1-The Absent Alpha

For the first time, Mia feels the home she has lived in since she was a child was so big. Too big.

Her right leg is injured. The wound is a little above the knee. Running brushes her skirt against the wound over and over, the pain trembles her knees. But she can’t stop. Two people are after her, aiming for her life. She has no spare mind for anything but fleeing, so she hlods the hem of the skirt as much as she can with her one free hand.

She has her phone in her other hand. The thing that she is depending her life on -- she is calling him. Only HE can save her. After the call ends on itself she would just dial it again, praying he would pick up.

He never did.

She just witnessed her father and mother murdered burtally, and all she could count on is her husband, her Alpha, her everything that’s left.

But he is not answering his phone.

Today was meant to be a casule, cozy family night. She came home for supper. Her brother and sister-in-law put the noisy child to bed when she stayed in the living room with her parents. All Mia did was sitting on the carpet, watching the pair of old loving birds dancing to the slow music and she felt content in her chest.

But then a group of men in black broke in all of a sudden, and everything was ruined. They kicked down all doors, rushed into rooms roaring, and tore everyone they saw into pieces.

Her parents struggled in a brutal fight with the barbaric young wolves, trying to buy Mia time. Their blood soaked the wool carpet in the second floor’s livign room. The soulless open eyes of her father’s cold body still vivid in her mind as Mia dashed out, running for her life.

Right before those eyse lost the last light he was still shouting in a hoarse voice: “Run, run!”

To think that when those murderers barged in, she stood up to them claiming: “I am Mia Moore, wife of Alpha Bruce. Whatever you want, we can talk about it.”

How ridiculous.

Because the man in lead answered: “That’s right. Your life is what we are here for.”

She could only flee.

The two killers are are getting close. The wailing and wild laughter that fill the house tells her that once they caught up, the consequences would be lethal.

Her wolf Daisy growled at the killers before urging her, too: “Run, run!”

All she could do is to keep on running. She can’t defete them. Not on her own.

The only person who can save her now is the person on the other end of the phone, her husband, the pack's alpha, Bruce Kade. 

He can definitely find out who is behind these people. He must have a way to stop them. Just tell him what's happening here now and he can make it stop.

Why didn’t he come with her today!

Right, he seemed to have told her this morning that there was an important event in the evening, so he asked her to go without him.

Mia turned around the corner in panic, tring to steady herself as she dashes off the stairs. Thinking of Bruce’s arrangements, her doubts and uneasiness begin to grow.

Why today? Of all the days, he just can’t be here, today.

"Who could haven’t known that he wasn’t here? Who could have access to the information of your parents' house? Who could command so many wolves?" Daisy roars again, demanding Mia sternly, "How dare they attack the Pack's Luna? Aren’t they afraid of Bruce’s wrath?”

Yes, who could it be to send these killers after her?! After HIS luna?!

Who could come to save her, her parents and her family...

The phone is still on the cold, emotionless dailing tone. He is still not answering.

She stumbles down the stairs. The open door is not far now.

It’s gloomy and rainy outside. The cold wind blew madly through the dark doorway, slapping cold mists on her face. The heavy rain seems to seal the the killings in the house inside this hell that Mia calls home only minutes ago, and all the clues are being buried and washed away.

Right across the wall is a different world, a dark, cold world with unknown things hidden in its darkenss.

But to Mia, even that world is better.

She hates rain and she hates darkness, but now she dashes into the once horrifying world because this a scary option, is the only chance her parents bought her, with their lives.

The phone call times out again, and Mia instantly dails, again.

She has to survive. If only she can find him, all will not be lost and she WILL avenge her family! If, she could find him.

Help me, save me, I only have you, please.

But instead of him, in front of her is only the gate of the villa, before a cold, dark, empty road with no trace of life. Anything can happen to her if she barges out alone. Not to mention, he won’t even know where to find her once she is out there.

"No time to hesitate! Survive first or we won’t have a chance! We can’t depend on no one now!” Daisy urges loudly and Mia has to agree, even though a slight hope remains in her chest for her hero to come for her.

Biting the bullet, Mia dashes for the gate. She is too late.

She barely made to the gate before rays of blinding bright lights shots at her. It’s the headlights of three Hummers charging at her. Her pupils dilated to the stimulating rays, trying to adjust from being in pure darkness. For a few seconds she can’s see, but can only freeze there, like a helpless lamb.

She instinctively raised her hand to cover her eyes, and a few nebulous figures approches, leisurely.

Right in the middle leading group is a woman. Against the blinding light, all Mia can see is the woman’s curvy figure, a wrap dress, and high heels. Behind her are two men, bulky in total black. Just like the killers. The man on the left holds an oversized black unbrella over the woman’s head.

Mia recognizes the woman at only her figure. Elena Duncan, eldest daughter of the Duncan familiy. Also the most loyal supporter, long time friend beside Bruce, her husband.

“You...” Mia has so many questions for Elena.

Before any of those questions can come out, Elena kicks Mia right on the wound on the side of her leg and Mia falls to the ground.

“Wanna know why I’m here, right?” Elena slowly knead her Dr. Martens into Mia’s stomach, deep and hard, with an condesendign look. Her eyes glitering viciously.

Yeah, why?

Is Elena behind all of this? How could she? How dare she to show her face? Aren’t she afraid of Bruce knowing about any of these?!

Wait. Aren’t Bruce supposed to be on a business meeting, WITH Elena on his side? After all, Elena is his trusted beta. So now Elena is here, where is Bruce?

A sudden fear grows in Mia and she dare not to think deep into that question.

Seeing the confusion in Mia’s eyes, Elena sneers coldly: “You have occupied the Luna’s title far too long. You are not a good match for Bruce, not your family nor your ability. If you really want to know why--”

Mia looks up at Elena’s cold eyes, rains slapping on her face.

“It’s because you lack the decency of remise what you don’t deserve.” Elena curves her lips evilly, utter one word after another, “So, HE sent me.”