Caught by the Alpha's Gaze

The boy was cut off by a very familiar voice. Indianna turned to see Greyson, his eyes dark and locked on the guy holding her. "The girl asked you to let her go."

The boy scoffed without facing him. "Fuck off, mate, I'm busy."

Greyson raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp on the back of the boy's head. "Big mistake," he murmured. Indianna gasped as she saw Greyson's fingers wrap around the boy's throat.

The boy froze, eyes wide with fear as Greyson pressed closer. "Let her go," he whispered, his tone dark and menacing. The shiver it sent down Indianna's spine had nothing to do with her illness.

Immediately, she was released. She stumbled backward, crying out in surprise as she bumped into someone. Panic set in-whether from shock or feeling ill, she wasn't sure-but the person steadied her.

"Relax," a calm voice said. Indianna looked up into the kind eyes of Ace, Greyson's friend. The nice one. "Relax, it's just me. I'm not going to hurt you. Are you-"

Indianna's attention was ripped from Ace when she heard a loud crash. She looked over to see Greyson had thrown the boy into a row of lockers. He crumpled to the ground in pain.

"Mate, I'm sorry-"

Greyson grabbed the boy off the floor and shoved him up against the now-dented lockers. "Don't fucking call me mate," Greyson hissed.

"What happened?" Brooklyn appeared at Indianna's side as a crowd began to gather around Greyson and the boy. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I..." Indianna looked back at Greyson and cringed as he punched the boy, the force making the boy's nose bleed.

"Apologise to her!" Greyson growled, and all eyes turned to Indianna. Her eyes widened, her skin paler than she thought possible. "Apologise now, Josh, or I'll make sure you won't live to see the sun! Now!"

"Fuck!" Josh shouted, prying at Greyson's arm that was across his throat. "I'm sorry! Fuck, I'm sorry!"

"I don't think you mean it," Greyson hissed, applying more pressure to Josh's throat.

"I do!" Josh yelled, eyes wide with fear. "I'm sorry! I am!"

"Better," Greyson snapped, dropping Josh to the floor. "Now get out of my sight before I do something I will not regret!"

Josh scrambled away within seconds, eyes darting nervously toward Indianna. Her mouth fell slightly open, staring at Greyson in shock. She hadn't thought he could be that terrifying.

"What?" Greyson barked, glancing at the crowd of curious students. "Move along!"

"What happened?" Brooklyn asked as the crowd started to disperse.

"I..." Indianna's eyes stayed locked on Greyson as she stepped backward. "I... I have to go-"

"Indie, wait!" Before she could turn, Greyson gently grabbed her wrist. "Wait."

"No, no, I need to-"

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Greyson said seriously. "Josh is a sick bastard. He won't bother you anymore."

"O-okay," Indianna stuttered, unsure how to view Greyson after witnessing that.

"You can stop looking at me like I'm going to hurt you," Greyson said, raising an eyebrow.

Luckily, Kal and Harry approached before Indianna could respond.

"Dude!" Kal exclaimed, grinning at Greyson. "We heard what happened!"

"What exactly happened?" Brooklyn asked, looking around as Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Josh was being inappropriate and manhandling Indianna," Ace explained.

Brooklyn's eyes widened. "God, he never learns! He's such a creep! Are you okay, Indianna?"

All eyes turned to Indianna. She groaned inwardly. "I'm fine, thank you. I think I'm going to go."

"Indie, are you really alright?" Greyson asked, scanning her up and down-not in a sexual way, but in concern. "You really look like shit."

"Thanks," Indianna said bluntly.

"He could have said it more politely," Brooklyn said, giving Greyson a look, "but he's right. You don't look well."

"I'm fine, really," Indianna insisted, turning and walking away.

She wasn't fine. The incident had distracted her briefly, but now her symptoms were flooding back-her head was pounding, she was sweating, and her whole body ached.

Go home, sugar. You're ill.

Indianna groaned. No...

Go home, the voice repeated. Now!

Make me. Indianna ducked into the girls' toilets as a sharp pain shot through her head. She cried out, clutching the sink. Stop it! Stop it, please!

