Run Away from My alpha a thousand times

The silence in the elevator stretched long after the doors closed.

Lucia stood next to Kaiden, her posture straight, jaw clenched. The sting on her cheek lingered, but not as much as the humiliation. Still, she refused to crumble in front of him.

Kaiden hadn't said a word since the slap. But the rage in his eyes when he had seen her struck raw, fierce, unfiltered played over and over in her mind.

She had expected him to be cold.

What she hadn't expected was the way his voice had thundered through the lobby, declaring to everyone that she was his wife. No hesitation. No shame. Just fire and defense.

The elevator chimed softly and opened directly into his office suite. He led her inside, motioning for Amelia to shut the doors behind them.

Inside, the quiet returned.

"Sit," Kaiden said.

Lucia crossed her arms instead. "I'm not broken."

"I didn't say you were." He turned, walked to a cabinet, and returned with a cold compress. "But you're hurt."

Reluctantly, she sat. He handed her the compress and crouched in front of her, his hands resting on the armrests of the chair but not touching her.

"I'm sorry," he said.

She blinked.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. Here. In my building."

"Right," she muttered. "Because I'm your… wife."

Kaiden stood slowly. "Lucia, what happened today won't happen again. I've changed your access credentials. You'll have clearance, your own ID, a car, a private office."

Lucia looked at him. "A private office?"

He moved to his desk, pulled a folder from a drawer, and handed it to her.

"An official offer," he said. "Executive Liaison. Full access to strategy briefs, department leads. You can choose where you want to work. You'll be trained, supported. Paid."

Lucia flipped through the paperwork. Salary. Position. Benefits. It all looked real almost too real.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Because you should have something that belongs to you, not to me," Kaiden said. "You can take the job or leave it. I won't interfere either way."

Lucia studied him again.

This wasn't the man who'd locked her away. This wasn't the Alpha who'd humiliated her in front of a crowd.

But she didn't trust it. Not yet.

She closed the folder gently. "I'll think about it."

Kaiden nodded. "That's all I ask"

Lucia sat stiffly on the sofa in Kaiden's office, nursing the ice pack against her cheek. Her head throbbed, not from pain, but from the emotional whiplash of the last hour.

Kaiden paced behind his desk, jaw tight, phone pressed to his ear. He was barking orders to someone legal, HR, security. She'd tuned most of it out.

But she heard every word when he finally said, "I want her blacklisted. She's never stepping foot into another business of mine again."

Her heart skipped. Blacklisted? That seemed… extreme.

"You didn't have to go that far," she murmured once he ended the call.

Kaiden glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You were assaulted in my building. In front of everyone. That sends a message."

"So does ruining someone's life."

He looked away, but she saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"She'll learn," he muttered. "Actions have consequences."

Lucia didn't argue. She was too tired.

Kaiden crossed the room and knelt beside her, pulling the ice pack gently from her hand to examine her cheek again. His fingers were warm, calloused, too tender for the Alpha she remembered from the cells.

"It's not swelling much," he said softly.

Lucia nodded.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

"You could've left," he finally said. "You could've walked out after that. No one would've blamed you."

She met his gaze. "I wanted to see if you'd actually show up for me."

A breath hitched in his throat. "And did I?"

"You did."

That seemed to shake him more than anything. He looked down, then rose to his feet. "You don't have to work the full day. Amelia stocked your desk with the snacks you like. If you want to nap in the lounge, I'll make sure no one disturbs you."

Lucia stood slowly. "Thanks… but I could use some air."

"Air?"

"Yeah. A break. Outside."

Kaiden frowned. "I'll send security with you."

"I don't want a guard, Kaiden. Just space."

He hesitated, then finally nodded. "Take the black card if you want to buy anything."

She didn't answer, just gave him a small nod and walked out.

Ten minutes later, Lucia was seated alone in a quiet café a block from the Cross Corp building. A soft indie song played overhead, and the scent of baked cinnamon filled the air.

