Word Count: 1670

~Kezziah

The more time passed, the more days seemed to entwine into each other.

It would be breakfast, lunch and dinner seeing Amilia, Etta and Melena. There was always knew gossip to be had. Whether it be another patient reacting badly to the medication, or someone caught sneaking off in the late hours of the night to be with their assigned guard. Etta seems to find these stories the most mesmerising, being the hopeless romantic that she is.

Recently, I common trend had been patients graduating. A strange ceremony takes place where the girls are released from their holdings after their bond has been removed. Clearly Alden's scientists have made a breakthrough. More and more cases are leaving everyday.

As much as that pleases everyone, I know better. Time is waiting. Watching. I know him well enough to know he won't just be letting this pass him by.

None of them know that, though.

Each are granted a year of supervision once they leave. It's Alden's way of ensuring they won't get targeted by Time the moment they are back. They also get compensation. Money, given to them to bring their life back that they spent so long away from. It all seems to wonderous to them; like they won. They haven't though. Far from it.

"You should be out soon," Etta says excitedly to Amilia, as she shows off her brand, that has faded to the point it almost no longer exists.

Melena stares at it, a distasteful expression on her face. Her brand is lined red from a recent dose of medication she reacted to. She's been grouchy and irritated since it began. She's barely spoken, but she likes to pretend I don't exist most of the time. I don't hold it against her though. I would be the same if Time branded me like he did to her.

At least he didn't shove a mate bond down her throat.

"I can't wait. I can't to go back to work. To go for a walk. To breathe in some fresh air," Amilia says. She picks up her sandwich. "And I can't wait to eat something that hasn't been created in a lab."

I couldn't agree with her anymore. "I agree. I would do anything to step outside. Even if it was for a moment."

The best part of running from Time was the travelling. I saw almost every Pack, and I would do anything to go back to at least one of them. Maybe to the Love Pack, to touch the snow, to feel the flakes touch my skin and melt. These are things I can only dream about at night.

"Don't act like you've been here as long as any of us," Melena suddenly snaps.

Everyone freezes, stunned by her outburst. Girls at tables flanking us notice, whispering between each other. There isn't a single person in this room who isn't aware of Melena's story, and attitude. If one person finds out, it won't take long for everyone else to know too. Still, I'm surprised she snapped at me.

"It doesn't matter, we all want out of here Melena," Etta says, dismissing her. Usually Amilia is the one to keep Melena in line, but the Love Pack girl beat her to it.

"It's fine, I get it," I say, before Etta and Melena can fall into a full argument. "You're right, I haven't been here long."

Amilia rolls her eyes at Melena, which only seems to anger her more.

Melena focuses her attention on me, her cheeks flushing pink the more frustrated with us she gets. "Everyone knows you and the Alpha have something going on. Guards see you going up there and they talk. Don't think that because you're the Alpha's favourite, everyone here is going to like you."

This time, no one sticks up for me. Because no one knows what to say. Amilia and Etta both want to know why I'm making visits to see the Alpha, and he is doing the same for me, so they stay silent, waiting for me to explain myself.

"The Alpha and I don't have anything going on," I say lowly, avoiding anyone else from the other tables hearing. "We are just working on something that has nothing to do with you."

It's Melena's time to roll her eyes. "Working on something? Each other doesn't count."

I flinch.

"You don't know anything...at all. I don't want this. I don't want to go up there and have him examine my brand all the time. There is nothing going on between us, he's our Alpha," I say in one breath. All my frustration is built into one explosion of words, wishing she understood without knowing exactly what is going on.

Melena doesn't look surprised. "So you being different makes you special to him?"

"I'm not special-"

I'm interrupted by Sermon pushing her way through the tables, looking down at everyone as if she's afraid they will start tossing their food at them. I know she's here for me, the way she zeroes in on me with her gaze, before she reaches out table. Once she does, she rests her palms on the surface.

"Would you like to come with me?" she asks, her tone too sweet, her smile too tight. "You're needed back at your room."

Knowing it's pointless to deny Sermon of what she wants, I stand. In reality, I'm glad to leave the table. Melena is trying to get me to admit that I have a relationship with the Alpha. She couldn't be more wrong.

Not a single person isn't glaring at my back as I walk out, Sermon pressed tightly by my side.

"The Alpha wants to talk to you," Sermon whispers in my air once we were in the corridor.

I frown. Alden hasn't called me to his office for the past two weeks. I'm assuming he has been dealing with other things that are more important than my brand. Finally, we are getting back to figuring this out, which I'm more than grateful for. I need to seperate myself from Time somehow.

Sermon takes me up the elevator, but leaves me on my own once we reach his office. It's obvious she wants to walk in with me, but she knows better.

When I knock, I'm instantly called in.

Alden sits on one of the couches. He doesn't look at anything, simply stares at his hand. He doesn't even look up until I approach, sitting down on the couch opposite him. Finally he looks up, and at his appearance, I frown.

Frankly, he looks exhausted. Dark shadows frame the underside of his eyes, suggesting he hasn't got proper sleep in an overwhelming amount of time. He stares at me, the darkness around his eyes turning that deep navy in a mix of sinister darkness. His hair is mussed, hands having ran through it multiple times.

"You called?" I say, trying to initiate conversation. The way he is watching me is making me nervous, as if he is possessed by some immortal being.

"I think you shouldn't talk about the whole brand thing with anyone else," he says.

Immediately I'm surprised this is what this is about. That's why he called me up here? I'm suddenly clued in to how he knows this, and I'm not sure if I should be offended, if I should blow up at him or not.

"You've been watching me?" I question, brows furrowing in both confusion and anger. "Is it with your creepy cameras?"

Alden's mouth twists. "I wasn't watching you specifically. Someone monitors the cameras and they mentioned to me that you were speaking of me and the brand. Guards confirmed that this was happening."

I can barely believe what is happening, feeling skin chillingly unsettled. The idea of someone hovering over the cameras where I sleep and eat doesn't sit well with me. I want to tell Alden he's a creep, and this is wrong, but I know better. He's the Alpha and the creator of this place. He decides what goes on.

"Why does it matter to you what I say? Who are they going to tell...Time?" I question. "We are all trapped in here."

Alden sighs through his nose. "I don't want anyone to think you're getting treated better, or more special than anyone else. That could damage this entire operation."

I want to roll my eyes at him, so I do. "This is ridiculous."

Suddenly, Alden stands. I watch him, not following him, as he goes to the bench tucked in the corner, pouring himself a drink from the cooled glass bottle of water, sipping it as he turns back around to face me again.

"I'm going away for a few days," he tells me, taking another long drink. I wait patiently for him to finish. "I want you to come with me."

My eyes widen, my grip on the couch arm chairs tightening. "What, where? Why?"

Alden strolls back over, his gaze never leaving me. After telling me I shouldn't let anyone think I'm not getting special treatment, he wants me to take me away from this place? Everyone will surely find out, and that's where the rumours will get worse. I'm waiting for more girls to come up to me and accuse me...

"I need a creative break. To think. I want you to come with me, so I can figure this brand out without the confines of this office, and my art space," he explains, much to my imminent confusion.

"I'm sorry-"

He holds his hand up, pausing my speech. "It's pointless arguing about this. You don't have much of a choice. You're coming with me."

🖤••💛

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

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)

Hope you like (:

Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