mine now, his deep eyes staring into me. Goddess. Claim me already, fool. I wanted him to say those words, but he didn’t. He just stared at me like he didn’t feel anything between us. Maybe he didn’t. Owen and my father would be furious if he did. Maybe that’s what was running through his mind.

I cared that my father would be angry but my wolf only craved the claim, just for the pleasure of it.

"At the counter today," he began, his hand slowly trailing along my skin, "I saw a stunning she-wolf staring at me like she wanted to eat me alive. I stared back and I think we both knew what we were thinking."

"Violet," he held my hands again, a confident smirk on his face, "I’m not really the type to go all mate-crazy like the rest. I mean, come on..." He laughed deeply, and my wolf remembered the thrill in that sound.

Was he trying to sweeten a rejection?

"I hang out, I drink, sometimes smoke. I pay people to handle things for me. Goddess rules? Not really my thing. But you..." he looked at me with a sly grin, "you’re a pretty girl and your eyes say you want me."

He said it boldly, and fear gripped my heart. I stammered as a blush crept up my cheeks. He kept staring. He knew what he was saying was true.

Who could resist the hot Playboy Alpha when he made his move?

"Duty calls though. My father won’t like seeing me out here much longer," he said, pulling me up and winking.

"You haven’t said a word since I started talking."

"Ah," I mumbled softly, blushing at his earlier compliments as they replayed in my head.

"I think you should go back to work. Thank you for bringing me here safely."

"Oh... that’s it?" He asked, moving closer in a slow, teasing way, his eyes dropping to my lips. "That’s all on your mind? Or are you hiding a few thoughts?"

"You said..."

He placed the tip of his finger on my lips and murmured,

"Every girl around here would kill for a chat with me in my room. It's got comfort, warmth, and anything you desire. You coming with me?"

It felt so sudden. I didn’t have the right words. How could I go with him? Yes, I wanted to but what if my father started looking for me again?

"Any replies, Violet? I’m running late. You’re my mate. You shouldn’t be thinking twice about this. Hold my hand," he said, his tone soft even though he could have used his Alpha command. "Shut your eyes to everyone staring at you and walk with me."

I didn’t hesitate. Joy flushed through me as I moved side by side with him. I was done with my shift for the day, and it was time to finally unwind. It felt strange to see people staring at me. I knew why. Walking with the Playboy Alpha?

He waved at several girls on our way to his office, and my heart kept beating with both joy and panic.

My father would be furious if he saw me with him. But maybe I could keep this moment to myself?

"Do you want to go to a clinic first? The marks on your skin don’t look good," he said in a smooth tone.

I smiled and nodded, then held his other hand and stared at him. "I’m already fine. My wolf has healed me. The wounds just need to finish healing."

His smile stretched into a wider smirk. Suddenly, he pulled me back when he saw a figure walk past the corridor. It was his father.

"I hate talking to that man," he said flatly, and just then, his friends showed up. Fear crept through me and I nearly ran, but his grip tightened on mine.

"What’s your problem?" He growled.

I stood still, reminding myself that he was the Alpha and his words were law.

"Ezekiel, hey," Daniel, his friend, called out, his yellow eyes flashing at me. They exchanged a look, and the rest of them walked away while he pushed me gently into his room.

"Care for a drink?" He asked, his eyes slowly roaming over my body as he rolled his tongue with obvious pleasure.

"I wouldn’t mind," I whispered back, knowing this risk might be worth it. Maybe it would be my final chance to escape the mess with that pervert, and with my father.

And that was all I could remember before everything went black.