5

Serene was very worried about Clever, whom she picked up last night. It looked fine, but the wound was deep, and she had no idea how to treat something like that.

Fortunately, she knows a veterinarian friend downtown, so she chose to take him there before going to work.

However, today feels different somehow. The air was too oppressive for her to breathe easily…

Even Clever on the leash appeared anxious, glancing around… growling.

He continued to growl until he yanked the leash and took off running.

“No!” Serene was taken aback at his sudden act and was about to chase him, but someone held her arm… too strongly.

The grip was so tight that it seemed to want to break her bones; she could not help but yelp loudly.

“Ahh! I-It’s hurt, l-let me go!” She pleaded, but the man in front of her gripped her arms tighter.

"Where are you going?" A man asked deeply, there’s a smirk on his face.

It sent shivers up Serene’s spine as she felt horrified.

She didn't know why, but her whole body was shaking. Serene couldn't move her body, no matter how she tried.

The air became heavier… As if someone shackled her neck tightly…

“S-stop, I can’t breathe.” She pleaded again; she doesn’t even know what she’s asking anymore, but as if it is something they need to stop, or she will be crazy.

More to that, the guy is not alone! Three men are standing around her.

She can already feel the burning sensation in her arm from the man's grip, but she didn't know what to do to escape in this kind of situation.

“What are you looking at! Do you want me to smack your face, huh?!” The man raised his hand, ready to hit her, when Clever finally came back… Growling.

"F*ck! Don't bite me, you f*ck*ng sh*t!" The man hissed. The pain from the bite lingered in his legs.

Suddenly, his two companions fell. It was as if they were choking, and they could not even breathe properly.

 Clever's pheromones are so strong that they make their fingers, not even their fingers, move at all.

 "F*ck*ng b*st*rds, I'm gonna kill all of you. Who permitted you to hurt her?" Clever shouted in his mind, and the two men's eyes widened in disbelief.

One of them pointed his finger at Clever. “Y-you! You're the…” But before he could finish his word, Clever was pulled by someone.

Serene would rather not face those horrible people; she can’t put Clever's life at more risk.

 Clever could clearly see the fear on the woman's face as they ran; she desperately wanted to save them both…

He wanted to scold her… She’s terrified yet still manages to remember to take him to escape to save their lives.

"Ha! If she's not stupid, why even think about me first before her own life?" Clever said in his mind.

But he felt satisfied that someone was worried for him… At least.

If his pack is in danger, they definitely use him as a shield to save their own lives… Unlike the woman beside him…

They were both out of breath when they arrived at a pet shop.

“Pwew! I’m so tired!” Serene let her body fall onto the cold marble floor. “I’m sorry for pulling you suddenly. Did I hurt you?” She gently asked and checked Clever’s body.

"Hey! What happened to you? Why do you look so worn out, Serene?” A guy greeted them.

Clever looked at the same, and he was a bit taken aback to see the man was also looking at him… Too deep and serious.

“Someone was trying to kidnap me, so I ran here,” Serene said and handed her hand to the guy, he immediately took it and helped her to stand up.

Clever doesn’t know why, but it irritates him to see someone touch her hand… Or maybe it’s just his imagination…

 “Trying to kidnap you?” The guy asked, his eyebrows almost tangled and looking… worried. “Do you see their face? What they look like or… Maybe you smell something?”

Serene looked at him with a confused reaction in her face. “I don’t know what you mean, but earlier, the atmosphere was too heavy, and it’s hard to breathe like someone was choking me.” She shrugged.

“F*ck! Are you sure they didn’t do anything to you?” He asked more worriedly.

“I’m fine, Frio… By the way! This is the dog I'm telling you, I'll leave him here first, and I'll come back later." Serene smiled at him brightly; it’s so bright that it irritates Clever.

Frio looked at Clever again. There is really something in the way he looks at him.

"All right, I'll take care of your ‘dog’," Frio said, but there was something in his tone when he said the word dog…. Like he knew something.

 Clever's tongue flipped.

Clever could tell the special treatment the man named Frio gave to Serene, and he could tell that the hostility in Frio’s eyes toward him was not only his imagination.

He hates him, Clever is sure about it.

But when it comes to the woman, Frio is like a puppy who is only obedient to his owner.

 "Thank you! You’re my savior as always!" Delighted, Serene said happily and jumped toward Frio and hugged him tightly.

“It's just a simple favor, after all, this big ‘dog’ of yours looks obedient.” Clever can hear the lace of mockery in Frio’s words.

But wanted to attack the man, but he couldn’t… Not in front of his savior… At least.

The sharpness in Clever’s eyes immediately vanished as Serene looked in his direction. "Oh, I'll be right back later, Cutie." She cutely said and patted his head.

Clever could hear a snickering sound from Frio, but he ignored it.

“How dare you put me in a place where there are many dogs in my surroundings, and come back immediately,” Clever mumbled. He knew the woman wouldn’t even understand him. 

Jace's friend immediately pulled the rope around Clever's neck.

Annoyed...

Clever turned to the man and immediately released pheromones, but it seemed not to affect the man, and the man tied him to a pole.

"Hey, little puppy. Don't move or make noise, huh? Your owner will come back later." The man smiled and left them with the other dogs. He was not surprised if his pheromones did not affect the man; it could be just a normal person or a beta.

But somehow, he can feel the man knew what he really is…