Seraphina.

I waited for the hard impact against the asphalt below, but it never came. Instead, I fell into sacks of hay, which cushioned my fall. The pain from the earlier hit made me alert, and the first thing on my mind was survival. I tried so hard to pick myself off the sack and run for my life. I wouldn't be able to prove my innocence if I were dead.

"Look! She fell into a sack!”

“Who put that there?"

"Forget about who put that there, but she is escaping! Seal the borders!!”

I painfully raised my head and saw the amount of people staring down at me with hateful eyes. Some people were already climbing over the balcony to jump down and catch me. I couldn't let that happen.As an Omega, I knew the layout of the pack like I knew how to eat. I slipped into and welcomed the darkness that hid me from the raging mob behind me. They would seal all the borders, but I already knew a way out—a way that was only known by Omegas.

"You can run, but you can't hide!!” I heard them yelling at me from behind; torches had been lit, and their footsteps were thundering behind me.

My lungs were burning as I gasped for air, but I wasn't stopping. I ran like my life depended on this—which it actually did. Even when I was safely out of the borders, I ran. Sweat soaked my nightwear so much that it stuck to my skin. My head was pounding and my legs were still moving until they couldn't anymore.

I squinted to look at what was up ahead, and I let out a breath of relief when I saw an abandoned shack not quite far from where I stood. Maybe I could camp here to regain my strength, to rearrange my thoughts, and start my investigation. I would have to mask my scent from here on so I would be untraceable.

"Ugh.” There was a deep, painful growl close to me. My heart leaped to my throat.

I spun around immediately, my eyes wide, looking for any form of immediate danger, and I let out a loud yelp when my eyes came in contact with shiny red orbs. The wolf in front of me was the largest I had ever seen, and the power that came off suggested it was an Alpha.

A wounded Alpha.

"Help me!” The man growled out through his wolf, his voice laced with so much pain.

Was this a setup? A trap? I hesitated. I wanted to turn, run, and never look back.

"Please!" His voice came again, sounding even more broken that it tugged something deep in my heart.

I was an Omega. Omegas helped people. I had to help him. I couldn't help Alpha Zen, and… I shook my head trying to clear my mind, and I activated all five senses to evaluate the situation. His breath was ragged, and his heartbeat was too slow, as if his lifeline was slowly slipping off him. That alone was what made me have second thoughts.

I took cautious steps towards the Alpha Wolf while its eyes pinned me like a specimen. There was something about his look that unnerved me. It was as if he was seeing through me—seeing through my pretend façade that everything was going well with me.

"Hi.” I squeaked, still making my way towards him. “I'm an Omega, and I can tell you are bleeding awfully. I can smell your blood, and I know you are having a hard time breathing. It's okay if you can't talk; you can nod or shake your head when I ask questions.” I lowered my gaze, and my eyes focused on the deep gash on his black hide, a little below his neck.

I was thankful that my eyes had already adapted to seeing clearly at night. I could spot the multiple stab wounds along his hide, from his nape and down to his legs. But that wasn't my first problem. My first concern was touching him. I was going to have to go through immense pain if I wanted to save him, and that pain was excruciating and maddening at the same time. That was one of the reasons why no one wanted to believe that I was innocent of killing the Alpha—the pain an Omega felt from the touch of an Alpha was enough to make an Omega plot for the Alpha's demise.

"I know you know that I'm an Omega.” I steadied my breath and reached out my hand to him. “I may black out a few times because of the pain that would torment me when I touch you. But I promise that I will save you, okay?” I tried reassuring him, and his eyes were even more still and intense that it made me wonder what he looked like as a man and not a wolf…

“Okay. I'm touching you now.” I finally placed my hand on his hide and waited… for the pain to come.

I felt his fur beneath my palms, soft. Something coursed through my body the moment I touched him—not the pain I expected, but something calming…and electric? My breath steadied naturally, and I looked up to stare at him in wonder. My lips parted as I let out a sharp breath when I found his eyes still trained on me. He stared back at me in wonder, the pain in his eyes gone.

"So?” His voice was a little raspy but thick. I had never met this kind of Alpha before. One who could speak with his voice even as a wolf—it was unheard of. “Have you blacked out?” He tilted his head to the side to give me a better look.

I shook my head and snapped out of it immediately. It didn't matter what I felt now. My only priority was to save this Alpha and run for my life. It wasn't going to be long before news reached all the werewolf clans and societies, and even he would be there to watch me executed if I was caught. My cover was already blown.

"It's weird, but I'm fine.” I tried to form a smile but failed miserably. “Let me—”

I felt around my thin nightwear, and I sighed in relief when I felt some healing herbs in my pocket. I was glad I carried it everywhere and even slept with it. It healed me every time Alpha Zen touched me. Maybe this was what was cushioning the effect of touching this Alpha.

"I would like you to lie on your back for me,” I said softly and helped him to turn over. “Your wounds are deep, and this will really hurt.”