

Forced into Marriage by the Rescued Alpha

 

Episode 6

Another day, another hunt...

I was back in the woods, waiting for the right moment...

The hares were starting to come out of their burrows and I was taking the opportunity...

It's one of the best meats you can get around here...

I see some movement and immediately prepare my bow...

Then I see my dinner, hopping slowly, sniffing around...

I pull back the string and when it's in my sights, it gets startled by something and runs as fast as it can, leaving me confused...

I didn't make a sound....

Then my eyes adjust and I see them...

Several yellow eyes camouflaged among the trees, watching me...

Everywhere I looked, more and more seemed to appear...

My heart starts to beat fast while a shiver runs down my spine, as they take slow steps surrounding me.

Damn it.....

My heart pounds in my chest as I slowly stand up, keeping my eyes fixed on the wolves around me.

My rifle was there on the quad, just a few steps away...

But with every step I took towards the quad, it felt like they got closer, as if they were weaving a web around me.

The wolves were not like that blue-eyed wolf....

They were smaller....

But still, their presence was intimidating...

Calmly, almost in slow motion, I ready my bow, quickly devising a plan...

My chances were slim to none, but I wasn't going to just hand myself over on a silver platter....

In a quick movement, I shoot at the nearest wolf and run towards the quad, but before I can reach it, I slip on the ice, falling hard to the ground, my face burning with the snow.

With no time to lose, I grab an arrow and turn around in time to see a wolf coming at me.

But as he jumps to attack me, he is stopped by another wolf that grabs him and pulls him away from me...

My eyes widen in surprise at the turn of events, and the wolves around me automatically take a defensive stance, torn between attacking and retreating...

I stand up trying to understand what is happening and then I see him...

That wolf with his unmistakable blue eyes....

He was imposing, larger than the others, and emanated an aura of authority.

However, he was alone, without any other wolf by his side.

Despite this, the surrounding wolves seemed to recognize him, as if obeying a silent and powerful leadership.

He walks slowly without taking his eyes off the wolves, standing in front of me, in a dominant position, growling so intensely that it seemed like the ground vibrated with the intensity of the guttural growl coming from his throat...

He slowly turns his head slightly, his eyes searching mine as if to make sure I was alright...

I saw concern, determination, and a sense of protection emanating from him, making me feel somewhat safe in the midst of it all...

He looks back at the wolves, waiting for them to advance....

But if it depends on them, we'll be here like this until tomorrow....

I need to do something...

With unusual determination, I turn and run desperately to the quad, as they advance towards me.

My trembling hands grab the rifle, knowing it's the only way to survive this situation.

As I turn, I see the blue-eyed wolf, fighting with indomitable bravery, facing the other wolves with fierce determination. He was alone against many, but he didn't back down, let alone let others advance.

However, my gaze is quickly drawn to a wolf that is stealthily approaching him from behind. Instinctively, I raise the rifle and fire a shot that grazes past the enemy wolf, driving it away.

The sound of the gunshot echoes through the forest, causing all the wolves to recoil in surprise and fear. For a moment, there was a tense silence as we faced each other, both sides assessing the situation and pondering their next moves.

With determination pulsing through my veins, I pull back the bolt of the rifle once more and fire in the direction of the wolves, not with the intention of fatally wounding them, but rather to scare them away. The thunderous sound of the shots cut through the air, echoing through the forest and filling the environment with an energy charged with tension.

Then I pull back the bolt again and fire, walking towards them....with each step, a shot in their direction.

The wolves begin to retreat, their yellow eyes shining with fear and uncertainty.

As the shots continued to echo through the forest, the wolves began to retreat slowly until finally, they turned tail and fled, disappearing into the forest mist.

With my heart still pounding, I lower the rifle, feeling a mixture of relief and adrenaline from the tension...

I had faced my fears and managed to survive...

Still breathless, I grab my bow and store it on the quad, get on it and start it up, but don't move.

I look back, whistle at him, and point to the back compartment.

He comes towards me, climbs up, and only then do I accelerate, leaving there and going home...

When I arrive, I get off and enter the house, leaving the door open. I go to the closet and grab a change of clothes.

When I go outside, the wolf is sitting as if waiting for me.

Then the cycle repeats itself, I open the garage door, he enters, I leave the clothes, close it and wait for him inside the house....

As I finish lighting the fireplace, I hear the creaking of the door accompanied by footsteps.

I glance over my shoulder and see him entering the house and closing the door.

I motion for him to sit down and he does.

"How did you know?" I ask.

"We were close by and Dark smelled them...you saw the rest," he says, keeping his face serious.

"And why help me, even after what I did?" I ask.

I see his eye darken with a certain intensity, a certain resentment, as if the memory angered him in some way.

"It wasn't me, I already told you....It was Dark who acted to protect you, it's his instinct when he sees you," he says, his voice slightly annoyed, as if he hated the fact that his wolf had a mind of its own.

"You said his name was Dark...what's your name?"

He looks at me with a serious expression.

"Adrian," he replies curtly.

I nod.

"My name is Ayla..." I murmur indifferently. "Those wolves...were they like you?" I ask.

"Yes, they're human like me, but different. They're like me, but they're not."

"Ah, what a clear and enlightening explanation. Now everything makes sense," I reply sarcastically.

