Approaching Alpha Zeke Sterne

Chapter 3: I Still Don’t Know Your Name

*Zeke*

“Let go," I ordered.

“Sorry, but I can't!" she shot back, pulling me along. Her grip was surprisingly strong for a woman her size.

And her dress… no, this woman wasn't her. I shook my head, forcing myself to stop dwelling on my thoughts and focus on the situation at hand.

So, who the hell was this woman? Mira Forest? I'd never heard of her before. Did the council bring her in recently? Was she vying for my attention, just like other women?

After all these years, why couldn't the council just leave me the hell alone? My eyes turned cold. This wasn't what I had signed up for when I decided to skip dinner and enjoy some time alone.

However, just as I was about to yank my arm away from her grasp, she shoved both of us into a dense thicket. As soon as we got in, footsteps ran past us.

What the f**k was I doing here? Playing hide-and-seek with my guards in my own garden?! This was ludicrous, and I had no desire to be a part of.

I was about to step out and tell the guards to leave me alone when Mira Forest placed her finger against my lips and she leaned forward. A hint of subtle flora scent replaced the smell of crushed leaves and damp earth.

My eyes narrowed. If she dared to get closer, I swore I'd break her neck.

“Shhhh," she whispered, her warm amber eyes catching the silver moonlight, “If you don't want to get into trouble, then stay with me. Please."

What trouble could I possibly be in at my own home?

Before I could say anything else, the guards' footsteps faded, and her grip on my hand tightened once more. She darted forward, pulling me behind her as we weaved through the manicured hedges of the garden. Despite the absurdity, I found myself impressed by her agility. She moved swiftly, almost causing the guards to lose our trail, but there were too many of them.

Abruptly, she halted beside the newly constructed garden pavilion–a flat concrete structure designed to hold parties up to 100 people; one of William's pet projects while I was gone.

Why did she take us here?

“Get on top of the roof!" the girl urged, pulling out a rope and expertly hooking it onto a nearby tree branch.

I stared at her for a moment.

“You go first!" she urged, giving me a nudge. Half of me was seething with frustration, but the other half was oddly intrigued by this strange adventure. Without fully understanding why, I went ahead, scaling the wall and pulling myself up onto the concrete rooftop.

She was right behind me, and I watched as she quickly grabbed her rope just as another pair of guards sprinted past the pavilion below.

“Don't just stand there!" she whispered as she, again, grabbed my hand and pulled me down to sit next to her. “They'll see you!"

“Lost her," one of them grumbled. "She must be heading to the pack mansion. You guys, keep searching here. I'll go back and report to Miss Allen."

Miss Allen? Jane Allen? What did she have to do with all this?

The woman next to me let out a long breath. “We should be safe here for a little while."

I took the chance to shake off her hand, and put some space between us. “So… Now are you going to tell me what this is all about?"

“Huh?"

A gentle breeze lifted her hair and caused her dress to sway softly in the wind. The moonlight was bright, giving me a clear view of her.

Her dark, wavy hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and her warm amber eyes sparkled under the moon's glow. Unlike most of the women I saw, she didn't wear any makeup, but there was no denying she was pretty.

If her goal was to get my attention, well, she had certainly succeeded.

“What," I smirked, “You went through all that trouble and got me up here, didn't you? Go ahead, I'm listening."

“Oh, that!" She seemed to finally understand what I was asking. “First of all, please accept my apology. I'm really sorry to pull you into all this."

“Okay," I scoffed. She'd better get to the point fast. “What else?"

It was just a bit odd that... her tone was actually sincere, and there was a touch of innocence in her eyes.

“Secondly, I had to pull you away so that you don't get in trouble because of me," she explained, “Those guards would think you were helping me if they saw us together. I'm sorry that I dragged you along, but trust me, things would be much easier for you this way."

I frowned. I knew for a fact that even if the guards saw me, I would NOT be in trouble. So this girl really had no idea who I was? Or was she just putting on a show?

She continued, “I know it sounds crazy, but I was just trying to protect you, is all."

For a moment, I stared at her.

Protect me? How ridiculous! What made her think I would need protection from a girl like her?

However, this was…something new. So, I guess I had to play along.

“I don't get it. Why are they after you, anyway?" I asked.

She shrugged, “Who knows?"

I narrowed my eyes. “You'd better not lie to me. You've been trying to dodge the guards and if you're a security threat…"

“No, no, I'm not! I'm just a maid, you can ask Mrs. Feldman or the chef, they both know me." She waved her hands quickly. “Well, since you have to ask, do you know Jane Allen?"

I nodded. “What about her?"

“Um, before I go on," she hesitated for a moment and asked, “are you friends with her?"

I paused for a second before giving her my answer. “Not really."

“Okay, then." She let out a long sigh. “She…just doesn't like me and she doesn't want me at tonight's dinner. The guards were there to keep me away from the banquet hall. If she thinks you're helping me, she might lash out at you too. You know she's the Beta's daughter. She can get away with a lot of things."

I knew for a fact that Jane would not lash out at me. I didn't need to tell her that though. So I asked, “Why doesn't she want you at tonight's dinner?"

This time, she didn't answer right away. Instead, she simply shrugged. “How should I know? Besides, why do you have so many questions? I've already told you the reason I brought you here. I'm sure being stuck on a rooftop with a stranger isn't exactly how you wanted to spend your evening, but trust me, it wasn't my plan either…"

Hum. Did she just say she didn't want to be here with me?

I studied her face—yes, she meant it.

She offered a small, pleading smile and said, “So, for both our sakes, could you please just wait with me until the guards leave?"

Below us, another pair of guards hurried past.

I stared at her for another moment and finally let out a resigned sigh. “Whatever."

“Thank you!" she exclaimed, her face breaking into a grateful, genuine grin.

It seemed… that she really didn't know me, and honestly did not want anything else from me?

What a strange woman.

I turned my gaze away from her and mindlinked Mason.

'Alpha, where have you been? Everyone has been asking about you.'

'In the garden. Tell them I'm tired.'

'Surely. Then have a good night, Alpha.'

'Wait, Manson. Get the guards out of the garden. They're annoying me.'

While I agreed not to expose this Mira girl to the guards, I also didn't want to spend the rest of my night up here.

On the other end, Mason asked tentatively, 'Um, Alpha, if you want the guards to leave the garden, wouldn't it be easier for you to just tell them to go, since you're already there?'

I pinched the bridge of my nose. '...Just do as I say.'

'Yes, sir! I'm on it.'

I arched an eyebrow when I realized that the woman next to me had been watching me.

“What now?" I asked.

“At this rate, we probably will have to spend the night here," she sighed and tilted her head. “I'm just thinking, I owe you big this time but I still don't know your name yet. Mind sharing it with me?"