Approaching Alpha Zeke Sterne

Chapter 6: Smart, Bold, and Beautiful

“Joshua!" I called as I got close to the garden, breathless from the run.

No one responded.

I halted in my tracks and scanned the empty space where he had been. He was no longer there. Disappointment bubbling up inside me and for a moment, I even questioned if it was just my imagination.

As my heart rate calmed down, I let out a long breath and rolled my eyes at myself. Even if I caught up to him, it wasn't like I had much to say anyway—except for returning the flask to him.

Crap! The flask. Jane still had it!

I smacked my own forehead. Before I worry about what to say to Joshua, I needed to get the flask back.

I ran back to the pack mansion, where Jane's birthday party would be held. Luckily, she wasn't too difficult to find—her whiney voice echoing through the open window. First-floor VIP lounge it was.

“Ugh, this dress just doesn't sit right on me. It bunches up all weird when I sit down!" she said to her maid, “And this makeup, it's not nearly dramatic enough. I want to look stunning, not subdued! We need to fix this, now."

“Also, my hair! It's just too flat today. I asked for volume, waves that make a statement. This looks like I just rolled out of bed…"

What a drama queen.

I rolled my eyes as I scanned the room until I spotted Joshua's flask sitting on a table in the far corner of the room.

Slipping into the shadow of a bush outside of the window, I found a hiding spot where I could keep on what was going on in the room. I crouched down and waited for an opportunity to retrieve the flask.

Jane's complaint finally stopped when her father, Beta Allen, walked in. He stood beside her, pride written all over his face.

“Oh my sweet baby girl, how gorgeous you look!"

Jane's beamed under the attention from her father. “Really, do I look okay, Daddy?"

“Of course, of course! You look fabulous, my sweet girl!" Beta Allen said, “Well, now that you're turning 21, it's time for you to find a good man. Whoever marries you will surely be the luckiest guy in the world."

“Daddy, you are just saying this to make me happy!" she gushed, turning to her father, her tone was still whiny, but she was certainly in a much better mood now.

Beta Allen chuckled, and a mysterious smirk climbed up his face. “No, I'm just telling the truth. In fact, a very prominent young man has asked for your hand."

Jane's eyes widened. "Really? Who is he?"

Beta Allen laughed and lightly tapped the tip of her nose. “Patience is virtue. You're acting like a schoolgirl now. Trust me, you're going to love him!"

“Who is he, Daddy? Tell me, please!" she begged, tugging at Beta Allen's arm.

Finally, he couldn't resist her pleading and lowered his voice, whispering into her ear. Her expression shifted to one of disbelief and joy. She nearly shrieked with excitement. "Really, Daddy? Oh Goddess, really him?"

Beta Allen nodded his head and coaxed her, “Now you just need to be patient and wait for his proposal at the party!"

“Then what are we waiting for?" Jane grabbed Beta Allen's hand and hurried out of the room. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Whoever marries this spoiled girl certainly wouldn't be the luckiest man. Quite the opposite, he most likely would be quite unfortunate. I was just curious who this “prominent young man" was?

Anyway, now that the father-daughter pair had left the room, seizing the opportunity, I jumped through the window and snatched the flask from the table. But just as I turned to leave, the lock on the door clicked.

Shit, I was too far away from the window to jump out!

With no other choice, I darted into the nearby closet, holding my breath as the room door opened the same time as the closet door was shut.

Peering through the tiny gap of the closet, I recognized the man who walked in—it was none other than Alexander Merrick.

His gaze briefly lingered on the closet, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, as if he could see through it and knew I was inside. I held my breath.

Did he hear me when I shut the closet just now?

Thank goodness two more people, a man and a woman, entered the room behind him, diverting his attention to them.

“Alex, you need to grow up!" exclaimed the middle-aged but elegantly dressed woman.

“Mom, I've been grown up for years, and that's exactly why you and Dad need to leave me alone!" Alexander replied stiffly.

The woman let out a sigh and her tone softened. “Son, this is about more than just your personal desires. This marriage will secure our alliance with the Allens. You have a responsibility to your family. Why can't you understand that?"

“I WILL fulfill my responsibilities, and in fact, I have been doing that! Have you forgotten that our family business has grown more than 50% over the past three years? But you can't force me into a loveless marriage!" Alexander shot back and added after a pause, “Do you think that's even fair to Jane?"

“Life isn't always fair, Alex," his mother replied. “Sometimes we must make sacrifices. As for Jane, I've heard from her father that she is more than ecstatic about the arrangement. She's a lovely girl, and with her lineage, she'll bear strong heirs as well. What's so bad about it?"

Alexander took a deep breath in and looked his mother in the eye.

