4. KYLER LANGE MESSER

Willow got out of the car and breathed in the crisp afternoon air. The lodge was beautiful, overlooking the forest and the banks of the Lee River. A pang of sadness came over her, wishing she could have been there with Zoey.

Two officers followed from the car, assigned to accompany Willow for the week. One was a woman named Chelsea. She was two years Willow's senior. The other officer's name was Derek. The officers were communicative and put Willow at ease during the drive to Riverlodge.

"Wow, this is amazing," Chelsea commented.

"How long do we have to stay in a place like this?" Derek chuckled.

"We're staying in the car, Derek." Chelsea cleared her throat quietly and then turned to Willow. "Mrs. Anberlin, we'll be in the car, so you don't have to worry," she said.

Willow gasped in surprise. "But why, no, I don't want to be alone in there."

"You need time to settle down, Mrs. Anberlin." Chelsea smiled. "We don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I don't mind, come on... it's going to be okay, isn't it?" Willow replied.

Chelsea and Derek looked at each other, then both nodded. "All right. But we won't stay inside, we'll just keep you company and watch," Chelsea said.

Willow couldn't agree more and nodded quickly. The trio entered the lodge, and once inside, they were completely mesmerized. The interior was warm, the furniture first class. The officers stepped onto the back porch and checked the lake area, making sure there was nothing suspicious there.

Meanwhile, Willow went into one of the rooms and put down her bags. She sat on the bed with its white sheets and thought for a while. Willow's thoughts couldn't escape Zoey, she was afraid that something bad had happened to her only daughter.

She remembered what Shawn had said about Zoey's father.

Max was a sweet young man. Willow met him on prom night, he was a friend of one of Willow's schoolmates. Long story short, they fell in love and started dating. Then Willow got pregnant in college, she didn't dare tell her parents. Suddenly Max comes up with a very crazy idea, they leave Willow's hometown, find a new place and get married.

Either out of blind love, or Willow just followed Max's wishes. But once Willow left college, left her parents, and believed in Max's promise, he never came. There was never another word from Max.

Could Max have come and taken Zoey? But still, it was impossible.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Willow nodded.

"We checked around, everything's safe."

"I'll make dinner. You must be hungry, right?"

Chelsea chuckled softly. "Ah, thank you. We didn't want to bother you."

"No problem, I brought enough food."

*

After dinner, Willow decided to relax on the cozy sofa in the living room. After all, the officers were busy with their work, mostly staying on the back porch and walking around. So Willow felt uncomfortable talking to them in the middle of their duties. Then Willow started to read articles about kidnappings and missing persons, hoping to find Zoey's figure there, until she finally fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Willow awoke. Feeling a sharp chill in the air, she got off the couch. The door to the back porch was half open, making Willow gasp in surprise. She quickly stepped onto the porch and saw that it was dark and quiet.

"Officer?" Willow called hoarsely.

 From the direction of the trees near the lake, Willow heard a rustling. She froze in the doorway, sharpening her hearing and staring intently in the direction of the sound. Then a white wolf appeared, striding toward the lodge.

Willow recognized the animal, which she thought was a dog. But in the back of her mind, she began to think that it was not a dog, but a wolf. Just like Zoey had said.

"Alpha?" Willow muttered in disbelief.

The wolf's pace quickened and it began to run towards Willow, then its body began to transform into a human form. Willow screamed and tried to close the door. But she was not quick enough. A strong hand held the door open. Willow couldn't stop screaming in terror.

"Willow, calm down, it's me!" the man said.

"I'm who? Alpha? That's what you mean?"

"Yes! I can explain everything."

"I'm warning you, Alpha! I have two officers guarding me!" Willow replied. She screamed again, "Officers!!! Help! Officers!"

"You're not going to find Zoey without my help!"

Then Willow fell silent. She, who had been holding the door with all her might, finally gave in. She opened the door slowly, gasping as she covered her face.

"You're not wearing any clothes!" Willow hissed angrily.

"Do you have a towel or anything?"

"Oh my God!"

Willow spun around and rushed into the room. She grabbed her oversized pajamas, then returned to the living room and carefully handed the pajamas to the 'Alpha' figure. Willow's eyes were on other parts of the cabin, not wanting to see any indecent sights.

"Nice print, Lilacs," the man commented.

Willow finally looked up at the figure in front of her. A six-foot man, his body looked stocky and solid, dark brown hair wavy at the back of his neck. The irises of his eyes were dark brown and seductive. For a moment, Willow was mesmerized.

"I don't have any bigger clothes," Willow replied sarcastically.

"Thank you." The man smiled.

Both were silent for a few moments, Willow still standing cautiously. Meanwhile, the man went into the kitchen and picked up the leftovers from the island. This made Willow both surprised and annoyed.

"You always cook well," praised the man Willow had earlier referred to as Alpha.

"I only cook on weekends."

"I know." The man smiled. "And it tastes good."

"Let's cut the small talk, shall we?"

The man nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Then who are you? How can you help me save Zoey?"

"Let me introduce myself first." Then the man's hand was extended to Willow. "I am Kyler Lange Messer."