Page 22 of Noah

When Noah tilted his head, the male glanced at him for the first time and seemed to really notice him.

Squinting and tilting his head back, the male said, “Ah! You’re one of those Numbers. Again, no offence meant son, but should you be out here? There should be guards or more of you.” The older male glanced around and frowned.

“No Numbers,” Noah replied. Ren had spoken about the free ones, and he got the impression that the elderly male was speaking about them, so explained to the older male, “Caged.”

“Oh, that’s not good.” The male glanced up as a couple bogged down with equipment and flashing lights rushed toward them, shouting questions.

They were shouting so rapidly and over each other that he couldn’t understand what they were saying.

A snarl erupted from him, and he immediately went on the defensive. The look in their eyes bothered him. Hunger and greed.

“The damn press. I’ll take you with me,” the old man said, standing surprisingly sprightly and tapping his stick on the floor as he quickly walked away.

With his arms around a vulnerable Ren, Noah looked down at her. She still hadn’t woken up, and he had no idea where to go for help. Only the older male had spoken to him.

The other humans around Noah weren’t helping. Rather than approaching him, they backed away as if he would eat them.

Noah’s fierce growl didn’t help, but he couldn’t stand the idea of threats near them. He tried to stop the sounds but couldn’t because his beast was on edge. He knew he had to get away from the press’s predatory gaze and the crowd now boldly watching them.

“Safe. Safety for the female. I will contact Numbers, I promise,” the older male urged him to follow.

Noah understood what he had said. It was just a matter of deciding what to do. It was clear he couldn’t stay there; he couldn’t remain in the open.

Noah bit down on any doubt, acting on instinct. He nodded at the male and grinning the old male flicked his cane in the direction they should take.

They press chased them until they reached an alley under a building and the elderly male pulled down a shutter with a shout of glee.

The shutter stopped the rush of bodies while Noah’s instinct roared to get back outside. However, the old male beside him cackled with broken laughter.

Noah growled low and debated tearing the shutters apart.

The older male clicked his tongue and said, “Come on, I won’t harm you. If you want to leave, there’s another exit. You can go whenever you want but this shutter will stop the vultures from entering, at least for the moment.”

Noah breathed deeply and nodded his head.

As the older male tapped along the narrow alley to the other end, he showed him another gate and lock. Taking the key out of his pocket, he handed it to Noah.

Noah looked at him in confusion.

He laughed. “Son, I might not have lived in a cage, but even I know you won’t want to be locked anywhere. You can use this key to exit. Check it out if you want.”

Noah held the key tightly in his hand. He felt the weight of his charge pressing down on his forearms. Noah clutched the key tightly and didn’t check it, deciding to trust the male that the key would fit in the gate. Besides Noah could easily break it.

A smile spread across the old male’s face. He laughed. “My name is Oleg, and I would shake your hands, but they’re full.”

“Oleg,” Noah repeated.

Oleg patted his chest proudly. “Oleg, I was born in Germany.”

Noah had no idea where that was but offered his name, “Noah.”

“Well, Noah. How about bringing the female upstairs, getting her comfortable, and calling your people? They have a doctor.”

Oleg began walking up the fire escape stairs and Noah followed, hearing distant shouts from the press.

“Doctor?” Which doctor and why?

Upon reaching a small concrete landing, Oleg opened a door. There was a strong smell of the male and a very faded scent of his mate in the space beyond. It was a female who hadn’t been there for a long time.

---