Moonlit Captive

The Assignment

Alexander walks out of the shower in his brown bathrobe. His hair is damp and needs drying but his throat is parched and he needs a drink. He walks to his wine bar and takes out a bottle of wine. Pouring little for himself, he decides to listen to some late night news.

It was Ender Murray on Channel 5 news with her tattletale about the assassin again. He rolls his eyes, sipping red wine but still paying attention to what she was saying.

In her British accent, Ender reads to the Tv. "Mulberry city has its own superhero but it's not a hero of justice, it's a bloodthirsty assassin. He rounds up crooked politicians and women traffickers faster than the police force combined and he does it alone. How does he do it? No one knows. Some say he's an alien, others say he's a werewolf but only this hero knows who he is. His name is Xavier."

"Nice intro." He raises his glass to the TV and swallows the entire alcohol.

A shrill voice calls from the kitchen. "Sir! Dinner is ready!"

"Alright!" He calls back.

Alex got dressed and went to the kitchen. The scent of samosa pie wafts in the air and he runs his tongue over his bottom lip.

"Smells delicious. You must tell me the recipe sometime." He tells his 50 year chef, Guanita.

"Not yet. I said I'll tell your wife when you get married but you don't want to marry." Gunaita has a mexican burr in her voice.

"Oh shucks but thanks." He kissed her hair.

"You're welcome, miha. I'm clocking out." Guanita takes off her apron and hangs it on the wall.

"Stay safe out there." He walks her to the door.

"You too. No drinking out late with friends." She points at him.

"Yes, ma'am." He gives her a salute.

"I mean it, Xavier is a dangerous criminal. He might be lurking out there." Guanita slips her feet into her shoes.

Alex crossed his arm over his chest. "Ender from the news says otherwise. They call him a hero."

"That crook is no hero to me. He is an assassin who kills people. Stay safe." Gunaita claps his cheek gently before grabbing her bag.

"Stay safe, Guanita." He waves at her before shutting the door.

Just as he takes a seat on the chair to savor his pie, he hears his phone ring.

He fists his hand because he knows the caller.

Swiping right, he puts the call on the speaker. "I think it's about time we get married because why do you have to call me almost every time?"

"I don't call you every time!" Came a slurred reply.

Alex palmed his face. "You're drunk, Edward. What did you do?"

Edward began to cry. "She broke up with me. My Maddy broke up with me."

"Sorry about that." Alex disconnects the call and resumes eating his pie.

His phone rings again and he answers. "If not for the fact that you are the Alpha and I'm your beta, Heaven knows I will not respond "

"I'm at Sun city club. Come ,get me." Edward said and the line went dead.

Alex fisted his phone, breaking it in his hand. "That little -

He grabs his coat and car keys. Then he looked at the car keys. "Do I really need this? Nah."

He stepped out onto the balcony. Suncity bar was not far from where he lived. It was just a few stone throws away. Stretching backwards, Alex prepares himself for a jump.

"Go!" He leapt off the balcony and landed on his feet, running at superhuman speed towards the bar.

He arrived in a dark alley and dusted himself. What would people think when a young, handsome man suddenly appeared in front of them? They would think him an alien and knock him up. And he couldn't explain to them that he was a werewolf. That would be worse.

He walks out of the alley. The bar was just ahead.

"Alex!" Edward wailed as he got off his chair and draped his hand around him.

"Ew. You reek, man." Alex pinched his nose.

"Yeah. I reek of heartbreak." Edward sobbed.

"Come on, buddy." Alex put his arm around him and took out his phone and dialed Edward's bodyguard.

After waiting a few minutes, Caspar, Edward's bodyguard.

"Take him home and make sure he doesn't leave the house." He said.

"Yes, beta." Caspar gave a salute before climbing the driver's seat and speeding off.

Alex heaves a sigh and peers at his watch. The time was 8 : 10pm. The playoffs had already begun.

"Dang it." He cursed under his breath.

He rushed to leave when suddenly he bumped into someone.

"Oh my God, Eva, are you okay?" Her friends say.

"Watch where you're going, dude!" Another yells at him.

