ALPHA'S ETERNAL OBSESSION

Escaping monsters

Chapter 5: Escaping monsters

Camilla's POV

"Camilla!" Caroline's voice sliced through the air, snapping me back to reality.

My heart leapt to my throat.

But instead of stepping away from the man who was determined to get me killed, I clung tighter, like he could really, truly save me.

I still couldn't comprehend how Arthur would so easily let me go with Malakai. Everything was happening too fast, but something felt wrong. I could feel it.

From Arthur's words, it sounded like he had sold me off, but I was still shocked that he would ever let me escape his grasp, no matter the price.

"Do not ever call her that again." Malakai's voice was pure steel as he warned Caroline after she called me a slut, sending a chill through me.

His Alpha aura seeped out again, but he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms protectively around me, like he wanted to shield me from it.

He was defending me. Fighting for me. No one ever had. But this stranger.

Right then and there, I made my choice... to stick with him and plan my escape later, if we made it out of this place alive.

“Guards!” Caroline shrieked, her voice cracking as her whole frame trembled. I had never seen her so afraid; her face had gone almost ashen, lips quivering. Yet the guards didn’t move, didn’t so much as blink. They stood rooted like stone, and that unsettled me even more.

Something was definitely off.

"I'll have to carry you now, Camilla. Don't be afraid. Just trust me," whispered Malakai.

Trust him?

He swept me off the ground before I could even ponder on the words, earning a startled gasp.

His firm hands cradled me against the warmth of his muscular chest. I did my best to remain still, reminding myself it would soon be over, perhaps.

Caroline's eyes widened. "Arthur! Where's my son? Why aren’t any of these useless fools doing their jobs?”

A gust of air slammed into me before I could register what she did next.

Goddess, what was happening?

Our location had changed. So fast that everything became a blur, rushing past.

I shut my eyes, burying my face in this stranger's chest as the breeze became too much. It felt like we were floating. Not walking or running. It was strange, and I should have been terrified, yet somehow... it found it exhilarating.

We finally slowed. When I dared to peek, we were already outside the pack house. Three sleek black cars stood waiting, flanked by men dressed in the same dark shade. They looked as though they had been expecting us.

Malakai had planned everything. That much was clear. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

I lifted my gaze to his face, serious now, carved with resolve, yet no less beautiful. Without hesitation, he marched toward the first car, its door already held open by a brown-haired man.

“How… how did we get here?” I asked, my head spinning.

I knew for certain we hadn’t walked. Wolves possessed speed, yes, but only in their animal form. This man—what was he?

Malakai guided me into the car with careful hands, then cupped my face with a featherlight touch. I flinched, earning the faintest frown. His piercing blue eyes met mine, and my heart stuttered.

“I’ll explain everything soon. For now, please, trust me. Alright?”

Trust him? It was the second time he had asked me that.

But what choice did I have? This was my only chance to escape. From Arthur. From the monsters.

Reluctantly, I nodded.

“Good. You’re doing just fine,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath, willing myself not to feel. His lips against my forehead felt like needles pricking across my skin. My chest tightened with ache, not from longing but from the reminder of how much I hated being touched.

I sensed his gaze linger before he finally leaned away and closed the door. Only then did I open my eyes.

My eyelids felt heavy, though not with sleep. A tear slipped free, and I wiped it away quickly.

Malakai entered a moment later, sliding into the seat beside me. I instinctively edged closer to the door. He said nothing.

“Logan, let’s move,” he ordered the driver.

And just like that, we were leaving Moonlight—leaving my worst nightmare behind, if only for now. Leaving the monsters who wore familiar faces.

It felt unreal, like a dream too fragile to last. Yet it was happening. A bittersweet ache, tangled with a strange excitement, pressed heavy against my chest. I was finally leaving. But I had no idea what waited at the end of this journey.

We drove for what felt like forever, wrapped in silence. But for the first time, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn't suffocating. It was peaceful. And that peace, that fragile flicker of hope creeping into my chest the farther we left Moonlight behind, was what truly terrified me.

This man had bought me. My suffering wasn’t over. If anything, it was only beginning.

I leaned my head against the window, trying too hard not to fall asleep, though every bone in my body felt heavy with exhaustion.

I could feel Malakai’s eyes on me, quietly watching as though I were the most curious thing he’d ever seen.

I could not blame him. He had probably never seen a woman so battered, so broken.

I blinked again and again, still fighting sleep. But at last, nature won. My lids grew heavier until they closed. Just before I lost complete control, a hand pulled me gently. I tried to resist, but my body was too weak, too heavy. My strength slipped away.

My head came to rest against something soft, and then darkness swallowed everything.

======

I stirred awake to a soft light. Yawning, I paused. Then lay still as my eyes scanned the unfamiliar room.

Strange ceiling. Gold curtains. Cream-colored walls. Air thick with luxury.

I turned my head slowly, and my eyes landed on a man in black pyjamas, lying at the extreme end of the king-sized bed. One wrong move and he’d fall off. His eyes were shut, but I doubted he was asleep.

I tried to remember what had happened before this moment.

Alpha Malakai.

I gasped and jerked up.

His eyes snapped open and he sat up too immediately, turning toward me with a look of concern. A few strands of hair fell over his face in a messy, yet effortlessly gorgeous way.

"How did I get here? Where is this place?" I asked, looking around the grand room, eyes wide.

He touched the small of my back, and I flinched, shifting away before I could stop myself. He pulled his hand back, but kept looking at me in that way that made it harder to breathe.

"You’re in Ironclaw Pack. And this is my room," he explained gently. "You fell asleep on the way."

I gave a small nod, letting his words sink in. Did we have to share a bed?

"You were too far gone by the time we arrived. I couldn’t bring myself to wake you. But you must be hungry. What should I get?"

I rubbed my stomach. "What time is it?"

He picked up his phone from the small table beside the bed and checked.

"It’s 4 a.m."

My eyes widened. I had really slept for so long. That was a luxury I wasn’t used to.

"You must still want to sleep. I shouldn’t disturb that," I said quietly.

A slight crease formed on his forehead, but it didn’t take away from how good he looked.

"Why don’t you let me worry about that, Lily. Mm?"

A soft flutter threaded my stomach at the sound of that endearment again. I remembered the first time he’d used it—in Arthur’s room. This all still felt too much like a dream. I didn’t want to believe it yet. Maybe I’d just enjoy it until I woke up.

Malakai stood up, and my eyes followed him. I didn't want to stare, but it was difficult.

"You still haven’t told me what you feel like eating," he said again, slipping his big feet into a pair of black slides.

I swallowed. "Anything is fine."

"Do you eat snakes?"

I grimaced. "Snakes?"

They ate snakes here?

"You said anything," he replied, a sly smirk dancing on his lips. He had been joking. I let out a relieved breath.

"It’s late and I don’t know what you have. Maybe cereal. Cornflakes will be fine."

"Alright. I’ll be back in a minute. Try not to miss me."

And just like that, my lips curled into a smile. Small, quivering... but mine. My first genuine smile in a long time.