Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama
Chapter 86: Swept me off my feet...

Chapter 86: Swept me off my feet...

Selene POV

The silence lingered, putting me on the edge as I stared at the grey-haired woman whose eyes were boring into me as if she knew who I was. I could see Faustina and Brenna tightly clasping their hands with their eyes shut waiting for a word from the woman.

An eternity later, the grey-haired woman cleared her throat and came towards me, wearing a pleasant smile "I’m sorry, Lisa but we cannot give you an answer now. We have to do some background checks and a bunch of things. Can you bear with us for a little while, we’ll ask either of your friends to tell you the outcome,".

I swallowed hard as my heart thudded against my chest. I was sad. Fighting the angry tears that strained at the corner of my eyelids, I looked up to the woman. "I am not going to be accepted right?" I turned around looking at the faces of everyone "I bet none of them that joined this group went through half of all the questions I was asked. Why though?" I sighed moving closer to her "I am passionate about things like that... why can’t you see that I am fighting for a just cause just like every other woman here,".

"Don’t get worked up, Lisa," the woman said calmly "We’ll inform you about our decision soon,".

My gaze fell on Faustina and she gave me a light nod. Sighing, I turned to leave when the strong voice of the grey-haired woman reached me again. "Please, don’t forget your money,".

Startled, I turned back to face the woman wondering what she wanted to say now. "What?" I arched my brow.

She picked up the bag of money I had dumped on the ground and walked up to me with a pleasant smile still on her face "Until you become one of us, I’m afraid but we cannot take the money,".

A scowl formed on my face as I stared at the woman wondering if she was doing any of these things purposely or if she was intentionally trying to piss me off. Shifting my weight from one foot to another, I collected the bag, telling myself it was useless to argue. After collecting the bag, I noticed Faustina and Brenna coming towards me and I shook my head to dissuade them. I wanted to be alone at the moment.

As soon as I left the small gathering, hot tears of rejection stung my eyes. I was sad no doubt that I was not picked immediately. However, they didn’t tell me an outright No! it still felt like a rejection. Stumbling along the forest path, I burst out into a lively night scene.

My breath caught in my throat as I moved past noisy, marketers, some children running and playing or people gathered together on a platform talking with excited voices. This was a new world altogether. Although I’ve never been to this part of the town because this settlement belonged mostly to Omegas, I was wowed by the night scenery and I couldn’t deny the peace that washed over me immediately.

It was a welcome change from the stuck-up traffic and overcrowding in the upper parts of the town I was used to. I strolled through the people, feeling light-hearted. I was so wrapped in the serenity of the place until I reached a dark path, just before I entered the upper town when I felt the presence of people following me.

Bea perked up immediately in an alert. From the corner of my eyes, I was able to register at least four burly figures coming towards me. I looked in front of me and it was just me on the path. Quickly, I hastened my footsteps trying to see if I could make it to the bridge that bordered the upper town from the lower town but just a few steps away from it, another burly figure appeared in front of me, cutting me short.

I jerked to a halt, gritting my teeth in annoyance as I turned to survey the mess, I was in. They were at least Seven people from what I could count. Taking a deep breath, I turned to the one who had cut my path in front.

"What do you want?" I asked trying to sound brave.

"Well now, be a little nice to us, woman. You could fix that tone and make it a bit sexy and comely ehh... how about that?" the voice sneered as he took a step towards me, laughing like a maniac.

I stood my ground, noticing with dismay that more men were coming out of the bush on the path. Each had slobbering sneers twisting their face... and they were armed. I stood no chance against them. From their short, burly nature, I didn’t need to be told that they were Omegas.

I could easily take them out since I had Alpha blood but I didn’t know how to fight. I was sick for most of my teenage and young adult age and since I got better after giving birth to my girls, I kept putting off going to learn how to fight properly. Seeing the situation before me, I regretted not carving out time.

"Is she deaf?" Another voice sneered and came towards me, poking my arms. He reeked of alcohol, smoke and stench – giving him a putrid smell that made me want to puke my guts. I felt my stomach plummet... I was unarmed and defenceless against these savage rogues.

"What’s in your bag, lady?" the first voice asked staring intently at the bag of money that I had carried to the meeting. When we were coming, I had given the bag to Faustina. Even though she had warned me about being careful with such a large sum, I forgot.

