Chapter 152: A Ride with a Stranger

Amelia's POV

The man's dark eyes flickered toward me before returning to the road. The tension in the car was palpable as we continued our journey in silence.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, still curious about this mysterious man who'd offered me a ride.

I turned my head to look out the window, watching as trees blurred past us. My mind drifted to Alexander and today's plans.

His birthday—something I'd just learned from my mother yesterday night. I'd imagined coming to AL Global to buy some decorations for the hotel room, carefully selecting a perfect gift for him, then preparing the cake, and returning to the hotel to wait for his surprised expression when he came back.

Now here I was, stuck in a car with a stranger, miles from where I needed to be.

The man drove with confident precision, his large hands gripping the leather steering wheel with practiced ease. There was something familiar about the way he carried himself—that self-assured posture that seemed to announce he was used to being in control. It reminded me of Alexander in a way that made my chest tighten with longing.

"Why so glum?" the man asked, his speed increasing as we hit a straight stretch of road. "You think I'm going to betray you? Take you somewhere and sell you off?"

I whipped my head around, my patience wearing thin. "No, I don't. Sir, I appreciate you giving me a ride back to the city, but why are you being so damn arrogant?"

His eyebrows shot up, clearly not used to being spoken to this way. For a moment, I worried I'd gone too far. Then his lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite.

"Just making conversation," he replied, his tone slightly less abrasive. "So what brings you to a remote village like that anyway? You seemed lost."

I sighed, running a hand through my tangled hair. "A taxi driver recommended the village market. Said I could find unique gifts there. Today is my mate's birthday, and I wanted to get him something special."

"But you ended up lost instead," he observed.

"Yeah," I admitted. "I lost my phone somewhere in the market. By the time I realized it was gone, I'd completely lost my bearings. Couldn't call anyone, couldn't use GPS..." I shook my head at my own carelessness.

"I can help you find your phone," he offered unexpectedly. "I have connections."

"Really?" I perked up, surprised by his offer.

He nodded, pulling out his own phone. "What's your number?"

After I gave it to him, he made a brief call, speaking in clipped, authoritative tones to someone on the other end. The way people immediately responded to him continued to remind me of Alexander.

"Your mate?" His interest seemed piqued after he ended the call. "You found your mate?"

"Of course," I answered automatically, pride filling my voice. "He's the most powerful Alpha."

The moment the words left my mouth, I clamped my hand over it. Shit. I'd just revealed myself to a complete stranger. What was wrong with me? Stress was making me careless.

The man's expression didn't change, however. Instead, he just nodded as if this information was nothing new to him. That's when I noticed the watch on his wrist—expensive, with a distinctive design. It looked similar to one Alexander owned.

"Someone will look for your phone," he said, changing the subject. "They'll call me if they find it."

I nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

As we approached the city limits, I spotted the familiar structure of AL Global's shopping center. Perfect—I could get Alexander's gifts there.

"Could you pull over here?" I asked, pointing to the entrance. "I need to pick up a few things."

He slowed the car, pulling into the drop-off area. "Here?"

"Yes, thank you," I said, gathering my belongings. "Thanks for the ride. I can take a cab from here to get back."

He nodded, watching as I stepped out of the car. I hesitated for a moment, feeling like I should say something more, but ultimately just turned and walked toward the shopping center entrance.

Inside, I made a beeline for the men's department. Alexander was notoriously difficult to shop for—what do you get for a man who can buy himself anything? I settled on a crisp white dress shirt that reminded me of the one he wore when we first met. Simple, but meaningful.

As I ran my fingers over the soft fabric, I imagined Alexander wearing it, the way it would fit his broad shoulders perfectly. I remembered how he looked the first time I saw him—intimidating yet impossibly attractive. The memory made my heart race even now.

Next, I picked up some decorative items for his office—a small wolf figurine carved from white stone caught my eye. It was perfect. The craftsmanship was exquisite, capturing the strength and grace of a wolf in mid-stride. It reminded me of Alexander in his wolf form—majestic, powerful, untamed. I added some scented candles to my basket, knowing how much he enjoyed them after a long day.

My last stop was the bakery, where I ordered a small birthday cake. While waiting, I grabbed a quick meal at the food court, realizing I hadn't eaten all day. The stress of the day's events had completely eliminated my appetite until now, when hunger suddenly hit me like a truck.

As I passed by a lingerie store, a daring display caught my eye. A black lace ensemble that left little to the imagination. My cheeks flushed hot just looking at it. I tried to walk past, but my feet wouldn't cooperate. Instead, I found myself staring at the mannequin, imagining Alexander's reaction if he saw me in something like that.

You're his mate, I reminded myself. It's his birthday.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I marched into the store and purchased the lingerie, my face burning the entire time. The saleswoman gave me a knowing smile that only intensified my embarrassment.

"Just... just for today," I mumbled to myself as the cashier wrapped it up. "It's his birthday, after all."

With my arms full of shopping bags, I headed back to the mall entrance, planning to call a cab. To my surprise, the sleek black car was still parked where I'd left it, the mysterious man leaning against the hood, scrolling through his phone.

He looked up as I approached, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Found what you were looking for?"

I nodded, confused. "You waited?"

"Your phone has been found," he said, holding up my phone. "Keep it close next time."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, feeling both grateful and embarrassed. "Thank you. Again."

He opened the passenger door. "I can take you to your hotel."

I hesitated. Despite his arrogance, he'd been reliable. There was something strangely comforting about his presence, even with his abrasive personality.

"That would be great, thank you," I said, sliding into the passenger seat.

He helped me load my shopping bags into the back seat before getting behind the wheel again.

The drive to the hotel was quieter than before, less tense. I found myself stealing glances at him, trying to figure him out. Who was this man who drove an expensive car, wore designer clothes, and somehow commanded respect from everyone around him?

When we pulled up to the hotel entrance, I gathered my bags and turned to him one last time.

"Thank you for everything, sir."

He looked at me for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable. Finally, his lips curved into a subtle smile.

"Caius," he said simply. "My name is Caius."