Page 11 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

I shift back to human form, cursing under my breath. Naked and vulnerable, I quickly make my way to a hollow tree nearby where I've stashed emergency clothes. It's a precaution all of us take - you never know when you might need to shift unexpectedly.

As I pull on the jeans and t-shirt, I'm acutely aware of how much time has passed. Lila is still waiting, probably wondering what the hell is going on. I let it get away. I, the Alpha, failed to take down a single rogue. The shame of it burns almost as much as my wounds.

And now, I have an even bigger problem.

The woman I saved is gone too. Vanished without a trace. But I know what happened—she saw me shift. She saw the rogue. And she ran.

Of course she did. Any human would. Seeing creatures like us, a man becoming a wolf, battling a monster—it's not something thehuman mind can easily process. It's the stuff of nightmares, of horror movies. Not reality. At least, not their reality.

I scan the area, but there's nothing. No tracks, no broken branches. Nothing to indicate where she might have gone. It's like she vanished into thin air.

But I don't have time to track her down. Not now. Because there's someone else I need to check on. Someone who, against all odds, has become central to this mess.

Lila.

As I jog back to the parking lot, my mind races. A rogue attack this close to town, in broad daylight. A human witness. And Lila, caught in the middle of it all. The pieces are there, but I can't quite see how they fit together. Not yet.

I approach her truck, dreading another confrontation. But as I reach the spot where I left her, I realize she's gone. The truck is no longer there, leaving behind only the lingering scent of vanilla and cinnamon mixed with frustration and fear.

Damn it. I told her to stay put. Why can't she ever listen?

I scan the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of her truck, but there's nothing. She's probably halfway across town by now, confusedand angry. And who could blame her? I left her alone, with no explanation, after a scream that would have terrified anyone.

As I stand there, staring at the empty parking space, I catch that scent again—the faint trace of something supernatural that doesn't belong. It's stronger now, setting my teeth on edge. It clings to the air where Lila's truck was parked, invisible but unmistakable.

A chill runs down my spine. Whatever's coming, it's not just after the pack. It's after Lila too. And now she's out there, alone and unprotected.

Despite everything, despite how much she infuriates me, despite the danger she represents, I know one thing for certain.

I'll be damned if I let anything hurt her. Even if protecting her means keeping her close and unclaimed. Even if it means denying the pull I feel towards her. Because some things are more important than what I want. The safety of my pack, the secrecy of our world, and yes, Lila's own safety.

As I start making my way back to my office, I make a silent vow. I'll figure out what's going on. I'll stop whatever's coming. And I'll keep Lila safe, whether she likes it or not.

My phone buzzes with an incoming text. It's from an unknown number, but the message chills me to the bone: "We know what she is to you. And we're coming for her."

Chapter 4

Wanting Answers

Lila

My mind was in overdrive, refusing to grant me a moment's peace. My restless fingers couldn't stop tapping my device, constantly refreshing for updates on yesterday's events. I'd lost count of how many times I'd glanced at the screen, desperately seeking any information about what had transpired. But nada. Zilch. It's like that scream never happened and Axel never bolted out of here like his pants were on fire.

Speaking of fire, the sun's streaming through the food truck windows, but it's not doing much to warm up my mood. I'm on autopilot, wiping down counters for the umpteenth time when Sophie breezes in, all bouncy curls and morning cheer.

"Morning, Lila!" she chirps, then does a double-take. "Whoa, you look like you've been here since the Stone Age. Rough night?"

I try to smile, but it feels about as convincing as a rubber chicken. "That obvious, huh?"

Sophie's tying on her apron, eyeing me like I'm a puzzle she's trying to solve. "You've got bags under your bags, boss. What gives? You're usually Little Miss Sunshine in the morning."

I hesitate for a sec. I mean, how do you even start to explain yesterday's weirdness? But if I can't spill to Sophie, who can I talk to? "Something weird happened yesterday," I start, setting down my cleaning cloth. "After you left."

Sophie's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning. "Ooh, do tell. Was it that hunky health inspector again?"

I feel my cheeks warming up. Damn it. "Actually, yeah. I went to his office to show him the improvements we've made."

"Really?" Sophie's eyebrows shoot up so high they might as well be in orbit. "Proactive move, boss. I'm impressed. So what happened? Did he swoon over our sparkling clean counters?"

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