Chapter 5 [ Males of the Alpha Clan ]

Priscilla's POV

I turned around as a tall, bulky redhead walked toward us. Despite his frosty glare, his bare chest and tight pants gave me something worth looking at in this dreary base camp.

"Eric," Rini said, "Priscilla needs fresh air to help her heal faster." The excuse left her lips instantly—she was always fast with a cover story.

Eric fixed his gaze on me, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Oh, so you're the rogue from yesterday? Tell me, how exactly did you manage to throw yourself in front of the Alpha's car? Did you actually have a death wish, or were you just acting the part of a weak little lady?”

Is every single male in this Alpha Clan a nightmare to deal with? Dealing with the Beta was bad enough, and now this guy has to show up. His orange aura flared, darkening right before my eyes.

"It was entirely my fault," I said, lowering my head. "I was running, but my mind is a complete blank as to why. Everything was so hazy. I never expected to cross paths with the Alpha, and I am truly sorry for causing so much trouble." I offered him a deep, respectful bow.

"Whoa, what the hell?" He took a sudden step back, completely thrown off by the gesture. "Stop acting so dramatic.”

"I'm sorry, I... I don't know the pack rules yet," I said, keeping my voice soft and hesitant. "If I've offended you in any way, please forgive me." I began to lower myself into another deep bow, but…

"No need," he cut me off quickly. "Are you some kind of idiot?”

"Eric, she is just being polite," Rini said, giving him a pointed look.

"Polite? She looks like an idiot to me." Eric rolled his eyes in disgust. "I don't know how the Alpha tolerates having someone this ridiculous in our camp." With a harsh snort, he turned on his heel and left.

"I'm so sorry about that. The men in this clan are..." Rini sighed helplessly, letting the thought trail off. "They are always like this. Nothing good ever comes out of their mouths." She gave me a small, apologetic smile.

"It's fine. I am a stranger, after all. I just want to recover soon and leave so I won't cause them any further trouble—" I cut myself off, groaning as I held my head.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry as she immediately caught me by the shoulders to support my weight.

"I... I'm sorry, my head is just spinning all of a sudden," I mumbled, closing my eyes against the wave of dizziness.

"Let's get you inside," Rini insisted, putting an arm around my waist to support me as she led me back to the room.

"How are you feeling now? Is the room still spinning?" she asked gently as she adjusted the blankets.

I gave a weak nod. "My head just started spinning out of nowhere. Do you know what's wrong with me?”

"I need to run a few more tests on you. Stay right here while I grab my medical bag," Rini instructed before hurriedly exiting the room.

Sitting up on the bed, I stared at the closed door where she had just exited. The helpless, confused look vanished from my face, replaced by a cold smile.

Eryx's POV

" Damn"

I looked up as Eric walked right back into the room, wearing a deeply irritated scowl. Looking like he had just forced down a bitter drink, he slumped heavily onto the couch and glared across the room.

"What happened? You look like you're in a foul mood," Maximus asked.

Instead of replying, Eric just let out a heavy sigh, clearly brooding over something. When he finally looked our way and opened his mouth, the first word out was a curse. "Fuck... what is wrong with that rogue you brought back, Alpha? Did she hit her head too hard, or what?”

I narrowed my eyes into a frown. Her again? I wondered what kind of trouble that woman was causing now to make Eric this worked up.

"What did she do this time?" Maximus asked, his tone rough and filled with deep disgust. I bet that if there weren't rules holding him back, he would snap that rogue’s neck without wasting a single breath.

"She's an idiot, and I can see right through her little act," Eric sneered, crossing his arms. "The way she behaved just proves she's faking it. Mark my words, Alpha, she's going to create a massive mess for us down the line. She is definitely hiding something behind that annoying, dramatic act.”

Maximus scoffed, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I caught onto her the moment I saw her. She's playing the part of a fragile rogue, but she's hiding a dark secret underneath. She is nothing but a headache.”

"Maximus," I warned quietly. His expression contorted with annoyance, but he ultimately snapped his head around, staring blankly at the wall to avoid my gaze.

I shifted my gaze to Eric. "What makes you so certain about her after just one look? Did your scouts actually find something on her?”

