An Alpha's Heart

I brought a wounded Alpha home.

I kept him around so he could help me do some chores and guard my home. But he would keep staring at me quietly and didn't like other men to come closer. He even got a fever and shivered without his usual spirit.

I anxiously asked the doctor if he was sick.

The doctor was quiet for a while before asking, "Is it possible that your werewolf friend isn't sick? And that he wants to mark you and make you his mate, but worried that you won't be happy about it?"

I picked up a werewolf and brought him home.

After finishing a hike last week, I had just opened my car door and got into the driver's seat. But before I could fasten my seat belt, a dark silhouette slammed open the passenger door and stumbled inside.

I froze in shock, and I turned my head.

It was a man.

I could see under the dim light inside the car. He leaned against the passenger seat, covered in blood and struggling to breathe.

"It hurts..."

I was stunned for a few seconds.

I did not see anyone else on the hiking trail earlier. But he did not look like he was trying some kind of scam with that condition of his. He looked more like someone who had run into some serious trouble and had no other choice but to get into my car.

"Don't move," I said with my voice softened subconsciously. "Should I take you to the hospital?"

He shook his head. "No... No hospital."

"Then where do you want to go?" I asked.

"I do not know... I can't remember anything..."

He closed his eyes, as if he didn't even have the strength to talk anymore. His brows were furrowed deeply, and a cold sweat formed on his forehead. I looked at his pale face and his wounds that kept bleeding. I could not bring myself to simply dump him in the empty parking lot in the middle of nowhere.

After hesitating for a few moments, I started the car and stared straight ahead. "I'll take you to my place first and clean your wounds. If you remember anything, or if you want to go somewhere else, we can talk about it later."

That night, I settled him on the living room couch and went to sleep in my own room.

Around midnight, I got up to use the bathroom. When I stepped out, I saw him curled up on the couch. His hood was off. Black wolf ears drooped on top of his head and his tail had slipped out and lay across his legs. He was staring at the window, the moonlight showering over him, making him look quite lonesome.

I moved quietly and took a blanket. As I touched his arm, his eyes suddenly opened, and a low growl rumbled out of his throat, as if it was a warning.

I stumbled back for about half a step. "Sorry. I just wanted to cover you with a blanket..."

The man paused. The tips of his ears sank a little. His voice was raspy like he was just woken up. "It's fine."

I handed him the blanket. When he took it, his fingertips accidentally touched my hand. His skin was as cold as ice.

-

The next morning, the man was already awake. He sat on the couch, frowning at the dirty clothes and takeout boxes piled around my living room.

When he heard me come out, he turned his head. His voice was low. "Clara? I heard someone call you that on the phone."

I paused for a second. "Yeah... Do you remember your own name?"

He nodded. "My name is Ethan."

He suddenly opened his hand. His palm was rough with his claws already retracted. "Thank you for saving me."

"Just saying thanks isn't enough." I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I saved you and even took you in. You need to pay me back properly."

A playful idea popped into my head. "How about from now on, you call me... master?"

He was stunned for a moment, and then still said it. "Master..."

"Since I'm your master, does that mean you have to do whatever I ask you to do?" I asked.

His cheeks went red. His fingertips rubbed the seam of his pants, and his tail slipped out of sight again. "I guess..."