64

I crouched in the shower stall in a panic, getting uncomfortable goosebumps from the cold tiles on my back. I would have loved to know what was going on in our living room, but I was numb and couldn't concentrate on anything. Fear kept me trapped here and didn't allow me to think clearly. I was afraid of the Alpha, too, but more afraid of abandoning my father and being snatched away from him.

Quick footsteps in front of the door made my heart beat fast again. The words that the alpha finally growled through the door seemed to me like I was under water, I just perceived them so muffled.

"Open the door right away! I'm not in the mood for games and the sooner you understand that from now on we belong together, the better off you'll be."

The crushing fear for my father got me boldly back to my feet, but one clumsy step out of the dressing room was enough and I suddenly lost all control of my balance.

Startled and panicked, I slammed my arm directly into the sink and then fell to the hard floor, panting. It all had to be a bloody nightmare, otherwise I couldn't explain my misfortune.

What have I done to you moon god ?!

The throbbing pain rose up to my shoulder and gave me an uncomfortable nausea that almost made me throw up again. I took a deep breath, though, just pulled myself together and with great effort pulled myself back up to the sink to immediately turn on the cold water. The cold numbed the pain in my arm at least a little, but that was little consolation given what was happening around me.

A sad look in the mirror, a deep breath and yet I couldn't calm down in the slightest. My trembling hand still on the faucet, I hesitantly turned it off again and then stood close to the door.

To my amazement, not a single sound penetrated the small bathroom and I was unsure for a moment whether there was anyone else in this apartment besides me. The silence frightened me and made me frantically unlock the door out of concern for my father. My movements seemed slower than usual, because an uncomfortable slow motion was created that didn't let me perceive anything normal anymore.

So there I was, in the middle of the hallway of my small home, and a wistful glance into my room told me that the alpha was already rummaging through my things. Two suitcases were ready packed at the door and I understood immediately that I no longer had any say in the matter. He didn't even give me the chance to choose anything myself. That would actually have made me incredibly angry, but I was frozen and could only watch how everything was thrown up by him.

Muffled tones... barely recognizable sounds snapped me out of my stillness and made me turn and look into the living room. Holding my breath, I looked at the two tall, dark-haired men who were standing around my father, my heart almost stopping at the sight of them.

Despite my panic, I noticed that my father's lips were moving and he seemed to be talking to me, but not a single word came through clearly. Neither my ears nor my eyes nor my mind functioned in that despairing moment. I felt like a diver underwater, surrounded by sharks and unable to get to the surface.

The Alpha came back out of my room and suddenly stood right in front of me. He leaned dangerously close to my pale face, cupping my chin in his hand to turn my face to his, demanding. His scent sank deep into my consciousness and I could hardly breathe, but everything just seemed blurry.

I didn't even really feel his gentle touch, but despite everything I noticed the proud sparkle in his beautiful green eyes, which, despite my reluctance, immediately captivated me.

Why did it only feel so good when he looked at me? His attraction made me angry and I was even more stunned when he suddenly gave me a kiss on my warm forehead as naturally as if we had been married for years.

When he finally let go of my face and ran to the others, I staggered back to the bathroom. I turned on the faucet again, this time putting my face in the cold water, which finally got that feeling of slow motion and thumping going.

It was definitely a panic attack, I knew that from stories, but I never thought I would experience one myself.

The next few minutes would break my father's heart. I knew it and the alpha knew it too. But he didn't seem to care at all. He didn't show a shred of pity as I slowly stepped back into the living room and walked towards my father, who immediately began to cry bitterly.

"Little one, I'm so sorry," he whimpered in a trembling voice, which immediately broke my heart into a thousand pieces. That was the first time I saw him cry and that realization made me cry again. I wrapped my arms around him as tightly as I could, with the bitter thought that he would blame himself again for apologizing when there was no reason for it. The guilt over my mother's death was too much to live with.

How much more could a man endure?

As he lay crying in my arms, a jealous growl came out of the alpha's throat and when I angrily looked over at him, I could see with narrowed eyes that he was giving the other two soft orders, but unfortunately I didn't understand a word of them . Before I could even comprehend what was happening, the taller of the two grabbed me and ruthlessly pulled me out of my father's arms and out of the house into the darkness, far from my father, who stood stunned.

"I love you, Dad!" I yelled at him in a trembling voice before the big one could unlock the car, trying desperately to tear myself away from him, but it was child's play for him to hold me with just one hand.

"Alicia!" my father yelled, turning to the alpha standing next to him at the front door, tears in his eyes. "Listen to me, Killian. I'll give you everything I own, but please-"

Killian interrupted my father with a low growl, but even low it was extremely scary and menacing. He silently gave my father one last cold look and then hurriedly walked over to us without hesitation in order to get me into the black SUV and without a word to buckle me up.

After he slammed the door shut, I looked out the window in panic and cried as my father ran towards us, but before he could reach the car we were driving through the night at high speed.

Equally taken by desperation and overexcitement, I wiped the many tears from my face and tried to collect myself, but my arm was throbbing painfully, my heart was broken in my chest and breathing was incredibly difficult for me.

The Alpha sat with me in the back seat and when my tearful eyes met his, he gave me a bright smile, which immediately made me look out the window again. I was shocked at how easy it was for him to be so happy after breaking my dad's heart.

Maybe he just does n't have a heart...

"Bigger than you think," he replied to my thoughts and my eyes fell on him again, irritated. So he could hear my direct thoughts. That was just missing.

Smiling, he suddenly lifted his arm and held out his hand to me, which made me panic again. He wanted to touch me and then that unbearable heat would come over me again. I didn't want to and couldn't let that happen, so I frantically slapped his hand away from me and looked at him angrily.

"When you've calmed down, I'll try again," he just grinned cheekily and didn't stop scrutinizing me intently.

Annoyed by him and his confident manner, I took a deep breath and let my head fall back against the seat back in exhaustion to at least try to relax.

I wouldn't feel the pain when I was asleep and when I was asleep I could at least forget all that for a moment. At least I hoped so and closed my tear-filled eyes.

So while I was waiting to wake up from this nightmare, I let the faint sounds of the surroundings absorb me and shut my mind down completely.

I focused on my slow breathing, the soft music playing on the radio, and the monotonous pounding of the tires on the pavement. All these sounds made me relax and luckily I dozed off quickly...