The Alpha's Slave

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: They're looking

Aurora's pov:

After two days of Amelia remaining unconscious at the clinic, I sit here staring blankly, plagued by the thought that she might have been kidnapped and tortured by insurgents.

“But why would they do that?” I whisper, the question hanging unanswered in the silent room. My mind races, conjuring images I desperately try to push away. Was it a random act of violence? Or was she targeted? Did she stumble onto something she shouldn't have? The uncertainty is a gnawing beast in my gut.

Unease gnawed at me, so I decided to visit Amelia at the clinic. But first, I needed Jaxon's permission before leaving the mansion.

I approached him hesitantly, finding him engrossed in a mountain of papers at his desk. "Hey, are you busy?" I asked shyly.

He looked up slowly, setting down a document. Even in that serious state, he was strikingly handsome. The thought brought an involuntary smile to my lips.

He muttered, a hint of amusement in his serious tone, "Not terribly. And what's with that smile?" He adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on me.

"Oh, nothing," I replied, my cheeks flushing slightly. "I just wanted to ask if it's alright if I visit Amelia at the clinic today…" I trailed off, anxiously awaiting his response. "It's been a couple of days, and..." I hesitated, "I'm just worried.”

He nodded slowly, his expression unreadable at first. Then, a subtle shift in his posture, a softening of the lines around his eyes, betrayed his concern. "Go," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "But… be careful. And if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to tell me, day or night. I mean it." The unspoken words hung in the air, a silent promise of unwavering support.

I smiled at his words, a genuine warmth spreading through me. "Thank you, Alpha," I said, bowing my head respectfully. The weight of his concern settled upon me, a comforting presence in the face of my anxiety. I turned to leave, the knowledge of his support bolstering my resolve.

****

I reached the clinic, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I hurried to Amelia's room, the antiseptic scent of the hospital clinging to the air like a second skin. But before I could reach the door, a figure collided with me, sending a jolt of surprise through my body. He was moving fast, almost running, as if he were being chased.

He stumbled, regaining his balance with a muttered curse. His face, partially obscured by shadow, was pale and etched with worry. He wore a rumpled suit, his tie askew, and his dark hair was disheveled. He looked… familiar.

"I'm so sorry," he stammered, his voice tight with urgency. "I didn't see you." He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide with a stark, primal fear. Then, he seemed to recognize me. His eyes widened further, a flicker of something akin to… recognition? Relief? It was hard to tell.

Before I could speak, he blurted, "You're… Aurora, right? You need to get out of here. Now." His voice was hushed, desperate.

My mind reeled. This was unexpected. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He hesitated, glancing again over his shoulder. "It's… complicated. But you need to leave. They're looking for you." He didn't elaborate, his eyes darting nervously around the hallway.

"They? Who?" I pressed, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach.

"I can't say," he whispered urgently. "Just trust me. Go. Go back to the mansion. And don't tell anyone you saw me." He shoved a small, folded piece of paper into my hand before turning and disappearing around the corner, melting into the shadows as quickly as he'd appeared.

My heart hammered against my ribs. The paper felt cold and stiff in my hand. I unfolded it cautiously. It was a single address, scrawled in hurried, uneven handwriting, The Old Mill, Redwood Creek. What did it mean? Who was this man? And why was he so afraid?

I stared at the address, my mind racing. Something felt terribly wrong. The urgency in his voice, the fear in his eyes… it was palpable. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd stumbled into something far more dangerous than I'd ever imagined.

I glanced at Amelia's door, my initial purpose forgotten. Visiting Amelia seemed insignificant now, overshadowed by this sudden, terrifying mystery. The man's warning echoed in my ears: They're looking for you.

With a deep breath, I turned and left the clinic, the paper clutched tightly in my hand. The familiar comfort of the mansion felt miles away, a distant haven in a suddenly threatening world.

The drive back was a blur. My mind replayed the encounter, analyzing every detail, searching for clues. The man's face was vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place him. His urgency, however, was undeniable. He hadn't just been warning me; he'd been pleading with me.

Upon reaching the mansion, I found Jaxon in the library, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a quiet intensity. He looked up as I entered, his eyes searching mine.

"Aurora," he said, his voice low and serious. "What happened? You look… shaken."

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The man's warning echoed in my mind, ‘Don't tell anyone you saw me.’ But Jaxon… he was different. He was… my Alpha.

I showed him the crumpled piece of paper. "I met someone at the clinic," I explained, my voice trembling slightly. "He said… he said they're looking for me."

He took the paper, his eyes scanning the address. His expression remained unreadable, but his grip on the paper tightened. "Redwood Creek," he murmured, a hint of recognition in his voice. "This… this is significant."

He stood up abruptly, his usual composure shattered. "Aurora," he said, his voice grave, "I think we need to talk about Amelia."

A chill ran down my spine. His words were unsettling, hinting at a connection between Amelia's condition and this mysterious threat. He continued, his voice low and measured, "Amelia's… situation is more complicated than we thought. Far more complicated."

He revealed a truth so shocking, so unexpected, that it left me breathless. Amelia hadn't been the victim of a random act of violence. She hadn't stumbled onto something she shouldn't have. Amelia had been a pawn in a much larger game, a game involving powerful players, dangerous secrets, and a conspiracy that reached far beyond the confines of our seemingly safe world. The insurgents, it turned out, were just one small piece of a much larger, more sinister puzzle. And I, unwittingly, was now a central player.

The revelation left me reeling. The gnawing uncertainty in my gut had morphed into a terrifying certainty. I was in grave danger. And the fight for Amelia's life was only the beginning.

'Amelia... please wake up. I need you. I can't bear this waiting, this agonizing uncertainty. Every tick of the clock feels like an eternity. I keep replaying the last time I saw her, searching for clues, for some sign that could explain this. But there's nothing. Just the terrifying emptiness of the unknown.'