Chapter 35

ALPHA ALAN’S POV

The video looped again and again. For a second I forgot to breathe. My jaw dropped and no word followed—not even the barest exclamation. I couldn't feel my fingers nor did my body move. My chest heaved as I palpitated. The air had become too heavy to breathe.

Slowly, I began to feel fear and anger all at once. My wolf instinct kicked in and instantly I took off to my car. My driver had already packed it properly and was about to throw its trampoline cover over it when I yelled.

“Take that shit off! I'm driving out now! Give me the damn keys!” I barked with a ferocious intensity, jolting my driver whom out of instinct, yanked off the cover, tossing the key over to me.

I caught the throw mid-air, unlocked the car and immediately hopped into the driver's seat. I turned on the ignition almost immediately, hitting the gas pedal.

My tires shrieked the moment I hit a sharp bend. Smoke from the tires dissolved into the air. Biting down on my lower lip, I pressed hard on the accelerator. The gate was already ajar before I got to it as though the gateman knew the urgency of my situation. I zoomed off into the night. The image of the flames replayed in my head in a loop. I shook it off for a second honking at sluggish drivers on the road.

The vibration from my phone in my pocket startled me a bit. "Shit!" I held tightly on the steering to avoid drifting off the road while reaching for my phone with the other, keeping my eyes on the road. I took a quick glance at who it was.

"Jeff!" I swiped the call icon and the call connected.

“Alpha? What's with the sudden rush? I just got out of the toilet to see you dashing out of the gate like that. Where are you headed?" He queried, his tone laced with worry.

“Meet me at the office, now! ,” I spat. My voice was hoarse with rage. “The company’s on fire.” I panted.

"What? Holy fuck!" He exclaimed. There were a bit of noisy cracks from his end and sound hurried footsteps. "I'd be on my way now," he said.

I quickly ended the call, tossing my phone aside and continued my race to the office. I couldn't help but wonder why all these misfortunes befalling me at the same time.

My thoughts collided in a storm I couldn’t contain. Just today, I discovered Aurora’s betrayal. The twist from her lies still curled around me and now this?

"Get the fuck out of the road" I slammed the horn, yelling at a truck driver before overtaking him.

That single act caught the attention of the cops by the roadside. I stared at my rear view mirror to see red and blue light tailing me from behind. I didn't flinch, I continued with the race, gripping the steering so tight that veins bulged from my arm.

A few meters away from the scene, my heart dropped into my stomach the moment I saw thick smoke going up into the heavens.. My wolf snarled within me. Tears gathered in my eyes but I sniffled, biting down on my teeth.

I managed to put myself together, taking the next few turns. The moment I got to the actual scene, my heart broke. I didn't realise when a cry of anguish left my mouth.

"Noooo!" I cried. My heart broke a million times over. I could barely breathe. What used to be a magnificent building has now been reduced to ash and flames.

The scene was already flooded with fire fighters. Water squirting from the long trail of hose that curled like snakes on the floor. The police were there too, taping a caution line across the area. The upper part of where my office was situated was already engulfed in yellow light though the base hasn't been affected yet.

Immediately my car stopped, I shoved the door open and bolted. My lungs filled with smoke the moment I hit the entrance, the acrid taste searing my throat.

“Sir, stop!” A firefighter lunged, gripping my arm before I could reach the barricade.

“Get off me!” I snarled, yanking against his hold. My wolf surged, and my voice carried its growl.

“Sir, it’s too dangerous,” he warned.

“Who did this?" I tried to break through him. "How did this happen?” My voice broke into a roar. “Put out the damn fire! Put it out now!” I tried to push forward, but the heat from the flame slapped me back. I gasped, choking on smoke. I was quickly turned over, while I coughed so intensely my heart shook.

"Put this on," one of the men shoved an oxygen mask on my face. Finally, my lungs were filled with fresh air though my eyes still burned with tears I refused to admit were there.

Another officer stepped in, arms out. “Sir, please! Step back! We’ll figure this out when the fire’s under control. You have to let officers and forensics do their job.”

I shook my head, trembling. “Do you have any idea what’s in there?!” My voice cracked. “Years of work! My life!” I yelled.

“Alan!”

