Chapter 18: The Alpha’s Rescue
894 Words
By the time Eric arrived at the bar later that evening, the place was already crowded, filled with loud music, but the moment he stepped inside, something felt wrong.
The atmosphere carried a tension that didn’t belong.
Eric’s sharp gaze moved slowly across the room, taking in every detail, every movement, every shift in energy. Then he heard it—a faint sound coming from the back hallway.
Struggling.
His expression hardened instantly.
Without hesitation, he moved toward it, pushing through the door that led to the staff rooms.
The moment he stepped inside, the air turned cold.
Aria was pinned against the wall.
Two large men held her arms tightly while another forced a bottle toward her mouth, tilting it as harsh liquor spilled down her throat despite her attempts to turn away. Her eyes were red, her breathing uneven, her body already weakened.
And standing nearby, arms folded, was Lexi.
“Well,” Lexi said mockingly, “look who finally learned her place.”
Aria coughed violently as the bottle was pulled away, her body reacting to the burn in her throat.
“You accused me of stealing,” she said hoarsely, her voice trembling with restrained anger. “But you planted the money yourself.”
Lexi rolled her eyes, completely unimpressed.
“Please. No one believes a slave girl over me.”
She stepped forward and grabbed Aria’s chin harshly, forcing her to look up.
“For someone like you, you’re very proud,” she whispered coldly, her nails digging into Aria’s skin. “You think the manager likes you? You think that face makes you special?”
One of her friends stepped forward, holding a small knife.
Aria’s heart dropped.
Lexi’s smile deepened.
“Maybe a little scar will fix that attitude.”
The knife lifted—
“Get your hands off her.”
The voice cut through the room like thunder.
Inside him, Kael surged violently, rage burning through his veins.
Kill them.
The command echoed, sharp and instinctive, demanding blood.
Eric’s jaw tightened, forcing the anger down, his control snapping firmly into place.
Everything froze.
Slowly, they turned.
Eric stood at the door.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, the weight of his presence pressing down on everyone as the men holding Aria stiffened before quickly releasing her.
Lexi’s confidence faltered. “Alpha Eric…” she said uncertainly.
Eric stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping across the scene—the knife, the bruises forming on Aria’s wrists—before finally settling on her pale face.
Something inside him tightened.
His voice, when he spoke, was calm.
Too calm.
“Explain.”
Lexi pointed immediately. “She stole money from the bar,” she said quickly. “We caught her.”
Aria shook her head weakly. “That’s not true.”
Eric turned toward the manager, who had just arrived.
“Is that correct?” he asked.
The manager hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Lexi before answering. “Yes… she stole from us.”
Eric’s expression didn’t change.
Then he turned to the bar owner—Magnus.
“Check the records.”
The owner rushed to comply.
Within minutes, the truth surfaced.
The money had been taken earlier that evening.
By Lexi.
Silence filled the room.
Magnus turned pale. “I… I’m so sorry, Alpha.”
Eric’s gaze shifted back to Lexi.
Fear had replaced her arrogance.
“You framed her.”
It wasn’t a question.
Lexi tried to speak. “Alpha, I—”
“Enough.”
The single word ended everything.
Magnus immediately turned to the guards. “Fire the manager. Throw them out.”
They were dragged away as Lexi screamed, her voice filled with fury.
“This isn’t fair! That girl ruined everything!”
Eric didn’t even look at her.
His attention was already on Aria.
She sat weakly on a chair now, Mia beside her, steadying her shoulders. When Aria noticed him watching, she tried to sit straighter despite her exhaustion.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Eric studied her in silence, unable to ignore the unfamiliar tightness in his chest as he took in her condition.
Then he turned to Mia.
“She’s coming with me.”
Mia blinked. “But—”
“She’s not staying here,” Eric said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Magnus hesitated, clearly upset, but nodded. “Of course, Alpha.”
Aria looked confused. “Where?” she asked softly.
Eric extended his hand toward her.
“Somewhere safe.”
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she placed her hand in his.
Without effort, Eric lifted her into his arms, holding her securely as he carried her out of the bar.
Behind them, Mia watched with quiet relief.
Aria didn’t look back.
Far across the city, a phone rang inside an elegant bedroom.
Elizabeth answered immediately. “Yes?”
On the other end, Lexi’s voice trembled. “Miss Elizabeth… everything went wrong.”
Elizabeth’s expression darkened. “What happened?”
Lexi explained quickly, her words rushed with fear.
Silence followed.
Then came the words that changed everything.
“Alpha Eric took Aria with him.”
The glass in Elizabeth’s hand shattered under the force of her grip, sharp shards cutting into her palm as blood slid down her skin.
But she didn’t react.
Her eyes burned with fury.
“This isn’t over,” she whispered coldly.
- Writer