"Well, I haven't found any hard evidence yet, but I caught them lurking right outside the room," Eric said, shrugging his broad shoulders.

"Outside the room?" I questioned, a sharp frown pulling at my face. "I don't recall giving them permission to step past that door." My tone dropped to a menacing growl. A rogue loose in our camp was a security risk we couldn't afford. How dare they take liberties in my territory? I clenched my fist, letting my irritation flare.

"Rini claimed the girl needed a change of scenery to heal faster. They weren't going anywhere—just standing right outside the threshold," Eric noted, waving a dismissive hand. "You can take my word for it, there's no real threat there.”

"No threat?" I smirked coldly. "There is always a threat, Eric. Giving an outsider even an inch of freedom is a dangerous mistake. Precautions must be taken before it's too late." Standing up abruptly, I prepared to handle it myself.

"Huh? Where are you going, Alpha?" Eric asked, looking stunned.

"To check on our 'guest,' of course," I answered coldly. Leaving Eric stunned in my wake, I strode out of the room.

"Wait, Alpha! We're coming with you," Eric called out from behind. I could hear his hurried footsteps scrambling to follow me into the hallway.

Reaching the infirmary ward, muffled voices caught my attention. The door was ajar. Pushing it open without warning, I strode in. Rini was standing by the bedside, speaking quietly to the rogue, whose face had gone completely pale against the pillows.

"What's going on here?" I demanded, my brow furrowing as I took in the scene.

Rini snapped her head around to face me. "Alpha!" She looked completely caught off guard by my visit. "Well... we have a slight problem here.”

"A problem?" I asked, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble that demanded an immediate answer.

"Yes," Rini said, throwing a worried glance toward the bed. "Her vitals were normal earlier. I took her outside for a breath of fresh air. But she weakened so rapidly we barely made it back to the bed. Her pulse is behaving strangely—it's completely abnormal. I need to run deeper tests to pinpoint the exact cause.”

"Yes," Rini murmured, keeping her eyes fixed on the pale girl. "Her vitals showed no signs of distress earlier. I only took her out for a brief walk, but she crashed instantly. Her heartbeat is irregular and strange. I need to run advanced tests to identify the root cause.”

"Then do what you have to do," I snapped, frowning deeply at her hesitation. "What are you waiting for?”

Rini bit her lip nervously before speaking up. "Alpha, the equipment in this base camp is insufficient. To diagnose a condition this strange, we need the advanced resources at the main pack infirmary.”

"No way. That's impossible," Maximus barked, stepping forward. "We don't just bring random strangers into our main pack house. Have you lost your mind, Rini?" His voice growled with deep irritation as he glared at her.

"I am a doctor, Beta Max, and my duty is to my patient," Rini said, her tone sharp with conviction. "If there were any other alternative, I wouldn't put this pack house request on the table. This camp's clinic is only meant for minor treatments—she needs a real facility.”

As the sole doctor stationed at the base field, Rini was fiercely independent. She had exiled herself out here years ago because she hated the chaotic, crowded atmosphere of the central pack infirmary, refusing to return. While she was cool-headed most of the time, she also had a fierce temper when pushed.

"You are even making—" Of course, Max wasn't giving in at all, his stubbornness flaring right back at her.

"That's enough." I stepped between them, my cold Alpha voice leaving no room for debate. "I don't want to hear another word of this bickering.”

Maximus scowled in dissatisfaction, though he kept his mouth shut under my command. Beside him, Rini bit down hard on her lower lip to hold back her retort, but the venomous glare she directed at him spoke volumes.

"Let me get this straight," I started, my voice dropping to a low rumble. "You are saying she needs to be moved to the pack infirmary?”

"Yes, Alpha," Rini insisted with a definitive nod. "Her vitals are fluctuating wildly. We cannot pinpoint the root cause of her condition without the advanced testing equipment at the pack house.”

I shifted my gaze to the girl on the bed. Her skin was terribly pale, even more so than yesterday. She was swallowed alive by a patient gown that highlighted just how emaciated she really was; she looked as though she had been starving for months. Outwardly, she seemed completely harmless. Yet, I knew better than anyone that appearances are the easiest thing to fake.

I gave a curt nod. "Then let it be. Bring her with you," I said. Rini looked up, completely surprised by my sudden agreement.