The Billionaire Alpha

Chapter 3: Shadows in the Forest

The group reached the clearing, and Grace couldn’t help but stop and marvel at the sight. A serene body of water stretched before them, its surface glistening in the sunlight that filtered through the trees. The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of moss and fresh water. Grace’s heart lifted; the scene felt like something out of a dream.

“Wow,” she murmured, snapping a picture on her camera.

Grace shifted on her feet. The thought of swimming here was tempting. The water looked inviting, but she hesitated. She wasn’t one to draw attention to herself, especially in a mixed group. Still, she felt the tug of the moment, a rare opportunity to let go and enjoy the simplicity of it all.

Turning her back to the others, Grace slipped off her light hiking clothes, folding them neatly on a nearby rock. Underneath, her vintage red swimsuit hugged her frame perfectly. She glanced over her shoulder, her movements careful and modest, but she caught Ollie’s gaze as he turned sharply in her direction.

“Uh…” he stammered, fumbling with his backpack. Suddenly, he started pulling off his shoes and socks, his movements clumsy and hurried.

Grace bit back a smile. She waded into the water slowly, letting the coolness climb up her legs. It was brisk, but not unbearable, and she found it refreshing. She walked further in, the water reaching her waist. With a deep breath, she dipped under, her hair fanning out as she submerged.

When she surfaced, the sounds of the forest greeted her—the rustling of leaves, the occasional birdcall, and Lilly’s cheerful laughter as she finally took the plunge.

“This is amazing!” Lilly exclaimed, splashing water playfully.

Grace smiled and floated on her back, the sunlight warming her skin as the water cradled her body. For a moment, she let herself simply exist, free from worry or expectation. She thought of the artist Emiliana Durand again, wondering how they would capture this moment—the perfect harmony of light, water, and movement.

Ollie waded in cautiously, his movements stiff and unsure. Grace noticed him lingering at the shallow end, his face a mixture of determination and apprehension. Lilly, already acclimated, swam circles around him, teasing him relentlessly.

Grace chuckled quietly and swam further out, letting herself enjoy the cool embrace of the water. Occasionally, she glanced back at the group onshore. Ben was still on the log, scrolling through his phone, while Mark was busy setting up what looked like a modest picnic.

Lilly eventually swam over to Grace, her bright grin infectious. “This was the best idea ever. Doesn’t it feel amazing?”

“It does,” Grace agreed, wiping droplets from her face. “I’m glad I joined in.”

The two floated in companionable silence for a moment , the ripples of their movements merging with the natural rhythm of the water. Grace let herself relax, soaking in the joy of the moment, grateful for this brief escape from the chaos of life in the city. She closed her eyes, letting herself drift for a moment longer, a contented smile spreading across her face.

—-

Grace floated on her back, the cool water lapping gently against her skin as she stared up at the endless blue sky. Her companions were busy on the shore, their laughter and chatter blending with the rustling leaves and occasional birdcall. She could faintly hear Mark’s voice calling out instructions about snacks, and Lilly giggling about something. They seemed so far away, immersed in their own little world.

Grace liked this distance. Here, in the middle of the water, she felt free, her thoughts drifting as lazily as the ripples around her. She turned onto her stomach and began to swim in slow, measured strokes, savoring the peace.

The faint hum of something mechanical broke the tranquility. At first, she thought it might be her imagination, but it grew louder, closer. A helicopter. Grace stopped swimming and glanced up, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun.

The helicopter zoomed overhead, cutting through the air like a predator on the hunt. Grace frowned, puzzled by its low altitude. The peaceful moment had shattered.

Then came the splash—a tremendous impact that sent waves rippling around her, breaking against her arms and chest. Grace gasped and turned, searching the water for the source. Her heart pounded as she treaded water, trying to make sense of what just happened.

The helicopter veered away, its blades still roaring in the distance, and silence settled over the water once more. She blinked, her gaze darting around.

And then, suddenly, a man burst out of the water.

He surfaced with a dramatic exhale, water cascading off his broad shoulders and dripping from his tousled dark hair. A grin spread across his face, easy and self-assured, as if he’d just completed a daring feat instead of emerging from nowhere.

Grace stared, stunned. The man was shirtless, his muscular frame glistening in the sunlight, and around his neck hung a silver pendant on a thick leather cord. The pendant caught the light for a brief second, its worn, tarnished surface unmistakable.

“Grace!” Lilly’s voice cut through her shock, pulling her attention back to the shore. “Are you okay?”

