The Alpha and the Princess

Breakdown

Chapter 3: Breakdown

Claire POV

My body was entranced with the stranger's deep voice. I didn't know how I could keep talking coolly like this while holding his gaze. I was out of words and excuses and he was right, I really needed a place to stay for the night. This stranger is certainly kind and generous but I couldn’t trust him immediately, I have to be careful. I hope that he won’t turn out to be like all the other creeps I met before. After mulling it over for a few moments, I decided to take upon his offer but I didn't take his hand. Despite how inviting and tempting he looked, I was still on my guard.

"I'm Victor by the way"

"I'm cc... Claire"

I stuttered like I didn't know my own name. His voice had a special ringing in my ears. It vibrated through me and made me feel shy. I look like a homeless person next to this gorgeous man that I could only dream of. I was looking at the ground all the time. I couldn't stand the eyes of the crowd, they were all staring at me.

He ignored everyone and went to a girl among the party goers.

"This is Claire, she is going to be our guest. " This is Hannah, she's my little sister. She will show you the way to your room.” he said before leaning in and whispered something into her ear. Victor spared me a glance before he excused himself and disappeared in the moving crowd. Only a few people remained back, sitting around the fire drinking and talking.

Hannah was a beautiful girl, with pale skin, a cute face, blue eyes, and long blonde hair falling on her back. She had an air of innocence and sweetness like an angel. She put me at ease immediately with her welcoming smile. She grabbed my hand, dragging me away from my thoughts as we made our way through the forest.

"What did Victor whisper to you?" I was curious to know.

"He told me to give you the nicest room. But that would be his room. So you'll get the second-best" she said with an amused tone. Her voice was calm and warm, she was near my age so it made me feel we could be friends.

" Earlier, everyone was looking at me, it felt so weird like I'm an alien or something"

She laughed " It's just usually we don't have uninvited visitors. It's a secluded community and our people are not used to strangers."

we reached an area where the trees were thinner. I had flashbacks from a horror movie I saw and a chill ran through my body as I feared she would lead me to a small cabin in the woods. Maybe it's a cult where they will torture me or sacrifice me. my head was filled with dark thoughts stemming from the idea that this chance encounter was too good to be true. an idea that got reinforced when we reached our destination and i had to pinch myself to make sure i wasn't dreaming.

It was a big mansion, almost like a castle, these people must be wealthy. I found it hard to believe that something like this was in the middle of the woods. We entered through the back door to the kitchen and up the stairs.

Hannah was holding my hand all the way and released it only when we got inside the room. It was bigger than my previous house. The room was elegantly furnished. A king-size bed on one side and on the other a couch facing a huge TV. My eyes were roaming around exploring the luxurious decorations until it landed on a standing mirror, I took one look at myself.

"OH MY GOD, I LOOK HORRIBLE" I exclaimed, shocked at seeing my own face. I had mud all over me and my hair was like a bird nest with dried leaves sticking out. I had streaks of blood smudged on my cheeks. I had such an adrenaline rush earlier that I didn't feel the injury I got when the car crashed.

"No you don't, you must have been through a lot. The bathroom is over there, take a bath Or a shower whatever makes you feel better. I'm going to get you some clothes and I hope you don't mind leftovers from the party."

"I .." I was trying to say something but the words didn't come out.

"Now, make yourself at home, I'll be back in a few

Hannah left and I went to the bathroom, it was spacious, all white and gold, with a vintage-style bathtub and bassinet. I started to run the water in the tub, I thought it would be nice and needed to draw a bath to remove all the dirt away and to wash away my exhaustion. In my foster home, older kids like me were allowed 5 minutes in the shower and when I stayed longer they would turn off the boiler and I had to finish washing with cold water.

on the shelves, fancy bottles of products were lined up. I never heard of many of these brands but looked expensive. I saw a basket filled with colorful little spheres. I picked a bath bomb with a nice floral fragrance. I always wanted to try one of those. While the bathtub was filling I washed my face and cleaned the wound on my forehead. It wasn't bleeding anymore and it was along the hairline so I won't be bothered by the scar.

I took off my clothes and got in the water, the bubbles were tingling my skin and the warm water soothed my tensed muscles. I ducked underwater to soak my hair then put my head on the edge of the bath . I don't remember when was the last time I had a moment of peace like this, I let my tired body relax and tried to clear my mind.

I guess that I dozed off because I was startled by a knocking on the door.

"Are you doing ok there? I brought some clothes." Hannah called from outside.

"I'm fine! I don't need it!"

"What?"

I couldn't talk to her like this, yelling through the door, so I got up, grabbed the first towel I could see, and wrapped it around me before I walked out to the room. To my surprise, Victor was standing there. I didn't know if I was feeling from the hot bath or his gaze, but the blood rushed to my cheeks and I was all flustered.

I didn't realize until now how small my towel was, not covering enough of my body. I clenched my towel with one hand and tried to cover my chest with the other. That's when he averted his eyes and turned to look away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...um ..I'll be downstairs" Victor said before he rushed outside.

I was petrified, I just met the guy and he already saw me half naked.

"He was just worried about you , you spent a long time in there, he wanted to make sure you were fine." Hannah came to his defense sensing my embarrassment.

"Thanks, I didn't mean to worry you. The bath was so nice that I fell asleep."

"it’s alright take all the time you need. I brought you some clothes, I hope it fits you"

"I have clothes in my bag"

Hannah tilted her head and gave me a questioning look.

"You didn't have a bag when you came."

"What? I had it earlier, it's a blue backpack.."

I scoured the room with my eyes while trying to remember where I left it. Then it hit me: I left it in the car before I crushed it. I didn't think about it when I made my exit. instinctively I lifted my hand to my chest and could not feel the necklace, I went back to the bathroom and looked in the pile of dirty clothes. I kept looking frantically in every corner of the bathroom and the room but nothing. Hannah was following me around and asking me what was wrong but I couldn't answer her. I was too focused on searching for my necklace.

"I can't find my...necklace...I have to find it.."

When i finally realized that it wasn’t here and that I might have lost it forever, all the emotions that I kept locked inside for so long overflowed and the tears came out like a fountain.

I fell to the floor and started sobbing. Crying my heart out from all that I have been through. I tried to keep myself strong against all odds, but like anyone, I had a limit. Losing the only thing I had left from my real family pushed me to the edge and I found myself falling in despair. I've lost everything, I never had anything. I was in the middle of nowhere heading to an unknown future.

Hannah came to her knees and hugged me. I put my head on her shoulder and cried my heart out. She tried to comfort me and calm me down but I couldn't stop weeping.

After a while she helped me get off the floor and sat me on the bed. Even when she was putting clothes on me I was sobbing heavily like a child who lost his mom. I did lose my mom, I never knew my mom, I wish I had a mom. Every thought I had brought a new wave of waterworks. I was so overwhelmed that I lost touch with my surroundings.

I was so drained mentally and physically, that I fell asleep with tearful eyes. It was a restless sleep at first but then I felt warmth all around me and a nice smell filled my nose. It was masculine and deep but made me relaxe gradually until I stopped crying and fell into a peaceful sleep.