Chapter 5 Selena's Alpha

Selena felt the warmth of her little boy Oliver pressing close against her sideways as she manoeuvred through the supermarket.

She plastered on a smile, willing herself to forget the persistent dread that had refused to leave her for the past several weeks.

It was irrational, she reasoned with herself. After all this while, there was no need to think that she could be found out here, thousands of kilometres away from the Mooncrest pack, and amongst people who had no idea of the world she had left behind.

"Mom, can we get the dinosaur cereal?" Ethan's voice interrupted her thoughts and brought her back to where she was.

He looked up at her with adorable inquisitiveness typical of children his age, the kind of looking up that had a striking resemblance to hers.

She managed a small smile. "Only if it's on sale, buddy. We're trying to stick to the list today." She tousled his hair, a gesture that made him beam once more, as he skipped along with her down the cereal aisle.

But even as she looked at her son's innocent happiness, Selena could not help the irritability at the back of her neck.

This has been the case for her for the past weeks, a sensation that always kept her in alert mode.

She would often find herself peeking behind her in the grocery store, the parking lot of the school, and even while taking a relaxing stroll in the park. And yet, each time she turned around, there was absolutely nothing-just ordinary people doing everyday activities.

Nonetheless, dismissing such nagging feelings proved to be impossible. Her upbringing in the pack had ingrained that much in her.

And dismissing soothing words of caution from one's gut instinct is something that she has always known to be foolish.

"Mom, look, they have it!" Oliver cried, pointing to the cereal box with a victorious face and tugging her towards it.

Selena stifled a laugh, eager to grab the box and pretending to check the price of the item. "Alright, kiddo. You got me."

"Do you need help, Mommy?" Oliver asked when he saw her reaching for the can on the top shelf.

"I got it, sweetheart," she said, managing to grab it and smiling at him. "Almost done here."

As she put the can in the cart, a scent she knew hit her bringing her to a body freeze.

It was weak, but she remembered it-you could not forget something like that even if you had not encountered it in years.

Her heart skipped, then picked up speed, and she could feel her pulse in her ears. She forced herself not to look behind her straight away, hoping she was wrong.

"Ethan," she said quietly to her son.

"Don't wander too far away from me."

He glanced at her apprehensively when she changed her tone and quickly complied, coming closer.

Helping herself to breathe evenly, Selena swept her eyes around the aisle slowly and inconspicuously.

And that was when her eyes drifted towards a man, a tall broad-shouldered man, who stood three aisles away, focused on a box of spaghetti nourishments in his hands.

He was a wolf. She knew it and felt it.

A pang of panic set in her heart. Because he didn't look like not an ordinary pack member.

He is a devoted follower of the Alpha and

What's interesting though, is why was he there?

Selena's grip on the cart's handle grew more intense as her mind raced.

"Mom, do you feel alright?" he murmured, detecting her rigid posture.

"Of course, honey," she said thickly. "But I need you to listen very carefully. We're going to leave, right now, and we're going to be very quick about it, okay?"

He blinked up at her, looking confused with those eyes that were so innocent, but he nodded. "Okay, mommy."

Keeping her gaze on the man from her peripheral vision, Selena gradually inched the cart forward keeping her body protective of her son from any possible danger.

She moved with restraint, trying not to attract attention, but she felt that her beating heart was so loud that anyone within that store could have heard it. All she wanted was to get out of view before he aimed his gaze at her to avoid being seen.

"Can I carry the cereal, mom?" Ethan asked in a low voice, clearly knowing that she was on edge.

She hesitated but gave him the box, as she needed both hands to hold him and move fast. "Ethan, stay with me, alright? Don't let go of my hand ever, okay?

They turned left and entered another aisle, thus blocking several displays in front of them and the man,

Selena fought back the urge to look back, purposely positioning her head in a way that it wouldn't be in sight.

Panic, however, surged inside her. She did not know if he spotted her, but she was not going to take the risk of lingering around any longer.

"Ethan, we're going to be children playing pretend for a second, alright? We are going to make it to the front as quietly as possible and the moment we are out of the building, we will run. Is that possible?'

Ethan's eyes were round, and she could tell there were unvoiced questions in his eyes but he nodded courageously. 'I can do that.'

In the end, they reached the automatic doors, and as soon as they opened, Selena firmly grasped Ethan's hand, then swiftly stomped into a walk and then a run after reaching the exit.

She turned behind for only a moment, just when she noticed the stepping out of the shop and narrowing his gaze around the parking space.

No sooner had she said it than she drew Ethan to her and dashed towards her car, her hands trembling as she took out her keys.

The car doors unlocked, and she shoved him and got in after him. She didn't even turn halfway, not even after they were out of the parking area.

Once they were on the road, her waist was pressed against the seat ejecting out her breath in uneven wheezes while her knuckles turned to a pale grip on the wheel.

In the side mirror, she calculated the chances of the appearance of his car behind them, willing it to materialize.