Found By The Lycan King
6: Open Up

ADRIANA'S POV

I jerked up, feeling someone's presence near me, my heart raced in my chest and I backed away instinctively until Thit the headboard. I didn't even care to let my eyes focus enough to see who was with me, I just felt a presence andimmediately my body reacted the best way it knew how. The last time someone entered my room when I wassleeping, they tried to force themselves on me

"Don't be afraid, princess,” a soft voice whispered, like if he spoke any louder I would sprint. I might. "It's me,Aiden. I was just checking on you to make sure you were okay." my eyes snapped up and sure enough, the largeman was hunched over the bed, looking down at me with worried eyes.

I still moved back a little, searching my brain for the memories that seemed vague.

I studied him for a moment, trying to steady my breathing as my memories slowly pieced themselves.

The party, the lycan king, me running away and feeling dizzy, falling and everything going black, the warrior thatgave me food and a potion to drink. He was in a sleeveless shirt, his bulging biceps and broad shoulders taperingdown his waist. His chest was on display from the low V of his tank top, his muscles defined and well-trained. Thebody of a man that trained a lot.

I let out a sigh of relief and stretched, feeling more relaxed now that everything has come back to my mind. "Oh,right. Sorry, I was just a little confused."

Aiden smiled. "That's understandable. You were pretty out of it. How are you feeling now?" He asked. his soft gazewatching me.

I thought about it for a moment. "I feel a lot better. I must have passed out after taking that potion. My leg still hurts,but it's not as bad as it was before.” I explained. Since I didn’t have a wolf, my healing process was a lot slower thannormal wolves.

"That's good to hear," Aiden said, standing up. "It’s good to know you're awake and doing better. Get some rest, weneed to talk. I'll check on you later. I have a few questions." something in my stomach churned but I managed to nodand try to smile.

[ watched as he left the room, closing the door behind him. It was nice to know that someone was looking out forme. It's something I've never had even from the people I called family. Though I was still a bit skeptical, he hasn'tdone anything up till now that shows he has bad intentions, so I guess it means I could trust him.

I was deep in thought when a soft knock came on the door. My first reaction was panic before I told myself it wasprobably just Aiden, and if he wanted to hurt me. He had plenty o f time to do that when I was unconscious anddefenseless. I was still defenseless but he didn't know that.

The door opened moments later and he walked in, his steps unhurried. His large form moving with grace youwouldn't think he was capable of achieving.

“Hope you are well rested now.” he started. He moved to the bench I'd sat in earlier and lowered himself to it. Hislarge form folded as he sat, the chair squeaked under his weight, he didn't look worried that it would break oranything.

“What is your name?” he asks. I stared at him in panic, aware that he could hear the crazy way my heart wasbeating. I didn't have a way to stop it so I just watched him. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I knowyou're doing it for your safety, but I need to know who you are.”

When I didn't say anything, I expected him to blow up but he just sat, looking deep in thought.

"I get that you're running.” he started, he waited for me to confirm that. I just stayed quiet, staring at him with whatI hope is an empty expression. “And if I'm going to try and help you, I need to know who or what you're runningfrom?"

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal the truth. If I told him that I was Alpha Jameson Peirce’s daughter, the daughter ofan alpha from a neighboring pack, even if he didn't belong to any of the packs close by, he would still be duty-boundto report me to my father. And if my father found out that T had been running, he would be even more determined tomarry me off as soon as possible so I could be trapped forever. I don’t even want to think of what the lycan kingwould do to me if he heard of what I did. If he doesn't already know, that is.

I didn’t know his stance on the marriage but it was a slap to his face, the highest form of insult for him. I haddisrespected him by running and the consequences would be dire for me. After hearing all the things I have abouthim, death would be the only escape for me. That is if he doesn’t get to me and kills me first. Except, he wouldn't, heis known for his crazy torture techniques.

"I am running from my alpha,” I admitted silently, trying to keep my voice steady. "He wants to sell me off to a manwho isn’t my mate." The emotions won as I stuttered through the words.

Aiden frowned, his brow furrowed. "I see," he muttered, his voice laced with skepticism. "And who is this alpha?"

I hesitated again, trying to think of what to say that wouldn't immediately make him connect the dots. "I am sorrybut I can’t tell you that," I went for the safest option which was telling him nothing, hoping that he wouldn't ask anymore questions. Thankfully, he didn’t.

Aiden seemed to consider this for a moment, his expression softened slightly. "I'll help you," he said finally. "Butyou have to promise me that you'll not attempt to run until you're well enough to leave. I can't risk the Alpha replaceingout where you are."

I nodded. relief washing over me. "Thank you," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "I promise I won't run."

Aiden gave me a curt nod and got up to leave the room. "T'll bring you more food and water." he said over hisshoulder. "Rest and get your strength back. We'll figure out a plan to get you out of here."

“But I am okay now. I should leave immediately, the alpha must be looking for me.” My heart was racing in mychest. Just thinking of my father’s wrath made me want to get the hell out of here much faster.

I trusted Aiden to a certain degree but every second I spent in this room was a second wasted when I could haveused it to put so much more distance between my father, Xander and I. I approached him, my hands shaking withfear, the desperation leaking out of me like the breath I was exhaling.

"I need to get out of here, now.” I pleaded. my eyes narrowing in panic.

Aiden's brow furrowed with concern. "I get that you think it is urgent but you are more than safe here, try and getsome more rest. You said your leg was still hurting, didnt you? How do you expect to run in that state?"

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my voice. "I know I said that, but I feel better after taking that potion. See, Ican even stand on my own and I barely feel any pain."

Aiden paused. looking torn. His hand hovered over the knob of the door. "Listen, I can't just let you leave withoutknowing where you're going or how you'll survive. If that's the case, I will go with you."

I shook my head frantically. "No, you won't. If you come with me, you will end up getting yourself killed. You havedone enough already and I don't want to hurt you. Just let me go."

Aiden's expression softened and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I can’t let you go alone. Look, I will get somesupplies and let you rest for a bit before we go. You can't just run off into the wilderness without any provisions.When you get to your destination safely, I'll come back. T'll feel better knowing you are safe and i didnt let you go byyourself." His tone suggested I couldn't change his mind, and I decided it was better to let him and prepare for us toleave than me stopping to argue, and wasting more time.

Tears of gratitude welled in my eyes. "Thank you, Aiden. Thank you so much."

He nodded and exited the room, leaving me inside. I sat on the bed, my hands wrapped around myself as I tried tocalm my frayed nerves.

I wasn't even close to being out of danger yet, I doubted I would be safe even after leaving the werewolf community,but at least T would be somewhere that they weren't the vast majority. I just had to keep my mouth shut and hopeAiden doesn't figure out my true identity. At least until I was far away from here, from my father and King Xander.I sat nervously on the edge of the bed, my hands twisted together in my lap as I waited for Aiden to return with thesupplies he said he was getting.

Just when I wanted to start pulling my hair out of worry, Aiden walked back into the room with a backpack, similarto the one I had but bigger. He'd just slipped in when we heard a loud banging sound. My heart dropped and myeyes widened in panic. I turned to Aiden, trying to make sure he heard the same thing.

He was frowning, which told me he did

"What is it?" I asked, my heart racing.

"T'm not sure,” Aiden replied, his voice low and guarded. "But I'm going to go check it out."