Approaching Alpha Zeke Sterne

Chapter 9 Josh, Not Now!

I spun around, my eyes wide as they adjusted to the shadows.

Joshua?!

His hand remained over my mouth, and he lifted a finger to his lips. I nodded to express that I understood to stay quiet, and after that, he slowly released me and pulled back. It was then I noticed that his face bore a serious look.

What was he doing here?

***

*Zeke*

What the hell was she doing here at this hour?

Before I got the chance to interrogate her, Mason reached out via mindlink, 'Alpha, on our way. Where are you now?'

'Old Mill Warehouse. Lockdown protocol. Now.'

'Understood. How many are they?'

'Fifteen. I was caught off guard.'

's**t! What the f**k was William doing with security?!' he muttered.

I agreed with Mason. Over the years, I spent most of my time away. The comfortable pack life probably led to William's complacency. However, even if that was the case, our security shouldn't be this easy to breach.

The last place I expected to be ambushed was in my own pack while taking a walk, for Goddess' sake!

'Hang in there, Alpha. I'll bring a healer along as well.'

'No need. Just some scratches and cuts, nothing major. However…'

'What is it, Alpha?'

I paused for a moment and told Mason, 'Nothing. We can talk later.'

Just then, something warm touched my hand. Instinctively, I tried to pull it back, but I realized that it was held firmly by the girl next to me.

Her hands were small and soft, yet her grip was stronger than I thought.

I frowned, what did she want?

Mira flattened my palm and I realized that she was trying to communicate by writing on my palm.

Are you okay?

She looked genuinely concerned. To ease her worry, I nodded.

She let out a soft sigh of relief and wrote again.

Let me help you.

I studied her face. She meant it.

Strange girl. An ordinary woman being pulled into a situation like this would be in a panic now, but not her. Last time she was playing hide and seek with Jane's guards and claimed to protect me, and this time, without knowing what was going on at all, she wanted to help.

I slowly shook my head. No, I didn't need help from a maid. If anything, as her Alpha, she was my responsibility to protect at the moment. If the assassins saw her, she'd become collateral damage—an outcome unacceptable on my watch.

The squeak of the rustic warehouse gate announced the arrival of the unfriendly newcomers. s**t, they tracked me here faster than I thought.

Grasping her hand, I led her deeper into the warehouse. We moved silently as I navigated through the maze of relics from the warehouse's more prosperous days.

'Josh, mindlink her,' I told my wolf. It would be much easier to communicate with her via mindlink right now.

'I can't,' Josh replied, 'It seems that…she doesn't have a wolf.'

She didn't have her wolf?

'Well, I take it back. I could sense her wolf, but either her wolf was dormant or too weak,' Josh corrected himself. 'Now I'm more impressed. Even without a wolf, she's one of the most agile women I've seen.'

'Josh, don't you have something more urgent to focus on than comparing her with other women?'

'If you shift, I'll take over, but it seems right now you've gotten everything under control. I have faith in you,' my wolf shot back.

'Lazy bastard!' I cursed, but my mind raced, plotting routes and exits, all while keeping an ear tuned to any sounds that might indicate we were not alone. The darkness was both our ally and enemy, masking our movements but also concealing threats.

There.

I turned to face Mira and gestured toward a concealed nook between a rusted conveyor belt and the wall.

She squeezed into the narrow space, and I followed. Now we just needed to wait for the threat to pass, or for the moment we'd have to fight our way out.

Mira's breathing was shallow and controlled, despite the danger we were in. Good girl. But a few moments later, I started to regret coming in here.

The cool metal of the machinery pressing against my back. We were standing facing each other. The problem was…she was very close—so close that her body was slightly touching my chest and I could feel her chest gently moving up and down.

Josh stirred inside me. My wolf clearly enjoyed her scent and her proximity. For some reason, the air warmed up much faster than it should have.

Her breathing was slightly warm and moist, and…the temperature of her body was a stark contrast to the cold against my back. Suddenly, a pulse of heat along with a primal response surged through me, straight to my core, and…I was hard.

