Page 47 of Alpha's Forbidden Fate

“Yes. What else can I get you?”

“Just the check, please.”

“Okay. That’ll be fourteen dollars.”

I look down as I rummage through my purse and take out a twenty-dollar bill before passing it to her. “Keep the change,” I mumble.

Her face lifts as she smiles. “Thank you!”

Then, before she is tempted to engage in small talk, I grab my car keys and make my way out of the bar.

I need to go home now.

Chapter 18

Liam

I’m on patrol, my senses heightened as I scan the streets for any signs of trouble. My mind is still reeling from the argument with Grayson, and I’m desperate for a distraction, something to take my mind off the tension brewing between us.

That’s when I hear it—a pained moan echoing from the nearby alley.

Not again! Damn it.

I break into a sprint, my heart pounding in my chest as I round the corner and come face to face with Selene.

She’s hunched over, weak, and bleeding profusely from a deep wound on her neck. Panic and fear flicker in her eyes as tears streak down her cheeks, and my stomach twists at the sight of her distress.

Her black dress looks tattered, and her purse and its contents are strewn on the ground near her.

She is wearing boots that are caked in blood.

She is badly hurt.

I rush to her side, dropping to my knees beside her as I assess the damage. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the unmistakable stench of wolf.

I can feel the anger boiling inside me at the thought of someone attacking her, of someone daring to harm her in such a brutal way.

Does no one actually pay attention to the damn treaties?

I reach out to touch her, to offer some semblance of comfort, but she flinches away from my touch, her body trembling with pain and fear. I curse under my breath, cursing whoever did this to her. I’m not heartless, but why do I care so much about what happens to her?

“Selene,” I say, my voice low and urgent as I try to get her attention. “What happened? Who did this to you?”

She shakes her head, her words coming out in choked sobs. “I don’t know,” she gasps, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was just walking, and then... they attacked me.”

She is clearly not telling me everything, but I am too agitated to ask more questions.

I grit my teeth in frustration, my fists clenching at my sides as I struggle to contain the rage bubbling within me. I know I need to focus, to help her, but all I can think about is finding the bastards responsible for this and making them pay.

But as I scan the alley, my eyes searching for any sign of the attackers, I come up empty-handed. There’s no one here, no trace of the wolves who did this to her.

I turn back to Selene, my heart aching at the sight of her pain. “We need to get you out of here,” I tell her, my voice firm and resolute. “Can you stand? Can you walk?”

She nods weakly, her hand reaching out to me for support. I take her arm gently, helping her to her feet as we stumble out of the alley and onto the street.

After a few steps, though, her steps falter. She’s too weak to walk, and her breathing is shallow and labored.

I gently lift Selene into my arms, her body limp and frail against me as I carry her to my car.

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