Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 263: Danger? Run

I had absolutely no desire to see what was happening in that room.

It didn’t matter that Whitney and Vito looked like they stepped out of a magazine. The whole thing made my skin crawl. The air felt wrong. Like the room itself was holding its breath.

Right then, my phone buzzed.

Lewis: How are you holding up?

My fingers shook as I typed. I kept it short, but honest. I told him I was stuck. I told him I didn’t feel safe.

His reply came almost instantly.

Lewis: Danger get out of there now.

I swallowed hard. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Me: I know.

Another message followed, longer this time, and I could almost hear his voice through the words.

Lewis: Elena, Whitney won’t hurt you. But she knows Vito better than you do. If she’s hiding you, it means if he finds you, it won’t just be awkward. It could turn dangerous. Don’t let him catch you. I’m coming for you.

My chest tightened.

Lewis didn’t panic for nothing. He was always controlled, always thinking three steps ahead. If he was this worried, then my instincts weren’t being dramatic.

Whitney wasn’t the problem.

Vito was.

Even if Whitney didn’t want anything, he could still push. He could still take control and call it "care." That kind of dominance wasn’t protection. It was a leash.

I pressed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the sounds that made my stomach twist. My throat burned with helpless anger. Not for myself.

For her.

For roughly twenty minutes, time dragged like a punishment. Then the noise finally faded, and the house returned to a terrifying quiet.

Through the crack in the wardrobe, I saw Vito’s shadow move closer to the bed.

His voice was light, almost playful. "Why are you extra sensitive today?"

Whitney’s voice came out thin. "Carry me to clean up."

Vito didn’t hesitate. I heard the shift of weight, then her soft gasp as he lifted her. A second later, the bathroom door opened, and the sound of running water started.

I realized what she had done.

She was giving me a window.

The moment they stepped fully into the bathroom, I slipped out of the wardrobe as quietly as I could. My knees almost buckled as my feet touched the floor. I didn’t even think. I moved.

I didn’t dare use the elevator. Elevators made noise. Elevators trapped you in a box.

So I ran down the stairs instead, one hand sliding along the wall for balance.

I’ve been through horrors. Real ones. Things that changed me. And yet, I had only met Vito a few times.

Still... the fear I felt just now was sharp and alive, like my body had recognized a predator before my mind caught up.

My legs felt like jelly by the time I reached the second floor.

I rounded a corner too fast and slammed right into someone.

Strong arms caught me before I fell.

"Watch out," Yael said, his hand steady at my waist.

I froze, breath stuck in my chest.

"Th-thank you," I stammered, still shaking.

His gaze stayed on my face, sharp and searching. "Riley, where were you? I couldn’t find you earlier."

My mind raced. I forced myself to breathe normally.

"I went to the restroom on the first floor," I said quickly. "It was occupied, so I came upstairs to find another one. Sorry."

I stepped out of his hold, putting space between us. My heartbeat was still loud in my ears.

Yael’s expression softened slightly. "That’s on me. I should’ve been a better host."

I didn’t relax. Not fully.

I glanced around the hall. The lights were dim, and the silence felt too heavy for a house full of guests. It reminded me of a beautiful cage.

"For a house this big," I asked, trying to sound casual, "why are there so few servants around?"

Downstairs looked like it took a whole team to prepare. Yet up here, I hadn’t seen anyone. Not on the first floor. Not on the second.

When I ran down the stairs, it felt like fleeing through an abandoned castle.

Like something unseen was watching from the dark.

Yael smiled. "My brother likes quiet. The staff usually finish their work and stay in the small building behind the main house. They don’t come in unless they’re called."

"I see," I said slowly. "It’s obvious you and your brother are very different."

Yael rubbed the back of his head, almost shy. "Yeah. People say that a lot. Maybe it’s because he started working earlier, so he’s more... serious. Riley, do you think I’m childish?"

"No," I replied, keeping my tone light. "You’re warm. And you’re kind."

His eyes brightened at that, like my words mattered too much.

"Do you really think I’m a nice person?" he asked, voice hopeful. "By the way, I loved the pen you gave me. And I have a gift for you."

He opened his palm.

A small wooden dog sat there smooth, finely carved, every detail clean and careful. It was so well-made it didn’t look like a beginner’s work.

I blinked. "You made this?"

"I carved it myself," he said.

I stared at it, surprised despite myself. "How did you get into woodworking?"

He smiled softly. "When you carve clay or wood two lifeless things into something that feels real... it’s like giving it a heartbeat. I hoped you’d like it."

"It’s beautiful," I said honestly. "No one has ever given me something like this."

His smile widened. "I’m glad you like it. Riley... are you coming to school tomorrow?"

I tightened my grip on the carving. "As Mrs. Hale, I have a lot to handle. I can’t promise I’ll be at school every day."

He nodded quickly, like he had planned for that answer. "Our department is hosting a music feast. Every class has to perform. If you’re busy, I can send you your part to practice at home. You can come in for a few rehearsals."

"Thanks, Yael," I said. Then I added gently, "My husband is here to pick me up. I should go."

A flicker of disappointment crossed his face before he hid it.

"You’re leaving already?" he asked.

"Thank you for having me," I replied. "Happy birthday."

"I’ll walk you out," he insisted.

We went downstairs, past laughter and music and candlelight that now felt too bright. Too normal for what I had just seen upstairs.

Yael followed me to the entrance and stopped.

He watched as I stepped into Lewis’s car.

The door closed with a soft click.

Only then did my body finally release the tension it had been holding.

Lewis’s arms wrapped around me immediately, firm and protective. Not suffocating. Grounding.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low.

I shook my head. "I’m... I’m just grateful Whitney gave me a chance to escape. I could barely breathe when he showed up."

Lewis’s jaw tightened. His eyes turned darker.

"Elena," he said, "stay away from him from now on."

"I will," I promised. Then I hesitated. "But his brother might be a better way in."

Lewis didn’t argue. He simply reached for my hand, prying my fingers open gently.

His gaze landed on the wooden dog.

"Hand me the knife," he said.

Without thinking, I gave it to him.

He sliced into the carving quickly, careful but firm, checking the inside like he’d done it a hundred times. No bug. No device. Nothing hidden.

Still, the moment felt heavy.

He exhaled and looked at me. "I’m sorry. I was just worried..."

I took the wooden dog and tossed it into the trash without hesitation. Then I wrapped my arms around Lewis.

"It’s only a carving," I said softly. "How can it compare to you? If it’s broken, it’s broken."

His hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me closer. His touch settled the wildness in my chest, like a calm command my body obeyed.

As the car started moving, I couldn’t help but look back.

On the fourth-floor balcony, a man stood in a bathrobe, watching us leave.

Even from this distance, I could feel his gaze like a cold blade.

The night hid his expression.

But my instincts didn’t need to see his face to understand one thing:

We were already on his radar.