The Alpha's Pride

6

I sat in silence for a few moments, the nearby chatter quickly overtaking the quiet between us.

“But. I don't understand. If you dislike us so much, how did you even meet mom in the first place? And besides, you've never accepted anything this big before. Why now? You always said you didn't want to interfere. You say that it's not your business. I know Mom and I mean a lot to you, but this is a lot. So, why this? Why not just let mom handle it? You've put things in her hands before. "

Noir looked at me dumbfounded. He wasn't expecting me to ask so many questions. He expected me to go along with it, no questions asked, just as I always had. This time, though, nothing made sense. I couldn't just go with it. The entire thing was so dangerous and essential that I couldn't wrap my head around it. He was training me, a barely adult with no special abilities, to save the species. He didn't even ask for Mom's assistance. He didn't ask for her powers, her elite force, or even information. He just chose me.

"Well." He started, immediately cutting himself off. "We can't talk about it here. We'll discuss it when we get home. After all. Nothing is secure, especially not here." His eyes grazed over the people behind me, his face and body completely relaxed while his eyes were fully intense. I sighed in defeat, looking down at the old-style table."

"Here you are sugar." The waitress placed the food on the table in front of us, flashing us a bright smile.

"Thanks", Noir and I smiled at her at the same time. Noir turned to me as soon as she left the table, nodding his head down at our plates.

"Eat up. You've been training hard. You need all the calories you could possibly get right now."

"Oh yeah. Right.

???????? P.O.V

I sipped my coffee, attempting to hide my dismay. After all, I had barely even received half a page of notes. My knuckles whitened, gripping the ballpoint pen tightly between my fingers. If only he hadn't shut that kid up. I could've gotten so much more information. I had been attempting to follow Noir for weeks now, and this was the last place he had been seen. Now, he was in the restaurant speaking to some kid. They seemed to know one another well. I quickly scribbled a couple of guesses about their relationship.

Father and son?

Good friends?

Frustrated, I scratched out the second one I had written. They had way too much of an age gap to just be friends. The kid looked to have just graduated high school. His face still contained innocence and naivety. Two traits had left Noir long ago. It simply was not possible for them to not be somehow connected. They both looked completely exhausted, with the kid unable to hide the dirt on his clothes. An idea popped into my head.

Mentor?

That could be what was happening, though. With the kids limp, it didn't seem to be going very well. I shifted in my seat, crossing my leg over the other. I repositioned my dress, pulling my raven hair back behind my shoulders. I had to focus, but he couldn't know that I was watching him too much, he'd get suspicious. This was something none of us wanted. I returned my gaze to the large novel in front of me, with the small notebook nestled neatly into the spine of the book. That man, whoever he is, is a mystery. A mystery that I was going to solve. I didn't have a lot to go off of. But thanks to that kid, I now have a first name and I'm going to run with it. I kept my head down, going over my notes just in case I missed anything. Maybe I would be able to follow him back to his hideout. The thought excited me. I could get so much more information. I might even be able to find something juicy! Just what I've been looking for. I lifted my gaze to check in on them. They were nowhere to be seen. I knew I should've changed before I went out to eat. Even if I had just gotten into town. f**k.

Oliver's P.O.V

"Why did we leave so quickly?" I questioned as we ran quickly through the forest towards the cabin. Our movements were incredibly jagged. My feet felt like they were splitting at the seams. After all, it hadn't even been a day since I learned to run the way he had. Yet, he commanded me angrily to follow him, and I had no choice but to use it in order to keep up. He was like a blur in front of me. His movements are smooth yet sharp. He hopped across rocks and branches gracefully. Every once in a while, he glanced behind us. His eyes scanned like a predator looking for his prey.

"You mean you didn't see the woman in the diner? even if you hadn't begun your stealth training, you should've seen her as soon as you came in." He scoffed, skidding to a stop at the back of the cabin we were staying in. I followed closely behind, plopping down on one of the lawn chairs before my legs gave out from the pain. I attempted to think back about the restaurant and go over each person I saw while I was there. I couldn't see it. Everyone in that restaurant looked completely normal and familiar to me. Until I remembered her. She was sitting at the counter with nothing but a coffee and a book. She was not someone I had seen before. I shrugged her off, thinking she must've been one of the new residents I simply hadn't met yet. But Noir clocked her immediately. He knew she was listening to us. I looked up to Noir, who was leaning against the cabin, watching the forest around us for any inkling she had followed.

"How did you know?" I quietly questioned him, the wheels turning in my head.

"It's a small town. You didn't know her. I knew immediately from the look on your face. Besides, she was wearing a tight bodycon dress and 6-inch black heels. There's no one around here to wear that, especially at a diner. Even if there was somewhere to wear it, she wouldn't have been alone. She would have been with a partner or friend. Both of which she didn't have." He spoke as if it was obvious, and yet. I didn't pick out a single thing he did. Of course, I have seen it now that he had pointed it out. I couldn't help being angry with myself for not picking up on something so important. "Relax." His voice softened, putting his hand on my shoulder in an attempt to make me feel better. Noir had never been very good at comforting people, but even that small action made me feel much better. "You're just a kid. You haven't even begun training yet. That's why I'm here, isn't it?"

The cabin was dimly lit, and the large candle on the coffee table was beginning to lessen its flame. Noir was sitting in the old armchair going over tomorrow's plans for my training. Papers were piled around him on the floor as well as on the coffee table. I sat at the kitchen table, resting my legs on the opposite chair. The sharp pain now turned to a throb. Noir said I would be healed by tomorrow, I just had to avoid being on my feet. A quick wrapping at the door made us both lift our eyes from what we were doing.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Noir asked me with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"No. Did you?"

"Absolutely not. Here" Noir stood, pulling one of his hunting knives from beneath the couch, and handing it to me for protection. He moved to the door, peeking out of the curtain that covered the window of the door.

"It's not the restaurant woman."

"Then who is it?"

Noir unlocked the door, pulling it open. The shriek that hit my ears immediately answered my question for me.

"Olliekins!"