The Long Lost Alpha

Chapter 3: The Unwelcomed Stranger

Theo’s P.O.V

The gush of fresh air blew past my face as soon as I stepped out of the hut. After Mrs. Quinn let me go despite her reluctance, Kai howled in my mind at our new freedom. As I promised, I made my way to the market, ensuring that I was always hidden in the shadows.

Either way, I was happy to step outside of the four walls that contained me. Being used to roaming around in the forest back in the village, a few days indoors had killed my spirit. My muscles yearned to stretch and Kai longed to run free.

“Yes! Yes, please!” Kai screamed with excitement, pacing inside my head like a pup.

As ridiculous as he looked, a smile still crept onto my lips. He was stupid at times, not to mention a constant pain in the bu*t, but he was still mine.

“Patience, buddy. We need to know what we are dealing with first,” I responded, my eyes fixed on the approaching market streets.

Stealing an abandoned hat, I placed it over my head and made my way to the stalls. Instantly, I was hit with the smell of fresh pastries, making my stomach rumble. Besides that, all kinds of fruit and vegetables were laid around, ready to be purchased.

It was luxury beyond what we had back in The Willow Den, hands down. However, soon, another sight caught my eye. A gigantic, luxurious mansion stood in the distance, the flagpoles glimmering in the sunlight. It was surrounded by walls, much like a fort, cut off from the public.

“Rich snob. Looks like Mrs. Quinn was right,” Kai mind-linked me.

I was about to respond to my wolf, but something —or rather, — someone else, caught my attention. Her expensive dark green cape swept the brick pavement and her steps were soft. The dark golden locks bounced over her shoulder in rhythm to her footsteps.

The mysterious figure turned to reveal a stunning female, her face flawless. Her actions had an aura of elegance and somehow everyone gave way to her. Soon, she began moving once again to a neighboring stall, oblivious to the eyes glued to her.

“Follow her!” Kai screamed, to my surprise, bouncing around impatiently.

Determined to not let her out of my sight, I tailed her on my tiptoes. I occasionally hid behind tents and pieces of dangling scarfs. It was very unlike me to follow a damsel but between the pup in my head and the intriguing aura about her, I was determined to find out more.

The lovely dark blond stopped at a fruit stall and flashed the storekeeper a warm smile. He responded with a surprisingly deep bow, indicating that she was of high ranks. However, instead of basking in his show of respect, she grasped his shoulder and straightened his stature. Then, she proceeded to pick up an orange, bringing it up to her nose and ruby lips to inhale its tang.  

“What I wouldn’t do to be that orange,” Kai mind-linked me, sighing with yearning.

“Kai! What’s with you and pretty ladies?” I replied, rolling my eyes at his antics.

My annoying wolf rumbled, “Don’t be ridiculous, Theo. I know you think she’s stunning too.”

“So?” I said, leaning against the wooden wall of the stall, still out of sight.

Kai covered his eyes with his huge paws in frustration. After inhaling a long breath of air, he looked at me with seriousness, “I know you feel it too. There’s something in her calling out to me, but it’s too faint.”

“Really?” I asked, a little shocked that it wasn’t just in my head and that he felt it too.

My sometimes-wise wolf smacked his head with his paw, “Yes, you fool! Now, stay focused! Wait, where did she go?”

Kai was right, the mysterious beauty had disappeared from the stall and out of my sight. Curious, I walked over to the fruit stall and ducked behind another stall as I peeked out the busy market street.

“Where are you, stranger?” I said out loud, my eyes scanning the stalls for her dirty blond locks.

Occupied by my stalking mission, I failed to notice a figure appearing behind me. At least that was the case until I heard someone clear their throat out loud behind me, “Ahem!”

“Uh-oh!” Kai exclaimed in my mind, running away from my sight into a dark corner.

Turning around to face the source of the melodic voice, I was star-struck at the sight of the figure before me. It was none other than the person I had been stalking. The only difference was that she had a dagger pointing at me and a dark green hood over her head.

“Hello there. Care to tell me why you are following me?” she asked, her eyes narrowed with wrath and her fingers tight over the dagger’s handle.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I took a careful retreating step before addressing her, “I don’t know what you are talking about, Miss.”

“Stop lying! I heard you and caught a whiff of your scent!” she yelled but her voice still carried a gentle tone.

My eyebrows arched at her statement, “Wait, how did you hear me?”

“I’m an Alpha. I have excellent hearing. Now, stop avoiding my question!” she retorted, taking a step forward with her pointy weapon.

“Wait, did I hear Alpha? Ooh, me like!” Kai chimed in my head, his flirty face sending shivers down my spine.

Throwing up my hands in surrender, I apologized, “Okay, okay! I’m sorry. I was not following you. There was something about you that intrigued me and my wolf, so we wanted to learn more. That’s all!”

My answer caught her by surprise, dazing the beautiful lady for only a second. However, I was relieved when she returned her dagger into her boot. She continued to remove the hood from over her head, revealing her perfect dark brownish-golden locks.

“Oh. So, you don’t work for my father? Or anyone else?” she asked, her voice softer but uncertain.

Shaking my head vigorously, I replied, “Huh? No! Absolutely not!”

“I see. In that case, I apologize for my rash behavior.” A small smile found its way to her lips and lit up her face.

However, just when I thought I was off the hook, the sharp female caught me by surprise, “Wait, your scent was odd. And why haven’t I seen you around here before?”

Why didn’t I stay indoors as Mrs. Quinn advised?

~.~

Ilona’s P.O.V

The stranger turned mute at my question, his body motionless like a statue. The black strands of hair that fell to his face and his green eyes melted me. But there was too much at stake for me to let a handsome foreigner stalk me.

In just a couple of minutes, a routine visit to the local market had been turned upside down. That too by none other than a suspicious stranger. Truth be told, such visits were the only thing that kept me sane. Otherwise, every day I spent in the packhouse mansion led me closer to insanity.

The streets, the people, the freedom, it was what I desired. But, people in my life didn’t approve. I was always spied upon, followed, and sometimes even the target of enemies I had not made. Besides, my lack of defense made me an ideal target. That was why I carried my handy dagger in my boot, ready for action.

To be honest, nothing had happened for a while and I was beginning to feel at ease once more. But, the Goddess threw an unexpected curveball my way. Even though it was in the form of an attractive yet suspicious male.

“Um…I’m not from around here. I’m a visitor. I’m visiting….um…my aunt. Yes, my aunt!” he finally replied.

Despite my doubt, there was something about his magnetic ember eyes that spoke to me. Hence, I let my heart make a decision for once and trust him.

“Alright then. I believe you,” I said, exhaling a sigh of relief.

He smiled in response, stirring butterflies in me, which was odd, “Thank you.”

“How long would you be staying? You know, if you’re visiting more than two days, you have to inform the Alpha,” I informed, a tad worried for his safety.

“I’ve heard rumors about your Alpha. He sounds awful!” he exclaimed, his words laced with a hint of hatred.

My eyebrows narrowed at him immediately, “Hey! You may want to watch what you say about Alpha Xander Rannulf.”

The stranger scoffed out loud, “Hah! Rannulf. That’s funny! Sorry, why?”

“Because my name is Ilona Rannulf. I’m the Alpha’s daughter.”