ECHO

Darkness.

I was engulfed by it.

I could feel the coldness of the dark in my bones. It was like pins and needles piercing every fiber of my body. I wanted to scream, but the pain and the burning sensation were too overwhelming.

Not knowing where I was scared me more for my body refused to move when I tried to and my eyes felt so heavy that they wouldn't open.

What was happening? Was this what death felt like?

The deafening silence around me caused the actual panic to set in. I could hear the sound of my accelerated heartbeat in my ear.

"HELP!" I tried to scream, but when I opened my mouth, I felt a gush of water enter my mouth and my nostrils. The fuck?

With all my strength, I managed to open my eyes only to be met with literal darkness, again.

I frantically looked everywhere, but I felt like I was being dragged down even more. My hands were tied behind my back and when I struggled to get out of the grip, I lost whatever little air I had left.

My lungs screamed for air and my chest burned as I tried everything to get to the surface, but all was in vain. Then suddenly, everything went numb – like hurt was never a part of this ordeal.

Maybe I wasn't going to make out alive.

"Fight," whispered a voice in my head.

I knew that voice...from somewhere. But it didn't matter.

"Fight, Echo. Break free. He needs us..."

I don't know what happened after that, but I somehow made it to the surface gasping for fresh air.

"There she is!"

Someone yelled in the distance and I could hear a couple of voice getting closer, but there was only one that mattered.

"Pull her out!"

I was being dragged out of the water by a pair of hands and instantly a warm blanket was thrown over my shoulders. My eyes were still shut because I didn't want to face the reality of it all.

Another pair of hands wrapped themselves around my body. I didn't have to open my eyes to know whose they were. His musky scent consumed me and the warmth radiating off his body made me feel a whole lot better.

"Oh, God, Echo," he said holding me tighter while I sat there and sobbed.

He kissed the top of my head and let out a shaky breath as if he was afraid.

We sat like that, out in the cold, for lord knows how long. But after a while I knew it was time.

I slowly opened my eyes and it took some time to adjust to my surroundings. It was night and we were by the lake, somewhere in the forest. The only light was that of the moon, shining down on us.

I sighed.

"Hey," he said from beside me.

I sluggishly turned my head and the sight of his beautiful face was all it took for me to break down again.

"It's going to be okay. This is all my fault. I'll make this right, Echo," The Alpha said while wiping my tears.

"W-what do yo-you mean?" I spoke through chattering teeth.

He shook his head and put his right arm under my knees. Before I knew what was happening, he picked me up in my arms and walked to his car.

I could sense that there were other people around, but nobody uttered a word.

Once The Alpha helped me getting settled in the seat, he quickly jogged over to the driver's side and started the ignition while turning up the heat.

Boy, the heat felt so good.

Soon, we were out from that part of the woods and on the road that was covered heavy by lush trees on either side.

I turned my head and studied his features. His face had a blank look and his jaw was set in a hard line. He was wearing the same suit I had seen him earlier this morning...

"Do you know what happened?" I asked eagerly hoping he would have some answers for me.

But he glanced at me for a moment and then went back to keeping his eyes on the road. I could see his grip tighten on the steering wheel making his knuckles go white.

He knew something, but chose to not tell me.

I frowned and looked away. The entire ride was spent in uncomfortable and suffocation silence.

After what had happened, I could use someone who would talk my ear off. I never wanted to feel how I felt under water. It was bloody terrifying.

If he wasn't going to tell me what was happening, I was going to get it out of him by hook or crook. Whilst this was his territory and he was The Alpha, I was still someone and he wanted me to stay.

A huge two-storey house came into view. It had both a modern and rustic look. I looked around it, but it was the only house that stood on that plot of land.

I frowned.

"Where are we?"

"My house," was all he said before parking the car and getting out.

I opened the door and tried to step out, but he was by my side in no time.

"Here, let me," he said softly while offering his hand.

I placed mine in his and he helped me get out of the car closing its door behind me.

It took all of my strength to stand and even with the support, it was not easy. I lifted my leg and tried to walk, but my knees gave out and I gasped.

Thankfully, his strong arms caught me from falling. I held onto them for dear life too afraid to fall again.

Like before, he picked me up in his arms and walked towards the house. His face was still void of any emotion when I looked up.

I mentally shook my head, too exhausted to talk to him right now.

I simply laid my head on his shoulder and sighed. It felt good to be in arms, I wasn't going to deny that, but feeling like this was dangerous.

Things never ended well where I was involved and they wouldn't if I stayed. But if anything had taught me tonight was that I needed answers. If I was going to end up dead in a ditch, I was going down with answers and a fight.

Hence, in the moment, I decided that staying was the right thing for me to do and perhaps, I could forget the past for tonight and just rest. Tomorrow was going to be a new day with new possibilities of finding answers.

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A/N:

Woo! Another chapter!

Do you think The Alpha is hiding something? Whose voice did Echo hear?

And OMG! Are you excited that she's decided to stay?

VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW.

xoxo,
Grace Clarke