My fated alpha by Natalie
Chapter 12

Madeleine

I willed myself to keep my eyes on his face and not roam around his body. He looked rugged in jeans and the shirtless look suited him.

While my eyes were struggling to not dip down to his bare chest, he asked again,

"Are you okay? Let me take you to the packhouse and then you can tell me everything."

I simply nodded my head as words failed me. I was still shivering a little so to help me feel comfortable, he weaved his hand in mine and I almost stumbled.

My hand fit in his perfectly and the way he held my hand protectively made me never want to leave his side.

I began walking with him, too awkward to say anything else. I could feel tingles spreading from my hand towards my entire body and I couldn't think straight.

My entire mind was focused on our hands and how it felt to be touched by him.

I was feeling giddy but my happiness didn't last long. As soon as my eyes fell on Garron, I instinctively hid behind Hayden's back.

What was Garron doing here? Would he take me away forcefully? I didn't want to leave.

The happiness that had been surrounding me just moments ago was replaced by fear and panic again. Sensing my hesitancy, Hayden stepped in front of Garron and asked him to leave.

I really didn't understand their talk about pack rules and territory because I was too afraid that Garron would forcefully drag me away to the pack and to Steve.

Thus, I was relieved when Hayden squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring look.

He guided me to a building that he told me later was the packhouse and asked me to rest in one of the rooms. I was reluctant to let him go but I knew that I couldn't hold his hand all day. As such, I simply nodded my head and let him go as he softly closed the door.

Turning around, I saw that the room wasn't very big but was cozy and comfortable. There was a large bed, a wardrobe, and a dressing table but nothing much.

I was restless and even though I tried to sleep, it evaded me. I knew that Garron was outside and I didn't want to leave with him.

Half of my mind was occupied with the thought that Garron would barge in the room and drag me away.

Hence, I kept pacing around the room and that is when I saw my reflection in the mirror. Only then did I realize that I looked like a homeless person.

And to an extent it was true. I didn't really have a home. My hair was matted, the jeans torn at multiple places due to the vines and thorns, I had scratched myself against and my face was covered in mud. 'Oh Goddess, he had seen me like this?'

His soft t-shirt felt warm against my skin and I only looked at my reflection in the mirror for a few minutes.

Not having anything else to do, I decided to take a shower. Luckily, I found a few towels soap, and shampoo in the bathroom.

Thus, I turned the shower on and let the water run down my body. As the warm water touched my skin I recalled the way Steve had grabbed me and tore my clothes.

The memory was so intense that I took the soap and began scrubbing my hands and body, trying to get rid of the feeling of him touching me.

Tears were beginning to pool in my eyes again when I recalled the way Hayden had held me. My breathing that had grown erratic slowed down to feel his protective embrace around me.

The hot water soothed me and I lathered the shampoo on my hair as my mind kept replaying our first meeting where he had fought for me followed by today when he had stood up for me again.

My heart fluttered at the thought that he had come to look for me in the forest along with his beta, Charlie, whose name I learned later.

I spent almost half an hour in the shower, crying away all my worries, mourning the loss of my parents, my pack, and almost my chastity until Hayden had shown up.

To me, he was like a breath of fresh

air and a ray of hope in my dark, dark life. But, he was an alpha and he had better things to do than come to the rescue of a damsel in distress every single time. S

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips to think that I thought of myself as a damsel. Surely he had seen enough beautiful and pretty girls in his life to even bother giving me a second look.

Shaking my head, I pulled the towels hanging from the hanger and wrapped them around my body and hair. I walked out of the bathroom and went towards the closet. However, I couldn't replace anything suitable. It was all boy's clothes that included oversized shirts and jeans.

Frowning, I looked for something that would fit me but couldn't replace anything.

As I was debating with myself, I felt someone hover by the door and my heart fluttered. I felt it was Hayden and I was dying to see him again.

He called out for me and I immediately grabbed his shirt that I had worn earlier and quickly put it on.

Walking to the door, I opened it a little and peeked outside to see him. He was still shirtless and my eyes dipped to his abs again.

However, I hastily looked around and as if to answer my doubt, he responded, "Don't worry, Garron isn't around. I asked him to leave."

I nodded my head in response and asked him, "Are you alone?"

He raised an eyebrow and answered, "Yes, don't worry. I just wanted to check if you were okay."

I opened the door a little to allow him to step inside. He looked at me worriedly and stepped in, not knowing why I was hiding behind the door.

Maybe he was worried that I was being afraid again. When he entered the room, I quickly shut the door and he turned around to see me in nothing but his shirt.

As his eyes roamed on my body, I

tried to pull the shirt down. Nobody except maybe my mother had seen me like this and the fact that a man was looking at me in my half-naked body embarrassed me.

Even he seemed to be stunned for a moment but he quickly turned around to look elsewhere.

Tugging at the hem of the shirt, I tried drying my hair with the other towel. His back was still facing me and he asked,

"Who did this to you? Steve?"

I could see his fists clench and the way his voice strained to even take Steve's name. I could feel his anger radiating through the entire room. They said an alpha was always fearsome but the anger that wafted through him scared me a little.

"Y-yes" I answered in a stutter.