"My clothes and some ladies’ stuff," I said coldly meeting his gaze "I don’t know what you and your men want from me but I am running late for an appointment so if you can please leave the road, I’d appreciate it a lot,".

"Leave the road?" the man cackled and raised his hand with an amused smile on his face "Of course, I will but after you’ve shared with us what is truly in that bag of yours. Let’s just make it easy for you... you give us everything and we’ll go. Such a beautiful woman shouldn’t be by herself at this time of the night,".

The men leered as their gaze on me shone with greed. They began to close in on me, their cruel laughter echoing through the night. I couldn’t move because I was practically in their middle. Bracing myself for the worst, while still thinking of the best thing to do, there was an explosion in the middle of the circle they had formed around me, forcing the men to push back a bit.

Before I could understand what was going on; heavy, snarling bodies crashed down around me with blinding speed and such ferocity that it’d be a miracle if any of the men made it alive. I turned to look at the face of my helper but gasped in shock when I discovered that it was Beta.

Now in his half-wolf form, half-human form... I could only watch in admiration as he seized one or more of the men and hurled them to the trees there, slashing them with his long nails... not so deep enough to kill them though. The few of them that had survived already scrambled to their feet and fled the scene with pain and terror.

As quickly as the whole thing started, it was over. I blinked dazedly as Reid changed completely into his human form, his chest heaving from exertion.

"Are you harmed, Luna?" he asked gruffly.

I gaped, as my heart thumped against my chest. There was no way he would recognize me... I had a costume on or didn’t the costume hide my real appearance? "H-How did you know it was me?" I stuttered watching him closely.

He turned to me with a scoff on his lips as he shook his head and spat out what seemed to be his disgust before he spoke. "You’re wearing the royal seal and aside from that hideous disguise you have on, it’s pretty easy to know that you’re the Luna,".

"That’s not true!" I argued, "Give me your phone!" I commanded stretching my hand before him.

He hesitated for a bit, eyeing me with derision before he dropped the phone in my hand. Immediately, I snatched it up and turned on its camera, peering into the phone to see if I could recognize the woman staring back at me.

I looked hideous... like a rogue wolf that just escaped hell. I didn’t know what the woman did on my face but it was so funny and I think it made me look suspicious. Like... I looked like a cheap hoe and a wife at the same time, so I was confused. Maybe it could be the reason why that grey-haired woman wanted more time to think about it.

Reid came closer and snatched the phone from my hand.

"What did you do that for?" I snapped turning to him.

"Don’t you have your phone with you?" He glared and then stretched a pack of wipes in my direction "Clean that up, I don’t want anyone dying when they see you," he murmured and walked some distance away from me as he turned his back.

I stared at the pack of wipes, and his broad back that was turned to me, trying to understand what was happening. Reid, on so many occasions, had outrightly refused to help me even in Noah’s presence. His dislike for me was so obvious that everyone knew it but he just saved my life even if it was in the most chaotic way ever and he gave me a wipe to clean my face.

"What are you standing there for?" he turned to me and marched towards me with an annoyed look on his face "Do you need help with anything?"

"N...No," I shook my head and took a step back "I’m fine, and thank you, Reid... Truly, I...".

"Snap out of it, Selene..." he interjected with a dismissive wave "I only did it out of duty and a healthy you would keep Noah sane. Else, I would I left you in their mercy. So, don’t be grateful to me and I don’t need your thanks,".

My brows furrowed slightly at his curt brush-off that still carried an undertone of respect in it... first of its kind I dare say. Anyways, I ignored the worry in his eyes as I wiped my face without a mirror and finally removed the wig, allowing my own hair to flow down my back in.

"We should return immediately, it’s almost time for the gates to be shut," he stated flatly.

"Okay," I nodded meekly and started walking beside him, trying to match his long strides. We went on for a while before he looked towards me... "Are you sure you’re fine? You’re limping..."

"Oh!" I brushed it off "It’s fine... I’m just tired,".

"Always a fucking burden," He hissed under his breath and before I knew what was happening, he reached out for me and swept me up my feet, nestling me against his chest.

My heart fluttered...