Casper.
My breath hitched, and my eyes darted to the window as if searching for Lilith.
Raphael got up to his feet after noticing my strange behavior. His concerned eyes were glued to me.
“Are you alright?”
“I sense danger,” I replied, licking my bone-dry lips.
He scoffed, sitting beside me before tapping my shoulder lightly.
“Relax. Everyone is safe.”
“What about Lilith? We don’t know why she hasn’t returned home and it’s getting dark. It’s not safe for her, especially after Tim warned me to protect her that the traffickers are after her,” I blurted in a worrisome tone. My forehead was folded in uneasiness, and my heart picked up at a faster pace.
“You are just overthinking. Lilith is fine. You are yet to get over Tim’s death, and it’s messing with your head,” he said cleverly, making all my worry vanish into thin air.
My heartbeat was back to normal, and the fear in me was swept away.
Raphael could be a jackass sometimes, but I loved being around him. He had solutions to my problems, and he was the only one who cared about me.
“I’m sure Tim is in a better place,” he added, before shooting his eyes at me, telling me to cheer up.
*****
Lilith.
I sprinted into the estate, shutting the entrance door before letting out a sigh of relief.
I escaped being kidnapped the second time by a thin line.
“There you are.” A baritone voice reverberated through the drawing room, making my heart shoot up in fear.
I flinched, holding my chest before releasing a sigh when 2 figures came into view.
“You startled me, Alpha,” I muttered before releasing a shaky breath.
“Is that how you greet your Alpha?” Raphael’s annoying voice filled my head, and I almost rolled my eyes.
What was he even doing here?
I didn’t miss the way he kept staring at me with so much anger and hatred. It was not hard to miss.
I greeted them, apologizing for my lateness before glancing back unconsciously.
My body was still in shock, but I tried to conceal it from them.
“Are you alright? You look like you have seen a ghost.” He observed my body movement before trailing my eyes to the window where I continuously glanced at.
“I was almost kidnapped today. A man chased me, but I hid for hours…” I said breathless in fear.
I clasped my parted lips when Raphael’s laughter echoed in my ear.
“You are lying. You were never at the hospital. You went to see your boyfriend,” he accused, stepping before me with hatred oozing out of him. “The hospital was a lame excuse.”
“I am not-”
“Then why do I smell liquor all over you? You are a bad liar.”
“That’s because I went to visit my best friend!” I half-yelled, grinding my teeth in frustration as anger began to seep through me.
Why did he want to pick a fight with me in Casper’s presence?
To make him fire me?!
“It’s okay!” Casper’s voice hushed everyone, and silence hung in the air.
“You are safe now.” He said, turning to me. His voice sent comfort within me.
“By the way, I got you a little something.” He announced. I could feel a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Raphael hissed, annoyed at the little display between us.
I could feel him roll his eyes.
To my greatest surprise, Alpha Casper removed a box from a plastic bag, and my eyes almost popped out in disbelief when he placed the box in my hands.
“Omg!!! Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra!”
Unable to contain my excitement, I jumped hard on Alpha Casper, hugging him tightly with my head buried in his neck, forgetting Raphael was with us.
Casper and I had barely stayed one second when a hand yanked us apart. It was so hard that I almost lost balance and fell, but a hand pulled me back up.
Alpha Casper’s strong arm grabbed my waist, pulling me closer, and went him before my back could hit the floor.
We froze in that position, savoring the warmth of each other’s body.
“Watch your step next time,” he cautioned lightly, releasing me while I looked away from him to hide my cherry-stained cheeks.
The sweet scent of his shampoo coupled with his chocolate and honey drove my insides insane. I felt like clinging to him forever.
Memories of our encounter in the morning washed upon me, and I grew mortified.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Raphael’s eyes widen in disbelief, and the heat from his anger filled the air.
“You don’t touch the Alpha!” he cautioned me, glaring at me with his scary eyes before turning to Casper. “Tell her!”
“That?” he asked, staring at him in confusion.
“She should know her place and not stain you with filth.”
“Dude, relax. She almost fell.” Casper replied, hitting Raphael on his chest before walking out of us.
I almost burst into laughter as shame clouded his face.
“You are not even grateful. The least you should have said was thank you!” he scowled, hissing angrily before knocking me off his path with his broad shoulder.
I collapsed on the chair with my hands protecting my phone before it could bounce on the floor.
I was certain Raphael hit me on purpose so that the screen on my phone would get smashed and Alpha Casper would regret getting me an expensive phone.
He was such a killjoy.
Before I could thank the Alpha, he had already disappeared into his room.
I bounced into my room, unboxing my new phone and dropping it on the nightstand.
Exhausted from running as my body ached, I lay on the bed, shutting my eyes to sleep.
I had barely slept when the image of a man appeared before me chasing me deep into the woods.
I forced my legs to run, but they were heavy like they barely supported my body.
Gathering all my strength, I forced myself, but my speed was no match for him, and not too long, he caught up with me. While his men pinned me against the wet soil, he bound me with a rope, refraining me from moving before his wicked laughter echoed throughout the woods.
“You belong to us now, Lilith. Alpha Casper can’t save you!”