Chapter 22 CHAPTER 022
Ari POV:
Why did Alpha Stone ask Harry not to spend time with me? This question continued to keep me up that night as I laid on my bed. My bed. That caused me to snort. As if I could ever accept Ricko as my pack.
The nerve of him to tell me he didn't ask for me after his wolf had calmed down. What correlation did I have with his wolf anyway? What was it his wolf want with me?
I guess I would never have an answer.
It only hurt a little seeing how much he was in pain and needed help but would die before asking for one. I got it. He was the Alpha and he needed to act like one, all tough and mighty. But he had a sickness and pretending to be tough wasn't going to help him either.
How could a man be so ruthlessly attractive and stupid at the same time? I needed a warm milk.
I went downstairs and moved towards the kitchen where I almost entered until I heard my name. I paused just as the entrance, prepared to eavesdrop. Apparently, the maids were still there doing the dishes and gossiping.
"Have you seen the way the Alpha acts around her?" One of them said.
The other chuckled before she replied. "If only she knows what she's getting herself into. An ant like her is no match for a giant like Sierra."
Who is Sierra? I asked myself but decided to listen for more.
"Personally, I don't think the Alpha cares about her at all. I mean, she's just being kept because they needed to know why his wolf developed interest in her."
That hurt. Unable to hear anymore, I turned around and walked up the stairs. Whoever Sierra is, I sincerely hoped she didn't think I was in any competition against her. She could have Alpha Stone for all I care.
Sleep eluded me for most part of the night until it finally held me in a warm embrace. I couldn't tell for how long I'd been sleeping for when I opened my eyes again. Unlike the warm blanket that coverer me when I slept off, I felt chills seeping into my bones as I sat up.
I felt water drip all over my body and soaking my clothes. When I looked down, I realized I'd been sleeping in a puddle of water on the cold hard floor.
My vision cleared and I gasped loudly as I looked around. I was in a dark cell like room with candles lit all around me. My gown was just a bunch of black satin carves wrapped around me, covering the vital parts of my body.
I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and as I decided to move, I felt a sticky liquid under my feet. I looked down and saw that the water had turned into a pool of blood. But it wasn't my own blood.
The room suddenly transformed into a desolate building with broken walls, fluttering lights, stench of decaying bodies, flies perching all over, a warbling music coming from a broken speaker and a door.
Slowly and steadily, I moved towards the entrance, careful not to step on any of the bodies. When I finally moved through the door, I was met with even more bodies, all of which were mutilated.
I clasped a palm around my mouth to stop the whimpering that escaped. Whatever or whoever did this must still be lurking around.
I heard a crackling sound behind me and I jumped and turned around to see a neon sign with lights that were incomplete. I only saw the letters Prgon. This was clear. Was this a dream or real life? I hoped with all that was in me that this would be the former.
Except before I could answer, a large shadow appeared before me, familiar and frightening.
I knew who it was before I said it.
"Alpha Stone!" I jumped up from the bed and realized I was back in my room, except I was sweating really hard.
When I raised my hand, it was dry. This wasn't just a nightmare. It was a warning. I knew there was only one person who would be willing to listen. So I dressed up in a green top, a pair of denim shorts, a jacket and made my way to his quarters.
"You saw Alpha Stone's wolf standing in front of a building?"
I nodded frantically. "And from what I know, he went out to visit someone. He's not been back since."
"Do you have any idea where he went?"
I shook my head. Maybe Perri would know but I'd be damned if I had to take my case up to her. What next? She would call me crazy and lock me up in a room with white walls.
"Can you describe the place you saw in the dream at least?"
"It was...I don't know, the place seemed like a party was going on in there. Bodies littered everywhere. The room and even outside the building." I paused and took a deep breath. "There was one thing though. A neon sign that read Prgon. I don't know if you know..."
"Paragon?"
My brows lit up with realization. "Yes. Yes, that's it."
"I think I know where he is." He grabbed his car keys and stormed out the door. I followed immediately.
The drive was taking longer than I liked. If my nightmare was a warning then something may have happened before we arrived. I was tapping my thigh with my finger until I felt a warm hand wrap around my fingers, giving them a little squeeze.
"I'm sure he will be fine. He always is." Harry assured.
I looked out the window, trying to convince myself that I was just paranoid because I was thinking about him all night. Hopefully, that wasn't the case or I'd die of embarrassment.
"We are there."
I almost flew out of the car and run back to Ricko when I saw the building. It was exactly like what I'd seen in my dream. The neon sign, the structure of the building and even the people's outfits as they came in and out of the building. That was a good thing. It meant nothing bad had happened.
"We have to split so we can find him faster." Harry said and I nodded before going the right way while he chose the left.