Dangerous Alpha

The Other Run

Hunter's POV
I wake up with a new sense of determination today. I'm tired of being cooped up in this stupid house, despite having Claire for some company. I'm tempted to make my run for it... but I know the Alpha is still too suspicious of me. I need to wait, but I at least need to spend some time outdoors. I throw my hair up in a ponytail and make my way downstairs. As I approach his office, my nerves increase. I'm already getting antsy as it is, so I'm even more worried that he'll say no.

I take a deep breath as I knock on the door.

"Come in." He says cooly.

I walk all the way in, right in front of his desk. He looks at me with genuine curiosity.

"I want to go on a run."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

I grow aggravated. "Let me go on a run!"

"I said no."

I slam my fists on his desk. "Just let me go on a damn run!!"

We both look at each other in shock at my outburst. I can't even believe I just defied him like that. I can tell by the look on his face that he was absolutely not expecting that. But then his face becomes neutral again...

"Ok."

"Ok?" Is he really letting me do this?

"Ok." He looks at me with a blank face, then returns to reading the file on his desk. Still shocked, I slowly turn around and make my way out.

A sudden burst of pure joy runs through my veins. I get to run!

I dart out the back door and into the woods where I find a small path. It's sunny, there's not a cloud in the sky, and the temperature feels perfect. I finally feel free again. I finally feel like I can breathe again.
Dried leaves and small twigs snap under my feet. I come across a small creek, filled with tadpoles eagerly swimming around. Spending this time in nature lets me forget my problems for just one moment. It's refreshing.

I probably follow this trail for about an hour. I've been breaking a sweat, and the mild humidity starts to get to me. I take off my shirt and try to cool off in just my sports bra and shorts.

That was a mistake.

I find a small bench in the backyard and wipe the sweat off my forehead. That's when I hear the back door slam. Hard.

I snap my head backwards and I see Declan dangerously barreling toward me. I immediately stand up from the bench and back away in fear. Thankfully, Claire and two other guys come outside chasing after Declan.

One of the guys is able to catch up to him and grabs him. Claire runs and places herself in a protective stance in front of me.

"What the fuck happened?!" Declan booms with an angry voice.

I look back between him and Claire with a look of bewilderment.

"What the fuck happened to you?!" He repeats again.

Growing even angrier at my silence, he nearly breaks out of the guy's arms. He's barely being held back by two men.

"Who the fuck touched you?!"

I look down at my body and realize the effects of taking my shirt off. I was so distracted from my run, that I forgot about the bruises from my last beating. I really can't catch a break.

No words come out. All I can do is shake my head and back away some more.

Claire speaks. "Ok, Declan... everyone... let's just all calm down. Getting riled up isn't going to help anybody."

Slowly, Declan stops fighting and tensing. We walk back towards the house. I drag behind them.

"Hunter, I would like you to go upstairs and change please. I'll come get you when it's time for lunch, ok?" Claire disguises it as a question, but it was really a command. I walk up the stairs.

I hear yelling and crashing coming from downstairs. I don't know why, but I can't find the tears to cry. I want to, but I just can't. Nothing comes out. I decide to take an extra long shower. The warm water covers my body like a heated blanket. When I step out, the bathroom is filled to the brim with steam. I exit and make my way over to the chest of drawers and pick out a new t-shirt. I sit on the bed and turn on the TV so that I don't have to hear whatever is going on downstairs.

Eventually Claire knocks on the door and we head for the kitchen. Two sandwiches sit on plates at the table, and Declan is nowhere in site.

"Where's the alpha?" I cautiously ask.

"Cooling down." She sighs, with a small reassuring smile. She claps her hands together. "Come on, lets eat."

Let me tell you, that sandwich was almost worth getting chased down by Declan.