The pain ceased, and the voice spoke again. I apologise. That was not intentional. As I've mentioned, I get angry easily, and I can't always control what I do when I'm angry, sugar.

You need to learn! Indianna shouted. God, you can't keep doing that!

Go home, and I pinky promise I'll work on it.

You're crazy!

Go home!

No!

I won't tell you again.

Tell me who you are, and I'll go home, Indianna said, attempting reason.

The voice scoffed. Not happening.

Then I'm not going home.

I can make the pain worse, sugar. Don't make me.

You're blackmailing me? Indianna gasped.

You are in no fit state to be at school. If blackmail is what it takes, then that's what I'll do.

You're evil.

I'm trying to look out for you.

By hurting me?

Are you going to go home?

No, Indianna said stubbornly.

The sharp pain returned, making her double over. When it passed, she noticed Brooklyn crouched in front of her, eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Indianna, sweet, what's wrong? Are you in pain?"

"My head," Indianna whimpered, groaning as she pulled herself up. "I had a really bad pain in my head."

"I have painkillers if you need them," Brooklyn suggested.

"Thank you, but no. It's gone now."

I don't like hurting you, sugar. I don't want to.

Then don't!

It's extremely hard to control, especially when I'm trying to help you and you're not listening.

Help me by leaving me alone!

Indianna groaned, rubbing her head. She refused to let the voice win-she would not go home.

"Maybe I should get the nurse?" Brooklyn said softly, looking at her unsurely.

"P-please don't. I'm fine."

"Lessons have started," Brooklyn said gently. She studied Indianna carefully. It was easy to tell she was ill. "You really don't look well at the moment."

"I'm fine."

"You seem to say that a lot, sweet," Brooklyn said. "I'm starting to think you aren't actually fine."

"But I am-"

"No. You're ill. You need to go home and rest."

You should listen to her. She's right. Don't make me force you, sugar. Neither of us will like it.

Indianna sighed, nodding. "Fine. You win," she whispered-not to Brooklyn. "I'll go home."

Indianna had been home for a few hours, lying on the couch, feeling like death. She tried to sleep when the doorbell rang, making her head throb. Her mother, Iris, answered.

"Hello, Mrs. Hughs."

Indianna became alert at the voice.

"I'm a friend of Indianna's. I just wanted to check in and see how she's doing."

"That's very kind. I'm glad she's making friends. What did you say your name was?"

"I didn't."

There was a pause before Iris spoke again, cautiously. "You seem familiar."

"I'm sure I do."

"What is your name?"

"Greyson Evans."

Iris gasped, and Indianna heard a thud. "You need to leave."

"Not very polite, Mrs. Hughs. My foot hurts now. Why don't you open the door fully and let me in?"

"Get out," Iris said firmly. Surprisingly, Indianna found herself agreeing. She couldn't face Greyson now-she had spent hours comparing his voice to the one in her head.

"Let's have a chat, Iris," Greyson said, stepping closer. Indianna closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

"Indianna is sleeping. You should leave," Iris said.

"Sit, Iris," Greyson commanded, taking a seat. He gestured to the couch beside him.

"What do you want, Greyson?" Iris asked meekly.

"I want an explanation."

"You're not getting one."

"I get what I want," Greyson snapped. "The more I understand, the easier it will be for her."

"I can deal with her when the time comes. We don't need your help."

"You do, Iris. This is going to happen to her very soon. She didn't randomly get ill. It's time."

"No, it's too soon!" Iris gasped.

"No, it is not."

"She's nearly eighteen. She has time-"

"She does not."

"Yes, she does!" Iris cried, panic rising in her voice.

"Do not raise your voice at me, Iris. I am here to help."

Iris sighed and looked at her daughter. "We shouldn't have come here."

"Did you really think you could help her go through this alone?" Greyson asked.

"Yes. I did."

"Then you are stupid," Greyson scoffed. Iris gasped. "You're a fool if you believed you could help her."

