The Alpha's Gamble - Chapter 52: Chapter 52
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MADELINE
I took a shower, changed clothes, and got the hell out of the house before Noah came back.
Where was I going? No idea. Somewhere far. Somewhere I could disappear and maybe stay gone.
I stuck to the outskirts of town, heading straight for the woods where I knew I could find some peace. The quiet was exactly what I needed. Just the breeze slipping between the branches, rustling the leaves, and the occasional quack from the ducks down by the border pond. Once I was far enough from everything, people, buildings, rules, I sat on a rock, pulled my knees up, and finally let myself breathe. Surrounded by nothing but trees and sunlight filtering through the canopy, birds chattering up high in the branches, I closed my eyes and inhaled the sharp, clean scent of the forest.
Sometimes, more often than not these days, I envy the rogues.
Living free in the woods, answering to no one. No Alpha, no structure. Just survival and freedom.
Spending their days however they pleased. Hunting, sleeping, and staying close to a tight-knit group of others like them. Sure, I knew the downsides. Not knowing when or if you’d eat. Getting hunted down by organized packs for simply existing. Never feeling safe enough to call a place home. Never stopping long enough to build anything real. Still… if I had the chance? Right now, I might choose that life. Even with all the risk.
A rustle in the bushes jerked my eyes open. I strained to listen. No footsteps.
Probably just a rabbit. But I couldn’t shake the unease creeping up my spine. I stood, stepping off the rock and moving toward the sound. It was farther away than I thought. I crept closer—and that’s when I heard a voice. Muffled. Urgent.
“Dig deeper. If anyone finds these, we’re fucked,” Logan hissed. I stayed hidden, slipping through the trees and skirting around the pond. Quiet. Invisible. They were near the food cellar, the one we used to store meat in case of emergencies. Enough to feed the whole pack for three months, all preserved and sealed. I peeked out from behind a tree and saw Landon digging a hole next to the cellar. What the hell were they burying? Sealed metal buckets, airtight. Whatever was inside, it was locked up tight enough that even I couldn’t sniff it out.
“Dude, if anyone catches us with these, we’re so fucked,” Landon laughed nervously. Logan looked down at the hole, brows furrowed. Then he froze. Slowly straightened.
“Someone already has.” He turned his head. Eyes met mine.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that lurking is rude?” I could’ve tried to duck behind the tree, but it was too late. He saw me. Landon spun around, panic written all over his face.
“Fuck,” he groaned. My day suddenly looked a hell of a lot brighter. Watching Landon start to sweat? Freedom, baby. His panic was my therapy. That was until his expression shifted, anger boiling over. He jabbed a finger at me from inside the hole, dirt clinging to his jeans, making him look like a pissed-off little leprechaun.
“You won’t tell anyone about this. You know what’ll happen.” I sighed and rolled my eyes, ignoring the sharp glare Logan tossed his way, not me.
“Yes, yes. You’ll send out the sex tape like a Christmas card and ruin my life. We’ve been over this, Landon. Honestly, the threat’s getting a bit stale. Good try, though.” I walked closer, eyeing the barrels. “What’s in those?” A smirk slithered onto Landon’s face. He licked his lips and picked up the shovel again.
“Something you’re going to help us with.” Ominous much? I was pretty sure that “help” meant winding up in the hole with the barrels.
“Hold up. No. That’s not part of the plan,” Logan cut in, shaking his head.
“It is now,” Landon said, locking eyes with me.
“Get over here. Grab a barrel.” Logan sent me a silent warning, his gaze telling me to stay put.
Since when was he the cautious one? Most of the reckless shit we’d done, Logan was the genius behind it. He hadn’t hesitated to drag me into any of it until now.
“We’ve had fun together lately, you and I. Don’t ruin it,” I said, yanking my arm from his grip.
I grabbed the handle of the barrel. The cold metal stung my skin.
Whatever liquid they’d poured inside sloshed against the sides, heavy and sealed tight.
