Near death experience

Chapter 5

Harper's POV

A sudden coat draping over my body snapped me from my reverie. It was Noah's jacket. Hayes was still grabbing Justin's throat tightly, his face had turned beet red and he looked almost as if he was going to pass out at any moment. No one dared to come close. Justin's so-called friends stood frozen. Allison stood up and sashayed her way towards us.

"Hayes darling, let him go," she calmly murmured placing her hand right above his. She was smiling but deep down beneath those smiles, I knew how cruel she could be. I had been at the receiving end of her cruelty for years.

"Stay out of this Allison," Cole declared.

"Do you all want to kill him while everyone else is watching? Is that it?" Her eyes darted between the three of them before she whispered something to Hayes while staring at me. Hayes reluctantly pulled his hand away still seething with rage. Justin fell to the floor coughing and gasping for air.

Allison folded her arms in front of her looking satisfied. "Alright everyone, the party is over. No videos of this party are allowed to get outside." I wondered what she told them to make them change their mind. Then again, she was their mate. They were bound to listen to her. Justin's friends moved towards him trying to help him to his feet.

"Why are you still sitting down there?" Noah asked staring at me with a frown. I scoffed getting up on my feet. I should be the one getting angry, not him. I turned around and stormed out. Scott was right. I never should have come to this party. I was a fool to ever believe Justin would willingly invite me over as his date.

The cold hit my skin as soon as I stepped out. I shivered, pulling the jacket closer to my body. Hayes, Noah and Cole immediately stood in front of me preventing me from moving any further.

Cole stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury. "Are you dumb? Why would you come to a party that Justin invites you to? Don't you know what he is?"

He's a bully just like the rest of you. I was dumb enough to think he would like me back, to think he would accept me as his mate. I wanted to scream back at them but I bit my tongue instead. They saved me from drowning tonight. There was no denying that. Even though they only saved me because they were the only ones who were allowed to bully me just like Hayes confirmed. The thought enraged me but there was nothing I could do.

"Thank you for saving me. I don't know how I can repay you..."

"By staying away from stupid shit. Do you know what would happen if Father finds out what happened here tonight? If anyone finds out you are now a member of the Whitmore family?" Noah inquired. I gulped. I didn't know what to say. I was tired, exhausted by all that was going on. My shoulders drooped. I slowly tried to shrug off his jacket.

"You..." Hayes paused clenching and unclenching his fist almost as if he was holding back. "Just get in the car let's all get out of here," Hayes muttered glancing at the door.

Everyone was beginning to troop out. Noah grabbed my arm and led me towards the car before I could protest. We all got into the car. Noah got into the driver's seat with Cole next to him while I was left with Hayes in the back seat. As soon as Noah turned on the ignition, I spotted Scott rushing past us.

"Scott," I whispered trying to get out of the car. Hayes grabbed the door handle and slammed it shut startling me. Noah began driving out of the premises.

I turned towards Hayes. "I need to meet Scott."

"You can always meet with him in school tomorrow," he retorted coldly.

I scoffed. "Who I meet with is not for you to decide. Stop the car. I need to get out." None of them responded to my words. They were all infuriating. I tried to grab the door handle once again but Hayes grabbed my arm.

"Are you trying to get out of a moving car? Do you have a death wish?" he growled.

"Well, this wouldn't be the first time. Isn't that what you've all always wanted? For the omega freak to get out of your lives for good?" I was the one who almost died. They might have saved me this once but they were still part of the people who made my life miserable. They had absolutely no right to play the knights in shining armour.

Noah stepped on the accelerator speeding off towards the pack house. He acted as if he didn't hear me asking him to stop the car.

"You are right Red. We couldn't care less if you had died in the pool," Hayes responded, the coldness in his tone seeping into my skin and making me shiver.

"But you are part of the Whitmore family now. You die and the investigation of your death becomes a hassle. We won't jeopardise our lives for you."

I gulped. Of course, they didn't care about saving my life. Their reputation mattered more. I was foolish enough to think they cared about me due to what transpired earlier. I placed my head on the window and stared out of it throughout the rest of the drive. I inwardly sighed in relief when he pulled over in front of the pack house.

I stepped out of the car as fast as I could without waiting for them to get out of the car. I halted to a stop when I spotted two men walking out of the entrance, towards us. I recognised one of them. Tall, broad-shouldered, short brown hair with an intimidating presence one could barely stand. The Alpha. He looked like he could crush anyone with his bare hands. I made up my mind right then and there never to cross him.

"Shit," I heard Cole mutter behind me. I couldn't agree less. This was definitely not how I intended to meet the Alpha for the first time. He stopped when he sighted us. I clenched my hand feeling my nails dig into my palm. A look flickered across his face but it vanished before I could decipher what it was.

"Father," Noah mumbled stepping forward with his brothers. He placed an arm around me beaming with smiles. His demeanour completely different from earlier.

The Alpha furrowed his brows. "Where are you all coming from? It's late." Even his voice was threatening. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Bow in greeting? Was that even a thing anymore?

"Giving our little sister a tour. We were just messing around, Father. Nothing serious," Cole replied. The man standing next to the Alpha's gaze settled on me.

"You must be Harper, the new addition to the Whitmore family," he declared. I nodded.

"I'm the Whitmore family's business partner, beta and also Allison's father. Welcome to the family. I'm sure you all are going to get along just fine," he assured me with a small smile. Right. They were all basically family. The triplets were going to have their mating ceremony with Allison right after college. I was the only one who didn't fit in.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"We will be going in now, Father. We won't interfere with your meeting," Hayes said to him.

The Alpha frowned. "You should. One day all this will belong to the three of you. With you as Alpha, you will have to lead the pack with your brother's support." Something shifted in the air, and Noah tensed beside me.

"Go in kids. The Alpha and I will take it from here," Allison's father assured us. Hayes didn't wait for a second invitation before walking off. Noah and Cole followed him and I hurried after them. The last thing I wanted was to be alone with the Alpha.

"Harper." The Alpha's steady but stern tone made me stop. I turned towards him.

"Be in my study before school. I believe we have a lot to talk about," he ordered. I nodded in response. He turned around and continued walking with the beta. Just as I stepped in, Cole tugged my arm and dragged me beside the door. I yelped in surprise.

"W...what do you think you are doing?"

"We'd better not hear a word about tonight being spoken to father. Is that understood?" he warned sternly. Hayes and Noah were right behind him, doing absolutely nothing to stop him. I tried to wiggle my arm free but his grip tightened.

"Is that clear?"

"Fine. I won't tell him what happened. I won't tell him we went to a party or that I almost died," I spat. He let go of my hand after that.

"Good. You had better keep your word." They turned around and strode upstairs to their various rooms. Otherwise, they were going to make my life a living hell. I could hear the underlying threat behind his words. I rubbed my arm soothingly as I headed upstairs. I suddenly felt uneasy because I had no idea what to expect from meeting with the Alpha.