Chapter 3

The journey with the men was long and tiring, mostly because she couldn't see a thing due to her blindfold.

She suddenly felt the shift from the damp forest floor to a stoned ground, the air became cooler and carried a faint metallic tang.

 A door creaked open, and she was shoved inside.

"Stay here," one of the men said.

She heard the door shut behind her, the sound echoing in silence. The blindfold remained secured, her legs buckled as she weakly dropped to her knees, her breathing shallow and forced. 

But she dared not to cry.

She couldn't afford to cry.

***

Alpha Ryland Scooper sat in his office, casually sipping a glass of whiskey as the logs from the large fireplace crackled softly, he leaned back in his leather chair and his emerald green eyes scanned the papers in front of him.

He was every inch the Alpha he felt he was: tall, commanding, impossibly and breathtakingly handsome.

His wild red hair fell in disarray over his forehead, giving him that untamed, wild and dangerously handsome look. 

"Alpha," a voice cut into his thoughts.

He looked up to find his loyal yet annoying Beta blocking the doorway.

"What is it?" Ryland questioned, his voice low and commanding

"Our men found someone in the forest," his Beta carefully said. "A woman. She is... she's different."

Ryland raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

"She is a bit wild, and untamed. But there's something about her that caught my attention. I thought you would want to see for yourself."

Ryland set his glass down and stood, towering over the space around him. "Hmm, bring her to me."

***

The door to the room where Hazel was kept creaked open making her tense.

"Get up," one of the men barked.

She struggled weakly to stand up as her exhaustion made her attempts futile.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, trying her best to sound firm, as the men picked her up. 

"You will see soon enough," the man replied with a smirk she couldn't see.

She was whisked through what seemed to be a maze of corridors, as the cold air continuously nibbled on her skin.

Her mind created a thousand scenarios all that seemed to end with her death, she quickly tried to shove those thoughts away, else she might die of a panic attack before she got to where they were dragging her off to.

It wasn't long before they finally came to a stop and the air immediately became tense.

"Alpha," one of the men said, "we have brought her."

She felt chills run through her spines as the aura inside the room was different and it was aiming at her.

"Leave us alone," Rylands deep voice ordered.

Without arguments, they walked out and shut the door behind them. 

"Take the blindfold off," he instructed his Beta.

She blinked fast as the light coming from the room almost blinded her.

When she finally opened her eyelids, she found herself face to face with the most beautiful man she had ever laid her eyes upon.

He sat behind a large desk, his emerald green eyes staring at her with curiosity and disdain. 

That chilly aura she had felt, that raw power and confidence that filled the room was from the devilishly handsome man who kept on staring back at her.

'I've been through worse this past couple of days, what's a little eye contest that I cannot handle' Hazel thought to herself

Ryland tilted his head, studying her. She was a mess, dirty, bruised, exhausted and malnourished. But yet, beneath her wild persona, he could make out the outline of someone who didn’t belong in this state. 

Her strawberry-blonde hair fell in wild waves around her face, and her brown hazel eyes burned with a mixture of fear and defiance.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” he said, his voice smooth yet cold.

“What is your name?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

She hesitated. "Why do you care?"

A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Hmm, Feisty! I like that."

He shot up from his chair and walked towards her.

Her instincts screamed at her to take a step back, but her legs didn't move. How could they? When they were so weak and the marbled floor felt so comfortable.

He stopped right in front of her, his emerald green eyes glinting as they narrowed. "You're a rogue," he said belittlingly. "So don't try to act fast."

"Still," he continued, his eyes trailing along her figure. "You're quite interesting. I wonder how someone like you came to be in my territory."

She scowled up at him. "I didn't choose to be here. I asked for help and your men took me hostage"

"Clearly!" He grinned as he stared at his Beta. "But why would a rogue like yourself ask for..."

The door immediately sprung open cutting the words off his mouth, as a poise, tall beautiful woman came in, her perfect dark hair, framed sharp calculating eyes which shone brightly with warmth and irritation as they latched onto Ryland.

"Hope I'm not interrupting?" she asked in a smooth voice of silk.

Ryland turned to her; his facial expression became soft as he offered her a smile. "Not at all."

The poised woman spared a glance at Hazel, as she raised her eyebrow in suspicion. "Who's this?"

"No one important," Ryland returned dismissively. "Just a stray puppy."

The woman offered him a forced smile. "Well, don't let her distract you. We have plans tonight, remember?"

Ryland nodded. "Of course.”

Turning to his Beta, his face hardened. "Take her to the lower quarters," he stared at Hazel. "Keep her there until I decide what to do with her."

His Beta nodded before quickly grabbing her wrist. She didn't resist this time, her body was too weak and tired to try to put up a fight.

As they were leaving, Ryland's gaze lingered on her a moment longer. As he felt something familiar.

 "Shall we?" The lady asked as she grabbed his arms.

"Mmm..." He nodded and then something hit his nostrils with a bang.