The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 42

Alexei

I rushed out of the room, fearing that I could no longer control myself if I stayed any longer. The sight of another man kissing my mate was making my blood boil, and yet, I tried to remain reasonable. Seeing Tori's dire situation firsthand had given me an understanding of how grave it was. Time was not on my side. I needed to find a way to stop the wedding and save Tori; otherwise, I might not get another chance.

As I navigated the intricate labyrinth of the pack house, my mind was racing with thoughts and worries. I couldn't let my anger cloud my judgment now that I saw firsthand how much my mate needed me. I had to be cautious.

Just then, my acute senses detected the approaching guards. I knew I had to use my wits to avoid them. So, I swiftly turned the corner, hoping to evade their watchful eyes. However, my luck didn't hold. At the next corner, I found myself face-to-face with another group of guards. Suspicion hung heavily in the air as they eyed me, their gazes probing and unyielding.

“Who are you?" one of the guards asked. The surroundings hung in tense silence, waiting for my response.

I swallowed hard and mustered the most assertive tone I could manage. "I'm one of Ashford's men," I replied, desperately trying to sound confident.

“Do you have any proof of that?” This time, it was the tall guard who asked the question.

“I do,” I answered as I reached into my pocket, fingers trembling as I searched for the seal that Ashford had given me. To my dismay, the seal was no longer there and might have fallen out when I climbed Tori’s balcony.

“Where’s your proof, young man? Show it to us, NOW!” the guards exclaimed. Panic began to set in. My heart pounded, knowing that these guards would not hesitate to kill me once they found out I had visited the room of their future Luna. It felt as though the walls were closing in on me, leaving me with little choice but to confront them with a fight.

Inwardly, I summoned my wolf inside my head, “Be ready, Loki. Looks like we will taste blood tonight.”

“What choice do we have?’ he answered but felt his readiness for unexpected combat.

Just as I was on the verge of attacking, a hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see Ashford standing behind me. His presence was like a lifeline in that dire moment.

"What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation and authority.

“Good evening, future Beta.” The guards greeted and curtsied.

The tall guard began to explain. “We found this man walking around suspiciously. When we questioned him, he claimed to be one of your men.”

“He is one of my men,” Ashford stated. “His name is Alexei, and he is under my direct orders.”

“Forgive us, Beta, but we need to take this man to the Head Guard,” the tall guard replied. “As we caught him walking around the forbidden hall, he needs to be interrogated by the Head Guard as part of our protocols.”

“Did you not hear what I said?” Ashford asserted his authority. He began to exude an intimidating aura as he continued to apprehend the tall guard. “Do you dare question me, the future Beta of Blood Rose Pack, for the sake of your protocols?”

The guards took a step back, caught off guard by Ashford's imposing demeanor. The tall guard’s initial resistance wavered, and he stammered slightly, "Sorry, we didn't mean to offend you, future Beta." They all stepped aside and bowed. “Please carry on.” We walked past them, relief flooding through me.

My tension eased as the guards departed. Ashford, however, wore a stern expression. His voice carried a subtle hint of annoyance. "We agreed you’d be back after an hour, but you didn’t. You nearly got yourself caught."

I didn't attempt to offer excuses. Instead, I nodded, acknowledging my mistake. "I know. I should've been more careful."

After a moment of silence, Ashford seemed to soften his demeanor. "We can't afford any missteps like that. Next time, we won’t be this lucky.”

"I won't let it happen again," I promised as I nodded.

Upon our return, we were welcomed by moans and sounds emanating from inside the cabin. We exchanged glances, realizing Serena and Damon were sharing a passionate night inside. We decided not to intrude and walked away, but just as we did, my clumsiness came into play, kicking the tin pail at the side by accident, creating a sound.

The hurried rustling of clothes followed, and Damon and Serena emerged hastily. Damon was struggling to put on his boxers correctly, and Serena's hair was a wild mess, red as a tomato.

“Sorry about that, Damon,” Ashford exclaimed as he tried to hide his laughter. Damon rolled his eyes and smiled. He then turned his gaze on me, prompting Ashford to introduce us to each other.

“Alpha Heir, this is Alexei we've been talking about,” he explained. “Alexei, this is Damon Sanford, the heir to our pack’s alpha seat.

“So, I've finally met the mighty Alpha Heir of Blood Rose," I commented as I offered my hand for a handshake. Damon took my hand, and I knew at that moment that it was the start of the alliance that I hoped to rely on in saving Tori.