Word Count: 1543

~Alden

My first reaction was not to chase her.

I felt it deep within the primal part of me. My instincts suggest I should follow her, catch her and bring her back here. But the practiced part of me knows better than to make a riot out of trying to find her. Frighten my people and risk exposing the expanse of what is going on inside this institute.

So when the elevator doors glided closed, and Kezziah's panicky face disappeared, I pulled myself to a stop and breathed in deeply. No matter how hard the depths within me pull me to follow her, to stop her before she escapes into the streets, I don't.

My eyes close. It's hard, but it's not the first time I've refused Alpha instincts. Were untrained in dealing with it, I would tear about my own Pack to stop her.

It's difficult not to.

She left me with one question ringing in my mind, what if we are mates? Her refusal to tell me only has curiosity building within me. She is clearly afraid of the possibility that maybe we are, however, I will find out. Whether she wants me to or not. There is no way I can continue to live without being fully sure.

Patiently, I wait for the elevator to return back before stepping in. I'm not going down to the bottom floor where I assumed she headed. I loosen security at night knowing all the subjects are locked away in their rooms.

I never predicted Kezziah would do this.

I find myself walking into the security lab - a sectioned off room for myself and my guards only. Here, I have access to almost all of the security footage from cameras mounted across the main city. At least the first few blocks that surround the institute. I refuse to allow Kezziah to get out of my sight.

She will soon realise this Pack isn't for her. The people will pay her no mind, and there is nowhere she can stay without our currency. Surely, she will return to me soon. And if not, I will find her myself. Privately. Quietly.

Leaning over one of the computers, I skip through footage until I find what I'm looking for. Kezziah leaving the compound.

She looks petrified.

My heart almost stops as I watch her quick steps, head down, wanting to blend in. Her black veil of hair does little to conceal her identity. There is no mistaking her. So I watch, following her movements as she moves down the street.

Following her with each camera as she walks by, I ensure she doesn't escape from my view. She is rushing, looking around for a place to hide, often peeking behind her. No one aside from me knows she has escaped, and that is how I will keep it until I decide what to do. I must be careful. I must keep her safe.

Sinking into a chair, I wordless watch her, something stirring in my stomach. Some kind of emotion. I don't like it. Whatever it is.

I watch Kezziah's thin frame, tainted by the lifestyle she has lived here. She doesn't stop. I will find you. I will bring you back here and I'll look after you. And I will find out the truth.

~Kezziah

The first part of my plan failed to work the moment I stepped onto the street.

The darkness of the night has been shunned away by bright streetlights that leave no space for a single shadow as I go around the corner onto the sidewalk. And to add to my exposure, no crowds in sight. Not even a single person dwells on the streets, and considering the hour, I'm not surprised.

I keep blindly walking north, unsure of where I'm heading to. Each building I walk past seems to be fortified with metal cell like walls protecting the glass behind it. Even what I assume are apartments have been locked, security cameras planted outside.

There doesn't even seem to be anyone displaced. The streets are immaculate, not one piece of trash billowing down.

Is there a curfew?

With every step I kept looking behind me, waiting for one of Alden's security guards to jump out and drag me back to the institute before I had a chance to get very far. However, the streets remain dead, and I keep my fast pace walk in one direction. A direction in which I'm not sure where it will leave me.

I can't tell if this is a mistake yet or not. The moment I find a phone I'll be calling Avia who will take me far away to never be found again. Living on the run again won't be fun, however, I don't see another choice. I can't go back and face the idea that Alden might be my mate.

He might be. He might not be. Either way, nothing would ever work out between me and him. And I wouldn't want it to, as much as he might.

As I walk, I glance up at the cameras mounted on each wall. Tiny blue lights glow beneath them. Not one is turned off. Each registering my movements, following me as I walk. I hope Alden doesn't see this footage.

I hope no one does.

I keep walking until I find a small park nestled into a suburban area. It's a shock seeing a bunch of normal residential homes instead of large apartment buildings. Stumbling into the park, I look around for a covered area. There are a few trees in one area, however, I topple onto a nearby bench instead.

Despite the night being cool, I feel my skin burning underneath my clothes. Quickly, I shed my jacket. I'm glad to get rid of it, seeing as it is a piece of clothing from Alden's institute. I pull off my shirt also, but keep my singlet on.

I look at my upper arm. Time's brand has inched its way with dark curling tendrils into more of my skin. It glares at me, darker than obsidian, absorbing all colour. And it burns.

Don't freak out.

Avia will be able to help me remove the brand. She will know what to do. She always does. And once it's gone, her and I will disappear. I just need to find a way to get in contact with her without Alden finding out. Someone here will surely be willing to help me? Right? I'm just a lost girl looking for her mother...

I decide on the nearest house. It's a white picket fence, manicured lawn kind of house. In my desperation, I hop the fence and knock promptly on the door. It takes only a moment for someone to answer.

It's a man, thick plush dressing gown wrapped around his shoulders, same dark blue colour as his eyes. His dark hair and sharp features suggest Wisdom pack origin born and bred.

A woman lingers behind him, baby in arms.

"I'm so sorry to intrude at such a late hour," I say quickly, before anyone can question why I am here. I can imagine how strange it is for them to have a girl knocking on their door, hair a mess, scared and wearing a singlet and baggy tracksuit pants. "I'm lost. Do you have a phone I can use to call my mother?"

The man looks behind me, attempting to see if anyone else has accompanied me. I don't blame them for being wary. I doubt I look as young as I'm claiming to be.

"Where did you come from?" the man asks, arms crossed, blocking the doorway. Here comes the interrogation. It's a man protecting his mate and child, I assume. I don't blame him at all.

I swallow uncomfortably, trying to look innocent. "I don't know where I am. My mother didn't know I snuck out to come to the park. I didn't think I would get lost.

Still, he look skeptical.

"You don't look so young," he says flatly, eyes wandering down to my chest and arms. Glancing down, I realise he is looking at my brand. It must look like a strange, demonic tattoo. Nothing a young girl would ever have.

I go to open my mouth but the women behind me cuts me off. "Come on Jamie. Just let her use your cellphone. She doesn't have to come in, and you can watch her."

That's not what I want. However, it's something.

Jamie, the man, looks as if he is about to begrudgingly comply when he suddenly looks over my shoulder, and instantly changes his mind. He seems stuck in his stance, unable to move, struck by fear. His mate behind him turns and hastly leaves, her baby pressed against her chest.

A warm hand presses against my shoulder, making me shiver.

"I'm sorry about my friend here. She's lost," a warm, unfamiliar voice says. "And in a lot of trouble."

🖤••💚

If you guys want more of Alden, the rest of available now on Radish (:

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Sinful's own story is up now on Radish! I wanted to make it apart of the Seven Sins series (which will have stories involving Cian and other characters you've seen before)

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Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