*****CHAPTER 49

MAE'S POV

After Snow left for the physician's, I found my way to the market, thinking of returning to my old ways to get the treatment money.

After my encounter with the Alpha that had caused me my freedom and subjected me to working as a common servant in the castle, I made up my mind to never steal anymore but it looked like I had no other choice right now. Sadly, I would have to get the treatment money.

As I walked into the market, I spotted a trader. I thought about stealing from the man but his bag was wrapped around his waist and it would be really hard to get the money without getting caught…and having one of my hands chopped off.

I continued to walk around, being vigilant. I saw a man put his wallet in his loose bag and I knew it would be easier to reach for the wallet and quickly make a dash for the road before I would be noticed.

I had to take that wallet. I needed to get money for my mother's treatments. No job would be able to pay me a reasonable amount by tomorrow so this was my only way to get it. If I get caught, I would lose an arm in the hands of these brutal traders who were always eager to demonstrate how thieves were treated in the market.

I prayed silently that I wouldn't get caught as I followed the man closely, waiting for a perfect opportunity to reach into his bag. An opportunity opened up when the man walked into a close area. Without any hesitation, I quickly reached for the wallet and grabbed a hold of it.

It all happened so quickly. One moment I was reaching for the wallet and I got it, as I turned to run away, the man grabbed my hand. I was able to cut loose of his grip but even as I ran away, he followed me. I ran so fast and hot on my heels but he continued to chase me. I glanced behind me quickly and panicked to see that he was catching up with me. I couldn't run any faster than this.

Finally, he caught up with me. I was so scared as he pushed me to the ground and started to strangle me. His grips were firm around my neck as he pressed the life out of me.

“You thief!” He yelled into my face as he strangled me.

I was fighting for my life, trying to catch my breath as I lay in the hands of this man who was about to kill me. Tears clouded my vision. This day started off so badly, and I never had the thought that this was going to be the same day that I was going to die. I regretted not going to see my mother. I was scared but at the same time sad. A whole lot of emotions ran through my head as I thought about how I was going to die a thief. No meaning to my life at all. The world would sing in mockery of my name.

The foolish unrepentant thief who died because she couldn't stop stealing.

“Get off her, you fucking asshole!” A voice came from behind and a quick hard punch landed across the face of the man, flinging him off me.

“Leave her be!" The oddly familiar voice warned the man as they exchanged punches but the man was getting beaten by my savior. I couldn't see his face clearly as he was backing me, throwing punches at the man who tried to kill me only a few seconds ago.

He beat the hell out of the man who couldn't even manage to throw a blow at my savior's way. He beat him so badly that the man couldn't do anything but sit down. My savior picked the man's wallet that was lying abandoned and carelessly on the ground, throwing it back to him before yelling an authoritative order towards him.

"Get out of here! Now!" Immediately, the man picked his wallet and scrambled off with weak, wobbly knees.

My savior finally shifted his focus back to me and I immediately looked down in shame, avoiding his gaze and trying my best to hide my face away.

"Get up." His tone was gentler now as he stood in front of me, his hand outstretched and waiting for me to take it. His voice sounded more than familiar and right now, I could place the owner of the voice. But I couldn't be sure.

If he was truly the owner of the voice, what was he doing here in the marketplace? Again.

"Get up." He repeated himself. Afraid, lest I might anger him and have him report me to the villagers, I took his hand and finally looked up to look at him properly.

I was right. The owner of the voice was him. Alpha Alcot.

I stared even harder at his face in another phase of shock. He wasn't with his face mask. For the first time, he wasn't wearing a face mask. I was sure no one else would be able to recognize him this way but I could recognize him. His eyes, his hair, and his scars.

I wondered what could be his reason for taking off his mask. Was it so that he could disguise himself as a commoner in the market? What was he even doing here, anyway?

As I looked at his face, down to his scars, I could only see how beautifully lithe and handsome he was. His scars were most definitely a part of his beauty. If only the rest of the world knew how much handsomeness he was hiding from them.

I just stared at him as tears fell from my eyes. He saved me. Alcot was my savior. He saved me from dying, and even though I did.not understand how he found me, I was thankful that he saved me from dying.

I cried out as he helped me get on my feet. I couldn't help it anymore. I was feeling broken and tired. Tired of life. Tired of my family. Tired of stealing and running away from getting caught. I found myself wrapping my arms around Alcot in a hug. At first, he stiffened at my unexpected action but the next minute, he wrapped his arm around me too and squeezed me against his hard body and broad chest, lightly.

This was the second time he was saving me from the consequences of stealing. He was indeed my savior.

I held onto him tighter, not wanting to let go as I cried. I cried into his shirt, soiling it with my tears. But he didn't bother. He let me cry in his arms.

I cried because I wasn't going to die. I was going to see my mother again. I was going to see my sisters again. I was going to see him again.

I promised myself that I wasn't going to steal again, no matter the case or situation of the matter. After Alcot had saved me twice, it was only fair for me to protect my life and stealing was too risky to go back to.

I would never be a thief again. That life was behind me now.