The pervert

Chapter 3 – Ravina POV

AThe pervert

The warm water eased my sore muscles as I leaned back in the bathtub, releasing a slow breath. The tension in my body would not leave completely, but this was as relaxed as I'd been since arriving in this pack.

I closed my eyes, reaching out through the mind-link. Anna, can you hear me? A minute later, my head was filled with her voice. I'm here. How are you? "Exhausted. Irritated. Something about this place feels. wrong," I admitted. "Are they treating you nicely?"

I paused. The warriors pretty much left me alone, and the Alpha. he was confusing. I didn't know how to describe the way he looked at me, as if he was trying to figure something out that didn't add up.

"For the moment, they're not treating me poorly," I said at last. "But I don't trust them, especially their Alpha."

"Why? Did he do something to you?" Anna's voice grew sharper with concern. "Not exactly... but I feel like he's always looking at me. Waiting for something."

"Be careful," she warned. "You don't have your wolf. If anything seems off, leave there."

"I know," I sighed. "I'll be fine."

Just when I was about to say something more, a sharp, stinging pressure coursed through my head and cut the link. I gasped as I cradled my temples.

Lost. The link to Anna was lost.

I sprang up so fast that water overflowed the tub. My heart was pounding in my chest. There could be only one reason.

The Alpha had cut my mind-link. "Shit, that bastard," I swore.

He had no right. No one could intrude in such an intimate contact. Was he so fixated on control that he had to violate my mind too?

A vile thought crept through my mind. Was he seeing me? At the moment?

I shivered, suddenly feeling exposed even though I was in the water. My arms hugged my chest, and I glanced about the room, but of course, I was alone. Still, my heart refused to settle.

"Perverted bastard," I muttered.

I attempted to calm down, easing back into the water. There was nothing to be done now. But one thing for sure—this Alpha was not safe, and I had to keep an eye out.

The next morning, I visited the pack hospital to get treated. My body was still weak, and without my wolf, my energy faltered faster than usual. The pack's doctor, Evan, gave me an examination before offering me a stinky tea.

"Drink," he ordered.

I puckered up my face. "Do I have to?"

"Unless you wish to pass out on the training grounds once more? Yes." I complained and drank a tiny amount, almost vomiting.

"Tastes like dirt," I complained.

"Good. That means it's working." Evan smiled.

I shook my head and set the cup aside. The exhaustion was creeping up, weighed down in my eyelids. Evan must have felt it because he spoke to me once more.

"Get some rest. You need it."

I made no argument. I slumped back onto the pillows, letting my body sink into the bed. My mind drifted off, the noises around me fading.

Somewhere during my sleep, I felt it again. A presence.

Strong, almost smothering, as though a person hovered above me. My instincts shrieked at me to wake up.

My eyes snapped open.

And he was there.

The Alpha.

Standing beside my bed, staring at me.

I froze. My breath locked in my throat. His hand inched near me, just inches from touching me.

What was he doing?

Panic surged through me. My body responded faster than my brain. I stretched out to grab the blanket and yank it up, my heart thrumming in my chest.

Did he touch me?

His gaze narrowed, his face twisting into something cold and unreadable. "What the hell are you doing?" I shouted.

His jaw clenched. His fists balled up.

"Are you serious?" he snarled.

I didn't react. I was too distracted with smoothing my clothing, assuring myself everything was in place, that nothing ached. His presence hovering above me in the night had brought a chill over me.

His anger blazed brighter. His chest expanded and contracted with short, furious breaths.

"Forget it," he growled, whirling on his heel and taking steps toward the door. And he was out.

I remained there, confused to the core.

What had occurred?

One minute he was towering over me, the next he was storming off like I'd done something wrong.

I was still standing with my back to the door when Evan appeared. He shot me an eyebrow.

"Why are you wearing that ghost-of-a-person-just-walked-by-your-front-door expression?"

I whipped my head towards him. "What the actual hell is wrong with your Alpha?"

Evan laughed, tossing his hands through his hair. "That is a lengthy list. But what did he do this time?"

"He—he was towering over me when I was sleeping!" I exclaimed. "Then he was upset when I woke up. As if I'd done something bad."

Evan settled onto the bed, his face more amused than concerned. "You don't know him at all, huh?"

I folded my arms. "Obviously not."

He let out a sigh. "He doesn't get along with she-wolves."

I frowned. "What does that even mean?"

"It means he doesn't know what to do in front of them. He hardly speaks to any of them except when he has no choice. Some even wonder if he's gay or something."

I choked on my own breath. "What?"

Evan laughed. "You should see the look on his face when someone asks him. It's rich."

I had to snort a little laugh. The image of the intimidating Alpha having his. ability questioned was somehow funny.

But why is he so like that?" I demanded.

Evan's expression eased slightly. "His childhood was hard. His father almost died of a bad wound, and when his parents passed away, he had to come into the pack early. He's been carrying the weight of leadership ever since."

A strange feeling settled in my chest. I hadn't expected that.

"So, he is being aloof because he doesn't want people to notice his struggles?" I assumed.

"Yeah. He maintains the tough exterior because he wants the pack to rely on him. If he seems weak, they'll lose faith in him."

I sat quietly, considering Evan's words. Had I misjudged him?

I remembered last night, remembering how he broke my mind-link. How he stood by my bedside this morning, only to leave when I reacted badly.

Maybe... he wasn't so bad as I thought.

Maybe I should try to look at things from his perspective. And if I judged him wrongly...

Maybe I should apologize to him.