Chapter 4 Vincent.

(Ariel's POV)

My face turned pale as I turned to look at the door. My palms were slick with sweat, and my thoughts raced. I glanced at the clock on the wall; it wasn't even 8:00 p.m. yet.

Ron, standing beside me, shifted nervously, his eyes flickering between me, the strange man and the door, a bit panicked.

"Go hide now," I looked around and pointed towards a dark corner of the room, telling the stranger to hide. When he hid in the corner, I threw a large blanket over him, concealing him. Then I turned to look at Ron, nodding at him.

Ron swallowed hard and went toward the door. As he rushed to open, my breath caught in my throat as a thousand worst-case scenarios played through my mind.

The door swung open.

The Alpha's guards stepped in immediately, looking around the room.

"Good day, Misters. What do you require?" Ron stepped back, allowing them in. Ron lingered his eyes around the room, trying to check if he was hidden perfectly when I nodded at him, reassuring him.

My heart throbbed crazy as the guards looked around and then at Ron before turning to look at me, staring from head to toe. The tallest of the guards stepped forward, his expression neutral but commanding.

I clenched my jaws. Was he found out? Would he get into trouble, and also us, if we're caught hiding him?

Millions of questions rushed to my mind as the guard kept staring into my soul.

"I—" I stuttered as I lowered my gaze, but I was interrupted with a command.

"The Alpha requires all unmated females to report to the hotel," he announced, his voice firm and commanding.

"W—What's it about?" I asked, looking at him dumbfounded when he sighed, a bit annoyed.

"We need to ensure that everyone is healthy and in proper condition to go through the genetic test."

I stood frozen as the guard at the door cleared his throat. His presence was imposing, and his tone was authoritative but calm.

My stomach churned at the mention of the genetic test. I exchanged a glance with Ron, who looked equally tense but remained silent. I forced myself to ask, "Check our health? For what exactly?"

The guard's expression didn't change. "It's a routine examination. All unmated females are to undergo a physical check to ensure they're healthy enough for the next steps."

"Next steps?" I repeated, my voice sharper than I intended. "What exactly are these next steps?"

The guard remained impassive. "The genetic tests. Alpha wants to ensure all females are physically flawless before the selection process."

"Now?" I spoke up as my eyebrows pressed together.

"Immediately," the guard replied as he stood there, staring down at Ron and me.

I frowned. "I'm quite busy now…"

The guard suddenly cut me off, his voice firm, and warned. "This isn't optional. It's the Alpha's command. If you resist, there will be consequences."

I placed a hand on Ron's arm, silently urging him to stand down. I knew there was no point in arguing, not now. "Fine, I'll go," I said quietly, and the guard stood there, watching me closely.

"Give me a moment," I added, motioning towards the door. The guard shrugged his shoulders and stepped outside, closing the door behind them.

As they left, I could hear Ron muttering under his breath as we both exhaled in unison, our fear momentarily dissipating, "That was close. Luckily, they didn't notice anything about someone hiding here."

I nodded while I heaved a sigh of relief. Where was he? Was he okay?

I hurried to the corner and saw the large blanket lying on the floor. There was no one, just the cold hospital blanket left, which was stained with blood. I turned to look at Ron, who was standing right beside me and stared blankly.

"He is gone," I muttered as my eyes caught sight of a card lying down on the table. I walked towards it and picked it up.

"What's that?" Ron asked, approaching me to carefully observe the object.

"It seems to be his. He might have left it here for us," I looked closer before adding, "It has a phone number on it. It must be his."

Ron frowned and warned me not to get closer to him, but I just smiled and nodded as I pocketed it.

I had never been curious about someone so much before, and he was the first rebel I met. It felt as if I'd made my kind, my family.

I clutched onto the card tightly before I turned to look at Ron. "I'll see you later." I was about to leave, but before I went out of the room, I turned back. "Thank you very much, Ron," I said with gratitude in my voice.

"Be careful, Ariel," Ron replied as I walked out the door.

I had no choice but to follow the guard to the hotel. When I got to the hotel, I was whisked into a hall that had different partitions. The hall was filled with medical tents, werewolves in medical robes, and human girls that were guided by guards. Almost thrown inside for a forced medical checkup.

When I stepped in, I could hear murmurs from the human girls and werewolf guards alike. As I got closer, I confirmed my suspicions—they were definitely talking about me.

"How dared she showed up? She must have gotten tired of living."

"How long can she stay alive for? After the genetic test is over, she'll be at our mercy."

"She dared to have an idea to overthrow our rule. She must be punished according to our law."

I shook my head at dismissal. It didn't matter to me what they said. Despite everything they'd done to me in the past, the guards were cautious this time. I knew why—they wouldn't dare harm me before the genetic test.

They couldn't afford to harm me, even though they roughly handled me into a medical tent that a human girl had just exited.