"Sorry." He helps the lady up.

"Nah. It's fine." She flashed him a smile that took his breath away.

Her strawberry blonde hair danced in the wind behind her and her brown doe eyes stared at him in confusion. She still held the cute smile on her reddened cheeks and he too found himself returning it.

"Umn..." She said.

"Oh. Sorry." He realized he had been holding onto her hand and let go of it.

"Let's go, Eva." Her friends grabbed her. "Weirdo!"

Alex turns around to leave but his wolf wouldn't let him. The scent of lavender and wild berries lingered in the air. It kept screaming "mate" in his ears and he almost howled at it to stop. His prayer was answered when he got a call from Mario.

"Sup, Mario." He flagged a cab and got in.

Mario's husky voice replied. "Yo, Xavier. Boss wants to see ya."

Xavier scrunched his eyebrow. "The game is on tonight."

"I know you never miss it but the boss said it's urgent." Mario persists.

"I'm on my way."

Alex arrives at the Al Capone building, a high class skyscraper in the middle of the city. The building, a hotel cum lounge, is one of the most expensive places in Mulberry city and allows entrance strictly to members of her club. A club, rumored to be a mafia gang.

The door to the limousine is opened and Alex steps out.

"This way, sir." Mario says.

Alex rolls his eyes and walks past him. "I've walked in here a thousand times. I know where he is."

He took the elevator to the top floor.

"Xavier!" The guards at the door saluted him.

"Enough with the greeting and open the goddamn door." He rolled his eyes again.

"Apologies, sir." The guards say and push open the door.

Alex walked in with his hands stuffed in both his pockets. "I thought I told you I was done."

"That's not how you greet your boss, Xavier." The speaker, a man sitting with the back of his chair facing Alex, said.

"I might as well look at who I'm greeting first." Alex scoffed.

The chair turned around and the man laughed. He stood to his feet and approached Alex.

"What a funny man you are, Xavier." The man laughed.

"The playoffs just began." Alex said.

"I know and I'm sorry. I need you to do one last job for me."

"I've told you, Alpha Drake, that I'm done. What more do you want to hear from me? Fuck off?"

"Hey, don't get hosike. This will be the last. It'll be the easiest job you've ever done. No blood need to be spilled this time." Drake smiled.

"Price?" Alex asked.

"Now, we're talking. This is why I like you, Xavier. Always quick-witted." Drake sauntered to his desk and took up an envelope.

He passed it to Alex who took out its contents. A frown made its way to his face. "You want me to kidnap some kid?"

"Look at her picture. She's a beauty." Drake chuckled.

Alex took the picture out of the envelope. His eyebrows furrowed. He had seen this face before.

"Her name is Evangeline Prescott. Her dad is some hotshot who thinks he's the real deal. I want you to kidnap her. No torture of anykind. Just drag her here." Drake explained.

"Evangeline." Alex looked at the photo of the girl.

"Mate!" His wolf cried out.

Of course. This was the girl he had bumped into at the bar.

"Any reasons why she's to be kidnapped and not killed?" Alex looked at Drake who was dancing to no music.

Drake chuckled. "I thought you're not one to ask questions."

"Well, I'm curious this time. This is the first job that I have to do with the victims being alive." He said.

"Well, I can't give you the answers. Eva is in senior year of highschool, a rich brat that goes to some high ranking school. Her schedule is tight there. Make sure you bring her to me. Safe. You can put her to submission with a little hit if she is stubborn."

Alex clenched the envelope in his hand. "When do you want her?"

"As soon as possible." Drake winked at him.

2

The Hunt Begins

A sweet melodious voice sings along to BTS's boy with luv. The singer in questions dances her way into her bedroom from the bathroom, swinging her hips from side to side.

"Whoop!" She said aloud, still dancing to herself.

"Can you keep it down, Eva?" A masculine voice interrupted her and she screamed.

"Aargh! Dad, come on. I told you no interruptions during BTS time." Eva turns off the music and frowns.

"There was no way I could concentrate with that music booming all the way to my office. And shouldn't you be studying by this time? You're in senior year." Mr. Prescott crossed his arm over his chest.

