Word Count: 1659

~Kezziah

His demands left me without any room to argue.

If the Alpha wants something from you, he's going to get it. No doubt about that. And as much as I'm skeptical about going with him elsewhere, I have been wanting to get out of this place for awhile. Who knows where he wants to take me, but all I know is tomorrow morning, I'll be leaving this place for I don't know how long.

In the morning, Sermon came to collect me. I've never seen her look so pale. I would be mortified if I found out the Alpha was leaving the building along with one of the patients.

This isn't going to help the rumours...

I had packed a small duffle bag a nurse had supplied. Not the green eyed nurse, either. I've been trying not to think about her so much. It only makes me worry. I'm also worried about Cian. Is he going to require me for something while I'm gone?

Regardless, I don't have much of a choice. Sermon pins me to her side and walks me to the elevator, a guard taking my bag. Surprisingly, she doesn't ask me any question. By how shaky she is, she has no idea what's going on. I doubt Alden has shared this with anyone but me.

We step into the elevator, and instead of going up, we go down. When I look at Sermon, she supplies me with no explanation. I don't need one when the doors open.

I step out into a car park, hidden under the main building. Alden stands right in the middle, putting a black bag into the trunk of a car. Seeing it makes it all the more real. Should I just turn around and go back up to my room? I could deal with the consequences of deny an Alpha what he wants later...

But it's too late now.

"We should go now. We need to stop by where I'm currently staying to grab a few things before we reach our destination," Alden tells me, as I wander closer. Sermon sticks close to the door.

"Where's our final destination?" I question nervously. The more I know the less I'll be worrying. I hope.

Alden doesn't say anymore, taking my bag from the guard, shoving it in the trunk beside his. I didn't bring much, unsure of how long we would be gone for. It's all clothing supplied by him anyway. I don't have any personal items with me. Nothing from Avia. Nothing from my family...

Together we hop into the car. It's some high tech automobile created by the Wisdom Pack. I stare at the dashboard, unsure of what any of these strange buttons do.

"I don't stay far from here," Alden tells me, still not sharing any more information than that with me. "It's a temporary home. I'm moving elsewhere soon."

We already discussed how hard it must be to be constantly moving around and hiding, so I keep my mouth shut. I don't want him to think I care too much about his well being. At the end of the day, my motivation is to get out of here. And hopefully destroy the brand he has left on me.

"Why are you doing this?" I question, as the car turns on, an almost silent electric hum. My hands are tucked on my lap, my skin chilled despite the warmth blowing from the air vents. "For real?"

Alden looks at me from across his seat, eyes searching. "I told the truth. I need to concentrate on your brand if I'm going to succeed. In order to do that, I need some space. To take creative liberties."

We pull out of the complex, the natural sunlight hitting my face.

I can't help but smile. It's so warm and bright outside, clouds shifting slowly across the sky. Part of me wants to jump out, or wind the window down, but I don't. Alden is in control here, and I can't take any chances. So I just lean back in my seat and enjoy the view of the Wisdom Pack as we drive past.

This Pack is truly beautiful, if you enjoy high rise buildings and businesses. Surprisingly, there isn't many people roaming the streets, and the ones there are barely notice each other. It's hard to get into this Pack. They have some of the strictest laws for those entering. They have a reputation for brilliance that cannot be handed to just anyone.

That's why I've never found myself here. Avia thought we should hide in plain sight there, but there was no chance of us getting in and not being seen.

"So are you going to tell me where we are going to end up?" I question.

Alden sighs through his nose, so I look at him. He seems less stressed, his shoulders relaxed, the shadows under his eyes lessening. Wherever we are going, he's familiar with it, and I'm more than curious to find out why. He seems to glow this morning, and not because of his morning sun shining against his sleek hair. His complexion seems brighter. He seems more youthful.

Or maybe it's just me.

"Not in this Pack," is all Alden supplies me with. Knowing I'm not going to get anymore out of him, I cross my arms and lean back in my seat.

It doesn't take us long to reach his temporary home. It's oddly quaint for a Wisdom Pack place. It has modern architecture, and flawless design. However, when we step inside, it has no overwhelming furnishings or personal items. This isn't where Alden belongs. It's a safe house.

He leaves me in the family room while he goes to check on things, and pack his own clothing. It gives me a chance to investigate into his life as much as I can. Even if it doesn't seem like it will bring up much.

Everything seems eerily untouched. Perfect wiped side tables with lush flowers in polished vases. Coasters on the coffee table are stacked upon each other, a thin sheen of dust gathering on the top.

A safe house.

I pull a draw to a side table open, looking inside. Spotting a folded piece of paper tucked up against the back, I pull it out, casting a glance over my shoulder. Alden isn't around, so I decide to take a peek. For my own investigations. I'm hoping it will give me a feel for who Alden is.

It reads:

I hope you get this. I've been trying to find you for quite some time, but it feels as though you're always moving.

Are you hiding from me? I miss you. I hope you miss me too, although I doubt it. Otherwise you would write me back.

I spotted you coming here in the dead of night. Call it Fate.

I'll leave this for you on your doorstep. Please call me or something...I miss you.

Lia.

"Curious?"

I jump, turning around to see Alden watching me from the doorway. He doesn't look mad, but more amused, a half smile playing on his lips. Too stunned to say any more, I silently let him walk up and take the thin piece of paper from my fingers.

"I'm sorry I was...ah, yeah. Curious," I tell him quickly. If he knew I was trying to figure out his motivation, I'm not sure how he would react.

"If you truly want to know, she's not my mate," he tells me. "I would never treat my mate that way."

Looking away, I feign uninterest. If she was his mate, I would be wondering why he would do such a thing. She seems desperate, a lost lover, waiting for him to come back and claim her. That itching curiosity within me wants to know everything, and I'm not sure why.

"Then who is she?" I ask tentatively.

Alden doesn't mock me, at least, for asking. He seems happy to tell me. I've noticed he's never been anything but honest to me that entire time. Either that's part of his facade, or it speaks to his character, that I still haven't unveiled.

"She's a girl who once was very sick. I personally helped develop a cure for her sickness," Alden explains to me. "It was imperative. She is very important. Her family were looking upon me to save her."

"She seems to like you a lot," I note, hoping he won't consider that as jealousy.

Alden shrugs, looking down at the paper he fiddles with in his fingers. "She does. She thinks she owes me her life, and wants to repay me. I've told her straight I care for my mate and only my mate, but it hasn't seemed as though she understands."

I think about that for a moment. As far as I'm aware, he hasn't found his mate yet. Or at least publicly put it out there.

"Is the fact that she was important the only reason you helped her?" I ask him.

He pauses, frowns, and then quickly puts the paper back. It doesn't seem as though I'm going to get an answer, as he picks up his bag, and beckons me over.

"We should get going. This place is out of the Wisdom Pack. I want to get there before night hall," he tells me.

I nod soundlessly, but I can't help but wonder, why else did he do it? Whatever the answer might be, I'll find out.

I'm going to figure out who Alden really is.

If you guys want more of Alden, the rest of available now on Radish (:

Sinful's own story is up now on Radish! I wanted to make it apart of the Seven Sins series (which will have stories involving Cian and other characters you've seen before)

Hope you like (:

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If you guys are interested, I've just put Alpha Noah up now on Wattpad (:

Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