Held Captive by the Alpha: No Escaping Destiny

Chapter 5: What to Do With Her (Part 2)

HUNTER'S POV

The alcohol barely helped; instead of providing the rest I sought, it left me with a pounding headache.

I splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and dressed for work. I made my way to my office which was just three doors down from my bedroom.

I took a moment to appreciate the large window to my left. It offered a beautiful view of the well-kept garden, a tranquil space where every pack member could unwind. In the distance, the thick greenery framed a shimmering lake with clear blue water, a reminder of the peace I aimed to protect.

Behind me stood a shelf filled with rare books I had collected over the years—centuries, even. Though they were visually impressive, they served more for aesthetic purposes than for reading. The true secret lay in the shelf itself, which functioned as a hidden door, granting me direct access to my secret library.

That library was off-limits to everyone, not even my Beta or Gamma had the clearance to enter. It housed confidential documents and information that I needed to keep strictly guarded, a sanctuary for my most sensitive matters.

A few minutes later, Colton and Theon walked in, balancing a tray of food and cups of coffee. "I figured this would be a long discussion, so we might as well have breakfast while we work," Colton said, settling into his chair as I took my place at my desk.

"Any news about the girl?" I began, my tone steady.

"She’s in and out of consciousness. According to Dr. Pierce, she’s running a fever. Her wound got infected after all," Colton reported, concern etched on his face.

My face contorted with displeasure as I considered her situation. Puny human. If she were like us, she could have healed in mere hours. Instead, she was grappling with an infection, and now we were forced to deal with the inconvenience of her weakness. It was frustrating, to say the least, and I couldn’t help but feel irritated by her vulnerability.

"I got the anesthetics and sedatives that he needed. We'll be hearing more from him tomorrow." Theon said.

"What are you planning to do with her once she wakes up?" Colton asked, curiosity mingling with apprehension.

"Question her, of course. Torture her if needed. It depends on how forthcoming she is. And then we can let her go," I replied, my words callous and devoid of empathy.

There were a lot of questions that needed answers. First, how the f***k did she get here? There is no way a human can get here. There are only two points of entry to this land, three via chopper. The entry points were dirt roads heavily lined with trees and concealed by magic.

"I don't think letting her go would be wise, Hunter," Colton said, breaking the silence.

They were allowed to be informal with me when it was just the three of us—four, including Millie, Colton's mate. We had been best friends for as long as I could remember.

"Why the hell not?" I asked impatiently, my irritation bubbling to the surface.

He pressed on. "We have no idea what she’s seen. Those wounds on her belly are definitely claw marks. She was attacked by a werewolf. We can’t let her go. Not right away, at least. She could expose us. Plus, the Council will be breathing down our necks if they hear a human was harmed by our kind."

Theon chimed in, "Let’s not forget about the vampire scent on her. For all we know, she was compelled and planted here to spy on us."

I massaged my right temple, feeling a headache creeping in. This situation had become far too complicated, far too quickly.

"We have to tread lightly," Colton said, his tone serious. "We can't harm her unless she's proven guilty, so torture is out of the question. If she’s compelled, that makes her even more of a victim."

"Do you think this is connected to the recent killings?" Theon asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"We don't know yet," I replied, trying to maintain a sense of control. "This could just be a random event. Hopefully, we'll know more once we question the girl."

Colton and Theon nodded, preparing to rise and clear away the empty plates when I decided to share my news.

"There is one more thing," I said, halting them in their tracks. "I actually didn't plan on telling you this because I don’t intend to pursue it or even acknowledge it."

Both of them stared at me, anticipation etched on their faces.

"That girl," I paused for dramatic effect, "the girl is my mate."

Both of them froze, their mouths and eyes widening in disbelief. It was Colton who broke the silence, giving me a firm tap on the shoulder. "Finally, man! I'm so happy for you!"

"I'm not," I responded bluntly.

"Why the hell not? You've been waiting for this for so long. Don't tell me you're rejecting her," Colton argued, disbelief coloring his tone.

"Yes, Colton. I am telling you I am rejecting her. She's human. I can't have that." I asserted.

"How do you plan on doing it, then? The rejection? Without revealing what we are?" Theon finally interjected, concern evident in his gaze.

"F***k! This is so messed up!" I roared as I slammed my fist on my desk.

Colton and Theon didn’t flinch; they were already accustomed to my sudden outbursts by now.

I suddenly remembered that to break the mate bond, both parties must recite the rejection verbiage. Humans don’t have that ritual. If I forced her to perform a rejection rite, not only would she think I was ridiculous, but she might also bombard me with questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

Colton was right. I needed to approach this with caution. The stakes were high, and I couldn't afford any missteps.

Goddess, I already hate her for causing so much chaos.

"We'll take her into the pack for now. Let’s give her the impression that she’s a guest. But we will keep eyes on her 24/7," I instructed, then turned to Colton. "Can I assign Millie as her guard? I want her to pose as a friend. That way, it will be easier to gain her trust."

"Of course, man. I'm sure my mate would not mind," my Beta responded.

"Make sure she has as little interaction as possible with the pack," I ordered, then turned to Theon, who was unusually quiet. "Theon, can you brief the pack about our 'guest'? Let them know that anyone who slips up will face severe consequences."

"I'll get on that right away," he said, nodding in compliance.

I waved my hand, signaling the end of the meeting, and they both stood to leave. But just before they reached the door, I called out to them again.

"Guys!" I said, and they both turned around.

"Not a word to anyone about her being my mate. Is that clear?" I demanded.

"Sure, man!" they responded in unison.

After Theon and Colton left, I spent the day sifting through the paperwork that had piled up during my absence. It consisted mostly of financial reports, requisition approvals, and various other documents. I buried myself in work, and by the time I finished, I felt completely drained.

I needed to blow off some steam. I grabbed my car keys and hopped in my car. I find driving to be relaxing, especially during times like this. I love the sense of control and escape it provides. I drove aimlessly for quite some time. I did not realize that I had driven to the hospital until I saw the familiar signs and found myself pulling into the parking lot.

I was not supposed to be here. But my feet still carried me inside the hospital building. A surprised Dr. Pierce greeted me. "Alpha! I was not expecting you until tomorrow."

"Any progress on the patient?" I inquired impatiently.

"She woke up this afternoon, but she's in considerable pain. I gave her some sedatives to help her rest and heal," the doctor explained.

"I want to see her," I announced, not leaving room for negotiation.

It wasn't a request. I walked toward her room, my heart wildly beating. I did not know what to expect. I was not able to take a good look at her yesterday. Correction: I refused to look at her because I was pissed about finding out that I had a human for a mate.

As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by that refreshing scent again. And just like that, my anxiousness dissipated. I moved closer to her bed and stared at the sleeping figure for the first time.

Even in her current state, she exuded striking beauty. I could tell she had a mixed heritage, giving her facial features a unique allure—likely part American, part European, and something else I couldn't quite identify. Her skin bore a sun-kissed tan, as if she had just returned from the beach.

I examined her face, memorizing every detail: her full lips, heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, slightly contoured jaw, and that cute little nose. I was so engrossed that I lost track of time until Dr. Pierce interrupted me.

"Alpha, her tests came back. There were traces of Devil's Breath in her system. She’s suffered memory loss and will take some time to recover," he explained.

I nodded, turning to leave. But before reaching the door, I glanced back at the doctor.

"I will be back tomorrow. Make sure she's awake." I said to him before I completely exited the building.