Eva chuckles nervously. "I just cane back from the study cafe with Ginny and Max."

"Yeah. study cafe huh? Did you study alcohol and chips? Because that's what you smell like."

"Ugh! I thought I washed it off me. Eww."

"Eva, you can't keep living like this. I can't bribe all the way to college for you. I have a reputation to live for. You on the other hand should be studying."

"I don't study, dad. You of all people should know that." Eva rolled her eyes.

"If only your mother were here," Prescott palmed his face.

"Don't go about mentioning mom to make me feel guilty. It won't work." Eva walked out of the room, slamming the door in her father's face.

"Eva!"

Eva went downstairs, not minding the robe she put on. She sauntered past the maids and walked out to the garden.

"Miss Prescott?" One of them went after her.

"If anyone comes after me, they'll get it!" She screamed at them and they stopped moving further.

Eva walked to the fence and knocked. A young woman lifted her head.

"Eva?" She said with a smile.

"Ender, dad yelled at me." Eva sobbed.

"Oh, poor baby. Come on." Ender unlatched the fence open and Eva walked through.

Eva let herself to Ender's clothes. It wasn't the first time she stayed overnight at Ender's. And it probably wouldn't be the first. Her father threw more tantrums than she did and what happened, she found company and silace in Ender Murray, the neighbor next door.

"So do I get you a cup of coffee or your favorite cake?" Ender called from the kitchen downstairs.

"Both will do fine." Eva called back.

She walked over to an ash tarp on the wall. It wasn't there last week when she visited.

"What's this?" Eva pulled the tarp off the wall and gasped in shock.

"Oh. You've seen it." Ender appeared on the jamb of the door with the tray of coffee and cake.

"What is this?" Eva repeated.

"My evidence wall. Come on." Ender walked in and set the tray on her bed.

Eva went to sit on the bed. She took a slice of cake and looked at the wall.

"Perks of being a news reporter." Ender went to cover the wall of papers, cutout photos and sticky notes.

"You believe in Xavier?" Eva asked.

"Why, yes." Ender reached for a mug of coffee and took a sip.

Eva scoffed. "What are you, 5? Xavier is a myth. Everyone knows that."

"Oh he's real. I can feel it. I give news reports about him almost every night."

"Xavier is a made up story. Werewolves and aliens aren't real."

"He killed a war general in a conference full of congressmen and security. Camera caught a black streak. It was him." Ender said.

Eva chuckles. "Gosh. You sound exactly like Iris West when she was looking for Barry Allen."

Ender shrugs her shoulders. "That's your loss."

Meanwhile, Alex prowls the garden of the Prescott household. He hadn't caught Eva's scent but he knew she was nearby.

He heard voices in the house next door. It belonged to Eva and the woman who sang his praises.

He leapt through the fence and landed smoothly on his feet. Right there, a white cat purred loudly.

"Shh." He shushed the cat but it wouldn't keep quiet.

In annoyance, he kicked the cat into the swimming pool.

"Mr. Twinkles." Ender cried as she ran to find the cat.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Of course, its always Mr. Twinkles."

"Is he okay?" He heard a voice from the balcony. It was Eva's. It was exactly the same voice he had heard tonight.

He took a peep from the shrubs he had hid behind and it was her. Now, she smiled as Ender carried the wet purring cat in her arms. It was the same smile that warmed his heart.

"Mate!" His wolf screamed and he ignored it.

"How did he end up in the pool?" Eva asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he fell." Ender replied.

She heard movements in the shrubs and was startled. Even Mr. Twinkles jumped down from her arms and ran for cover.

"Who's there?" She asked.

"Is someone there?" Eva asked.

"Stay there!" Ender told her. She picked up a water hose and approached the shrubs.

"Come out!" She yelled. When no one answered, she sprayed the water hose all over the shrubs.

"Is it gone?" Eva said behind her.

"I think so. It wasn't a human. I thought I told you to stay up there." Ender scolded Eva.

"I was worried." Eva pouted her lips.

"Well, let's get inside. Mr. Twinkles, it's safe now. Let's get in." Ender called for him and he ran out.