He wants to keep playing the mysterious type, he can do that in hell, I have no patience for that...

Well, when did I ever have patience for anything?

He takes a deep breath as if gathering his patience to talk to me.

"They're betas...In our community, there are hierarchies....The omegas are the common ones, they have normal jobs in the community, where they help and keep things running. Then come the betas, they're the ones who obey the alphas, they're essential in helping us make decisions and maintain order within the pack. And finally, the alphas, they're the ones who, so to speak, rule the pack and lead."

"And you're an alpha?" I ask.

"Yes."

"I figured....you're bigger than them and your wolf's eye is different...So Dark is important in the village...What does he do?"

"Dark, in his wolf form, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the pack...like a soldier."

"And you?"

"I take on more strategic and administrative responsibilities."

"Hmm....And what was he doing alone in the woods?"

"He was patrolling around the village...."

"I'll pretend to believe that, because I know you're far from the village. Now what intrigues me is why those wolves attacked you if you're superior to them?" I ask.

"Because they're from the rival village."

"Great! Just what I needed...." I rub my forehead and stand up.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

"To make dinner," I murmur, heading for the kitchen. "It's practically the only thing I do....if you want, you can wait and eat..."

"I think it's the least I can do after saving your skin," he says from the kitchen doorway.

"No...it's the least he deserves after saving my skin. I'm making it for him, not you. By the way, if you could turn him back, I'd appreciate it..." I say with slight sarcasm.

I didn't want that weirdo near me....let alone the wolf....

I just wanted to live my life in peace until I die of old age....or boredom, whichever comes first....

As I prepare dinner, I feel his gaze on me, which bothers me a lot, but I pretend not to notice....

Why not let him get close?

Like I said, the forest is dangerous....

Wolves are dangerous...

Humans....are dangerous...

Okay, Dark saved me, and even though I'm grateful, I didn't like the idea of going to that village with that weirdo....

I knew he was something...

An alpha...

That's why he has that attitude, that stuck-up nose, and that "look at me, I'm the alpha, I'm important, I'm in charge" face.....

But at the same time....I can't ignore certain things....

The way Dark looked at me when I saved him....

As if he knew something....

No, he doesn't know....

There's no way he could know....

As I prepared dinner, my mind kept replaying everything that had happened...

"Isn't there a way to change that? Have you tried talking to Dark about it? Look, I can't just drop everything and go just because he wants to," I say.

"No, there isn't....I've already tried talking to him....And if he doesn't get what he wants...It could lead to some complications..."

"What kind of complications?"

"Internal complications.....he could get very frustrated and rebel, in a worst-case scenario he'll kill himself internally...."

"Well, that's just great...." I mutter.

There you go....

A spoiled wolf and a strange guy, just what I needed....

After dinner, while I was clearing the dishes and washing them, a strange feeling hung in the air. It was as if something inside me was struggling to break free....

"I'd better go..." he says.

As he walks towards the door and reaches for the knob, something inside me takes over....

"Stay.." I say.

No, no, no....

What are you doing?

"It's very dark and cold..." I continue.

Stop it!

"You....can sleep in the living room, I'll leave the fireplace on so you can stay warm...." It was as if my mouth was moving on its own....

Damn it....

He looks at me for a moment, as if considering my offer.

"Thank you, Ayla. I accept."

No, you don't accept! Go....go away!

What the.....

I couldn't kick him out now because of my big mouth....

I go up to my room, grab some extra blankets, and go down to the living room, arranging the couch for him.

I put some more logs on the fire and go up to my room.

When I go to light the fireplace, I see that it's out of logs....

I go back down to the living room and when I look, I see that the logs I put on were the last ones...

I open the door, being hit by the biting cold, and go to the garage...

"You've got to be kidding me!" I say as soon as I see that I'm out of firewood....

I thought I had a good supply....

I let out a frustrated sigh.

"I can't believe this..." I murmur.

I go back inside the house, go upstairs, grab my blanket, and go back to the living room, throwing myself on the ottoman near the fireplace.

"What's wrong?" Adrian asks as soon as I lie down.

"I'm out of firewood, and I'm not going out there now to chop any." I murmur with my eyes closed.

He doesn't protest and doesn't say anything else.

I hear the rustling of fabric as he shifts, but it soon stops....

"Why do you live here? Never thought about going out there to see if you could find other humans?" he asks.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because not," I murmur. "Go to sleep."

"It's just strange, you're not that far from my village, but you've never seen it, never approached....apparently never gone more than 5km-"

I sit up to look at him.

"Yes, I've never ventured very far into the forest, I've never gone looking for 'other humans,' I've never explored out there, and I have my reasons, and believe me, they're none of your business, so can you shut up and just sleep?" I say with a mixture of anger and sarcasm, lying back down.

"It was just a question...no need to be so rude...."

I snort softly...

Yes, there would be no reason for me to be...if it weren't for my own safety....

I curl up on the ottoman, trying to stay as warm as possible...

Gradually, I drift off to sleep....

But soon I'm awakened by strange noises outside.

Quickly, I get up and see that Adrian is up as well.

"Did you hear that?" I whisper.

He nods and gets up, slowly walking towards the window.

He pulls back the curtain slightly, just enough to try to see outside...

I approach him on tiptoe.

"What is it?" I ask, and he ends up jumping slightly.