Chapter 6: Aftermath

ALEX

I'm not sure what it is.

The gentle breeze wafting over my face, the subtle warmth from underneath the blanket, or the realization that I lay naked in a bed too tempting to crawl out of. 

Perhaps it's a culmination of every last one of them that awakens my senses. 

My eyes gradually flicker open, and the golden hue to the room suggests the morning sun's peeking over the horizon.

My body's a little slower to react, but when it finally catches up, I sit up, and the blanket falls from my body, revealing my bare breasts.

I instinctively reach for it, but before I can completely raise it over my bust, the sound of discontinuous grunts toggles my anxiety.

My gaze darts to the side of the room, and right in front of door, he leans, arms crossed, bare-chested, and posture poised. 

His messy dark hair hangs right over his eyes, and I'm not sure if it's the golden glow to the room, or my unfocused gaze that details his perfectly sculpted muscles alongside his alluring scars and tattoos. 

When my vision finally clears, I realize that none of these qualities stand out… as much as the sight underneath him. 

Three men lay at his feet. Two are unconscious and bloodied, and one struggles to crawl out from underneath his foot. 

He doesn't even act like he sees them. 

His eyes are only on me. 

“I didn't think you were such a heavy sleeper” he says.

My line of vision widens, and I notice the blood staining what's probably his end of the master bed. 

“Apparently, we had some visitors at last night. Unfortunate, but unavoidable.”

“What?” 

“We're a couple miles from any reasonable residence” he adds. “Meaning they didn't just stumble on us. They were sent.”

He glances back down at the last of them underneath his foot. 

“One of them escaped, and I've been trying to get some info out of this one, but all efforts have proven futile.”

He squats down, then pulls the bleeding man up by his air. 

“Any suggestions?”

I remain quiet. 

Not sure why.

Well, if I'm being honest, there's a couple reasons.

I have no idea what's going on. 

I don't want to acknowledge why I'm here, why I'm naked or whatever happened in the course of all that.  

In the middle of my soliloquy, I feel his gaze fall on me.

Steady.

Soft. 

Questioning.

He lets go of his victim, but the moment he attempts walking towards me, I scoot backwards on the bed.

He’d stretched his arm out. 

Now, he hesitates.

“I’m sorry. I didn't ask if you were okay or hurt in the proc—”

“What… happened last night?”

His eyes slowly widen in realization. 

“You don't remember?”

Maybe I do. 

Maybe I'm just having a hard time accepting the truth. 

“I don't think I should be here. Or involved in any of this.”

“Alex—”

He calls out, but stops before the rest of his sentence can slither down.

I don't want to look into his eyes. 

Something about the tenderness to them stirs up a part of me I don't want to pull out. 

“You should've… never left that party.”

The bleeding figure still on the floor mouths, ignorant to his unavoidable fate. 

Still, his whisper gets both of our attention. 

“It doesn't even matter what you do with us. As far as the boss made it out, she's gonna get the news. And when she does, it's over for both of you.”

He doesn't even wait to allow the words simmer. 

Picking up the bloodied figure, he raises him until his feet dangle above the ground. 

I'm only just realising how tall he is. 

6’4? Maybe 6’5? 

God, he's built like a greek god. 

“Are you deaf?” He coughs. “Didn't you hear what I—”

“I did, actually. And I'm enveloped in fear” he ironically replies the assailant. “But since it won’t even make any difference, mind telling me who sent you?”

“You stubborn prick. Beating us doesn't even make a difference. We're gammas after all. We're only here under ‘her’ commands.”

Somehow, that statement clears most of my doubts. 

“Adriana sent you, didn't she?”

Both men glance back at me.

“She's not satisfied with what happend last night, huh?” I step down from the bed, and when both feet kiss the cold, wooden cabin floor, a streak of pain rings firm.

I ignore it.

“What more is she trying to prove?”

“Don't act like you're some parish of holin—”

Before the words can slither down, the grip around his neck tightens. 

“Watch your mouth.”

“You know where she is, don't you?” I address the choking gamma. “Can you take me there?”

“What?” the shirtless hunk stares back at me.

“Thank you for helping me last night” I say softly, unable to look him in the eyes, even though I feel his gaze remain on me. “But this is something I should handle alone.”

“Like hell you should” he drops the gamma and turns to completely face me. “You're not in any condition to—”

“Last night shouldn't have happened” I say, and I feel him stop in his tracks before he can stride in my direction. 

Summoning the strength to look into his eyes, for a second, there's a glint of shock in his gaze. 

I shove down the way my body interpretes it, and let my mind lead the way.

“Thank you. For whatever happened last night. But I'm doing this alone."

He doesn't respond. 

Doesn't change his gaze or stance.

I assume he's let it go...

...Let me have my way, regardless of what he thinks or what happened between us.

Until he walks up to me. 

My insides turn with every step he takes.

This time, I can't even move back.

It's like my feet are planted to the floor.

Towering over me, his scent bursts through the silence.

Warm. Choking.

Why's my mouth watering?

Tilting, he answers.

"I don't think I can let you do that."