"Coward." Eva scoffed at the cat and followed it into the house.

Ender looked at the fence. She had sworn she had locked it after letting Eva in but here it was, opened ajar.

"Ender!" Eva called for her.

"Coming." She called back, terrified.

******

Back in his crib, Alex took off his gear on the kitchen counter. His mind went back to the encounter he had at Ender's house - meeting Eva again.

His heart began to thump loudly in his heart and his hand went unconsciously to his chest. He had never felt like this before. Not for the past 24 years of his life.

"Mate!" His wolf cried out for the umpteenth time that day.

"Oh shut up. She can't be my mate." He hissed and paddled to his fridge.

"I perceive lavender when she's there. She is our mate." His wolf said.

"She might be your mate but she surely isn't mine." Alex took out a bottle of milk and poured it into a glass.

His phone rang and he went to get it, turning on the Tv in the process. The gane was over already.

"Great." He rolled his eyes and answered the call.

"How did it go, Xavier? Have you seen her?" Drake's voice echoed in his ears.

"Yeah." Alex had left out "she's really beautiful"

"Well?" Drake said. He could imagine him smiling.

"Tomorrow by 3pm sharp." Alex said.

"Excellent. Looking forward to it." Drake disconnected the call.

Alex took the phone off his ears and grimaced. "His voice sounds disgusting."

His second phone rings and he scoffs. "What now!" It's Edward calling.

"What!" He growled

"Let's go have a drink." Came the next thing he heard.

Alex ended the call and switched off his phone, telling himself he wouldn't be going out. However, he found himself sitting in Bourbon bar, drinking from a soda can.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Why are you sitting there? Won't you come join me and make some friends?"

"Not interested." Alex looked away.

"Oh come on. My mate just rejected me. I'm heartbroken." Edward pouts.

"Aww too bad." Alex sipped more soda.

"You're no fun." Edward scoffed.

"I'm an introvert. You should know better that I don't do outdoors." Alex was done with the first drink and ordered another one.

"Well, too bad coz I just met two beautiful ladies headed this way." Edward smiled.

Alex turned around and followed the direction Edward was staring into. Of course, they were both beautiful. And he knew both of them. These "beautiful" ladies were Eva and Ender.

"Why do I keep seeing her everywhere!" Alex hid his face from her.

Edward went over to greet them. "Later, loser."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they followed Edward to their lounge.

Edward introduced them. "Hello, ladies. This is my best friend and brother, Alex. Alex, these beautiful women are Evangeline and Ender."

Alex didn't look up from his drink. "Hi."

"Aww. He's shy." Eva smiled. She pinched Alex's cheek to make him look at her. "He's cute."

"Yeah. He gets that alot." Edward smiled.

"Sure, he does." Eva smiled. She looked into Alex's eyes and squinted. "Wait. I think I've seen you here somewhere."

"Nope." Alex replied immediately.

"Nah. Alex doesn't go out. He's more of an indoor cat. Can you believe he works from home? A tech genius but he is that shy." Edward laughed and Ender joined him.

Alex suddenly wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. He wondered why on earth he was behaving like a little kid near Eva. His wolf howled within him and whined when she had let go of his face.

"Is that so? I swear I've seen him before." Eva touches his face again and his wolf leaps for joy.

"Nah. He has a familiar face." Edward said.

Ender whispered something to him and he followed her outside.

"Well, now it's just the 2 of us. What do we do, Alex?" Eva winked at him and he almost died.

'What is wrong with me?' He questioned himself.

"Are you that shy?" Eva chuckled.

"Excuse me." He got up quickly and went out.

He went straight to the VIP bathroom and shut the door. Then he turned on the faucet and he scooped water, splashing his face.

"Mate!" His wolf growled within him.

"One more peep of you and we're finished. Why the hell would you embarrass me like that in front of her?" He gripped the sink as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

"She's my mate! I want to touch her!" His wolf cried.

"Our orders are to take her to Drake! She must be his mate!" He retorted.

"She is our mate!"

"She can't be! That's impossible!"

"You okay, man?" A middle aged man with a head full of salt and pepper hair, dressed in a blue business suit emerged from one of the toilet stalls.