Fuck!

'Josh, not now!' I yelled at him in my head.

My i***t wolf!

'I didn't do a thing!' he shouted back, 'Don't blame me for your reaction to her. If anything, it's your own fault, okay? Had you not lived your life like an ascetic for the past ten years, you wouldn't be getting horny so easily right now!'

I swallowed my grunt towards Josh, which caused Mira to look at me.

She indeed had a pair of clear but determined eyes.

And her scent was indeed pleasant…

What the hell was I thinking?!

Just then, Mira's face turned slightly pink and she shifted her gaze away from me.

Fuck me. Did she feel me? Why the hell did I choose this tiny nook out of the entire warehouse?

CLANG!

Thank goodness a sudden clatter drew her attention. For the first time ever, I was grateful for my attackers.

I forced myself to concentrate on my hearing. Footsteps. Heavy but measured. Rogues usually wouldn't be so organized. Those most likely were trained soldiers.

The shuffle of boots grew closer. I readied myself to attack if needed.

“Check over by those crates," a hoarse voice commanded.

“Nothing here!"

“Keep looking! He can't have gone far," the first voice ordered. “He's here somewhere."

As the footsteps got closer, I felt Mira's body stiff. Was she getting frightened?

I gave her shoulder a gentle, comforting squeeze.

She lifted her gaze to meet mine, and to my surprise, there wasn't much fear in her eyes. Instead, her body was tense, as if she was ready to fight at any moment.

I smiled to myself silently. Strange girl.

Strange but brave.

I pointed at her, then at the window. Paused. Then pointed at myself, and then towards the attackers. It should be clear enough for her—if needed, she should charge for the window to get out while I handle the invaders.

However, she shook her head.

The hell?

She raised her hands and clenched her fists.

She wanted to fight? No f*****g way.

I didn't need her to be brave at this moment. I needed her to listen.

I shook my head, but she didn't budge.

I almost hissed. How dare she defy her Alpha?!

Then she closed her palms into a praying posture and looked at me with pleading eyes. I knew what she meant—Let me help, please?

And just like that, I couldn't maintain my angry face anymore.

Josh commented, 'Again, you have yourself to blame. Why didn't you just tell her who you are last time? Had she known you were the Alpha, I bet she would listen.'

'Shut up, Josh.'

Josh just laughed heartily. I swore, frustrating me was one of his biggest entertainment.

Well, Mira didn't get the chance to actually defy me, though. A distant noise, perhaps a rat skittering across the warehouse floor, drew the assassins' attention away from our corner.

“Did you hear that?" one asked.

“Over there," the leader commanded, “Move!"

“Damn it! Just some f*****g critters," the first one said, “Boss, why don't we spread out? We know he's here and there are only so many places he can hide."

Shit!

But before the leader could issue his order, another set of hurried footsteps approached, followed by a different voice. “Boss, I've spotted the guards coming! We have to go!"

“FUUUCK!" The leader cursed out aloud. “Retreat!"

I let out a long breath.

As the footsteps receded, I took a peek to get a better view on them, but all I could see was a dark figure angrily kicking and smashing some boxes while making his way out.

Suddenly, he turned around and drew his crossbow, releasing a volley of arrows in a blind, frustrated flurry. I wouldn't have cared much, except one of the arrows sliced through the air, heading straight for us!

Fucking bastards!

Instinctively, I spun around, wrapped my arms around Mira and shielded her with my body.

Pain shot through me as the arrow pierced into my shoulder. Mira gasped.

My flesh was throbbing with a hot pulse. I forced myself to focus on the sounds of the retreating footsteps. Finally, the warehouse was quiet again and I could no longer pick up any other sounds except for Mira's breathing.

The assassins were gone.

“Joshua, are you okay?" As soon as we edged out from the shadows, Mira urged, “Let me check your wound!"

“I'm alright."

But she clearly didn't want to listen. After a short hesitation and without my permission, she started to unbutton my shirt!