Chapter 5

• Aliyah’s Point of View
• Just when I thought my life was not worthy of living, and I would have met my death because of the intolerable pain from the beatings I got from Shawn, here I was, waking up in an unfamiliar room, with an Alpha of a neighboring pack who was taking care of me.
• I thought they were going to kill me that night, but they didn’t.
• Instead, he helped me and got my wounds treated by their pack doctor.
• The way he stared at me, it was hypnotizing... My eyes couldn’t help but flicker whenever his bright blue eyes gazed at me. It spoke a lot of emotions that I couldn’t name.
• "You must eat to regain your strength. Take your meds after," he told me. His voice was soothing, like the first time I’d heard it in the forest.
• "I don’t…" My voice cracked and I paused. I sucked in a breath and continued, "I don’t understand why you’re helping me."
• "I am an Alpha. I offer help to whoever needs it regardless of where they come from."
• Those words struck me. The way he spoke with me gave me waves of assurance I had been dying to hear for most of my life.
• Somehow, some way, I felt completely safe.
• "It felt like it was a promise…" I mumbled when he exited the room.
• Admittedly, his behavior was totally different from the rumors I had heard before.
• Hot tears streamed down my face as I recalled all the things I’ve experienced at the hands of my family. It was ironic to get such help from a stranger when I was supposed to get it from my own blood.
• I don’t exactly know what to feel at this point. I was torn between being grateful and sad about everything.
• My gaze landed on the food he served. I wiped my tears away as I felt my stomach rumble. I couldn’t ignore my hunger any longer. Despite being still confused as to what happened, I moved my body a little and started eating the food.
• I didn’t even mind whether it was safe or not.
• "It’s delicious…" I muttered to myself and cried even harder because this was the first good meal I'd ever had in my entire life. "God, why can't I stop these tears!"
• I finished the food and took the meds as advised by Alpha Reid.
• My heart felt an unfamiliar warmth. Still, his words and actions puzzled me. I wasn’t used to such kindness, after all I’d endured from my abusive family. I was so used to all the scolding and beatings that when someone showed me kindness, I couldn’t help but feel a lot of emotions inside my chest.
• I exhaled loudly. My eyes landed on the door where Alpha Reid exited earlier. I got off the bed and dragged my feet to the door and slowly opened it. I took a peek and figured out that he hadn’t come back yet.
• I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly walked out of the room. My eyes wandered to the living room that welcomed me. I gaped in awe as it was enormous and breathtaking. His house was big compared to what we had back where I came from.
• I took several tiny steps and found another open room across from the one I went out of.
• "Wow…" I uttered as I took a peek inside.
• It appeared to be his room, given that there were books on the study table and the clothes of a man hanging in an open closet. I went inside, my eyes roaming around as I walked to the bed.
• I was amazed at how all his things were organized.
• "Speaks a lot about his personality…" I commented. I recalled Shawn’s room, which most of the time was unruly.
• I inhaled heavily and was about to go out when I noticed beautiful camellia flowers in a vase sitting on the balcony.
• I walked towards it and looked at it in awe.
• "It’s beautiful…" I smiled and touched its petals.
• "Do you like flowers?" asked by a familiar baritone, which startled me.
• I turned around and saw Alpha Reid standing behind me. His one hand slid into his jeans' pocket.
• My eyes widened, completely taken aback. "I… I apologize if I entered this room. I didn’t mean to intrude here!"
• He chuckled a bit and walked past me. My gaze followed him. He held the vase of camellia flowers and looked at it with a smile.
• "Don’t worry, it’s fine with me," he said, jerking his head a bit. "So, going back to my question…"
• I blinked twice, my mouth half open, and settled my gaze on the vase of flowers in his hand.
• "Yes, I… I love flowers," I replied truthfully and offered him a thin, shy smile. "I used to grow white daisy in my room before. It… It brought me comfort when I was in the darkest part of my life."
• "Flowers, indeed, comfort people," he commented.
• And he was right...
• I recalled the white daisy I owned. It was the only precious thing I had. It brought me hope and lightened my mood whenever I felt down from the numerous beatings I endured from my family. It gave me sheer motivation, but now it is gone.
• Shawn killed it. I huffed at that thought.
• "You’re right, Alpha." My shoulders sagged as I let out a sigh.
• "Stop calling me Alpha. Call me Reid instead."
• I gaped, shocked to hear what he said. Our eyes met, and I could see that he was serious about it.
• "B..But you’re an Alpha and should be respected…" I reasoned.
• My brother, Shawn, beat me up to death because I called him by his name. He said I had no respect for him given that he was an Alpha.
• His eyes narrowed, and they sparked with amusement. "Calling me by my first name doesn’t mean you’re disrespecting me."
• I gulped down. I didn't know why, but the way he stared at me made my heart race so fast that I couldn't breathe.
• "Alright, Alp—" I lowered my head, wincing a bit. Then I continued, "I mean, Reid…"
• "Here. You can take it in your room." He offered me the vase of flowers.
• "What?" I looked at him once again. My cheeks flushed when his lips curled up into a boyish smirk.
• "It seems you love flowers more than I do. You can have it."
• "A-Are you sure?" I asked and was kind of nervous.
• He nods his head. "Yes, as long as you promise you'll make it grow."
• "Sure! Thank you!" I exclaimed in delight.
• I was about to accept the vase he was holding, but when I accidentally touched his finger, a bolt of electrifying heat went through my veins.
• I flinched and looked at his hand as my heart pounded aggressively inside my chest. All of a sudden, I felt as if my entire body was filled with a formidable desire.
• "Did you feel that?" I gasped in a breath when I looked at him.
• I noticed his jaw clenched. He looked at me with his eyes widening, brows furrowed.
• He swallowed hard. "Feel what?"
• Shaking my head, I stepped back.
• "I don't know… I can't explain it…" I uttered softly.
• All I felt was the tension rising through my body. My breathing was ragged and my mind went blank.
• All I could think about was the irresistible desire... a pull... and it wanted me to touch him more.
• What's happening?
• I don't understand what's going on with me...