The Alpha CEO's Human Mate

Chapter 3

WREN'S POV

I WAS seated on the right window seat of the running bus, gazing at the splendid view of sky and sea touching each other and feeling the cold breeze of air that passed through the open windows.

It has been a week since that fire occurred. Unfortunately, I recovered nothing. That house was very special to me. It was the only treasure that my parents had left to me. We used to be complete there until I was left with grandpa when they died in a car accident when I was four. But grandpa left me, too, afterward. Most of the things inside the house were made of wood, even the house itself. My mom used to like a vintage theme or motif, so our house was made of wood and the inside had so many wooden things painted with colors that fitted a vintage theme. So it was too easy for the fire to eat them all. I lost everything. How unfortunate I was!

If you were to ask how do I support or provide for myself? I have living allowances from my scholarship and I am earning money through writing stories online. That's how I support myself. It isn't that big, though, but it is enough for my needs. I could live by myself. My parents and grandpa might be always watching me from above. They might be so proud of me... that I managed to live independently.

After that fire, I stayed at Uncle Roman's abode for a week. He had heard the news and immediately called me. He told me to stay at their place. I had no choice but to agree since I had nowhere to go. I had even tried calling Jeff after the incident but I couldn't contact him anymore. He probably changed his phone number. He was so bad. I was still feeling a pain in my heart. I couldn't get over with him so easily.

Another bad thing was that it was too much to stay at Uncle Roman's. He, his wife, and their two sons had always ordered me to do this and that. I did all the chores and other things they ordered me to do: cleaning the house, cooking food, doing the dishes, washing their clothes, running some errands, doing the homework of the two brothers who were both in junior high school, and some more. They didn't even help me. Plus, all of them were bossy.

I got too tired. And I felt more hurt. I cried silently every night. I couldn't even have a good sleep. Good thing God heard my prayer. He answered my prayer yesterday. I was still grateful that He never left me. I told myself that no matter what would happen to me, no matter how cruel life was, no matter what I was going or would go through, I would still live. I would bear the pain until I would feel numb. I just couldn't understand why I had to go through so much suffering and mishaps. I was torn into pieces already since I was young. When would this end? I was really hurt inside. People might see me smiling and happy, but I always cried at night.

"Uhm, hey. Are you fine?" I heard the guy next to me ask.

I looked at him, but I creased my forehead when he handed his navy blue handkerchief to me.

"You're crying," he said, voice husky. I could see the concern in his green eyes.

I was startled for a moment that I haven't noticed he was already wiping my cheeks with his handkerchief. I blinked a few times when he also wiped the liquid in my eyes. Only then did I realize that I have been crying all the while. I was too lost in thoughts that I failed to notice or feel the tears that fell from my eyes.

He handed his handkerchief to me again, making me blink two times. I was hesitant to take it first but in the end, I still did. I badly needed it after all.

"T-thank you," I told him, expressing my gratitude.

He gave me a half-smile.

I didn't know why but his gesture made me cry more. I looked away for him not to see me. I silently cried out the pain I felt in my broken heart on the handkerchief. I thought I was already okay since I had cried for a week every night, but it turned out my tears had not dried up yet. My tears seemed endless.

After a long while, I was feeling better somehow. That was then I heard the man speak again that made me look at him.

"Feeling better now?" he asked.

"I guess so..." I muttered.

"Uhm, may I know your name?" He scratched the back of his head. I wasn't sure but I thought he was shy about asking it.

I opened my mouth to reply but I closed it back when no word came out.

"Don't worry, I'm not bad. I just want to know your name. That's all." He smiled lightly.

It was the first time we saw each other—and the last time, maybe—so it was fine to say my name. And he didn't look harmful, though. "Wren."

"Wren," he said lowly, nodding slightly. "I'm Vhonn," he added, smiling.

I just noticed. He looked like a businessman. I wondered why he chose to ride in a bus rather than drive his luxurious car when it was very obvious from his expensive suit and gorgeous looks that he has so much money. He could afford anything. Maybe something happened. I shook my head from that thought. It was his choice anyway. Why did I get so interested in him all of a sudden when I didn't even know him?

"THANK you," I said to the bus driver after paying him One Hundred Ninety Pesos as fare. I then jumped out of the bus. While the bus was starting to run again, I took a last glance at the windows where I had been gazing almost all the while throughout the journey. And there I saw him who had just occupied my seat, looking at me. He smiled.

Vhonn.

The bus had gone away. That was then I found out I was still holding his handkerchief. I exhaled a sigh. We wouldn't meet again, anyway.

