Alpha's Prey

Chapter 3 US

I was still plagued with fear that I'd let Kieran Orion slip away despite having returned to sea the

second time. But I'd surveyed the place and hadn't picked up any strange scent anywhere. Well,

except a faint, unfamiliar scent which Salome had identified as one from the numerous blood we'd

shed, yet why did I feel this way?

"I'll say it again, I think you're just being paranoid." Salome answered right back at me, as she took a

sip of her cocktail."Probably," I sighed half heartedly. If that's the only thing that'll help me sleep well tonight, or I'll be at

the sea till dawn, I thought. "But what if we...."

"Hold on a minute," Salome hushed, cutting me off abruptly, and raising to her feet. She was looking

into the distance, but I couldn't tell who'd caught her attention.

"Where are you going?" I asked, recognizing the heated moves.

"It's the guy over there. How do I look?"

The question had me staring in disbelief. I mean, Salome was never concerned about what she wore.

"You look….pretty, as always." I stuttered, and she smiled nervously before swerving away.

I followed her with my eyes until she was lost in the crowd. Then, I slumped back on my seat. I was all

alone again with my thoughts, and my fear, but not for so long. The sight of the man at the counter in

a blue shirt and sparkling silver earrings stilled all echoes of fear. I'd never seen him before, was he

new to Cold Crescent?

As if by a work of magic, the man’s eyes swept the room to where I sat, and I felt my skin tingle

sweetly. I felt so good that I opted to bask in it. No one I'd met had ever made me feel this way just by

staring at me like this man, but I wasn't about to let my guard down.

Reluctantly, I drew my eyes away from him, focusing on the dancers in the hall, but I couldn't keep my

gaze away from him for long. Neither could he. It felt like we were drawn to each other, moth to

flame, because soon, he was snaking his way through the room to where I sat. I was on fire.

***

“Hi,” a strange, masculine voice sang in my ears, and goosebumps itched my skin. I knew it was him,

it had to be.

“I noticed you've been staring at me.” he finished, taking his seat beside me.

I wanted to act cool, but the moment I stared into those jade green eyes, I felt lost in them. They were

so pure, so divine. And his cherry lips looked full and ripe. What would it feel like to kiss them?

We were sitting close to each other now that I barely knew what to say. I felt enchanted. When I

broke free from his spell, I knew I had to play with my head.

“I never said you could sit,” I seethed, feigning disapproval.“Well, I thought I could ease myself beside the pretty lady. It's not everyday a gorgeous woman looks

in my direction.” He replied, smiling sweetly.

The man was an advanced flirt with his sweet mouth and demeanor. It wasn't his fault that I was

already falling.

“What do they call you?” I asked, when I found my voice.

“Christian. Christian Paul.” He answered, his eyes gleaming brightly.

“You bear such a sweet name, pity you don't deserve it.”

"I'm flattered," he croaked. "You can't say that for sure when you don't even know me."

"I don't want to."

"But I want to," he quickly interrupted. His eyes were feasting lustfully on mine as were mine into his.

"Give me the chance to get to know you. I can't let such a pretty woman slip out of my hand." He

whispered with longing right into my ears.

Again, goosebumps spread across my skin, but this time, my core gushed out fountains. The man

was irresistible, and I saw myself walk out with him, in my head. I saw where it was going and had

the power to stop it, but I didn't. Couldn't. The moment I left with him, there was no going back. I

wasn't about to dance on the brink of danger, so I snapped out of those sensual thoughts, and

looked reality in the face.

"Slip out of your hand? Like, what am I? A trophy?"

"Not just any trophy, the one every man would kill to win."

He's slimy. Play safe, I cautioned myself, as a cynical smirk appeared on my face.

"Nice try, Stranger, but I think you should try the girl over there.” I said, motioning to a woman who

seemed desperate for attention two tables away from us.

Christian followed the direction of my finger and c****d his head to look, but his eyes returned,

disappointment clouding them.

“Come on, great men go for great women." He whispered, scooching closer now.

“So you're saying she doesn't suit your taste?"

“I'm only saying you're the most desirable woman in this room to me."“I like your smart mouth, but that's how far you can get with me. Do you dance?"

“There's only one way to find out.” Christian answered with a voice so husky as he led me to the

dance floor.

****

"Alpha Willow's here," Adolph announced, and everyone stood up, and stretched to their full length.

I made my way down the sea of asphalt to the sandy layer of the woods, just below a huge cedar

where two captains crouched with their eyes surveying a deep hollow in the earth.

"What's the condition like?" I asked, walking past the squad of men standing at attention.

"We discovered an underground tunnel that runs approximately two thousand meters northwest

from here." Captain Aidan asked, rising up from the hollow.

It was a small hole, just big enough for a man to fit through. "An army tactic," I muttered inaudibly. I

didn't understand all their methods, but I recognized their camouflage technique.

"Where does it lead?" I asked, crouching to survey the depth of the hole.

It was quite deep. And as far as I was concerned, it led to the river and beyond, but to where?

"We can't tell for now, but our team will get to work immediately." Adolph answered, turning to Aidan.

They both nodded, silently communicating their intentions to each other.

"No need for that," I muttered, punctuating whatever it was they'd planned. "Prepare the drone. Now!"

"Yes, alpha," Captain Aidan replied, and gave the order for his men to get the machinery immediately.

"When was this discovered?" I asked while his men delayed.

"This morning, around five forty-five." Aidan answered, flipping through an investigation script.

"Did you notice anything else?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the tunnel.

"Not exactly."

"Look at this," I gasped, inviting the men over. "How long do you think this is since this tunnel was

dug?"

"Five days," the two men chorused in unison.

"Bingo! It can only mean one thing," I said, rousing to my feet. "We've slept for too long. Dark moon

pack will stop at nothing until they've brought us down."

"What if this isn't them?" Adolph asked, sceptically. I knew he was scared I might be going to war with

the wrong pack, but I wasn't. An alpha always knows where the enemy resides.

"It has to be." I seethed, staring into the distance.

"So, what do we do now?" Aidan asked, putting his hands behind him.

"Until we can prove where this leads, announce a ban all over our territory."

"Like a curfew?""Yes."

"Anything else?"

"Seal the gates, and every transportation route. Including the sea ports and market places." I

instructed, as I began to make my way down to the river.

"Make sure no one leaves nor enters this town for the next three days."