𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 ⸙

1.3𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

"Explain," the man demanded, not looking away from Liam as he made his way down the stairs. Niall and Jaiden shuffled further into the room with eyes glued to the ground.

"This human was inside the grounds," Jaiden mumbled.

Liam broke the stare to see Jaiden and Niall cowering in the shadows. Liam felt the man's authority. He must be the leader of this place, he thought and dared to sneak another peek. The man didn't look much older than Liam. How could someone so young be in charge? Status, Liam thought. The man's parents must own the institute or something.

"Why?" The man's deep voice drilled through Liam's chest.

"I- was running-"

"Don't you dare talk to the Alpha!" Jaiden yelled, interrupting Liam's pathetic whispers.

Liam's bottom lip quivered once again, and he pulled his knees to his chest. He didn't understand the terms they used or why they were looking at him like he had fallen from Mars. Liam would have felt better at the police station.

The man turned to Jaiden, scowling deeper than before. Thick black brows pushed down, casting shadows over his already dark eyes.

"Why is this human in our cellar?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"He said he was running from people. I don't believe him. I think-"

"How did he get in?"

They all looked to Liam who was wiping away fresh tears. "I climbed over the fence," he whispered.

The man's glare turned cold. "Jaiden," he growled. "If a human can get in, who else can?" The man stormed to Jaiden and grabbed his t-shirt, growling, "Sort this out."

"Y-Yes, yes immediately, Alpha!" Jaiden spluttered after the Alpha shoved him away.

Liam's eyes followed the man through the cellar.

"Alpha, what should we do with the human?" Niall asked, still hiding in the shadows.

The man slowly turned his head and once again, connected his gaze with Liam. He stared hard and for long enough to make Liam uncomfortable.

"I don't care" he muttered and climbed the steps without a second glance.

Once he was gone, Jaiden perked up with a grin.

"I knew he wouldn't get all soft." He kicked the bars, and Liam would have leapt out of his skin if he could.

"What did you say earlier, Niall? Break fingers?"

Liam pushed his back against the wall. Jaiden gripped the bars with an ugly smirk.

"If you- let me go, I won't tell anyone about this. I'll pretend that it never happened!" Liam pleaded, holding his hands tightly.

"You're not getting out."

"P-Please" Liam whined and sobbed hard. His eyes were red raw, tears streamed to nose, into his mouth and down his neck. "I'm sorry!"

Jaiden shook his head. "Pathetic. Really, really pathetic." He unlocked the bars and stepped inside. Each step was agonisingly slow.

Liam eyed the open door. If only he believed in himself enough to run.

"Please don't hurt me," he whispered when the guy was standing right in front of him. Jaiden crouched, and Liam tensed all over.

"Jaiden." Niall hovered by the bars. Liam's desperate splutters made him hesitate. "Maybe we should just leave him for the night."