If you were to ask me where I would go now, it would be to the small wooden house given to me by my grandpa when he was still alive. The house was near the woods of Wubat. Grandpa died due to a brain tumor. He was a good grandpa. He was the last family I had, but then, he also left.

Yesterday when I was scanning the photos in my phone's gallery, I saw the photos of grandpa's old house. Only that time did I remember that he once offered me his small house near the woods of Wubat. But I declined his offer because I didn't want to live in that house if I was alone. But he still gave it to me, though, in case I wanted to live there.

And that was the answered prayer I had mentioned a while ago: the house my grandpa had given to me.

I smiled as I began to stride the way. I was only twelve the last time I came there, and I was with grandpa that time. I remembered I had to walk for about how many minutes before I could get there. The problem is that I am bad at directions. I couldn't recall the way. It was now 5:32 p.m. and I didn't know if I could get there before six in the evening would strike. I blew out a sigh, telling myself that everything would be alright.

"OH, no! Where the hell on earth am I?" I whined as I slumped to the grassy ground and leaned against a tree.

It was beyond six in the evening already, and I found myself in what looked like a forest. There were many trees I couldn't name. I couldn't even see the rest clearly because it was dark already. There were no homes along the way. I mean, there were few homes I'd seen when I passed by, but only near the main road which was where the bus had dropped me by. Then, before I got here, there were two ways I'd have to choose, but I forgot which way to take for me to find my grandpa's house.

I've chosen the right one instead, and I got here. I was trying to go back but I couldn't find the way anymore. How I wished I had chosen the left one. Maybe, I was there at home already.

I heaved a deep sigh. Oh, God!

My heart almost jumped out of my chest when my phone dinged that echoed in the forest. I got goosebumps all of a sudden. It terrified me.

I answered the call when I saw Uncle Roman's name on the screen. "Hello, Uncle."

"Are you in your apartment already?"

"Yes." I bit my lower lip at the lie I just made.

"Okay." He ended the call.

I sighed again. I didn't tell him about my grandpa's house. I only told him that I found an apartment already. So, there was no need for me to stay at their place. I didn't want him to know where I was. He was bad and I didn't like him. Anyone in Zamboanga Sibugay where I was living didn't know I was here in Wubat.

I got up, then tried to find my grandpa's house again. I was starting to feel scared when I heard some sounds of the animals, the rustling, the broken twigs, and the leaves. I was silently praying that no wild animals lived here, but I guess there were. I just wished they wouldn't see me.

I accidentally dropped my phone when I heard the thunder rumble and lightning struck. It'd rain. Oh, no!

"s**t! This isn't happening…" I whined lowly. Why am I so susceptible to bad luck at all times? It's too much.

I groped and searched for my phone. I couldn't lose it. Just when I found it, the rain was starting to pour.

THERE was a snarl I heard from where I was before, so I ran away in fear. I thought there are no dogs here, but it seemed like there are. Or maybe, that wasn't a dog. It might be another animal that sounded like a dog's snarl.

I didn't know how long I have been crying like a child—a lost child. I was terribly soaked in the rain. Plus, the thunder didn't stop rumbling, and lightning struck every time. I am always afraid at times like this. I didn't know what to do.

Lightning served as my light at the moment. I chose to not use my phone anymore. It might wear out, and I couldn't afford to buy a new phone if it would be damaged by the water. Good thing the rain now wasn't as heavy as before.

I gasped when I saw a protruding rock—where one, or two, could fit in there—a few meters away from me. I hurriedly ran there. I sat and huddled myself against the rock. Sighing, I still managed to flash a half-smile. I found a temporary refuge, finally.

It was so dreadful in the woods. I could die anytime. While trembling and sobbing, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my light jacket, but I felt something in the left pocket, so I took it out. I tried to peer at it, and right when the lightning struck again, I recognized what it was.

A calling card.

I took a look closer to it as I waited for the lightning's flash to clearly see and read the printed words.

I saw a logo which has the name of the company on it. Vrabe Technology was the company's name. I know that company. It is in the city of Wubat, but I didn't really know about the owner of it since I was focused on my schooling.

"Vhonn Davenport, CEO..." I whispered when I saw the name. My eyes grew wide when I remembered the guy next to me on the bus. Is this his? Why do I have his calling card?

I was startled when I suddenly heard a snarl in the nearby distance. I scanned my eyes around only to see a dog looking at me a few meters away. A dog?

I widened my eyes and stared at it clearly. I gasped. It's really a dog—a huge dog! How can a dog look so big? I mean, it's bigger than a human!

My heart was pounding like a hammer as I squeezed myself more against the rock behind me when the huge dog walked a few paces forward.

Is it going to pounce on me? Oh, my God! No!