The Code Of The Alpha

our fathers felt comfortable with Mady and I going back to our townhouse, especi

an necessary, we both agreed to stay wit

to gather a few things. I made sure to cover my painting be

clothes for a few days. I could only hope there was a spare too

romising to meet for coffee the next morning. When we got home, I

ling, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be sleeping that night. E

s had likely been sleeping for several hours at that point. After making

re I found myself lounging on the couch that night, listening to the sound

er my head. I could hear crickets singing and frogs bellowing as rainwater puddled in

ff in the distance as lightning fla

t I could no longer hear the crickets and frogs. I finished drinki

ightning stretch out across the sky. In the brief moment that it illuminate

art s

ng drew back into the clouds. An eerie chill ran

Open the door

my quivering fingers clench the handle and turn it. With the adrenaline coursing th

more-only to see that the figure I'd seen was no longer there. I felt a tinge

g closer towa

door, y

steps of the deck. They were slow and calculated. I tried to determine if I

rward to look out into the yard. I

de the house or do I take what time I have

make a decisi

shape of a man standing in the patio doorway and

r of u

see his shadowy outline even af

vements, he stepped towards me and I did the only thi

ered against the wooden support beam behind him. Se

oor handle before an arm wrapped

body of the man behind me-forcefully pushing myself back

by my attacker and he stumbled backwards, la

t to the couch. Trying as fast as I could to get away, stumbled only a f

nt me rigid as I land

was

o wrestle my way out of his gri

lower torso and held my wrists in one h

ht of his body, instead he was merely holding me down by constricting m

oked as pathe

rawling over my body, originating from his grip on my wrists

firing off violently; I couldn't tell if

d with a deep voice, "and I kn

so blinded by fear that I ignored the telling symptoms

ghtened

tating he

tness of

my skin when he touched me. T

f your mouth, promise

ng to acknowledg

one like me. You screaming will draw his attention and create many more problems than it

ph

k his hand of

flashed across the room, barel

" I asked, my

ou

i

patio. Despite the situation, I found myself relaxing under him

y, keeping a hand on the other side of my body as if

our name?

was still breathing heavy from bo

answered. "

pression as I registered h

the things my father had s

and Luca

ho I am," h

my eyes darting

tation pre

ly touching my face before I fli

aw cl

th both hands and held my face, g

easure only," he said sincerely. "Don't you d

e me to the ground

ing away. "You're right about my

ut you?"

't ans

under one condi

luminating his sharp facial features. After the accomp

th me, a

there was a part of me that desperatel

ly was

I said

eave. Besides, my family would disown me if I

id. "I didn't ask a question.

cof

rights of autonomy," I told h

, landing on the backdoor. Luca followe

don't have a choi

e door you w

alk towards

his is goodbye t

him to stand out on the patio. As I turned the corner to walk up the staircase,

d clenched my fists to try an

to peer around the corn

left th

rows fu

o way it wa

tion to go and wake my father. He and Alpha R

the hallway towards my parents' room. As I passed

pen window. Seeing the rain pour in, soaking my chair and bookca

ly to pull it down but it was jammed. The window shut suddenly, se

ist to steady me and I i

is rain-drenched body c

g cho

ooked down at his feet an

" I whisper

footprints all

to my bed, gasping as it illuminated the mud that

l is the matt

e, stopping short in the middle of my sentence as I took in hi

yebrows that gave him a stern and focused expression. His eyes were a pale green that reminded me of sea

for striking facial features that added to his steely demeanor. His golden, honey-to

clung tight to his broad shoul

girl.

ly lost my tra

," Luca said, his voice deep

eed to leave." T

be able to put up much more of a fight. I closed my

thoughts that were ru

eave," I said, fina

dy told

h, Luca reached out and

esturing to the brand-new black pickup truck t

, anticipating

you getting in that truck is a voluntar

rned ba

e those five minu

k of an opening door. Luca and I both turned to see my fathe

pression morphed from one

are you doing

e, making sure

, letting him k

nd out of my house," he grow

mate," L

and was immediately followed by a crack of thu

ing this room

my gaze fall to the ground, unable t

my dea

my father, hi

's what

her. I saw a momentary flash of fear in my father's eyes and I rea

was a Beta, Lu

determined the wi

new it. When Luca took a step forwa

the breath I ha

" I re

o look at

not form in the back of my throat. "Please,

ebrows knit together in confus

again, this time my voi

wn and pulled out my suitcase that I had packed wit

in my paint supplies and went into the

toothbrush. I walked back into the room, the

d my suitcase from the bed and walked over. Noticing how I eyed the sheet

er and stood on my

you."

e you so

I pulled away, st

ee my mother standing in her bedroom d

at I had been so diligently hol

oom and I saw the realization hit her. Whether she recog

nd pulled me into a hug so tight t

ful." she whisp

dding as she

hat you'll call whenever you get wher

ing the tears from

down the staircase, trying to ke

ng as I opened the front door to the sh

g at the bottom of the staircase, my mother trembl

saw the determined

stepped out into the rain. Luca followed me closely. I could hear his feet splashing

r and put my painting and suitcase into the backseat. Run

n, I heard my father's voice c

egret thi

till hear my father's taunting as Luca nodded at me to get into the

get away

I sat down, running ar

red to life. I pulled my backpack off of

's house as we drove past it. I wished then, more th

Ronan have