Stay

I'm sorry

Neeko's P.O.V

I woke up with my dizzy head. I felt my head throbbing as I tried to get up from bed. I really have low tolerance to alcohol. This sucks! And I didn't even drink more than a glass.

Just as I expected, I wasn't in my room. I wasn't surprised though. It kinda became a habit to wake up in the Alpha's bed since Ruth came. This is not a good sign.

I staggered out of the room and headed towards my own room. Ruth wasn't there. Guess she's out playing. I rushed to the bathroom and quickly washed up. I changed my clothes and headed for the Alpha's office.

I was greeted by the maids in the hallway. I smiled and nodded at them. I heard them whispering behind me.

"Did you hear that? Beta's mate was taken away last night" one of them whispered.

"I heard about it. But the Beta doesn't seem bothered at all."

"You think he doesn't care about her?"

"Why should he care about her? She was a b***h, scaring us like a demon."

I could hear their whisperings as I maintained my pace. Ruth was taken? Why didn't the Alpha tell me about it? I was angry and relieved at the same time. But I just couldn't let her go right now. I promised Nathan to take care of her.

I knocked on the door remaining as calm as possible.

"Come in" his voice called.

I entered the room and walked to his desk. My anger disappeared the moment I saw his exhausted appearance. His eyes looked tired and his hair was disheveled. I don't know if it was my imagination but he looked a little paler than usual.

"Alpha, are you trying to work yourself to death?" I asked instead of asking about Ruth as I eyed the papers lying on his desk.

He looked up at me with his tired eyes. "Aren't you here to ask about Ruth?" he smirked.

"I am" I said. "But this matter is more important. Are you covering my job as well?" I asked in disbelief. All of those were supposed to be my job as I laid eyes in each and every papers he was working on. What's he thinking?

"You're over thinking, panda. An Alpha is supposed to do these all. Besides, your job is to follow my order, and I order you to clean my room." his indifferent voice pissed me off. Does he really think I'm that incapable? Well, he's wrong! And what's with the nickname?

"Alpha...." I said calming myself. "Will you please stop pushing yourself so hard?" an involuntary sigh escaped my lips. "I know I'm not capable enough but I'll never learn unless I try. So please, will you just stop brushing me off and let me stand by your side and support you? I promise I won't let you down." I was sincere with my words. Plus, I didn't want him to die of fatigue.

He looked at me as if I'd said the weirdest thing ever. But then the corner of his lips lifted up and he was laughing as if I'd just cracked a joke. Was that funny?

" Alright! You can do it. But I accept no failure." he said and I smiled at him.

"Yes Alpha!"

He nodded and got back to the papers.

"Well.... There's another thing" I was a little hesitant, afraid that he might not like what I'd to say.

He raised his eyes at me and I unconsciously bit my lower lip. What the heck's so wrong with me? I was so pissed just a moment ago. Why do I feel so nervous now?

"I want to bring back Ruth" I blurted out, waiting for his reaction. I expected his face to contort in anger but only creased lines of tension were formed on his forehead.

"Of course your stupid mate bond makes you miss her" he said in a low voice.

I blinked in confusion. What is he trying to say. "Does that mean OK?"

"Be back before sunset" his stern voice dismissed me. I was left alone pondering why he was so mad as I closed the door behind me. I'm just bringing Ruth back. What's the big deal? It's not like I'm getting married to her or anything to make him super jealous.

~~~~~~~~~

In the Brown mansion,

"Look! I'm running out of patience. Either you let me in or I'll break in" I said to the stubborn guard as I grew more and more irritated by the time. But he didn't seem to budge an inch.

"Get the hell outta here. Our master doesn't want to see you!" the guard shouted in annoyance.

Alright buddy! You asked for it. Don't blame me for this.

I cracked my knuckles getting ready for fight, as I let Rex take over me.

"Wh-what do you think you're doing?" the guard asked wide eyed as realization hit him, Rex's immense power overshadowing his own. I didn't even have to do anything. By the time I entered the gate, he was kneeling on the ground, shaking in fear.

I entered the mansion not bothering to hide the powers emitting from my body. Everyone in the mansion shook with fear and submitted to me but I couldn't find the person I was looking for.

I took a whiff of the air. There was a faint scent of Ruth lingering in the air but not too prominent enough to confirm her whereabouts.

A familiar figure caught my eye as I passed by the corridor. Asher.

I ran to him and got ahold of his shoulder. He turned around with a terrified look on his face but it was soon replaced with relief when he saw my face.

"Big brother, are you here for Ruth?" he asked, his eyes filled with unexplainable joy and hope.

I nodded," I am. Where is she?"

As I asked the question, he began to cry uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I didn't know he'd do that to her. I'm so sorry" I frantically tried to make him stop crying as he apologized for whatever mistakes he had done.

"Will you please stop crying? I'm not mad at you" I said as I wiped away his tears.

He looked up at me with teary eyes, trying not to break down again.

"She.... She's confined in a room" his lips were quivering as he said in a trembling voice. What just happened to this guy?

"Take me to her" I said. He nodded and led me to the farthest corner of the mansion. We walked quite a while and stopped at a dirty looking door. It was locked. But I could smell her inside.

Asher chanted a spell and it was unlocked. He gestured me to go inside and ran away without explaining further.

I reached out to the door and pushed it open. Inside was all dusty and dirty. Despite the exterior appearance, it was pretty large from the inside. Nothing much was inside. Lights barely entered the room making it a bit dark. As I observed the room, my eyes caught

a figure sitting on the floor, their head resting on their knees. Ruth...

I turned on the switch and light flooded in the room, making the person on the floor look up at me in fear. When her eyes landed on me, they reflected pain rather than fear. I walked closer to her. A strong metallic scent hit my nose as I got closer to her. Blood. Her blood. I crouched down to her level and placed my hand on her cheek. She felt hot. She was running a fever. Her whole body was wounded as if she'd been tortured all day and night. There were old and fresh wounds all over her body. Her clothes were drenched in blood and she was slightly shivering.

I felt my blood boiling when I saw her in that state. Who could have done this to her? I'll kill the bastard who did this to her.

She seemed to have sensed my anger because she tugged on my arm and shook her head. I felt bad for her, too bad that I wanted to kill the bastard who dared to hurt her.

I didn't have any words to comfort her. So I just pulled her in a hug. She wrapped her hands around me. I could feel her tears on my shoulder but I didn't mind. She got hurt. I promised to protect her. But I let her get hurt, I failed.

"I'm sorry" I whispered in her hair as she cried harder. Her whole body was shaking as I held her gently, too afraid to hurt her. "I'll make things right, I promise"

Just then, a man burst into the room. His sinister smile was the last thing I wanted to see. By the way Ruth's body reacted to the man's presence, I knew that he was the one who hurt her.

Something inside me snapped and I was suddenly pushed to the back of my mind and Rex was in full control. He's dead for sure.

In a matter of moments, the man was struggling in our choke hold. But Ruth tugged us from behind and shook her head. Gritting out teeth, we threw him to ground, our anger still at its peak.

Rex let me take over when he couldn't seem to be able to control himself.

I picked Ruth in my arms. She winced when my hands brushed with her wounds. I gave her an apologetic look which she returned with a smile. Without further delay, I made my way to the door. I stopped before exiting and gave a warning look at the man lying on the ground.

"Don't ever cross paths with me or Ruth anymore if you want to live. Try once and I swear, you won't live a second more" my voice was unusually cold and angry as I exited the room leaving the man shocked.