Chapter 5

Aliyah’s Point of View

Just when I thought my life was not worthy of living, and I would have met my death because of the intolerable pain from the beatings I got from Shawn, here I was, waking up in an unfamiliar room, with an Alpha of a neighboring pack who was taking care of me.

I thought they were going to kill me that night, but they didn’t.

Instead, he helped me and got my wounds treated by their pack doctor.

The way he stared at me, it was hypnotizing... My eyes couldn’t help but flicker whenever his bright blue eyes gazed at me. It spoke a lot of emotions that I couldn’t name.

"You must eat to regain your strength. Take your meds after," he told me. His voice was soothing, like the first time I’d heard it in the forest.

"I don’t…" My voice cracked and I paused. I sucked in a breath and continued, "I don’t understand why you’re helping me."

"I am an Alpha. I offer help to whoever needs it regardless of where they come from."

Those words struck me. The way he spoke with me gave me waves of assurance I had been dying to hear for most of my life.

Somehow, some way, I felt completely safe.

"It felt like it was a promise…" I mumbled when he exited the room.

Admittedly, his behavior was totally different from the rumors I had heard before.

Hot tears streamed down my face as I recalled all the things I’ve experienced at the hands of my family. It was ironic to get such help from a stranger when I was supposed to get it from my own blood.

I don’t exactly know what to feel at this point. I was torn between being grateful and sad about everything.

My gaze landed on the food he served. I wiped my tears away as I felt my stomach rumble. I couldn’t ignore my hunger any longer. Despite being still confused as to what happened, I moved my body a little and started eating the food.

I didn’t even mind whether it was safe or not.

"It’s delicious…" I muttered to myself and cried even harder because this was the first good meal I'd ever had in my entire life. "God, why can't I stop these tears!"

I finished the food and took the meds as advised by Alpha Reid.

My heart felt an unfamiliar warmth. Still, his words and actions puzzled me. I wasn’t used to such kindness, after all I’d endured from my abusive family. I was so used to all the scolding and beatings that when someone showed me kindness, I couldn’t help but feel a lot of emotions inside my chest.

I exhaled loudly. My eyes landed on the door where Alpha Reid exited earlier. I got off the bed and dragged my feet to the door and slowly opened it. I took a peek and figured out that he hadn’t come back yet.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly walked out of the room. My eyes wandered to the living room that welcomed me. I gaped in awe as it was enormous and breathtaking. His house was big compared to what we had back where I came from.

I took several tiny steps and found another open room across from the one I went out of.

"Wow…" I uttered as I took a peek inside.

It appeared to be his room, given that there were books on the study table and the clothes of a man hanging in an open closet. I went inside, my eyes roaming around as I walked to the bed.

I was amazed at how all his things were organized.

"Speaks a lot about his personality…" I commented. I recalled Shawn’s room, which most of the time was unruly.

I inhaled heavily and was about to go out when I noticed beautiful camellia flowers in a vase sitting on the balcony.

I walked towards it and looked at it in awe.

"It’s beautiful…" I smiled and touched its petals.

"Do you like flowers?" asked by a familiar baritone, which startled me.

I turned around and saw Alpha Reid standing behind me. His one hand slid into his jeans' pocket.

My eyes widened, completely taken aback. "I… I apologize if I entered this room. I didn’t mean to intrude here!"

He chuckled a bit and walked past me. My gaze followed him. He held the vase of camellia flowers and looked at it with a smile.

"Don’t worry, it’s fine with me," he said, jerking his head a bit. "So, going back to my question…"

I blinked twice, my mouth half open, and settled my gaze on the vase of flowers in his hand.

"Yes, I… I love flowers," I replied truthfully and offered him a thin, shy smile. "I used to grow white daisy in my room before. It… It brought me comfort when I was in the darkest part of my life."

"Flowers, indeed, comfort people," he commented.

And he was right...

I recalled the white daisy I owned. It was the only precious thing I had. It brought me hope and lightened my mood whenever I felt down from the numerous beatings I endured from my family. It gave me sheer motivation, but now it is gone.

Shawn killed it. I huffed at that thought.

"You’re right, Alpha." My shoulders sagged as I let out a sigh.

"Stop calling me Alpha. Call me Reid instead."

I gaped, shocked to hear what he said. Our eyes met, and I could see that he was serious about it.

"B..But you’re an Alpha and should be respected…" I reasoned.

My brother, Shawn, beat me up to death because I called him by his name. He said I had no respect for him given that he was an Alpha.

His eyes narrowed, and they sparked with amusement. "Calling me by my first name doesn’t mean you’re disrespecting me."

I gulped down. I didn’t know why, but the way he stared at me made my heart race so fast that I couldn’t breathe.

"Alright, Alp—" I lowered my head, wincing a bit. Then I continued, "I mean, Reid…"

"Here. You can take it in your room." He offered me the vase of flowers.

"What?" I looked at him once again. My cheeks flushed when his lips curled up into a boyish smirk.

"It seems you love flowers more than I do. You can have it."

"A-Are you sure?" I asked and was kind of nervous.

He nodded his head. "Yes, as long as you promise you’ll make it grow."

"Sure! Thank you!" I exclaimed in delight.

I was about to accept the vase he was holding, but when I accidentally touched his finger, a bolt of electrifying heat went through my veins.

I flinched and looked at his hand as my heart pounded aggressively inside my chest. All of a sudden, I felt as if my entire body was filled with a formidable desire.

"Did you feel that?" I gasped in a breath when I looked at him.

I noticed his jaw clenched. He looked at me with his eyes widening, brows furrowed.

He swallowed hard. "Feel what?"

Shaking my head, I stepped back.

"I don’t know… I can’t explain it…" I uttered softly.

All I felt was the tension rising through my body. My breathing was ragged and my mind went blank.

All I could think about was the irresistible desire... a pull... and it wanted me to touch him more.

What’s happening?

I don’t understand what’s going on with me...