The sound of my name cut through the chaos. I spun, chest heaving. Jeffery was running toward me, his half buttoned shirt flying in the wind.

He reached me, gripping my shoulder. “You need to breathe,” he grabbed my shoulder, jerking me.

“I can’t,” I yanked the mask off.

“Yes, you can,” he snapped. His eyes locked on mine, grounding me for the briefest second. “Don’t let them see you unravel. Whoever did this? This is what they want.”

His words struck my heart, easing me off a bit but I clenched my finger so tight it dug into my flesh. My teeth, grinding against each other.

I just stood there motionless, staring at the raging flame until the screams, yells and orders drowned in my ear. I watched the water pound against the building, watched windows collapse inward until the last flames were put out completely.

I felt the tear slip down my eyes before I could stop it. I turned away from everyone, wiping it odd with the back of my hand. I felt weak and ashamed of myself. Jeffery noticed but didn't try to stop me. He simply walked towards the officers to have a word with them.

After he was done, he walked up to me, placing his hand over my shoulder.

“I need to get you home Alan. There is not much we can do or say till day break,” he said quietly in a low tone.

He was right. I have had enough for one day and any more trauma could kill me. I strolled into the car with heavy eyes. No protest.

That night was the longest I have experienced. I could barely shut my eyes. Shadows of the flames kept playing in my mind. I raked my mind, trying to figure out where or what I have done wrong. "I RECEIVED YOUR GET-WELL-SOON PACKAGE." The message rang in my head. What package? I pondered.

I paced my room, throwing punches at the wall out of frustration. Gradually, the vibrant orange color of the morning sun that peeked through the cloud gave way to a brilliant blue sky. By daybreak, I was already dressed, heading to the scene.

I pushed past the tape without a word. Forensics swarmed the site, cataloguing debris, snapping photos, bagging what little remained. Near the rubble stood a man in a dark jacket, sipping coffee as he spoke to two officers.

“Good morning, y’all,” I said sharply, my patience already worn thin.

“Good morning, Alpha Alan.” they chorused.

The man dismissed the others with a gesture and walked toward me. His expression was rehearsed sympathy, the kind people wear when they don’t want to look you in the eye.

“Alpha Alan,” he began, “first, I’m sorry for your loss. This is a tragedy.”

I cut him off. “What’s the damage?”

He hesitated. “We’re still assessing, but much of the upper floors are destroyed. Some office records and equipment,” his voice dipped.

My teeth gnashed together. “The surveillance cameras?” I said quickly. “They would’ve caught something.”

His face shifted, uneasy. “Most of the interior systems were destroyed in the fire. But…” He hesitated. “Some external cameras at the parking lot and the emergency exit were recovered. My team is working on pulling whatever data we can.”

I raked both hands through my hair, pacing a few steps before spinning back. “Work faster. I need answers.”

“Yes, sir.”

I took a walk around and inside the building assessing the level of damage. Everywhere reeked of ashes. "Where is Jeffery?" I mumbled, reaching for my pocket but my phone wasn't there. It clicked in my head that I had left it in the car. I strolled back, yanked open the door, and collapsed into the seat.

For a moment, I just sat there with my hands pressed against my face when my phone buzzed. I reached for it, glancing at the screen.

Aurora. I sighed, almost flinging my phone out the window. The phone rang and stopped. I didn't flinch but when it rang for five more times, I was forced to take it.

"What do you want?" my voice rolled out like thunder

“Alan?” The voice that filled my ear wasn’t hers.

I stiffened. “Who is this?”

“It’s Emily,” the voice rushed out, shaky, breathless. Aurora’s friend.

My brows pulled together. “Where’s Aurora?”

“Oh God, Alan…” her voice broke as she panicked. “I...I went to see her this morning where she lodged, and...” she whimpered.

“And what?” I demanded, my stomach twisting in a knot.

“I found her… in the bathroom… there's...blood. She's barely breathing. She hurt herself.”

“What?” my heart jolted in shock.

“She cut her wrists,” Emily sobbed.

"Uhmm..." My pulse thundered against my ribs as I rattled for my car keys. “Listen to me Emily. Call 911, Now! And drop me your location.”

"Okay," She paused for a minute. "I just did."

"Seen," I responded, starting up my car engine.

"Hurry, Please," She wailed.