Page 17 of Alpha's Forbidden Fate

She flinches at the warmth emanating from my skin now.

I am way too good at pretending to be human.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I think you were in shock, Annie. I know I was, too. It made everything seem worse, but I am feeling much better now. I think I need to go home and get some rest. I have to work tomorrow.”

“But it is Saturday…”

“I was asked to tutor some of the students who got detention. You know summer classes are still in session.”

“Right, right,” she nods. “I swear these long-ass shifts are messing with my brain a little bit.”

“I get it. You are a little sleep-deprived.”

She yawns once. “Uh-huh.”

“Then, let’s go home and get some rest. We both need it. What do you say?”

She doesn’t argue anymore; she just leads me out of the hospital room. She apologizes to the nurse and doctor on duty, saying it was all a mistake; she overreacted. And finally, we make our way to the parking lot.

I offer to drive us home but she insists on driving because I need to recover. I can’t really argue since the car is hers, so I oblige her.

She is still a little unsure as she watches me from the corner of her eye, but as soon as I turn on the radio and start singing along, she relaxes a little.

This act is for her benefit because deep inside, I am freaking out. I just had blood for the first time in a really long time, and now I am not sure how I am going to stop.

And I haven’t forgotten about Mia’s pack and the mysterious guy who took her body. They’ll probably be coming after me.

I am hoping I survive the summer.

As soon as we step through the door, Annie heads straight for her room and collapses onto her bed like a sack of potatoes. She’s out like a light, and I can’t blame her. It’s been a long night, and she’s not exactly a vampire like me. I, on the other hand, am left pacing the house.

Little did I know, she brought home a whole wardrobe that reeked of blood. With that, and my bloody clothes from earlier, the metallic scent hangs in the air, taunting me. I can feel the thirst gnawing at me, clawing for attention. For months, I’ve been resisting it, trying to convince myself I don’t need to drink human blood, but tonight is pushing me to my limits.

I bag up my bloody clothes and lock myself in my bedroom, not daring to be around Annie in this state. My fangs ache, and my throat feels dry. The temptation is like a beast inside me, urging me to give in. But I can’t. I won’t hurt Annie.

I pace back and forth, restless. Maybe I should head to the State Forest and try to hunt some small game to quench this thirst. But my mind is too agitated, too filled with the fear of what might happen if I come upon a human. There are also rumors of wolves lurking in that forest, which only add to my unease.

I sit on the edge of my bed, running my fingers through my hair. “Come on, Selene, get a grip. You can’t lose control now,” I mutter to myself.

But the hunger claws at me, tearing at my resolve. I can’t stay cooped up in this room forever. I need a plan, an escape. Dayton, Ohio sounds good. A fresh start where no one could track me. But can I really leave everything behind?

I hear Annie’s soft snores from the other side of the door. She’s safe for now. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. “Think, Selene. Think.”

My heart is thundering.

I can’t stay here. Leaving town suddenly feels like the only option. I grab a bag, throwing in some essentials.

My mind races with thoughts of escape, but the hunger claws at me relentlessly.

I peek out of my bedroom. Annie is still out cold. Good.

I can slip away without her knowing.

I tiptoe to the door ever so quietly. Then I stop.

I really need to think this through. What if Mia’s pack comes back and finds Annie instead of me? She was so nice to me. She is one of the only friends I have, and I don’t want anything to happen to her because of me.

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