"How dare you-"

"How dare you," Greyson growled. "You came onto my land with her and expect us not to interfere? It's my duty to look after my own. Pack or not. The moment you crossed into this town, you signed her over to us. She belongs with us."

"W-what? No!" Iris cried. "H-how?"

"You two belong to no one. She needs a pack, and you happen to live where there is a very powerful one. Mine. I choose who's in my pack, and when the time comes, she will join mine. You have no say."

"You can't do that! She's my daughter!"

Greyson raised his eyebrows. "And?"

"We'll leave. We won't cause trouble. We'll leave tomorrow."

Greyson laughed. "Don't be a fool, Iris. If you try to leave this town, you'll never see her again. I promise."

"You're evil! You can't do that!"

"I'm trying to look out for her. I'm being nice, giving you time with her. But once it's time, she won't see you as often."

"You can't do this!" Iris pleaded.

"Do not push my boundaries, Iris. You know who I am. I'm not always this nice. Accept the time I'm giving you with her."

"She's scarred," her mother whispered. "Please."

"Her wrist."

"Not just physically. Mentally," Iris said. "She's been through a lot. You know what happened to us? The attack changed her. She used to be full of life, confident, bubbly. That day, I lost my daughter. She's a shell now. You can't just shove this life onto her."

"I'll deal with her. She'll be fine."

"She won't. I'm her mother. I can't even reach her anymore. I'm trying now, but she wants nothing to do with me."

"Trust me, Iris. She'll be fine with me. I'll get her through this."

Iris paused, narrowing her eyes at Greyson. "Why? Why are you interested in her?"

Greyson looked over, and Indianna sighed. "I think you know."

Indianna twitched, feeling both Greyson's and her mother's eyes on her.

"She's waking up," Iris said, and Indianna knew her pretending to be asleep was over.

Indianna opened her eyes and blinked, staring at Greyson. He was looking directly at her, arms crossed over his chest.

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked, sitting up on the couch.

"I came to see how you were," Greyson said.

"I'm fine."

"I think that's a lie."

"Greyson, you've seen her-you can leave now," Iris said. "She needs to rest."

Greyson raised his eyebrows at Iris, almost warningly, but he stood. "I hope you feel better, Indie," he said. "I'll see you soon."

Indianna fell back onto the couch and rubbed her eyes. She was glad the exchange hadn't lasted long; her head hurt even more, and she felt extremely confused.

Iris looked at her questioningly. "He's your friend?"

"No," Indianna answered immediately. "He's not."

"Then why would he check up on you?"

"He beat a guy up today in front of me. He must have felt bad," Indianna shrugged.

"You need to stay away from him, Indianna."

"Since when do you care about me, Mum?" Indianna snapped suddenly. "Why do you suddenly care? You've been distant for years-you can't decide out of the blue to start being a decent mother again."

"I do care about you, Indianna," Iris said softly. "Please know that."

Indianna sighed and stood, fanning herself with her hands. "Do you?" she asked, heading for the door. "That's nice to know."

She made her way to her room and sat on the window sill, opening the window wide, hoping the cool air would soothe her burning skin.

She thought back on the conversation she had overheard and frowned, trying to connect the dots but coming up empty. She desperately wanted to sleep, but her thoughts kept her wide awake. She wanted answers. Her mother was hiding something from her, and Greyson knew things about Indianna she didn't even know herself.

How?

Indianna sighed as pressure began forming in her head. She knew the voice was back. What do you want? she asked before he could speak.

That's not a very nice greeting, sugar.

I'm not in the mood.

Well, I was going to supply you with some answers, but seeing you're like this, I think I'll leave it.

No! Indianna shouted. What were you going to tell me?

It can wait.

Tell me!

Why should I, sugar?

Because I deserve to know something! Anything! Even my mother is keeping secrets from me! My head is all over the place, and I'm freaking out!

I didn't think you were really asleep.

Indianna froze, her breath catching in her throat. It's you. It really is you.

I said I'd give you some answers, sugar.

Indianna gripped the window sill, steadying herself. She had a feeling it was him, but saying his name aloud still shocked her. She swallowed nervously. Greyson?

Hello, Indie.