She sipped her tea slowly, trying to feel normal again. The past 48 hours had been so intense, it felt like weeks had passed since she last had control over anything.

Here, no one stared. No one whispered about her behind cupped hands. No one knew who she was Or if she was pregnant. Or the girl Kaiden Cross was suddenly obsessed with.

Maybe I should stay here forever, she thought with a faint laugh.

She looked out the window.

And froze.

Someone was walking toward the café.

A familiar someone.

Will.

Lucia's breath caught in her throat. She ducked her head slightly, praying he wouldn't see her but it was too late.

The bell above the door jingled.

"Lucia?"

She looked up slowly.

He was right there taller than she remembered, lean in a casual white shirt and dark jeans, his hair wind-tousled, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Will," she said softly.

He hesitated by her table. "Can I… sit?"

Lucia nodded numbly.

He pulled out the chair and dropped into it, staring at her like she was a ghost.

"I thought you left," he said.

"I did."

"I mean… for good. Not just the office."

Lucia's throat was dry. "Things changed."

"You weren't answering my texts."

"I wasn't answering anyone's."

Will studied her carefully. His gaze flicked to the faint redness on her cheek. His expression darkened.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Lucia…"

She sighed. "I'm okay."

He didn't look convinced. "I was worried about you. After that night…"

Lucia's eyes dropped to the table. The night she'd told him she cheated. That she'd been with Kaiden. That she wasn't the girl he thought she was.

"You didn't owe me anything," he said gently. "But I still… I cared. I still care."

Lucia's chest tightened.

"I don't want to make this weird," Will said quickly. "I just… needed to see that you're okay. You are okay, right?"

Lucia hesitated. Then shook her head.

"No," she whispered. "I'm not okay."

Will leaned forward. "Tell me."

She didn't mean to but it all spilled out.

The office. The slap. The looks. The awkward dinner. The silence. The weight of being watched, judged, doubted, the forceful marriage.

And through it all , Kaiden. Trying. Failing. Trying again.

Will listened silently, never interrupting.

When she finished, she looked up at him, afraid of what she'd see in his eyes.

But he wasn't angry.

He was protective.

"Where is he now?" Will asked. "This husband of yours."

"At work."

"And he let you walk out like this?"

"I told him I needed air."

"I'm not here to tell you what to do," Will said quietly. "But I don't like that someone touched you. And I don't like that he's not here making sure it never happens again."

Lucia opened her mouth to speak.

But then

A sharp, cold voice pierced the air.

"Well, isn't this cozy."

They both turned.

Standing a few feet away was the fired receptionist.

Her lipstick was smeared, her eyes glassy, her face twisted with rage.

Lucia stood up immediately. "What are you doing here?"

"I lost my job because of you!" the woman spat. "Do you think that's just something I'll forget?"

Will stood too, moving instinctively in front of Lucia. "Back off."

But the woman was already reaching into her purse. Something glinted. Not a weapon, but a vial. Small. Glass.

"Stay the hell away from me," she hissed.

Will stepped forward. "Put that down."

The woman raised it.

Lucia's heart stopped.

But before she could react—

Will lunged.

The vial crashed to the floor, shattering harmlessly.

"Are you insane?" he growled, grabbing the woman's wrists.

The woman laughed," And who are you? The second-choice boyfriend?"

She shrieked, trying to claw at him, but he held her steady until the café manager rushed in and called security.

Minutes passed in a blur. Someone took photos. The woman was dragged outside, screaming about justice and betrayal. Lucia stood frozen, her heart pounding like a war drum.

Will turned back to her, eyes wild. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"I swear I didn't know she'd" she began.

"It's not your fault."

Lucia exhaled shakily.

Will reached for her hand.

She let him take it.

"Let me walk you back," he said. "I won't ask questions."

She nodded, numb.

They walked back to the tower in silence, but something had shifted.

Lucia knew Kaiden would be furious.

But deep down, a part of her felt safe… with Will, he was the love of her life.

And that made everything more complicated.