Page 62 of Her Arranged Alpha
"She's doing fine, but no one likes to be stuck in one place. She's eventually going to go stir crazy."
"How long were they going to be monitoring her?"
I shrugged. "They didn't give us a definitive answer on that. Like always, Ralph just dismissed us without another word."
"Sounds right," Frank said with a nod.
"Have either of you found anyone that fits the description of the father yet?" Aaron asked, seeming hopeful.
I shook my head. "No." I'd looked into it, hoping and praying that no one popped out to be looked at under a closer microscope, but no one came to mind. Everyone in my pack had a history, and I knew it.
"Damn," Aaron said. "I was hoping someone would."
"Well, it's a step towards finding out who this is."
Suddenly, the space felt different, and we all tensed up. We could all feel the air was tighter, and I scanned the woods. But what I didn't expect was a man to be standing just a few feet away from us.
He was a middle-aged man with a deep brown beard. His eyes didn't look normal, almost entirely black. He didn't look like anyone I knew, but I felt all the hairs on my body rise.
"Aaron?" I stepped closer to him. "He's in your land. Who is that?"
Aaron looked just as thrown as I was feeling. "No idea."
The man took a few steps towards us, and a smile pulled at his lips. "I heard you were looking for me."
My eyes widened. My wolf went on alert, growling, ready to bounce.
Frank growled, baring his teeth at the guy. "What do you want?"
The man held that smirk like he knew something we didn't. "You'll know soon enough. How's the kid, Frank? Beautiful little boy, you have. It would be tragic if something happened to him."
Frank lunged at the man, fully ready to take him out, but the man just vanished into thin air. His laughter filled the space.
"Always the one to fight first, aren't you?"
"Come out and fight like a man!" Frank yelled, turning around, scanning the area for him.
He reappeared a little further away from us now. "Why? This is so much more fun." He looked at Aaron. "How was your date last night? Did you peg the girl you brought home? I didn't think she seemed like your type."
Aaron looked utterly pale, like he wanted to vomit, and I was stunned. How did he know that?
The man looked at me. "And Jillian? One of my favorite puppets. So easy to use."
Anger built up, and I shifted. I charged at him, but he was gone just as he had done moments before. Suddenly, darkness filled the space, and the man laughed. "You are all so easy to read. Anger fuels you."
I looked to find the guys, but I couldn't see them, couldn't hear them. The darkness had taken all my scenes away. I howled, knowing I should be able to listen to them, but the sound was quickly taken away like it had never been made.
I turned around, trying to smell where they could be, but I couldn't. Nothing.
Then something hit me hard in the side and I fell over. But no one stood there. I pulled myself up as something seemedto slice at my side. I jumped back, fighting something I couldn't even see.
I snapped at the air, growling, trying to fight myself free. The darkness seemed one step ahead of me, though. I felt pain radiate over my side. I tried to take a breath in, but I felt like someone had their hands wrapped around my neck. I gasped for air, feeling my lungs begging me.
And then suddenly the darkness was gone. I brought in air, pulling a hand up and rubbing at my neck. I looked over to my left and found Aaron on all fours, gasping for air. I looked to my right, and Frank was looking around. "Where are you!" he screamed.
I felt like someone had taken my mind and scrambled it. My head ached like hell, and I was sure I was going to vomit.
I looked to my side, seeing a slice right down my ribs. "Jesus..."