"I'm fine." Alex grabbed a tissue and walked out.

The man shrugged his shoulders and went to wash his hands in the sink.

As he turned on the faucet, it fell right to the floor in a loud bang and he screamed. His eyes widen in shock when he saw hand prints on the body of the sink. The gentleman talking to himself had ripped it off!

The Capture

Alex returned to the bathroom, his fists clenched.

"You destroyed private property." His wolf said.

"I don't give a fly if I damage private property. Worry about yourself." Alex hissed.

"Eva!" His wolf cried. "She's in trouble!"

"Where!" Alex looked ahead. From where he stood, he could make out vividly two gentlemen flanking her in the lounge. Skewering through the crowd of dancing couples, Alex made his way to the lounge.

"Who the hell are you?" Alex said with a growl that sounded animal-like.

"Woah. Who is this dude? Is he your girlfriend, Eva?" The bald fattie on her left said.

"No, he's a friend." Eva said with a nervous smile.

"Why don't you leave me and Eva here for business, friend?" The fattie said with a wide grin on his face.

In a flash, Alex grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him in midair. All eyes went round. Eva gasped in shock.

"Let go of me!" The man struggled to free himself but Alex's grip on him was tight.

"Did you touch her?!" Alex yelled.

"Let go of me!" The man choked.

"Did you touch her!" Alex demanded with a louder growl.

"N - No! I swear!" The man cried.

"He didn't touch her! Let him go!" His friend said.

"Alex, let him go!" Eva stood to her feet.

Alex dropped the man to the floor and he fell with a loud thud.

"Let's get out of here!" His friend grabbed him and they both ran.

Everyone turned to Alex and applauded him.

"Way to go, superman." They blew whistles at him.

"Hey," Eva clutched Alex's shirt.

"Stay safe." He whispered before leaving.

Eva was too stunned to speak. She stared at his retreating figure till she couldn't see him anymore.

Ender and Edward ran to meet her.

"What's all the commotion? You okay?" Ender held her in her arms.

"Edward, what did you say Alex is again?" Eva asked.

"He's a tech genius. Why?" Edward quirks an eyebrow.

"Aren't you sure he's not a bodybuilder?" She asked.

"What?" Edward asked in bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Alex returns home. He hit the showers and went straight to bed. It had been a long night. In his dreams, he saw Eva and she was running. Running from something. Him.

The alarm rang and a hand came out of under the covers and slammed it.

"Shut up." Eva said groggily as she stretched on her bed.

"Miss Prescott, it's time for school." Her maid, Anna, said.

"I hate school." Eva whined.

"If you don't graduate high school and got to college, your father said he'll disown you." Anna replied.

"He should go ahead and disown me. I don't even feel like his child." Eva turned the other way.

Anna dragged the bedsheets. "Young lady, you will get up your ass and go to school. My job is on the line!"

"Ugh! Fine!" Eva got off her bed and wne to the showers.

After preparing Eva for school, Anna had a smile on her face as she pulled the teenager down the stairs.

"Now, go have breakfast with your father." Anna said.

"Whatever." Eva rolled her eyes. She paddled to the large dining hall and waited for the servant to hold out her chair. When he did, she sat down and a napkin was placed on her lap.

Mr. Prescott cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving the IPad.

"Good morning, father." Eva said and he smiled.

"Morning. Did you sleep well?" He asked, looking at her.

"I did. Thank you." She grabbed the buttered roll and munched slowly.

Prescott set down his IPad and heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry about last night."

"I know." Eva took a cup of coffee and sipped slowly.

Her dad rolled his eyes. "Okay. What do you want for your birthday?"

Eva's eyes sparkled. "Are you sure?"

"You can tell daddy anything." Prescott smiled.

Eva cleared her throat. "Well, for my 18th birthday, I want your permission to backpack to a mountain in the Philippines."

Prescott spit his coffee. "Hell no!"

"But you said anything!" Eva passed her father a napkin.

"How could you possibly want to backpack to the Philippines as a birthday gift?" Prescott wiped his lips. Thankfully, his shirt wasn't coffee-stained.