“Mother, am I nothing but a tool for political gain or breeding purposes?" Alexander challenged, his voice cracking with frustration and bitterness. “I can't believe you guys planned to trap me in a painful union for the rest of my life."

“How do you know it's painful without even giving it a try?" His mother hadn't given up on persuading him yet.

Alexander opened his mouth to argue, but the other man in the room cut him off sharply, “Enough!"

I assumed he was Alexander's father based on the resemblance between the two men. He continued, “The decision has been made. You will marry Jane, and if you're unhappy about it, you always have the option to divorce her after producing an heir!"

I was appalled. Clearly, to Alexander's father, the whole thing was a mere transaction and his son's feeling really wasn't a factor for his consideration. It was repulsive.

I bet Alexander felt the same as me based on his expression. He sneered back, “Dad, even though I've been with many women, I still uphold certain standards. I'm not a total scumbag, you know."

Well, at least Alexander wasn't a complete jerk. Now I felt a bit bad for him.

“Let's make this clear," Alexander's father said, “You can do this the easy way or the hard way, but it's going to happen. Now wipe that attitude off your face and come on out. The Allens are waiting for you to make the announcement. Don't keep the lady waiting."

His voice carried a final note of authority. With that, he stormed out of the room. Alexander's mother patted Alexander on the shoulder before following her husband, leaving Alexander alone in the room.

He inhaled deeply and sat down on the couch, his expression unreadable. The room fell into dead silence all of a sudden.

Wedged tightly in the closet, my discomfort grew with each passing second. The confined space left no room to adjust my position, causing my arms to go numb. As I shifted slightly, trying to alleviate the pressure, a sharp, tingling sensation of pins and needles raced through my limbs, making me wince.

'Please, just go away already,' I silently prayed. I didn't want to be stuck in this damn closet anymore.

As if answering my prayer, Alexander stood up. But instead of heading towards the door, he was walking straight toward me!

“Come out, I know you're in there," he said, stopping right in front of the closet. His eyes narrowed, his voice lower than usual.

Chills ran down my spine—my instincts warned me that the man on the other side of the closet wasn't just some easy-going playboy as he appeared to be.

Thinking back to earlier, when he caught me falling from the second floor, I realized something important. There was quite some distance between us then, yet he managed to get to where I was and catch me mid-air, that meant his speed and strength must be on par with elite warriors.

In addition, anyone who could successfully manage and lead a large family business certainly couldn't be just a clueless rich brat.

People like him were dangerous. I was sure that if I didn't reveal myself, he would not hesitate to attack in order to eliminate any potential threats as he saw fit.

“Alright, alright!" I burst out of my hideout, hands up in surrender. “I'm sorry! I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just got startled and—"

Before I could finish, his hand flashed out and gripped my throat. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, filled with a menacing threat.

I froze, remembering my training: when caught at a disadvantage, cooperation would lower your opponent's guard.

“It's... you?" After a tense few seconds, recognition flickered across his face. His intimidating demeanor quickly shifted to a playful, charming smile. “The beauty from Heaven."

Stunned by his swift change, I managed, “Yes, it's me. Could you please let go now?"

“My apologies," he released his grip, “How rude of me to treat such a lovely lady this way. Now, tell me, what's a beauty like you doing in this tiny closet?"

As light-hearted as he might have sounded, I sensed an interrogation undertone in his voice. He was still suspicious of me. If I didn't provide a convincing reason, he might perceive me as a security threat and attack again.

Alexander Merrick was not who he appeared to be. He was far more dangerous than he led people to believe.

I decided honesty was my best approach, so I explained, “Jane took a personal item from me, and I decided to steal it back. I had just retrieved it when you walked in, so I had no choice but to hide."

He seemed to be surprised by my confession, then his expression shifted to an amused smirk. “Did you just admit to committing theft?"

“Yes, I did," I shrugged, “but based on your conversation with your parents and your relationship with Jane, I figured you wouldn't turn me in."

He paused for a couple of seconds, then burst into laughter. “I guess you're right. I must say, you're really something. It's rare to encounter a girl as smart and bold as you."

Suddenly, his hand shot out toward my throat again. What the hell?! His mood swings were faster than a flipped page!

Instinctively, I tried to dodge him. This time, I had been on high alert. What surprised me was, as well trained as I was, I was still too slow.

Yet, his hand didn't clasp around my throat; instead, his finger grazed my lower cheek and lifted my chin.

What the?!

He leaned in closer, chuckled softly, and whispered, “Interesting. Smart, bold, and... beautiful."

His minty, warm breath swept across my face, causing my body to tense. Alarm bells rang in my mind.

What was he up to?

Just then, the door to the room swung open again.