Chapter 62: Starting to Care About Her

Benjamin’s POV:

Henry and I, along with a few Beta subordinates, finally reached the base of Moonlight Mountain. The moment we arrived, I felt Lawrence stirring restlessly within me, giving me an intense premonition. Hayley was close.

“Hold on, Hayley,” I murmured in my heart, sending her a silent prayer. It had been ages since I had felt this tense. The last time was probably as a kid, during those intense Alpha combat training sessions where we fought to the limits just to survive. Now, here I was, on edge again, for an Omega I’d once dismissed so easily.

In this instant, I had to admit that maybe spending all this time together had changed me. Somehow, I had started to care about her. Perhaps she’d come to feel like family, like a younger sibling I needed to protect. I couldn’t decipher it. Yet, that was a question for another time. Right now, finding her was the priority. I forced myself to focus and started organizing our approach.

On the way here, I’d studied Moonlight Mountain’s terrain. There were only two paths to the summit: a winding main road and a narrow trail running along the mountain’s backside.

“Henry, you take a team up the main road. I’ll go up the back path. We’ll meet at the top. If anything unexpected comes up along the way and we lose signal, let’s use fireworks as our sign.”

“Got it, Ben. Be careful,” Henry replied.

After the arrangement was made, we acted separately.

“Alpha, it’s chilly at night. Here, take this coat,” one of my subordinates said, offering me his jacket. I waved him off. “I’m alright. You all bundle up. How much farther to the top?”

“We’re about two-thirds of the way there, but the higher we go, the rougher it’ll get. We’ll need to tread carefully.”

“Understood. Keep everyone alert and safe.”

Just as I finished speaking, a subordinate came running up, his face tense. “Alpha, we’ve found something up ahead!” he announced.

I hurriedly strode forward and rushed over.

“Alpha, look! There’s a shoe here. That appears to belong to Ms. Carson.”

I immediately picked it up, my heart sinking as I confirmed it was indeed Hayley’s. My eyes darted around to check if there was anything strange.

“Alpha, it seems someone might have fallen here. Could it be Ms. Carson?” His words sent a jolt of alarm through me!

Chapter 62: Starting to Care About Her

Hayley’s POV:

In a haze, I thought I heard someone calling my name. At first, I brushed it off as a hallucination from my fall. But then, a tall figure appeared before me, his voice familiar as he called out, “Hayley?”

I blinked and finally opened my eyes. It was Benjamin!

“Benjamin! What are you doing here? I’m not hallucinating, am I?” I stared at him in shock.

His expression was solemn, a hint of concern etched across his features. After scrutinizing me closely, he reached down and helped me up. “Are you alright?”

The reality of the moment hit me, and I instinctively shook my head.

“Then let me help you up.”

“Okay,” I mumbled. Just as I attempted to stand, I suddenly stumbled forward, and before I knew it, Benjamin caught me in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked, worry lacing his tone.

I was practically enveloped in his embrace, and the closeness was overwhelming! Hera inside me was practically buzzing with excitement. “Hey! Hayley, he has an amazing scent! Hug him! He’s our destined mate! Hurry, hold on tight!”

Ignoring Hera’s wild ramblings, I was already too close for comfort. I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, almost matching the frantic pounding in my chest.

Before I could lose my composure, I pushed away from him. “I’m fine! Just a little pain in my leg and I didn’t stand properly.”

To my surprise, in the blink of an eye, he swept me up into his arms again!