Alpha - Savage Intent

5 (SHADE POV)

Waking up in a tiny living room on an even smaller loveseat wasn't how I expected to start my day. I was hanging off the edge, my body aching in protest. As I slowly sat up, glimpses of last night flooded my mind – Teagan's gentle hands, her firm voice, and an odd, vivid memory of the moon Goddess laughing in front of the moon. 'Mate' flickered in my mind again, a whisper that seemed to echo in the small room.

I grabbed the blanket, pulling it up to my face. Her scent was on it, enveloping me. 'Mate,' the thought came louder, more insistent. But that was impossible, wasn't it? She was human... at least, she seemed like it. She smelled human, acted human...

But then, her fearlessness struck me. She had positioned herself between two large, brawling guys without a hint of fear. Was that normal for a human? I wasn't so sure anymore.

Sitting back, I held the blanket close, my gaze drifting to where she slept. The door to her bedroom was open, a silent invitation or maybe a sign of trust? I watched her, her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of peaceful sleep. There was an undeniable pull, something that went beyond simple attraction. It felt primal, deep-rooted.

I must have watched her for over an hour, lost in thought, before my throat's dryness became unbearable. Standing up, I tried to tiptoe into her tiny kitchen, needing a drink. But my coordination was still off. I tripped over the edge of a rug, sending a chair and a plant crashing down in a noisy heap around me.

As I rolled over, I saw her standing in the doorway, her beauty striking me like a physical blow. She was a vision, her hair tousled from sleep, her eyes wide with concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked, obviously worried over my erratic state on her kitchen floor.

I shrugged, feeling clumsy and out of place. "Yeah, I just needed a drink," I managed to say, my voice rough.

The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on me. Here I was, a grown man sprawled on her kitchen floor amid the wreckage of a fallen plant and chair. But all I could think about was how beautiful she looked at that moment, standing there in her pajamas, concern etched on her face.

Concern for me.

She just stood there for a moment, taking in the scene. There was a softness in her eyes, a warmth that made something inside me shift. 'Mate,' whispered through my mind again, but I pushed the thought away.

This was too much, too fast. And yet, as I looked up at her, I couldn't help but feel that there was something extraordinary about this moment, about her.

As I scrambled to regain my composure, Teagan walked over with a mixture of concern and a hint of amusement in her eyes. She offered her hand to help me up. "Okay, big guy, there are better places to sit in here than on the floor," she said with a gentle tease in her voice.

I took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. My body tensed and relaxed at that moment, a strange calmness settling over me. As I stood, I held onto her hand a moment longer than really necessary, a connection sparking between us that subconsciously, I didn't want to give up. Realizing this, I hastily let go, muttering a quick "Sorry" before turning to the sink. "Where are the glasses?"

She pointed towards the fridge. "There are water bottles in there."

I opened the fridge and grabbed one, turning around to find her standing right behind me. I jumped slightly, and she quickly said, "Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you could keep your balance."

As if on cue, my balance faltered, and she reached out, her hand landing on my chest right over my heart. That simple touch unleashed a flood of memories in my mind, each a prayer to the moon goddess for love, connection, and something to get me through the relentless challenges in my life. I saw myself at different ages, enduring the countless beatings from my father, each time silently pleading for an escape, for someone to understand me.

The barrage of memories left me reeling, and through it all, the word 'mate' echoed in my mind. This time, I didn't try to push it away. Something about Teagan, her presence, her touch, resonated with those deep-seated desires and prayers.

Was it possible? Could she be the one the moon goddess had intended for me?

Teagan's hand never left me as she guided me back to the couch, her touch shifting to my arm, but the connection remained unbroken. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant, a lifeline in a world that seemed to be spinning out of control.

I sank onto the couch, taking a long drink from the water bottle. The cool liquid was soothing, a brief respite from the uneasiness churning inside me. Teagan pulled the office chair over, sitting across from me, her eyes never leaving my face.

There was a silence between us, comfortable yet heavy with unspoken questions. Finally, she broke it. "You know, I don't even know your name."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Shade," I replied.

"Is that a nickname?" she asked.

"Nope, that's my actual name."

She nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. "Where are you from? I know almost everyone in this town, and I've never seen you. Or your friend from yesterday, for that matter."

I hesitated for a moment, considering how much to reveal. "I live on the land across the street," I finally said.

Her brow furrowed slightly. "Oh, I thought that was like a nature preserve or something?"

"Well, it is," I stammered. "But my family are some of the... caretakers of it."

She leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "Well, your Dad doesn't seem like a very nice guy. Not the kind of guy that would take care of a nature preserve. Then beat his son..."

The memories of the night before, the fight with my Dad, it all came rushing back. "Yeah," I muttered.

Then it hit me. The crash, the sound of metal scraping. "Oh s**t, your car... I hit it." The realization made my stomach churn.

She waved it off, though I could see the concern in her eyes. "Yeah, you did. But it was only scratched up a little."

I clenched the water bottle tighter, the plastic crinkling under my grip. "I will get it fixed," I said quickly, the weight of my actions pressing down on me. Here I was, in her apartment, after crashing into her life and her car. And yet, she was taking care of me, showing me kindness I scarcely felt I deserved.

Teagan didn't say anything for a moment, just watched me with an expression that was hard to read. Then she sighed. "Look, Shade, I don't know what's happening with you and your family, but you're safe here. However long you need."

Her simple and sincere words pierced through the fog in my mind.

Safe.

It wasn't a feeling I was used to, but sitting there with Teagan watching over me, I felt it. A sense of safety, a moment of peace in the storm that was my life. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't alone in the darkness.

There was a light, however faint, and it was sitting right across from me.