Alpha Kael

~Jada

I’m not looking forward to today.

Last night, I was left staring at the ceiling until some ridiculous hour of the night. I couldn’t get Kael out of my head. This morning I woke cursing myself. I know I’m not allowed to be thinking about him like I am. I’m here to become a Silent, where my job will be to protect and serve him. Nothing more.

But is that why I dreamt about him last night? It may have only been fleeting, but it was all him. Those dark, sultry eyes… tall stature… soft, rousing voice.

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Everyone seems as anxious as I am. Aside from Parker, who is finding entertainment in harrassing Shana. I ignore them both, joining everyone else in worrying about what today will entail.

We’ll be finding out what our next challenge will be. After last time, none of us can predict what Kael and Niko have decided will happen today.

I’m just hoping I don’t see Kael today.

As usual, Niko had us line up in front of him, not letting anything slip on what his plans are until we were in our position. I’m glad Kael isn’t with him today, perhaps dealing with other pertinent Alpha issues, or maybe with another group of competitors. I often forget this group isn’t the only one.

“As you know, the group is slightly smaller now after your first assignment,” Niko says, noting the absence of Ciera. “After this week, it will be two of you going home, rather than one.”

Everyone stills, unsure of what to make of that. Having worse odds of staying the competition isn’t going to make anyone feel safer. Although, I’m sure that’s what Niko wants. For everyone to get anxious, to step out of line and to do something foolish. Or maybe even turn against each other.

“Being a Silent entails protecting an asset. This can be done in a variety of ways, that cannot be taught. They are instincts that only the best Silent’s have,” Niko informs us, pacing in front everyone methodically, taking time to look us each in the eye.

Something about Niko makes me nervous, that I just can’t put my finger on. It’s starting to bother me, but I would never question his legitimacy. Not if I want to get out of this alive.

“This week, your will be assigned a partner again, and it will be your job to protect them against any threat. Successfully do so, and you’ll surely have a chance to stay in the next stage of the competition. If you fail, your partner will also fail, and you will both be send home,” Niko tells us.

“That’s not fair,” Shana snaps.

There are murmurs of agreement, but Niko seems hardly fazed by this, waiting patiently for everyone to quiet down before he next speaks. “This competition isn’t set to be fair. It’s set for those to win who want to do so desperately. Understand?”

No one complains after that. Niko hands out an envelope to everyone, and sends us back to our rooms. Not after telling us our protector and protected must no nothing about each other. I was walking back to my room when something caught my eye. Something that had chills instantly moving up my back.

From a distance, I see someone watching me.

The moment they notice me staring back at them, they turn away, walking back down the path and disappearing behind a building. I struggled to pick up any overwhelming features about them. Just a tall, slender figure watching me.

I brush off the uneasy feeling. I’m going to assume it was another competitor spotting me. Maybe they were curious about me, and what group I belong to.

Whatever it might be, I have other things to be concerned with.

***

Baylee. Baylee is who I am expected to protect.

It shouldn’t be too hard, although I’m not sure what kind of danger she could put herself in. All she does all day is wander into people’s room to get attention, or reads novels from the library when she isn’t worrying about to a competition assignment. But regardless, over the next couple days, I keep a close, but frugal eye on her. She can’t know I’m assigned to look after her.

She had gone to watch the stars with Raine, the only other competitor who willingly listens to her talk. I’m not sure what she gets out of it, other than company and entertainment. Regardless, I followed them out, until I realised they were simply talking, sitting close to the buildings on the field.

They would be safe. So I decide to head back to the main building. But just because she was safe, didn’t mean I was…

I first heard a whisper. Like someone calling my name from deep within the shadows. I pause in my step, looking around. No one else is on the path, which is lit brightly, illuminating everything but the shadows that creep beyond it.

My skin shivers, but I move on.

I take only a few more quick steps, when a hand slams over my mouth, the other grabbing onto both my wrists. Instantly I’m trapped, in a frightfully swift, practiced maneuver. Adeptly, they drag me into the shadows, while I kick and protest.

My mind races. How do I get out of here? And who it is that has me seized. Whoever ever it is, they are strong, dragging back behind the building, hiding me from anyone who may have seen. No matter how hard I dig my heels into the dirt, they haul me back, pressing me up against the building.

“Be quiet, this is a simulation,” they growl.

It’s a female Silent; I can tell immediately. She stares at me, not relenting on her hold. She’s waiting for something, and I have a feeling I know what it is. I stare back at her, mesmerizing her features. Pointed nose, sharp eyes, sleek blonde hair pulled away from her face.

“Let her go,” someone says from behind us both. I catch a glance over the Silent’s shoulder. It’s Ace, standing there, holding something in his hand. A knife.

The sight of it glinting dangerously has my heart rate accelerating. He’s not going to do something stupid… Is he?

“Let her go,” she says again, his voice steady, calm. I’m surprised he’s here, first and foremost. He must have followed me out, watching me while I was busy watching Baylee. Clever. However, I’m more relieved he’s here to save me. Regardless of it being a simple simulation.

The Silent glances over her shoulder. Weaponless and caught between two people, the Silent knows what the smarter option is. To remove themselves from the situation before they can be caught and questioned.

“Well done,” she murmurs, letting me go. I massage my collarbones painfully where she had her arm pressed against me. “Had you not brought a weapon, I would have liked to see more intimidation.”

Ace tossed the knife onto the grass, loosening a breath.

“I’ll report back to Niko. You two get back,” she orders, before turning to walk back down the path.

I turn to Ace, wondering what I should do. Should I thank him? Ace doesn’t seem to talk much, harbouring a dark past not many people want to delve into. Aside from Baylee, who I’m convinced is trying to get with him. He is handsome, but darkly so. Like if you look any deeper you’ll find out something about him that could kill you.

Almost like Kael, but less frightening. He’s not an Alpha, just some kid.

“I guess you’re safe,” I say uneasily, rubbing the back of my neck. I have no reason to thank him. He’s doing this to get to the next stage. “I guess this is where I congratulate you or something?”

He shrugs. “Nah.”

With that, he turns and walks back toward the main building, leaving me be. A chill consumes me. How long was he watching and following me? As I walk back to the building, waiting a moment so it didn’t seem like I was following him, I wracked through my brain, trying to remember what I’ve been doing.

As I trekked up the stairs, I was so consumed in thought, I didn’t think anything was wrong. I didn’t even notice the door to my room was slightly ajar. I simply pushed in, and nearly stumbled back out at what I saw.

Someone was standing at my drawers, rifling through my stuff.

The moment I step into the room, they pause, staring back at me. They could have attacked me. For a moment, I was convinced this was a simulation again, because it became evident they were a Silent working here immediately. However, it couldn’t be. They wouldn’t be going through my things.

As I look into their eyes, it hit me. I know them.