UNDER THE ROGUE ALPHA'S PROTECTION

CHAPTER 6

The soft, rustic decor of the house felt suffocating as I paced back and forth in the room where I’d woken up. My fists clenched as I wrestled with the whirlwind of emotions surging through me. Panic, embarrassment, and distrust all collided, making it impossible to think straight. I had to get out of here. Now.

Zero—the man who had saved me—was somewhere in this house, probably in the kitchen where I had found him cooking as though this was all perfectly normal. But nothing about this situation was normal. I didn’t know this man, and I certainly didn’t trust him. Sure, he had saved me, but that didn’t mean I owed him anything.

I glanced down at the oversized t-shirt I was wearing and cringed. My clothes, my armor, were gone. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and I hated it. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t some damsel in distress who needed saving. I could take care of myself.

Resolving to leave immediately, I stormed toward the front door, my bare feet moving quickly across the wooden floor. I didn’t care where I was. I’d find my way back to my best friend’s apartment. Anything was better than staying here, trapped in this stranger’s house.

Just as I reached the door and grabbed the handle, Zero’s deep voice cut through the silence.

“You’re really going out wearing only my t-shirt?”

I froze mid-step, my grip tightening on the doorknob as the realization hit me like a freight train. My breath hitched, and my cheeks burned as I looked down at myself. He was right. I was wearing nothing but his oversized t-shirt, which hung loosely over my frame, barely covering my thighs. A string of curses ran through my head, and one escaped my lips.

“s**t,” I muttered under my breath, the humiliation washing over me in waves.

Behind me, I heard a low chuckle, and that only made my anger flare.

I turned around to face him, glaring. “Where are my clothes?”

Zero leaned casually against the doorframe leading to the kitchen, arms crossed over his broad chest, his smirk infuriatingly smug. “They’re in the laundry,” he said, his tone light, as though this was all some big joke.

“What?” I practically screeched. “Why?”

“Because they were covered in dirt and blood,” he replied matter-of-factly. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I snapped. “I want my clothes back. Now.”

Zero’s smirk widened, and he pushed off the doorframe, walking toward me with an easy confidence that made my heart race for reasons I didn’t want to acknowledge. “Alright, alright. Don’t get your feathers ruffled. I’ll get them for you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at his retreating back as he disappeared down the hall. Moments later, he returned, holding a neatly folded stack of clothes.

“Here,” he said, handing them to me. “Freshly cleaned and smelling nice. You’re welcome again.”

I snatched the clothes from his hands without a word, but I couldn’t help but notice the faint scent of detergent and something else—something warm and woodsy that I couldn’t place. For a brief moment, I wondered if he’d washed them himself. The thought made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t like, so I shoved it aside.

“Thanks,” I mumbled begrudgingly before retreating to the room I’d woken up in to change.

Once I was back in my own clothes, I felt a surge of relief. It was like slipping back into my own skin, reclaiming a part of myself that had felt stripped away. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and headed back toward the front door. This time, I wouldn’t stop. I’d leave and put as much distance between myself and this man as possible.

But as I reached the door, Zero was there, blocking my path. His large, muscular frame filled the space, and I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.

“Move,” I said firmly, planting my hands on my hips.

Zero didn’t budge. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. “You’re really that desperate to leave, huh?” he said, a teasing edge to his voice.

“Yes,” I snapped. “Now get out of my way.”

His lips twitched, and I could tell he was trying not to smile. “Alright, I’ll let you go. But first, you could at least tell me your name. Seems like a fair trade for saving your life.”

I hesitated, narrowing my eyes at him. What was his game? Still, it wasn’t like telling him my name would cost me anything.

“Cassandra,” I said finally. “Or Cassie. Now let me pass. I’m leaving. Thanks for saving me.”

Zero stepped aside, his smirk returning. “Nice to meet you, Cassie.”

I didn’t respond. I pulled open the door and stepped outside, the cool air hitting me like a wake-up call. I didn’t look back as I walked down the path leading away from the house. But just as I reached the edge of the property, his voice called out to me one last time.

“I have a feeling this isn’t the last time I’ll see you in my house,” he said, his tone light but carrying an underlying certainty. “So take your time, Cassie.”

I stopped in my tracks, his words echoing in my mind. What did he mean by that? Why would he think I’d ever come back here? I shook my head, dismissing the thought, and kept walking.

I eventually made it back to my best friend’s apartment, my mind still racing with questions. But one thing was certain: Zero wasn’t just some stranger who had saved me. He was something more, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that our paths were far from finished crossing.