Chapter 5: The Alpha’s Second Visit
863 Words
Alex Blackthorn had faced dangerous enemies, difficult negotiations, and decisions that could affect thousands of lives. He was not a man who acted without a reason.
That was why he found his own actions confusing.
Because standing outside a small orphanage in the middle of the afternoon was not something Alex had planned.
At least, that was what he told himself.
The building in front of him was nothing like the places he usually visited. There were no guards standing outside, no expensive decorations, no signs of wealth or power. It was simply an old building surrounded by a small garden that looked like it had been cared for with more love than money.
Alex stood there silently for a moment.
You came back.
Shadow's voice carried amusement.
Alex ignored him.
"I am only checking the place."
You are checking her.
Alex did not answer.
Because arguing with Shadow would only prove the wolf's point.
He walked toward the entrance.
Inside the orphanage, Luna was helping one of the younger children with homework when she heard a knock on the door.
She looked up.
"I'll get it."
She stood and walked toward the entrance, not expecting to see the person waiting on the other side.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The man from the rain.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Luna looked at him in surprise.
"I thought you would have forgotten about the coat."
Alex glanced at the folded coat she held carefully in her hands.
"I came to get it."
It was not the complete truth.
But it was a reason.
Luna looked slightly embarrassed.
"I was going to return it."
"I know."
A small silence passed between them.
Then Luna stepped aside.
"Would you like to come in?"
Alex looked at the entrance.
A simple invitation.
Yet somehow, it felt unusual.
People usually invited him into places because of who he was.
Because of his position.
Because of his power.
Luna had no idea who he was.
She was simply being polite.
"Thank you," he said.
The moment Alex entered the orphanage, he noticed something unexpected.
Happiness.
Not the kind that came from luxury or comfort.
The kind that came from people who cared about each other.
Children ran through the hallway. Someone laughed in the kitchen. A small girl proudly showed another child a drawing she had made.
Alex watched quietly.
This place had very little.
Yet somehow, it had warmth.
Luna walked beside him.
"I know it's not much."
Alex looked at her.
She immediately seemed to realize what she had said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"There is no need to apologize."
She became quiet.
Alex noticed how often she did that.
How quickly she blamed herself.
Before he could say anything else, a small child ran toward Luna and held onto her hand.
"Luna, can you help me with my drawing?"
A smile appeared on her face.
"Of course."
The change was immediate.
The guarded expression she carried around strangers disappeared.
She became softer.
More relaxed.
Alex watched as she sat with the child and patiently helped with every little detail.
She had not noticed him watching.
And perhaps that was why he noticed it more.
She was not trying to impress anyone.
She was simply being herself.
"She has always been like that."
Alex turned toward the voice.
Mrs. Grace stood nearby.
"Like what?"
"Always putting others first."
Her eyes moved toward Luna.
"Even when she was younger, she would give away her own things if someone else needed them more."
Alex remained silent.
"She thinks being useful is the same as being worthy," Mrs. Grace continued softly.
Those words stayed with him.
Because for some reason, they bothered him.
Later, Luna returned the coat to him.
"Thank you again."
Alex accepted it.
"You kept it safe."
Luna smiled slightly.
"It was important."
"Because it belongs to me?"
She shook her head.
"Because someone was kind enough to give it to me."
Alex looked at her.
A simple answer.
But it revealed more about her than he expected.
When Alex returned to his car, Adrian was waiting.
He looked toward the orphanage before looking back at Alex.
"So the coat was the reason?"
Alex opened the car door.
"Yes."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"The coat."
"Yes."
A small smile appeared on Adrian's face.
"Interesting."
Alex looked at him.
"Do not start."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
Adrian laughed quietly.
"Maybe."
As they drove away, Alex looked out the window.
He had expected to find answers.
Instead, he had found more questions.
Why did Luna care so much about people who had nothing to give her?
Why did she make him curious?
And why did a place so different from his world feel strangely peaceful?
That night, Luna returned to her studies as usual.
She did not think of Alex as someone important.
Not yet.
To her, he was simply the mysterious man who had helped her during the storm.
But she wondered one thing.
Why did someone like him keep appearing in her life?
And why did she feel like there was much more about him that she did not know?
- Writer
