19 - Her Alpha Aura

LUCY'S POV

Last night, after we got into the cabin, Seth showed me to "my room." This massive building had three stories, but both of our rooms were on the second floor. I was completely exhausted the entire day, and by the time my body reached the bed, I had passed out. 

I couldn't be sure if I had covered myself at some point or if Seth had. I doubted the second scenario, as Seth had been very cold towards me since he snuck me out of the pack house. I needed answers was my first thought as I woke up the following day.

I looked around the spacious room. Dust collected on the surfaces, indicating that this place wasn't often used or visited.  There was a large rug in the middle of the room. Across from that stood a massive dresser and mirror. The room was minimalistic. I noticed two doors in the room. One of them I had come in when I entered last night.

I noticed a small stack of clothes at the bottom of the bed. I sat up, stretching before pulling myself off the bed. I looked over the clothes and grabbed a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. I walked to the other door and opened it up. As I had guessed, it was a bathroom. I crept in, flipping on the light. Some hygiene products were laid out on the countertop, and the shower was fully stocked.

I showered, brushed my teeth, and dressed before leaving the room. "Oh, you're finally awake!" Seth's voice spoke behind me. I turned and looked at him. "I have questions," I said sternly, looking up and holding his eye contact. He sighed and motioned me forward. I walked forward reluctantly. We entered a living room before he motioned me in another direction. Finally, we landed in the kitchen. 

The smell of bacon was like a drug to my senses. I hadn't realized I hadn't eaten since my birthday pancakes. To my surprise, Jason stood on the other end of the kitchen before a stove. "Jason!" My voice broke as I yelled at him. A flood of emotions ran through me.

He was the only one I had gotten close to in the pack in the short time I had spent there, aside from a few of the other pack members. "There's our troublemaker," he retorted, glancing back at me. "What are you doing here?" My voice was elated as I walked over to him.

Seth stood back, watching me closely, but I didn't care. I was so happy to see a friendly face in this weird situation. "Alpha Leander thinks he is sneaky," Jason said with a small laugh as he turned off the stove burner and turned to me and responded.

"When I heard the commotion in the ballroom, I came out to see what was happening. I saw you get taken to the dungeon. Later that night, when I went to bring you something to eat and saw you were gone, I mind-linked Alpha about you being missing. I put two in two together. He sent me here to be with you."

Jason paused for a moment before continuing. "I also think it was because I knew you were missing before Kragen found out, which ruined his plan." Jason shrugged at his last comment before returning to the stove and removing the bacon from the pan.

I ran over to him and gave him a big hug similar to my birthday encounter, except this time, his arms wrapped around me with a squeeze. For the first time, a touch didn't make me feel sick. "I'm glad you're here, wherever here is anyways," I said, looking over my shoulder in Seth's direction. He rolled his eyes, and I looked back at Jason, stepping away. 

Jason instructed Seth and me to sit down at the table, and he plated us a vast, delicious breakfast. Had I died and gone to heaven?  One second, I'm fearing for my life, and the next second, I'm being doted on.

"So why did you help me escape?" I asked Seth after scarfing down half of my plate of food without shame. He looked at me for a moment before responding. "It was my orders; I do what my Alpha tells me to without questions," Seth said resentfully. 

"So Alpha Leander asked you to take me here?" I asked, already knowing the answer at this point. I was hoping he would give me more information.

He disappointed me by responding with  a simple "Yes." I set down my fork and looked at him. "Why? I don't understand why this is all happening, Beta Seth. You obviously don't like me, which I also don't understand. Where are we?" My questions fired out in quick succession, and the loads of confusion were finally expelled from me in word form.

His deep sighs annoyed me at this point, and it clearly showed on my face. He finally looked amused when his gaze landed on my expression. "It's not that I don't like you, Lucy; it's that I don't trust you. I don't know why my Alpha had me help you escape. He pulled me from my duties with another pack to come back and help you. Important business was given a back seat for you. I still don't understand why. As far as this place goes, there are many purposes for it. However, it's one of the safest places. No one can find us here; my Alpha had it spelled years ago. It's not discoverable to just anyone," Seth said.

Finally, he gave me some answers—not many, but still more information than I had when I woke up. I had noticed that he was explicitly referring to Leander as HIS Alpha. It was intentional, but I didn't say anything right away.

I was also curious how Leander had someone spell it. He must have connections with someone magical. I found that interesting. I would have to remember to ask him about this when I see him. Would I see him again?

"Beta Seth, is there anything you'd like to ask me?" I asked bluntly. If he didn't trust me, the first step in building trust would be giving him my truth. I was scared of what questions he might ask, if any, but I knew this was the beginning of so much uncertainty, and I needed him to trust me.

He looked at me, taken back by my forwardness. He finished chewing and swallowed. He then drank orange juice, setting the cup back on the coaster. His eyes were focused on me the entire time he did all of this, and I kept eye contact with him. "Alpha Kragen said you committed crimes that you ran away from. What crimes did you commit?"

So Seth automatically assumed I had done something. This was to be expected, especially from a Beta or Alpha. I was still shocked that Leander had moved me to this safe house. "Beta Seth, the only crime I ever committed in my father's eyes was being born. I have no idea what he intends to actually charge me with, though," I spoke with little to no emotion and a slight shrug.

I was done feeling small.

I could see Jason's head whip around to look in my direction. He was as nosey as me, and I knew I liked him for a reason. I smiled inwardly for a moment.

Seth looked at him, thinking. As my own words sunk in, I felt the lump building in my throat. I had never talked about this with anyone. While I felt so much relief, more than anything, I felt a surge of anger surface over me. 

I had been scared for so long that I had little to no time to grieve my own mother, to feel the loss of her. I didn't have time to be angry at my dad or angry at all the things so many different packs had done to me while in their capture.

I didn't realize just how angry I was inside until I spoke those words out loud for the first time. I stared at Seth, watching his reaction, trying to contain myself. I didn't realize how hard I was holding the glass in my hand until it shattered into pieces.

Nia instinctively pushed my Alpha aura out for the very first time, and Seth tilted his head against his will, looking at me in shock. As I snapped the aura back to myself, he jumped up. "How did you do that? You're not my Alpha!" he spoke in a whisper as Jason remained staring at me, but his look was more of adoration than frustration or confusion.