“Grace?” Mark joined in, standing at the water’s edge, his hand shading his eyes as he squinted toward her.

“I’m fine!” she called back, her voice shaky.

But was she?

She looked back to where the man had been, but he was already gone, diving beneath the surface as quickly as he’d appeared. Grace scanned the water, her pulse racing. A shadow moved beneath the ripples, heading toward the shore, and then he emerged again—this time much farther down from where her friends were gathered.

The man walked out of the water with an air of nonchalance, his grin still in place. He ran a hand through his wet hair, the silver pendant swinging against his chest as he moved. He didn’t look back at Grace, didn’t acknowledge the others—he simply grabbed a jacket that had been slung over a tree branch and slipped it on as he disappeared into the woods, leaving nothing but wet footprints behind.

Grace floated in the water, frozen in place. Her thoughts swirled as chaotically as the ripples around her.

Who was he? Where had he come from?

And why, despite the shock of the moment, did she feel a strange pull toward him? The easy charm of his grin, the dangerous confidence in his stride—it all lingered in her mind, stirring something unfamiliar and unbidden.

“Grace, are you sure you’re okay?” Lilly called again, concern in her tone.

“I’m fine,” Grace repeated, though her voice was distant, distracted. She began to swim slowly back toward the group, her gaze lingering on the spot where the mysterious man had vanished.

She swam toward the shore, her strokes steady but distracted. Her mind kept circling back to the man who had burst out of the water like a vision. How had he been able to hold his breath for so long? She shook her head, trying to make sense of it. Maybe he was a free diver. That would explain it.

But the thought didn’t sit right. Free divers didn’t drop from helicopters.

As she reached the shallow water, Grace slowed her movements, planting her feet on the sandy bottom. Her fingers grazed the pendant around her neck absentmindedly as her eyes scanned the shoreline where the man had emerged. The footprints were still there, faint but visible, leading into the forest. She felt a strange unease, as if unseen eyes were on her.

“Grace!” Ollie’s voice broke through her thoughts.

She turned to see him jogging along the shoreline, his lanky frame not built for speed. He was red-faced, puffing slightly, and looking uncomfortably out of his element.

“You okay?” he called, waving an arm.

Grace nodded, stepping onto the sand, her wet swimsuit clinging to her skin. She glanced back toward the footprints, her unease growing. The forest loomed just beyond, dark and shadowed under the canopy of trees.

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Ollie pressed, finally reaching her. He bent over, hands on his knees, catching his breath.

“I’m fine,” she replied, brushing water from her arms. “But... did you see him?”

“Him?” Ollie straightened, frowning.

“The man who came out of the water,” Grace said, motioning toward the forest. “He went that way.”

Ollie squinted in the direction she pointed, but before he could respond, Mark caught up to them. His footsteps were heavier, deliberate, as if he was weighing every word before speaking.

“What’s going on?” Mark asked, looking between them.

“There was a man,” Grace said, her voice quieter now. “He came out of the water and walked into the forest.”

Mark didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped past them, his boots sinking slightly into the soft earth as he followed the footprints. Grace watched him nervously, her heart thudding in her chest.

He paused at the tree line, crouching down to inspect the ground. When he stood and turned back to them, his face was pale.

“We need to leave,” Mark said firmly.

“What?” Ollie asked, confused.

“Now,” Mark insisted, his voice lowering. “There are fresh wolf tracks here.”

“Wolves?” Grace repeated, a chill running down her spine.

Mark nodded, glancing over his shoulder toward the forest. “Big ones, too. They’re fresh.”

Ollie’s face twisted in disbelief. “Come on, Mark. This is Staten Island. There aren’t wolves here.”

“I know what I’m looking at,” Mark replied sharply. “Let’s go.”

The urgency in his voice spurred them into motion. Grace hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance toward the forest. The footprints ended abruptly, disappearing into the undergrowth.

They returned to the others quickly. Lilly was perched on a large rock, sipping from a water bottle. She looked up as they approached, frowning at their expressions.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

“There are wolf tracks in the forest,” Mark said grimly.

Lilly’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Wolves? That’s not possible. There aren’t wolves here.”

Mark crossed his arms, his face set. “Well, something left those tracks, and it wasn’t a dog.”

The group fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Grace looked back toward the trees, a lingering sense of unease gripping her. For some reason, she couldn’t shake the image of the man from her mind.

Wolves didn’t live here. And yet…