Word Count: 1544

~Kezziah

"How do you know?"

Etta stares at me blankly, all colour seeping out her face. She knows she stepped out of line, but with everyone around us on surrounding tables has all their attention on us. I doubt there is a single person in this room that doesn't know what happened to my parents.

"Look Kezziah, we don't have to talk about it," Melena says firmly, glancing around at everyone else. At least she respects my privacy, but it looks like it's too late. If I wasn't so worked up from this revelation, I would be surprised Melena is caring about me to any degree.

It probably isn't the best idea to pry in front of all these people, but I have to know. "You have to tell me who told you."

"We heard it through others," Etta tells me nervously.

I drag my attention to her. I'm unsure if I'm mad at her or not. I don't blame her for being interested, but her blurting of speech has all these other girls looking over, whispering to each other, waiting for my reaction.

"It was just some girl who came in after just being branded," Melena says in a hushed tone, looking over my shoulder. "She claimed she knew you and that your parents died. And get this, she only happened to mention that after all these girls said something about you and Alden being in a relationship..."

I blink a few times, as Etta cuts in. "She's just jealous over nothing. Don't worry."

Watching Melena's gaze still cast over my shoulder, I decide to turn around and see who she is staring at. When I do, I realise she is staring at a girl surrounded by many others who all seem so intently fascinated by every word out of her mouth. Her hair is pin straight and auburn in colour. Her eyes are as dark as night.

It hits me straight in the chest when I realise I know her. I've seen her before, at school. Of course, I left school after everything with Time happened, however, it wouldn't be impossible for her to have found out about everything that happened with my parents.

For some reason, something within me made me stand, pushing my chair back away from me. "What else do you have to say to me?"

Everyone goes quiet.

I can't quite remember the girls name, but she clearly remembers me. Her eyes narrow slightly, as if she has prepared for this confrontation. She also stands, so it's just the two of us, staring each other down from across the room.

"I think you have something to say to the rest of us," she says, folding her arms across her chest. Everyone is so quiet in the room following her statement. I wait patiently for her to elaborate. "Don't act like there isn't anyone in this room that doesn't know about you and your boyfriend...The Alpha."

My jaw clenches, my cheeks flare. "You don't know anything. And don't talk about my parents ever again."

She raises her eyebrows.

"The secrets out. Why don't you tell us all about this? Or are you still so obsessed with keeping secrets?" the girl says, a smile quirking at her lips. Everyone's gazes sweep from her to me.

My fingers curl into fists. Just as I was about to walk over there and give her a piece of my mind, the doors to the cafeteria area burst open, and Alden followed by two guards walked into the room, straight toward me. I catch his gaze as he approaches me. He looks stern, sending a shiver down my spine. Am I in trouble?

Without saying a word to address all the girls in the room, who all gasp and murmur at his presence, he grabs my arms and drags me toward the exit, leaving myself and all the other girls confused.

He doesn't say anything to me until we are safely out of earshot.

"What was that about?" I question, rubbing my arm. Not because it hurt, but because the feeling of sparks between us is still something I'm getting used to. I wonder if Alden feels the same way.

Alden rakes his hand through his hair. "It got back to me what was being spoken about. I knew I had to come and break it up myself."

A thick lump in my throat forms. In all my anger it hadn't really hit me what they were talking about. My parents. Time took them from me as punishment for my defiance. Or maybe it was for another reason. Either way, it made me take him more seriously than I had before.

"That night he lured me out there to brand me, I returned and my parents were gone," I murmur, finding the weight of the situation nestle onto my shoulders.

Alden grabs my hands gently. "You don't have to talk about this here."

I blink a few times, but nod. He's right. Grateful, I find myself falling into his arms, letting him wrap them around me. It felt so good to feel his body pressed against mine. So I could feel every ridge and inch of muscle. Feel his warmth and heart beat through his cotton shirt. Even the smell of him, so subtle in its vanilla tones.

My favourite.

"We should get going now. This safe house isn't far from here, but I'm sure you want out of here quickly now," Alden prompts, pulling away only to trap me into his gaze. I nod, confirming I want far away from these people, and this place.

I didn't have many things to collect, but regardless, I took my time to pack it before I was escorted down to Alden's car at the bottom of the institute.

I'm not sure if I'm anxious or not. Wherever this may be, it has to be better than the life I've lived here. Maybe what is worrying me the most is the fact that I'll be most likely having plenty of alone time with Alden. How am I going to get through that? I can barely speak much sense with him now let alone when we are purely alone.

"This isn't just any safe house," Alden tells me softly. "It's actually my own home."

My eyes widen. "You don't actually live in the institute?"

"No. Only temporary while we are working on a cure for the branding issue. I usually move around a lot to avoid Time, however, this is my true home. My favourite place. You'll be safe there, I promise," Alden tells me as he pulls the car out onto the Wisdom pack streets, catching glances of passing civilians.

As my mind wanders, something comes to mind. "Do you think people are truly suspicious of us being together?"

It feels silly asking such a question. Are we even together? What if he is in a relationship with someone else and doesn't want to have a mate? I mean, do Wisdom Pack members even believe in the bond? I know some Pack's don't...The thought has my stomach turning. Surely I'm just being foolish and insecure.

"Maybe," Alden says, a smile quirking on his lips as he glances at me. At least he is happy about this. "I'm not planning on announcing we are mates until your bond with Time has been broken, naturally. But it will happen."

"Seriously?"

"Of course. The people deserve to know. And they will find out eventually," Alden says, nudging me.

That feels satisfying.

Alden and I discuss a few things on the tip, but it wasn't long enough to get into any deep conversation. Thankfully he didn't bring up my parents. I want to avoid that if I could. Luckily the drive, which diverted from the city and into forest was distracting enough. Alden opened a gate and pulled us down a beaten driveway that looked so abandoned I doubt anyone would want to wander down there.

The perfect disguise.

Finally, the forest came to a clearing, revealing a beautiful looking cabin sitting right there. It doesn't look abandoned, although very much closed off. I'm not surprised no one else has stumbled upon this and told the world.

"It might not look like it, but it is heavily fortified, and I have had an immortal friend of mind cast a spell to keep Time away," Alden tells me. When he notices my gaze, he talks again. "I wouldn't worry. It's very cozy."

Blinking a few times, I stare at the house that is going to be my home for who knows how long.

Alden gets out of the car, circling around it to open the door.

The smell of wilderness hits me. This truly is isolated from the world. If Time ever were to find us out here, it would be surprising.

Alden pops the door open, and holds his hand out to me. "Welcome home, my lovely mate."

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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 💜🐼