I took the chance to scan the inside of the medical tent that was occupied by medical devices and a bed. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. I was visibly tense.

A female nurse approached, clipboard in hand, her expression was full of annoyance and disdain. A gush of embarrassment rushed through my body, and a wave of anxiety washed over me.

The nurse glanced at me, her voice flat. "Take off your clothes. We are going to begin the physical examination."

I hesitated for a moment, but I knew refusing would not help matters. My fingers fumbled with the buttons on my shirt before I reluctantly let it slide off. I stood there, exposed and vulnerable as I bit my lips trying to suppress the humiliation rising inside me. My wounds were still not healed, leaving behind scars as she glanced down, shaking her head as if I were something worthless.

The nurse kept her eyes on the clipboard with no expression on her face. "This is a standard procedure. We'll start with a general physical check to ensure there are no visible defects or injuries."

I could feel the nurse's clinical gaze sweep over me. She reached out, placing cool fingers on my shoulders, palpating my arms.

The nurse injected me to take blood samples. I flinched as I grit my teeth, feeling her gaze examining every part of my body.

"Raise your arms," the nurse instructed, her voice still devoid of emotion.

I complied, trying not to think about it. She examined my sides, my back, and then moved to check my posture.

"Turn around."

I turned, staring blankly at the wall as I felt the nurse's fingers press lightly against my spine, checking for alignment.

After a few minutes, the nurse circled back to face me, scribbling notes on the clipboard. "Next, we need to check for any skin conditions. This will require a full-body inspection. Please lie down on the table."

I climbed onto the examination table, then shut my eyes closed as my mind drifted to thoughts of escape as her hands moved across my skin while she used a device to scan me.

There was no expression on her face. She just continued to check my naked body and graded it as if I were a merchandise.

I clenched my fist. This was the physical test everyone has to go through for the genetic testing. It's the werewolves who need us, but it's them who look down on us, and try to humiliate us in many ways.

"Lift your left leg," the nurse said, inspecting the muscles and joints. She repeated the process with the right, her movements brisk but efficient. When she was done, she noted something down, then looked at me again.

"You're almost done. We just need to take a few measurements." The nurse's voice was so calm, so mechanical, that it felt unreal. My throat tightened, but I bit my lip, forcing myself to get through it.

She took out a tape measure, wrapping it around my arms, waist, and thighs, writing down every number with detached precision.

Finally, the nurse stood back and motioned. "You can get dressed now."

I wasted no time pulling my clothes back on. My hands shook slightly as I buttoned my shirt, but I forced myself to appear composed.

The nurse, still focused on her clipboard, gave one final instruction. "The results will be ready in a few days. You're free to leave."

I nodded stiffly and stepped out of the room, at least I was done—for now.

I instantly walked away from that place while clutching my body tight. The shame was lingering inside my body. I wished to wash her touches away.

As I neared the house, staring blankly into the distance, I spotted Alice stepping out of the front door. Alice wore a smug expression on her face the moment she saw me. I looked around. Jack seemed to have already left.

"Alice, get out of here!" I warned, my voice hoarse with anger and disappointment.

Alice turned, her eyes gleaming with self-assurance. "Why would I need to get out?" she scoffed. "After the marking ceremony with Jack, I'll be moving into his big, spacious house. You think I'm staying in this shabby shack full of rats forever? I'm not interested in it."

My jaw clenched. I wanted to argue, to shake sense into her, but instead, I forced myself to stay calm. I had no more energy to deal with other things.

I smiled, tilting my head as I muttered sarcastically, "As your sister, I hope that you never get abandoned by him and always stay together with him."

Alice gritted her teeth, rolling her eyes as she stomped inside.

Without another word, I also went inside and collapsed onto my bed. My body ached from the ordeal, but my thoughts drifted to that strange man that I had saved. His words echoed in my mind. He was a rebel too, the very first rebel I ever met. I was curious. I was eager to know more about him, his operations, and the rebel army.

I took out the card from my pocket while I reached for my phone, hesitating as the urge to call him surged. Before I could dial, my phone buzzed in my hand. The screen lit up with an unknown number.

"Wh—" I was wondering who was calling me when I saw the numbers matching the card's.

My heart skipped a beat as I answered. His voice, deep and familiar, instantly soothed my nerves.

"It's Vincent." A short pause followed before he briefly explained. "The man you saved today."

My lips curled upwards, and I let out a slow mutter, "Hmm…"

I had millions of questions for him, but I was left speechless when he called me. I couldn't utter a single word. Before I could ask him more about what happened to him, he interrupted.

"I'll be there on the day of the genetic test," Vincent said, his tone filled with quiet determination. "Don't you wish to leave? I'll take you away from the genetic test."

My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the screen blankly. Did he just propose to save me? Can I really be saved? Can I finally leave this place?