Stuck With Four Alphas

9

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Dr. Juhi Mohan's POV:

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My question was faced with multiple reactions. The most common one being cluelessness.

It was a disheartening sight.

I wasn't even sure if I trusted these guys and they were telling me there was no way out? It couldn't possibly be true. It just couldn't. I had to find out on my own. I had to try and make sure of the truth myself.

"How about that tour? I promise to answer your questions with more clarity than I have previously shown you." Kata probably sensed my trouble and gave the perfect solution. I needed to get out of the house.

The building, as much as I had seen, was like a majestic Victorian elite's dwelling, with detailed carvings and dark woodwork. On a normal day, I might've loved to stay and take in all the little beautiful things going on in the intricate architecture. But my mind was too jumbled up to focus on such trivialities.

I stood up in answer to Kata's offer, making Arin and Kata stand up beside me. Vagus stood up straighter as did Devgan. Looked like I was going to have four tour guides.

There was something serious going on with these guys and I was torn between wanting to find out what it was, or just finding a way out for myself as soon as possible. These guys didn't trust each other, their body language spoke volumes about it. They were all related in some way that I couldn't pin yet, but if I did happen to be truly stuck as Devgan had said, then I might want to find out as much about my housemates as possible.

I walked out through the same door I had found earlier, with the four men in tow.

Everyone was silent, either letting me set the pace or not wanting to be the first one to say anything. Either way, I was grateful for the silence. It gave me time to think and take in my surroundings.

I was staring towards the forest and the path that led towards it for a couple of minutes before Vagus emerged close to me suddenly and spoke conspiratorily in my ear,

"We've all been in there as soon as we got here, Sugar. No one will judge you if you want to try it out yourself. Though I will watch out for the coyotes, among others. Not very friendly."

I looked at him annoyed.

Or I think I did. Because one look at his white eyes, so close to me, I could see that he had colorless Iris, just as albino as he was.

"You are allowed to take a picture. It will last longer." He smirked and winked at me.

I had been caught blatantly staring. I flushed and turned away a second too late to cover my blush. Thankfully the other three were annoyed at Vagus too.

Devgan cleared his throat a bit too loud to not be purposeful, making Vagus straighten up and step back.

I was definitely not going to the forest. But, if they had really seen all of it, they must know where it ends and what exists after that.

"Where does the forest end? What's after it?" I spoke, having gathered my embarrassment and regained control of my senses that seemed to leave me as soon as any of these men were too close.

"Cave wall." Was the short, precise answer that came from Arin standing behind me.

I felt goosebumps rising as I felt someone staring at my back and I suddenly felt conscious of my thick back and lower body that I spent a lot of hours in the gym trying to lessen, but not even an inch was lost. One of the guys behind me was definitely focused only on watching me and I had a suspicion about who it was, the one who hadn't uttered a single syllable since we came outside.

"And what about the top of the hill? And beyond?"

I chose to focus on asking the questions.

"Cave wall." Came the same reply, from the same person, in the same tone.

Now that was disheartening. We had come some way, there had to be an exit.

"What about-" Before I could question them further Vagus chose to invade my personal space again and spoke in the easygoing tone that was his characteristic, "You know, I could show you an aerial view of the whole area. No more questions would be needed. What do you say, Darling?"

I took a deep breath, not allowing myself to fall into the same trap twice in two minutes. I stood my ground but moved my head slightly away, leaning back, "It's Doctor Mohan to you."

"The kitty got claws." He laughed as he glanced at me and then others and back like he had discovered his pet just learned to respond to its name.

"Rex."

Came a simple, monotone warning.

Kata and Vagus had something going on. It was clear that out of the other three, Vagus' antics were irritating Kata the most.

But Vagus didn't feel threatened. However, he did raise his hands in surrender, after one last wink as the smirk still decorated his chiseled features, and stepped back.

"It is possible that there might be a portal behind the waterfall. There have been the same green lights coming from it often. But I cannot manipulate the water to stop or change the path to confirm or refute the suspicion." Kata spoke in his gentle airy tone. It was weird how his tone never changed, yet I could distinguish between the warning to Vagus and a sweet answer to my confusion.

Before I could offer a solution, he answered, "None of us could swim to or climb behind the waterfall. The water is too cold and turbulent."

But the lake in which the waterfall was allowing its water to pool was so calm and smooth. It was a miracle. But then Devgan was able to light a fireplace with the snap of his fingers. Impossible and miracle were relative terms at the moment.

I turned to face the four helplessly, "But there has to be a way back. We can't just be stuck!"

I couldn't believe it.

I had been so ready to give up just a day before, and now I was the one insistent on hope and solution.

"There is a way. But you need to eat first."

Devgan finally spoke and made sense, again.

My stomach growled in complaint because I had only had a few bites earlier before I had rushed out the last time everyone had sat to eat. My face heated up but gratefully Devgan turned to lead us all back inside the house, saving me from further embarrassment.

I muttered a tiny thanks to myself oblivious to the fact that they all heard it and to the tiny smile that broke the barrier of the stoic man's lips quietly walking ahead of us all.