My fated alpha by Natalie novel Chapter 9

Hayden

I didn't even know when or how I had opened my arms and when she had slid into my embrace but it had felt the right thing to do. Madeleine was afraid and hurt and possibly someone had tried to take advantage of her.

The thought of Steve forcing him upon her made me feel murderously angry. She was sobbing in my chest and I let her cry as my hands closed around her in a warm embrace. I could feel her heart beating wildly and I gave her a minute to help her calm herself.

I had no idea how she had reached here or why but all I could be thankful for was that she was safe and in front of my eyes.

Charlie was surprised to see me hug a stranger or how that girl knew me but he didn't comment. I only asked him to give us some space and he obeyed me by leaving us alone.

When he had left, it was just me and her by the river. The only sound was of her quite sobbing and of the water gently flowing by. I tried to pat her hair and make her sit on a nearby boulder but she clung to me even tighter.

Not knowing what else to do, I only let her hug me thinking that she needed some comfort right now. As my eyes flitted through her shoulders, I saw that there were nail marks on her arms as if somebody had clawed at her.

It took me no time or effort to guess who it was. Luke growled at me and wanted to run through the forest and tear that a**hole into two but I stopped him.

Madeleine was hurt and she needed me. And I felt the need to be for her.

“Shh, it's okay, relax,” I added in a gentle voice.

Listening to me, she nodded her head as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. My t-shirt had soaked wet due to the tears that had fallen down her eyes but at least she had stopped sobbing.

I took her face in my hands and helped wipe the rest of the tears from her cheeks with the pad of my thumbs. Her eyes were swollen and puffed while her face looked red.

I had no idea how long had she been searching for me or why. Before I could ask her any of it, she looked me in the eye and whispered in a small voice, “I thought something had happened to you…”

‘Something happened to me?’

My eyebrows furrowed at that line and I couldn’t understand her. Trying to get a clearer picture, I reassured her, “Nothing has happened to me…see, I am fine, but why would you worry about me? It’s you who is injured…”

Her hair looked a little matted and even her shoes looked as if she didn’t own another pair. She looked at me with relief and it made me feel powerless.

Half of my mind wanted to run back to Garron and nail him on a wall for treating someone like this. How could he allow such filth of a person named Steve to even be in his pack?

Madeleine was trying to pull down her t-shirt to hide her skin and I immediately removed the t-shirt I was wearing and gave it to her. Her clothes were torn and I didn’t want to take her to the packhouse like that.

I would have given her my jacket had I been wearing one but sadly I wasn’t. Thus, I simply removed my shirt and held it out to her which she took reluctantly.

Wanting to give her some privacy, I turned around as she put on the shirt. She had been manhandled and I didn’t want her to think that I was ogling at her.

After she was done, I felt a hand touch my back lightly. I turned around to see her wearing my shirt. It looked a little oversized and didn’t fit her but that would have to do for now.

“Let’s get you someplace safe to rest and then you can tell me what was the matter, alright?”

I asked her in a soft voice and she nodded her head while studying the ground. My shirt looked cute on her and I wanted to make her feel comfortable again.

But, I didn’t know if I should take a step ahead and embrace her because I didn’t want her to think that I was taking advantage of the situation.

Hence, I simply fell in step beside her and began walking through the forest. I mind-linked Charlie to ensure that nobody would be around while I took her to the packhouse and he only gave me a curt response.

But then he could wait.

“What about Garron? Are you done with your meeting with him?” He asked me and I replied, “Not yet”

My voice was annoyed and even Charlie sensed that I was trying to keep my anger at bay.