Alpha Alec's Redemption - Chapter 115: Chapter 115

I stare at Aspen, who is soundly asleep. She looks so beautiful. So, at peace. Her long lashes fan her cheeks, and her mouth is slightly open as she snores. Snoring should be annoying, but when it’s from Aspen, it’s absolutely cute.
The day out that we had completely tired her out. She didn’t even finish her dinner. She fell asleep midway through her meal. She was tired, but she was happy and that’s what matters most.
I head for the bathroom after placing a gentle kiss on her slightly damp forehead. Tiredly, I take off my clothes before jumping into the shower. I lean forward, my hands against the wall, holding me up while I let hot water run down my back.
I thought this small outing would help, but it didn’t. The moment I got back to the pack, I found my problems still waiting for me. It was a small reprieve from the stress, but it didn’t really fix anything.
Sighing, I finish showering and get out. Wrapping a towel around my chest, I move to the mirror. I stare at myself, but instead of staring at my scar like I usually do, I stare at my eyes.
I see nothing there but emptiness. Black, dead, emotionless eyes stare back at me. I no longer see the vibrant woman I used to be. I no longer see the loving person I was. My eyes used to be so expressive, and now they are just dead.
How did it come to this? If I am truthful to myself, then I’ll admit that I hate this. I hate the dead look in my eyes. I hate the stranger staring back at me. I hate the woman I’ve become.
Unable to stare at myself any longer, I just put on my moisturizer and leave the bathroom. I head straight to my suitcase and take out my pajamas before putting them on.
I get on the bed next to Aspen and pull her little body close to mine before covering both of us with a blanket.
We had a fun day. We went to the zoo since Aspen insisted on it. After that, we went to the mall, did some shopping, had lunch and dessert, stayed out a bit before coming to the pack.
It had been a great day, but once I was back, I couldn’t shake the melancholy I was feeling. Once we came back, I couldn’t stop thinking of Alec’s broken look when I told him that I wished he was dead. I know he did me wrong. He hurt me. More than that, he destroyed me. Still, when did I get so bitter that I would wish death on someone else?
I close my eyes, trying to sleep, but all I see is the look on his face when I said those words. It was like I’d shattered him. Like I had ripped his heart into small, tiny pieces. I try to justify my actions. They hurt me, and I was just trying to hurt them back, but that argument doesn’t really hold.
With a frustrated cry, I snap my eyes open and get out of bed, being careful not to wake Aspen up.
I need a run. I need something that will use up my energy and leave me drained.
I make sure the blanket is well tucked around Aspen before giving her a gentle kiss. I slowly and quietly walk towards the door. When I am successfully on the other side, I breathe a sigh of relief before hurrying to get outside.
The air is chilly but I don’t mind. I want to feel something else apart from hurt, anger, hate, and bitterness. The cold shard of air that pierces my skin is a welcome reprieve from my internal turmoil.
Swiftly, I get rid of my clothes, and within seconds I’m standing naked in the middle of the night.
"Nyx,” I call to her, my voice on the verge of breaking.
“I know,” comes her soft voice right before we shift into her form.
We take off running, not really sure which direction we are heading and not really caring. I urge Nyx to run faster, knowing exactly what is happening.
I’m trying to run away from my demons. From both my past and current hurts. I’m trying to run away from the feeling that Alec aroused in me hours ago. I’m trying to run from the bitter person I’ve become.
I don’t know how long it is when Nyx finally stops, collapsing on the cold, hard ground.
“I need rest,” she says, panting.
I don’t say anything, because what is there to say? I kept pushing her because I didn’t want to think, and I knew stopping would automatically bring me back to my depressing thoughts.
We rest in silence, none of us saying a word. We both have our own shit to deal with. We are both struggling in our own way. She may not tell me, but I know she’s also dealing with her own demons from the past.
The wind ruffles Nyx’s fur as a tired sigh leaves her mouth. I am content to be taking the back seat this time, so I am not in a hurry to take our human form.
“Did you hear that?” the alertness in her voice pulls me from my thoughts.
Just like when we were running, I’m not sure how much time has passed since we decided to have a rest here.
I listen closely, but I don’t hear a damn thing. “No.”
“Just listen,” she hisses at me. I roll my eyes, but I do as she says and focus.
At first, I don’t hear anything, but then it comes. A sort of shuffling sound.
“Now, did you hear it?” she questions again.
“Yes”
“I need to get up. We are vulnerable lying down like this, if it’s an enemy.”
It takes a second and soon she’s up. Her snout in the air, she sniffs it. The scent hits us, and before we even have time to react, we are attacked.
We are able to throw the hybrid off of us easily. Hybrids may be strong and fast, but we are stronger and faster.
Nyx bites down on his arm, making him release an inhumane roar. He tries to shake us off, but we hold down, sinking our teeth deeper until we hear a bone break.
With a kick to our gut, we temporarily lose our grip. Nyx digs her hind legs into the dirt as she growls at him, her ears pulled back, his blood still dripping from our mouth.
“You stupid bitch,” he snarls, clutching his hand, his eyes staring daggers at me.
The fire in his eyes tells me that he isn’t about to give up. That he won’t submit. With his hand hanging loosely at his side, he charges at us, the intention to kill us clear in his eyes.
Nyx easily sidesteps him. He didn’t expect that. Because of the momentum he used, he stumbles before falling down.
Nyx doesn’t waste any time. Before he can react, she clamps her teeth around his jaw. Biting hard, he releases another painful roar. Nyx teeth dig deeper as she shakes him like a damn leave. I know what she’s doing. She is about to rip out his throat.
His energy slowly starts to leave. He then slumps but Nyx doesn’t stop.
“You have to stop, Nyx,” I tell her lazily.
Honestly, it’s never been this easy to take down a hybrid. We didn’t even break a sweat. Like I said, awakening my powers has been both a blessing and a curse.
“Why should I?”
“Look, he’s not dead yet; he just lost consciousness, probably because of losing too much blood. " Don’t you think it’s more beneficial to us if we kept him alive for interrogation?”
She stops to think about it for a minute before dropping his body. “You are right.”
With that as the warning, she changes back to our human form. “I did most of the heavy work; I’ll leave the task of dragging his useless body back to the pack.”
Shaking my head, I grab the guy’s hands and begin to literally drag his body. Even with everything that brought me out this chilly night, at least the day ended on a great note. We now have a hybrid in our custody. Finally, maybe we could get answers about who exactly we are dealing with.