Chapter 4

Renna’s POV

I had been sitting in the car for a few hours now. The handsome stranger continued to drive; he occasionally gave me a side-eye look with a gentle smile. I returned the smile, not wanting to be rude, as I watched my pack andmy home disappear behind us.

“Are you cold?” his deep voice echoed in the car and I shook my head, not wanting to bother him. Of course I was cold, but inside his sports car, it was far warmer than sitting at the bus stop in the rain.“You’d warm up quicker if you took your clothes off,” he said and blasted the the heater on; The warm, hot air felt nice on my skin; the cold ebbed away as he drove through the night, the sound of the heavy rain lulling me to sleep.

A small tap on my shoulder and the words “We’re home,” woke me, I blinked a few times as I took in my surroundings.  I had been asleep for hours. I felt clammy and groggy after sleeping with my neck against the window in a weird angle, the hot air from the car only partially drying my soddened clothes. The man pulled back and let me look around.“Who…” I hesitated, not wanting to sound rude, “are you?” I finallyasked , sitting up straight and rubbing the back of my neck. I probably should have asked this before I got into a stranger’s car and drove for miles to an unknown location, but oh, well, too late for that. He gave me a small smile when I turned to face him.

“My name is Xavier,” I nodded that didn’t say much, but it was a start

“Nice to meet you, Xavier,” he picked up my hand, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. “Enchanté,” his voice dropped a little deeper…He got out of the car, walked around the other side and opened the door for me. I took his offered hand as he helped me out. I could see now that he had parked outside mansionwith a modern exterior; white walls and tiered heights with balconies that surely led into different rooms. There were archways that led to the gardens and an infinity pool that I could see the corner of from here.

He took my hand and led me up the stairs to the imposing black entrance doorand through the threshold. It was nothing like my family home, which was cozy and warm. This place was modern but felt cold. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had spent much time here at all. The white marble floors, soaring paneled walls, and a grand chandelier hanging in the entranceway all contributed to its splendor. A golden honeycomb partition separated the otherwise open living and dining spaces, and a massive wall mirror ascended the stairs. It felt like a dream, unreal and improbable and just a little off.

He didn’t let go of my hand as he led me to the lounge, a minimalistic room adorned with paintings, a fireplace, and a large TV mounted on one wall. The predominant colors were white, cream, and gold. Still feeling a bit damp, a shiver ran up my spine. Xavier noticed and turned to me.“I’ll make you some tea,” he said and disappeared around the corner. I stood, not wanting to get the expensive-looking couch wet and heard the kettle start to boil. My Grandma was sick, and now I was so far away, all I could do was hope that she survived her surgery.

“Here,” Xavier said, handing me a steaming cup of tea and pulling me from my thoughts. I carefully accepted the cup, being cautious not to burn myself on the hot porcelain. The tea had a fragrant, slightly spicy aroma. “Drink it; it’s ginger tea. Afterward, you can take a shower and change into dry clothes. You’ll feel warm in no time,” he advised. I nodded and took a large sip, burning the roof of my mouth and not caring one bit. I placed the tea gently on the nearby table. When I looked up, Xavier was wearing a silly smile, “Drink it slowly, Renna. Haven’t you ever had a hot drink before?” he teased, making me blush. I studied Xavier’s features—his high cheekbones, deep hazel eyes, and how his sandy brown hair framed his face. I had always thought that Ethan was the most handsome man in the world. But looking at Xavier now, perhaps I had been mistaken.

Before I could stop myself, the words spilled out of my mouth, “Do you traffic homeless girls or something?” My eyes widened in horror, and my hand flew to cover my mouth. I expected him to react with anger, maybe even to shout at me for making such an accusation. I half-anticipated him dragging me out of his home. Instead, his eyes crinkled, and he burst into laughter. I immediately felt foolish for thinking, let alone asking, such a question.When he stopped laughing he tried to look serious, but humor edged his features, “I’m not that kind of person, Renna. I’m the Alpha of Midnight pack.”

I stared at him in shock. I had heard of the Alpha of the Midnight pack. My father had warned me about him. The rumors that he was brutal and cruel. His reputation was feared amongst the packs.

A knock at the door interrupted the tension that had begun to envelop us. He rose from his seat as another man came in, offering a respectful nod of his head. The newcomer proceeded down the corridor, and I turned my attention back to Xavier.

“Please, head upstairs, make yourself comfortable, and take a shower. I’ll come find you later,” he said. I nodded and stood, making my way up the stairs, hoping not to get lost. In a nearby expansive mirror, I watched as Xavier vanished into an adjoining office, closing the door behind him. The muffled sound of his voice reached me through the door, asking, “Do you have an update for me?” before it slammed shut.

It took me a while to navigate through the different rooms on different levels until I found a bathroom. I didn’t feel like taking a shower. I saw a huge tub. The urge to soak in the hot water was far too appealing. I had been wearing the same clothes for days now. I pealed each layer off of me and let it drop onto the floor, imagining my pain and confusion leaving my body along with them.

I ran the water, infusing it with a gel that filled the room in a  pleasant scent and the tub with bubbles as the water rose. I got in the tub before it was full and let the warmth of the water soak into my body

Once the water reached my chest, I turned off the tap and reclined, allowing myself to soak. My mind wandered, into thememories and vivid images from the past few days.

Mum bleeding out on the ground, Ethan kissing another woman, Dad gotten shot,Ethan and Lia, their sweaty bodies entwined,“Get in the bushes, Renna!” Mom shouting at me,The rogues patrolling my house,“I love your tight pusssssy!”

Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to stopthe relentless replay of memories. The water rose around me, and my thoughts became hazy making it hard to process anything. My vision swirled as I gasped for air, and darkness consumed memy mother’s cries echoing in my mind until there was nothing.

I felt weightless,a soft, ambient light filtered through the darkness. I stirred slightly, aware of strong, muscular arms cradling me. The steady beat of a strong heart thudded against my ear. I squinted to make out who it was. Xavier offered a reassuring smile as I stared, trying to understand what was happening. I felt tired, my limbs achy, his face dipped lower or maybe he brought me higher as he whispered in my ear. “Sleep, Beautiful.”

My eyes opened slowly, fluttering in the soft light that filled the room. I felt so comfortable that I snuggled deeper into my pillow, warm and relaxed, without a care in the world. I sighed, the sound alone bringing me back to my senses. My eyes flew open to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. I was tucked up in a bed made of clouds, wearing a white shirt. The walls in this room were beige, with gold bedside tables and lamps and even a chandelier in the ceiling.

I thought back to the last thing I could remember, I was in the bath when-My heart stopped as I felt a hand run up my bare legs under the covers, followed by a soft growl. I froze, slowly turning to find Xavier lying in the bed next to me. He gave me a soft look through his lashes and I turned to look at him fully, very aware of his hand on my bare leg.

I looked up at him, blushing. “Did you dress me?” My voice croaked as the first words of the day left my mouth, he nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. Oh, Goddess, what must he have thought? Ethan hadn’t even seen me like this, and yet, some stranger had seen me undressed and clothed me. As if sensing my panic rising, he gave me another reassuring look before he spoke, relief washing over me.

“Renna, relax. I’m an Alpha capable of a great many tasks. You think I can’t dress you without looking?” He arched a brow and I let out a nervous giggle. Right, of course. What was I thinking?

He moved his hand off of my leg as he sat further up in bed. “Not saying that’s what I did,” he muttered under his breath, making a deep blush cover my face and neck. Oh, Goddess!