I took a shower, changed clothes, and got the hell out of the house before Noah came back.
Where was I going? No idea. Somewhere far. Somewhere I could disappear and maybe stay gone.
I stuck to the outskirts of town, heading straight for the woods where I knew I could find some peace. The quiet was exactly what I needed. Just the breeze slipping between the branches, rustling the leaves, and the occasional quack from the ducks down by the border pond. Once I was far enough from everything, people, buildings, rules, I sat on a rock, pulled my knees up, and finally let myself breathe. Surrounded by nothing but trees and sunlight filtering through the canopy, birds chattering up high in the branches, I closed my eyes and inhaled the sharp, clean scent of the forest.
Sometimes, more often than not these days, I envy the rogues.
Living free in the woods, answering to no one. No Alpha, no structure. Just survival and freedom.
Spending their days however they pleased. Hunting, sleeping, and staying close to a tight-knit group of others like them. Sure, I knew the downsides. Not knowing when or if you’d eat. Getting hunted down by organized packs for simply existing. Never feeling safe enough to call a place home. Never stopping long enough to build anything real. Still… if I had the chance? Right now, I might choose that life. Even with all the risk.
A rustle in the bushes jerked my eyes open. I strained to listen. No footsteps.
Probably just a rabbit. But I couldn’t shake the unease creeping up my spine. I stood, stepping off the rock and moving toward the sound. It was farther away than I thought. I crept closer—and that’s when I heard a voice. Muffled. Urgent.
“Dig deeper. If anyone finds these, we’re fucked,” Logan hissed. I stayed hidden, slipping through the trees and skirting around the pond. Quiet. Invisible. They were near the food cellar, the one we used to store meat in case of emergencies. Enough to feed the whole pack for three months, all preserved and sealed. I peeked out from behind a tree and saw Landon digging a hole next to the cellar. What the hell were they burying? Sealed metal buckets, airtight. Whatever was inside, it was locked up tight enough that even I couldn’t sniff it out.
“Dude, if anyone catches us with these, we’re so fucked,” Landon laughed nervously. Logan looked down at the hole, brows furrowed. Then he froze. Slowly straightened.
“Someone already has.” He turned his head. Eyes met mine.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that lurking is rude?” I could’ve tried to duck behind the tree, but it was too late. He saw me. Landon spun around, panic written all over his face.
“Fuck,” he groaned. My day suddenly looked a hell of a lot brighter. Watching Landon start to sweat? Freedom, baby. His panic was my therapy. That was until his expression shifted, anger boiling over. He jabbed a finger at me from inside the hole, dirt clinging to his jeans, making him look like a pissed-off little leprechaun.
“You won’t tell anyone about this. You know what’ll happen.” I sighed and rolled my eyes, ignoring the sharp glare Logan tossed his way, not me.
“Yes, yes. You’ll send out the sex tape like a Christmas card and ruin my life. We’ve been over this, Landon. Honestly, the threat’s getting a bit stale. Good try, though.” I walked closer, eyeing the barrels. “What’s in those?” A smirk slithered onto Landon’s face. He licked his lips and picked up the shovel again.
“Something you’re going to help us with.” Ominous much? I was pretty sure that “help” meant winding up in the hole with the barrels.
“Hold up. No. That’s not part of the plan,” Logan cut in, shaking his head.
“It is now,” Landon said, locking eyes with me.
“Get over here. Grab a barrel.” Logan sent me a silent warning, his gaze telling me to stay put.
Since when was he the cautious one? Most of the reckless shit we’d done, Logan was the genius behind it. He hadn’t hesitated to drag me into any of it until now.
“We’ve had fun together lately, you and I. Don’t ruin it,” I said, yanking my arm from his grip.
I grabbed the handle of the barrel. The cold metal stung my skin.
Whatever liquid they’d poured inside sloshed against the sides, heavy and sealed tight.
End of The Alpha's Gamble Chapter 52. Continue reading Chapter 53 or return to The Alpha's Gamble book page.