Chapter 68: Chapter 68

~O'Lean~

Alia dragged her feet on the ground, struggling to break free from my grip. This little girl was strong and so determined to release herself.

"Let me go! I promise I won't follow you anymore — I'll just go my own way," she pleaded. But I would not leave this girl alone in a strange land.

"Biggie! Biggie!" She screamed.

People around us were staring, all making way as I walked, yet none of them reached out to help.

"You are taking me somewhere against my will. That's not fair," she yelled.

I balled my hands into tight fists and stopped walking once we were further away from the market. Away from watchful eyes, I let go of Alia. The little lady stumbled back, and if it weren't for the tree that served as an anchor, she would probably have ended up on the ground. She groaned in pain.

She huffed, dusting her fingers that had been scraped by the bark of the tree. Alia fixed her dark eyes on me, her lips curved into a frown.

"You are so mean!" She huffed.

Silence.

I watched her keenly, waiting for her explanation.

"What?"

"..."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll be leaving," she stamped her boot on the ground, ready to go.

I grabbed her collar, dragging her back without much effort. That was how small she was.

Her eyes widened in shock as I lifted her up. She kicked her feet in the air. "Bully!!! Put me down!" She screamed.

"Why did you follow me?" I asked. My voice silenced her.

She clamped her mouth shut, looking everywhere except at me.

"I asked you a question, Alia." My tone was stern.

She let out a sigh before looking my way. Her lips pulled into a flustered expression, but that wouldn't work on me.

"I didn't want to stay at the pack," she confessed. My brows furrowed in concern.

"What about your parents? Are you not worried about the distress you would cause them?" I inquired, my gaze never leaving her.

She grunted. "They don't care!"

Fury blazed in my eyes. I didn't care what she thought about her parents, but running away without telling them or even leaving a letter was another form of cruelty. My aura slipped out as I took a step forward, my hands balling into tight fists.

Alia's lips trembled, her eyes searching for an escape route while still showing a silent plea.

She was scared… and rightly so. She couldn't follow a stranger and expect nothing to go wrong.

"How could you run away from home? Why would you leave without sending them a letter? And yes, if they don't treat you well, they still deserve to know that you left of your own accord!" I lashed out at her. The little girl jumped in fright.

I took her hands firmly. "I have no choice but to return you to your pack safe and sound. Only the heavens know what dangerous people you might meet if I sent you back on your own," I uttered.

I had no choice. Mikael would understand, even if I returned to the pack late.

"Stop!!!!" She screamed.

I stayed rooted to the ground. "What? Afraid your dad is going to punish you? I'd make sure he only reprimanded you a little."

She bit her lower lip. Seeing her that way softened all the anger within me. I felt guilty — which was a strange feeling, knowing that she was in the wrong and I was right.

A rogue tear escaped her eye. I immediately let go of her and crouched down so we could be at the same height. I wiped her tears away, waiting for her to speak.

"I shouldn't have grabbed you like that, but you are one stubborn girl, Alia!" I muttered.

"I lied!"

I blinked.

"I lied about my father getting angry about me stealing apples from his farm," she stated.

"It's oka—"

"That's because I have no parents and I stole from a farmer. I'm an orphan and also an omega. I just wanted a friend since I have been treated badly in that pack. Going rogue was the other option, but it was dangerous for an omega like me — and then you came along. I decided I was going to follow you, so…" she sucked in a deep breath.

"I chose to follow you because you were kind to me and not judgmental. You are kind and huge, so no one can trample on me when they see I am with you. Also, I am not a child — I am twenty-three," she rolled her eyes at the last part.

Silence settled between us. Her words were beginning to make sense.

I had never heard her mention her parents before, apart from that day she gave me the apple — and the looks from the market people when they saw us together now made sense too.

My lips parted slightly. I was about to apologize but she interrupted me again. "I am not going back. I won't, and no matter how hard you try, I will still follow you. And stop calling me a kid — it's insulting, especially to a lady as charming as me," she snorted, and I chuckled before ruffling her hair.

"Alright, alright. Alia — or is that a fake name too?"

"That's my real name. I gave it to myself since I couldn't go nameless all my life," she responded, and I nodded.

"Where did the inspiration come from? Your name, I mean?"

"My wolf's name is actually Alia, so it made sense to me. Technically, she named me," she squinted her eyes.

"Alright, Alia. I'm sure you didn't bring enough food with you — why don't we eat first and then continue our journey tomorrow?" I suggested.

"That would be great. At least we get to spend some real time together and I get to know you better, giant." Alia tapped my forearm. Her face lit up, and I was genuinely glad she was back to her normal self.