UNTAMED: THE ALPHA

Gael led the way to a corridor that was made of glass, so the sunlight would enter and illuminate every dark corner of this place.

They were no longer inside the culverts and this place looked more like a normal house and at the end of this corridor, there was a brown wooden door.

Gael stopped walking right in front of that door and turned around to look at River, who was holding her breath, as if she already knew what he was going to say to her.

"Your mother is behind this door." Gael put his hand on the doorknob and then turned around to look at his daughter, who did not say anything. She bit her bottom lip, which Gael recognized as Lise's habit whenever she felt nervous. "Are you ready?"

River fiddled with her fingers and then nodded. She took a step closer toward Gael and stood right behind him.

At that, Gael pushed unlocked the door and stepped in first, as he held the door wide open for River to enter as well, but she stood frozen in her place. She couldn't move her feet, not even for a single step.

But from inside, River could hear the most frail voice that she ever heard. A woman's voice. That was not her mother's voice.

Her mother had the most beautiful, warm and charming voice, while the woman inside of this room sounded like an old lady at her last breath. That couldn't be her mother, this man must be lying to her, like he lied to her when he said he was her father.

However, River's feet didn't want to cooperate with her. She couldn't move anywhere and felt stuck in this place.

There was a wave of sadness that bound her.

And without her knowing it, Gael had appeared in front of River once again. There was an understanding look on his face, when he extended his hand.

"Come, your mother is waiting for you. She wants to see you," Gael said in the most gentle tone, in order to not scare his daughter, apparently, that was how River looked to him now. The fear in her eyes and the way she fiddled with her fingers.

"She is not my mother," River muttered under her breath. She looked into the room, but she only managed to see the end of the bed, but couldn't see the person on it.

Gael saw denial in her eyes and how badly she was trying to hold back her emotions as to what she was going to face. The unexpected reality that was not as sweet as her imagination. Should he give her a heads up first? Would that make the situation better?

"River?" Gael called her name, as he was about to take her hand, but she took a step back instead, avoiding his touch again.

"Her voice is not like that," River said in a small voice, she lowered her head and now she was staring at her bare feet.

Gael took a deep breath before he spoke again to explain this. "Your mom is sick. She is not in good condition."

There was silence that ensued for a few minutes before River spoke again.

"Will she recover?" she asked and this was the question that had been gnawing at Gael's heart. He hoped he could lie, but sooner or later, his daughter would know the truth and it would be more painful to live in expectation.

"We have done everything and we will do everything to keep her in good condition." Gael gave an indefinite answer, but River knew where this would lead them. "Let's go? She really wants to see you. Look how big you are already  now."

River took her father's hand and let him lead her into the room, where she saw her mother for the first time after so many years. Was it six years? Seven? River was not sure…

Inside the room that was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, on top of this huge bed, which occupied almost half of the room, sat a frail woman with a stack of pillows behind her back, to support her frame.

There were tears in her eyes, as her trembling hands extended toward River, waiting for her to go for a hug, like she used to when she was little.

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"They closed the borders," Sebastian informed July just as he returned after checking whether it was possible for them to enter the country or not.

But, like they had expected, the borders were closed and they couldn't take any step closer to where this whole pandemonium was happening. This country was in a bad situation, especially when they didn't even have any preparations to face such an issue.

"Do you have any way for us to enter?" July was standing outside of their car, looking into the distance, where the night started to come while the dark smoke from fire covered the sky.

There were loud explosions in the distance every now and then, as they stayed in place, without being able to do anything and this aggravated July.

"Not that I know," Sebastian replied regretfully, he stared at July's concerned expression and balled his fists because he was not able to do anything to help.

"What about you?" July turned her attention toward Ciara, the witch. She took her with them because she thought she could be of help, thus she wanted her to give it her best shot.

"I can help you to enter the border, but not this many people," Ciara waved her hand toward the hundreds of shifters behind her, who had come with them. "I can only take five more people aside myself past the border without anyone noticing it."

"Five?" Sebastian was surprised. What could they do with five people when they had to face the whole armed army from Artzees and East Draghar countries? "You should at least take half."

"That's the best I can do."

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*Read my new book: KISSED BY THE DARK ALPHA*

Alpha Micah Donovan's second chance mate.