"I have a flare fir adventure, dad. I'm at that rebel age. Hello, 18." Eva rolled her eyes.

"Well, no child of mine is backpacking on her birthday." Prescott pushed back his seat.

Eva called after him. "I'm your only child!"

*****

Alex threw his eyes open and reached for the alarm before it rang.

Guanita, who had been vacuuming the bedroom floor, looked up with a smile. "It's crazy how you always wake up before the alarm sets off."

"It's a habit." Alex said with a smile.

Guanita carries the vacuum cleaner out of the room. "Your breakfast is ready."

"Thanks." He pushed back the covers and slipped his feet into his slippers.

In the kitchen, Guanita washes her hand in the sink and dishes his breakfast - scrambled eggs, toasted bread and a hot cup of coffee.

"I ironed your suit so you won't have to bother about it." Guanita said.

"Thank you, Guanita. You're such a blessing." Alex blew her a kiss.

His phone rang and he put on his airpod. "Yeah?"

"Hey, Alex. Good morning." Edward greeted in a chirpy voice.

"Morning. How is your hangover?" Alex forked an egg and chewed. When Guanita walked past, he gave her a thumbs up.

"It's terrible. My head hurts." Edward said in a drowsy voice.

"How are you the Alpha of a huge wolfpack? I find that hard to believe."

"I'm reckless Alpha and you're the serious beta to set me onto the straight path of righteousness."

"Get a life."

"I have one already. Pfft. I have to go to work."

Alex had a thought. "What about the girls from last night?"

"Oh. Eva and Ender. Pretty women. I took them home. Do you know Eva's dad is loaded?"

"Whatever."

"Yeah about that. Did you do something while I was gone yesterday?" Edward asked.

Alex's other phone beeped. The time was 8 am.

"I have to go, Edward. It's work." He said.

"Oh sure. Have fun at your boring job, tech wizard."

"Later, loser." Alex disconnects the call.

"On your way to work?" Guanita said.

"Yeah." Alex grabbed the suit bag and went to his bedroom.

He comes out into the living room dressed in his black suit. "How do I look?"

"Like a million bucks." Guanita gives him a thumbs up.

"Sweet." Alex grabs the car key. He entered the elevator that went to the parking lot.

He walked straight to a Mustang and smiled. "Bingo."

*****

Eva bounded out of the car and slammed the door to the backseat.

"Eva!" Her father called for her.

She turned around. "Will you let me backpacking to the Philippines?"

"Not that. Something else." He said from the car.

"Don't bother." She went to meet her friends.

Mr. Prescott palmed his face. "She'll be the death of me."

"We'll be late for the meeting, sir." His secretary said.

"Fine. Let's just go. I'll deal with her later." He told the driver.

The car sped ahead. As soon as it left the parking lot, Alex drove it. His car was black in color and blended with the rest of the cars in the area.

He looked at his watch. The time was just a little after 8. The windows of his car were tinted so no one would see him.

"I'll have to rewatch last night's game." He leaned back in his seat and put his phone on the dashboard.

Time ran from morning till noon to afternoon.

"3pm. Showtime." He sits up on the driver's seat.

And just like he had calculated, the other cars in the parking lot began to drive out and he followed them out.

"Oh my God. I hate school." Eva stifled a yawn as she walked with her friends.

"Me too." Ginny, one of her friends, said.

Alex drove the car to stop in front of the girls.

"Oh my God. Are you trying to kill us?" Ginny gasped.

Alex put on sunglasses and a hat before stepping out of the car. "Apologies, ma'am."

"Oh. He's a cutie." Ginny giggled.

"Who are you?" Eva rolled her eyes.

"I'm here to pick you up, ma'am. Greg had to pick up Milo from school so I came to his place." He said with a low bow.

"It's true that Greg has to pick up his kid from ballet school but he's never sent someone else before." Eva squints her eyes.

"Oh stop being such a slob, Eva and get in the car." Ginny gives a light push and she almost tripped.

Alex was fast enough to catch her but she pulled his sunglasses.

Her eyes went round. "You."

Alex muttered under his breath. "Shit."