Page 5 of My Ruthless Alpha

As it smoothly slid up the track, I stepped outside and looked down the street.

It was quiet in the darkness, save for the streetlights lining the road into town, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

My pack members and anyone else living in the area were at home and likely sleeping, if not preparing to do so. Looking over everything, knowing they were safe and comfortable, brought a sense of appeasement over me. Knowing I was doing everything I should for them, providing and giving them the security they deserved.

I never intended to be an alpha, but when it happened, I made it my personal mission to look after my pack as my previous alpha had. He became a sort of archetype for me to follow, and I was thankful I did.

Not thinking much of it, I went to head back inside but stopped. In the distance, I could hear something—shoes against pavement.

They weren’t fast by any means, but given how the sound gradually got louder for my sharp hearing, I knew they were getting closer.

It wouldn’t be unusual for someone to be awake and up at night, but something about it felt different.

A sense of fear lingered in the air, almost wafting over to me before I could decide to ignore the sound. The panic that came with it helped me make up my mind, and without thinkingtwice, I moved down the driveway and made my way to the street.

Even if it was nothing, I still had to check. I needed to know.

After walking for a bit, that was when I spotted her.

I had been right about the fear and anxiety, which only heightened as we drew closer. There was no mistaking the desperation that seemed to follow her, and it became incredibly obvious that I couldn’t just turn a blind eye.

As the woman approached, moving slowly, exhaustedly, she held a child against her shoulder. Regardless of how tired she seemed, she never put down the small girl with near-black hair.

Brows furrowed, I carefully approached her and tried to keep my increasing curiosity at bay. I didn’t want to scare her even more because of how alarmed she seemed.

Even from that distance, I could hear low, quiet mumblings coming from the woman, almost like she couldn’t stop saying those words. They were quiet and gave away her true exhaustion even more than her distressed steps, but I managed to catch the most important word…

Help.

Decided, I picked up my pace, determined to help the woman however I could.

But as the wind picked up and carried her scent in my direction, something in me seemed to wake as if emerging from a deep slumber.

A shiver moved through me, and at once, there was no denying that scent. How even after several years apart, I could still pick hers out from a crowd if it ever came to it. She wassomeone I couldn’t easily forget anyway. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t always think about her.

My expression softened to one of surprise and awe. I never thought I’d see her again…and I definitely didn’t think I’d find her frantically approaching my pack grounds, looking like she was being chased by something dangerous.

I couldn’t believe it.

Despite the slight ache in my chest that accompanied those memories I shared with her, and regardless of her panic, I still thought she was just as beautiful as the day I left her.

Chapter 3 - Faye

I couldn’t feel my legs by the time I noticed a small town up ahead, almost like a guiding light at the end of the tunnel.

I never thought a small thing like that would be able to instill me with such a strong sense of hope, but in the moment, anything sounded better than aimlessly walking.

After running for how long while carrying Margo, I could feel my body preparing to give out from underneath me, but I couldn’t stop. I had to get us as far away from the grounds and as close to safety as I possibly could.

Even if I was determined more than anything else, it was getting harder and harder to ignore the voice in my head telling me to stop. To quit moving and just rest. But I couldn’t do that. There was no guarantee Colton and the others wouldn’t find us, and I couldn’t keep Margo in harm’s way like that.

So, I kept going. Pushing and pushing to the point of mumbling about needing help.

The pavement beneath my feet sent jolts of aching pain up my legs, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t stop.

Moving through the dark was starting to scare Margo, so I’d told her to close her eyes some distance back. At some point, she fell asleep, to my relief, and the streetlights started to brighten our way, making the night feel less intimidating.

My heart had been racing for so long that by the time the town drew closer, my pulse felt like nothing more than a shallow beat beneath my skin. I could hardly keep my eyes open, and my whole body felt incredibly weak, yet I kept moving.

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