Word Count: 1521

~Kezziah

The drive was long, but I was too anxious to sleep.

Alden seemed consumed in his own world the entire drive. Eyes trained ahead, foot never releasing from the pedal. I just stared out the window, enjoying the taste of freedom, trying to figure out where we are headed. Somewhere cold it seems. Alden's car has optimal heating, but I can see the way the lush grassy meadows turn to dry tundra.

The mountains dusted with snow that once lined the horizon came closer with every mile, until we were driving up the winding roads. Snow lining the road seemed to get thicker the more we climbed, until the roads were icy and mist crawled along the asphalt. Alden's car seemed to have no issues.

"Independance Pack mountains," Alden explains to me, answering the question I had been tossing around my head. "Not many inhabit. Faye's Pack is along the border."

"Are we heading there?" I ask.

The Independence Pack had been my home once before. In fact, I was there for the longest at one point. Over four months. It's easy to hide there, with not many people being too interested in other business. It was only when Alden's correspondence caught wind of me there after a visit to the Alpha and her mate that I was forced to leave.

"No. There's a place up here I like to visit at times," he tells me, glancing over at me. It's the first time he's acknowledged me in quite some time. He looks tired. "It's peaceful. I have no doubt you'll like it."

I settle back into my seat. If it's not in that institution, then I will surely love it. Already watching the snow glisten on mountain leaves me oddly peaceful.

Eventually, once I thought the mountain could continue up no more, Alden turns down a gravel driveway. It leads us to the last thing I thought I would see here near the top of a mountain. And it's not the surprisingly large two story cabin which lights are already turned on inside.

It's the lake.

It might not be massive, but as we pull up, I'm still mesmerized by the crater that supports this ominous dark blue body of water. I've never seen anything like it.

I don't wait for Alden before I hop out of the car, my sneakers hitting the crisp now beneath me. Instantly, I regret it. The tracksuit I've been given is made of thin, lightweight fabric. The slight wind whipping off the snow capped mountain top lashes right through the material.

"There are coats inside," Alden notes, grabbing the sleeve of my shirt to lead me to the door. The cabin does look awfully inviting, mellow light beckoning us in. With dusk falling, it's only getting colder out.

The inside of the cabin is so warm, I almost collapse in relief. The glowing fire at the end of the living area is blazing high, as if someone came in earlier to light it for us. Or maybe someone else is here. But when I look around, noting the furniture, nothing looks used or lived in.

"How is it so warm in here?" I question, rubbing my arms.

A slight smile appears on his face. "If I told you I would have to kill you. Now come upstairs. There is a closet full of coats for you."

The coats were big and fluffy, and after I questioned Alden on their origin, he assured me it was faux. After I shrugged on a coat with white fur tipped black, I followed Alden back down to the living area. Instead of joining him on the couch, I walk to the window, looking out at the view.

"It's so beautiful here," I whisper, my voice accompanied by the crackling of the fire. "Have you always known about this place."

Alden settles into his seat on the couch. "As long as I've been alive. It was my parents."

I can see he hasn't done much to touch it up. It's nothing like his office, work room or temporary home. It's not modern in anyway. With the wooden floors and woven rugs, this has a very cozy feel. It's unnervingly intimate, which is the last thing that should Alpha Alden and I should be involved in together.

"They choose an amazing place," I say honestly.

The view is frankly amazing. A dock stretches out from the outside, a small wooden boat tied at the end. The lake is dead flat, stretching all the way out to snow covered mountains in the background. It's so picturesque I don't want to tear my gaze away. However, I still have business to attend to.

"They had impeccable taste, those two. They look me here when I was a young boy, to stop me becoming so obsessed with the technology of the Wisdom Pack," Alden tells me, his voice soft and drawn off. He's in another world. "They wanted to expose me to solitude. To the wilderness."

I sigh deeply. "I couldn't imagine a more perfect place."

If we needed help out here, I doubt we could reach anyone for miles. My fingers reach up, touching the window. It's ice cold; a wake up call. Beyond the cold fog surrounding the warmth of my fingertips on the glass, I see winking stars appear in the sky above us, imbedded in the darkness.

"I will start tracing the brand tomorrow, if you don't mind," Alden says softly, as I come to sit on a seat opposite him. "It's getting late, and you should be sleeping soon anyway."

I'm not tired, but I don't tell him that. I plan to explore this place once the lights have been turned off later. Hoping Alden won't catch on, I settle deeper into my seat, watching Alden. He leans forward in his seat, hands clasped together. The fire light flickers across his face, the shadows it creates making his gaze more intense, his features more ominous.

"Thank you for trying to help remove this brand from me," I tell him. I don't know what I would do if I were tied to him forever. Especially like...that."

Alden looks solemn. "No need to thank me. This is for both you and me."

I know he wants vengeance against Time, but I'm still not sure what he means by that. In fact, I'm still not confident on why he has such an issue with Time. Why he decided he would be the one to deal with us Travellers and put an end to it. Especially the ones who aren't apart of his Pack.

Before I could ask him, he swiftly stands. "Let me show you to your room."

Wordlessly, I follow him upstairs. My room is surprisingly close to his. Just down the same corridor, which I assume is because he wants to ensure Time doesn't come for me in the night.

As I sit on the freshly made bed, Alden leans on the bedroom door frame. "If you want anything to eat there is plenty in the kitchen. And a room next door to shower."

"Thank you," I murmur.

With that, Alden wishes me a goodnight, and leaves me alone in this large, empty bedroom. I just sit there, not yet tired and not sure what I should do. I'm anxious for tomorrow, and I'm not sure why. I suppose it's because I'm scared he's going to turn around and tell me there is nothing he can do to help me.

I decide after twenty minutes of sitting in bed contemplating, I would go shower. So with the towel Alden left on the end of the bed for me, I hop off to the bathroom.

Big mistake.

Surprisingly, the bathroom is rather large, a shower area on one side with the rest on the other. So when I stepped into the bathroom, catching sight of Alden on the other side, he luckily didn't hear me. Did he forget to lock this door? It hardly matters though, because I'm staring at my Alpha. Half naked.

He must have just showered and I never heard, because there is a towel wrapped around his waist, beads of water dripping down his spine, disappearing tauntingly under his towel.

I'm frozen in spot, glad his back is turned to me, but also so shocked, I'm unsure if I am able to move from this position.

However, just as I was about to take a step out of the bathroom to curse myself later, I caught sight of something on his right shoulder. Thick, dark lines in a strange, swirling pattern. I suddenly realise why Alden wants to end Time's reign.

Because he's been branded too.

🖤••💙

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 (:

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If you guys are interested, I've just put Alpha Noah up now on Wattpad (:

Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