Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint-Chapter 38

Angel’s POV

My lungs were screaming.

The darkness was closing in, swallowing the edges of my vision like ink spreading across parchment.

This is it. This is how I die.

By someone who wanted me dead badly enough to drown me like an unwanted kitten.

My struggles were weakening. My body was giving up, surrendering to the inevitable.

Then - a scream.

Not mine. Someone else’s.

The hands released me.

I exploded from the water, gasping, choking, my body convulsing as I tried to expel water and inhale air at the same time. I stumbled toward the riverbank, my legs barely supporting me, coughing so hard I thought my ribs would crack.

When I could finally see again, I turned.

A man stood in the shallows, holding his leg. Blood poured between his fingers, mixing with the river water, turning it pink. He was screaming - high-pitched, agonized sounds that echoed off the trees.

An arrow protruded from his thigh, buried deep in the muscle.

I followed the trajectory back to the shore.

Uriel stood there, bow still raised, his face a mask of cold fury I’d never seen before. Two other warriors were beside him, their weapons already drawn.

"Get him," Uriel’s voice was ice. "Take him to camp. Alive. And don’t do anything until I get there."

The warriors moved immediately, splashing into the water to grab the screaming man. He tried to fight, tried to run, but the arrow in his leg made him helpless.

I stood frozen, still coughing water, still trying to process what had just happened.

Someone had tried to kill me.

Again.

This time with their bare hands.

I turned away instinctively, suddenly aware of my nakedness. My arms came up to cover myself, but it was pointless - I was completely exposed, vulnerable in every possible way.

The warriors dragged the man out of the water, his screams fading as they hauled him back toward camp.

Then Uriel was there.

Right there.

Too close to me.

"What the HELL were you thinking?" His voice cracked like a whip, making me flinch. "Coming out here alone? After everything that’s happened? After someone put a snake in your tent? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I just wanted a bath," I stammered, my voice hoarse from swallowing water. "I didn’t think..."

"Exactly! You didn’t THINK!" He was yelling now, anger blazing in his eyes. "You don’t get to be careless with your life, Angel! Not when people are actively trying to..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

I followed his gaze down and realized with horror that I’d turned to face him while defending myself.

From the waist up, I was completely exposed.

Water dripped down my skin, catching the morning light. My breasts - large, heavy, sumptuous and full - were on full display.

And Uriel was staring.

Not a quick glance. Not an embarrassed look-away.

He was staring, his mouth slightly open, his eyes locked on my chest like he’d forgotten how to form words.

Heat flooded my face - not the pleasant warmth of a blush, but burning, mortifying shame.

I spun around, scrambling for my clothes on the riverbank. My hands shook so badly I could barely grasp the fabric.

The ruined dress went on first, the wet material clinging awkwardly to my damp skin. Then Uriel’s coat, wrapped tight around myself like armor.

When I turned back, he still hadn’t looked away.

He’d seen everything. Every curve, every flaw, every imperfection that Lyra had pointed out and laughed about.

The shame transformed into fury.

"Why didn’t you turn around?" The words exploded from me, sharp and accusing. "Why did you just stand there and look at me like...like some kind of..."

"I didn’t see it well," he interrupted, his voice rough. "You covered up too quickly."

The audacity of that statement stunned me into momentary silence.

"You DIDN’T SEE IT WELL?" I repeated, my voice rising to a near-shriek. "You were staring at my naked body and your complaint is that you didn’t get a good enough look?"

"That’s not what I meant..."

"How dare you! I was trying to defend myself, trying to explain why I came out here, and you were just standing there ogling me like... like..."

"I wasn’t ogling..."

"You were! Don’t lie to me! I saw your face!" Tears were streaming down my cheeks now, hot and angry. "Is this funny to you? Is my body so ridiculous that you couldn’t look away? So disgusting that you had to stare?"

"Angel, that’s not..."

But I was already moving, already walking past him, my vision blurred with tears and rage and humiliation.

"Angel, wait..."

"Leave me alone!"

I didn’t look back. Didn’t slow down. Just kept walking toward camp, my wet feet leaving prints in the dirt, my whole body shaking with emotions I couldn’t name.

Behind me, I heard Uriel curse softly, but he didn’t follow.

Good.

I didn’t want to see him right now. Didn’t want to hear whatever excuse or explanation or apology he might offer.

I just wanted to disappear.

******

The scene at camp stopped me in my tracks.

The man who’d tried to drown me had been tied up - hands behind his back, legs bound at the ankles. He sat in the dirt near the main fire, blood still pouring from the arrow wound in his thigh, creating a dark puddle beneath him.

He was human. I could tell from the lack of any supernatural aura, from the way he whimpered with pain instead of healing.

The Alpha stood in front of him, arms crossed, his scarred face impassive.

Silent. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Just... staring.

The camp had gathered around in a loose circle, warriors watching with expressions ranging from curiosity to bloodlust. No one spoke. Everyone waited.

For what?

Then Uriel appeared, walking into camp from the direction I’d just come. His clothes were still dry, his bow slung across his back, his expression cold and closed.

"What happened?" the Alpha asked without preamble.

Uriel’s voice was flat, emotionless as he recounted the events. "He was drowning her in the river. I shot him before he could finish."

The Alpha’s gaze shifted to me briefly, something flickering in his eyes, before returning to the bound man.

"Who sent you?" The question was quiet. Too quiet.

The man pressed his lips together, blood draining from his face but defiance in his eyes.

Silence.

"I asked you a question," the Alpha said, his voice dropping even lower. "Who. Sent. You."

Still nothing.

The Alpha’s expression didn’t change, but something in the air shifted. Became heavier. More dangerous.

"Prepare the torture implements," he ordered. "We’ll use them until he talks."

Several warriors moved immediately, heading toward supply packs.

"Leave it to me," Uriel said suddenly. "I’ll take care of it."