Surviving In The Freezing Apocalypse With My Alpha

Ava's lungs burned with the lack of air. They had been running without even looking back for a second, jumping over the bodies and sliding over to corners.

Many of the Frostborns who were within the classrooms launched onto them the second they saw Ava and her group passing their gaze.

But Liam handled it all swiftly. He would pull Ava close to him whenever he sensed danger. Many times, he also pulled Mia back, but still, he wouldn't let go of any of their hands.

Ava's boots slammed against the icy tiles as she also dodged any of the attacks of the Frostborns lunging over her. Many times, she would even pull Liam back to her, with Mia also clinging to him, her legs stumbling with every other step.

They were just rushing, dodging, and then running back again towards the gym. Behind them, the guttural screeches of the Frostborns echoed through the hallways.

"We aren't losing them," Ava said, risking a glance over her shoulder.

"Shit." At least four of them were right at their backs—chasing them with their jerky and quick movements, which almost felt like they were just gliding over the frost-covered floor.

'How—How could they move like that? How could anybody?' Ava thought, really scared and frightened, her body trembling just at the sight of them.

"Haa—" Suddenly, one came just from the classroom beside her. She barely dodged it as she heard it's eerie, creepy breath, with murky white clouds coming from its mouth.

"Ah—" Ava startled, slid, and tripped over, with Liam and Mia soon following.

The Frostborn soon turned back to her, its hollow, white, murky eyes locked straight onto her.

"Ah—" Ava's heart stopped beating as her stomach became liquid.

"Ava!" Liam shouted as he stood up quickly, running straight back to Ava. "Run!"

"Ugh—" Liam's shout got Ava out of that hypnotizing, death-like shock right before her eyes. She again gathered her will and strength back to her legs.

"Hurry!" Liam said, supporting her and pulling her with him.

"Mia—" He again lunged at Mia's hand, pulling her up with him, but Ava didn't mind it. She knew it wasn't the time to think like that.

But the warm hand of Liam made her stopped heart, beat again like crazy. Never in her life had she thought that she would be holding hands with Liam.

'He called my name? How does he know?' Ava thought, her ears turning red on their periphery while her heart beat like crazy.

"They're getting faster," Liam said again, snapping Ava out of her sweet trance.

Soon, she realized that the situation was even worse. She had begun to feel nauseous as her breath began to leave her lungs.

"Huff—huff—" It was getting harder, but there wasn't another option.

'Arrghhh!' Ava cried her mind out, gathering every bit of her strength back to her legs as if she would even draw her life force to her legs today.

They ran straight to another hallway, but Mia had started to lose it. It was getting harder as she began to slow down more.

"Keep up! It's just around the corner!" Liam cried as they rounded another corner. He barely slowed down, shoving open the double doors to the gym.

Ava stumbled inside, her legs shaking. The moment they were through, Liam slammed the doors shut, throwing his weight against them.

"Help me!" he barked, pressing more unto the gates as Frostborns, one after another, lunged over to the gate to force it open.

Ava snapped out of it again, rushing to press her shoulder against the door, while Mia had given up and fainted the second she got into the gym.

"Mia, get something to block the door!" Ava yelled, not knowing that Mia had already fainted. She glanced back, noticing Mia lying on the floor.

"Ugh." She darted her eyes through the gym. "The bleachers—perfect."

"Move on three," she gasped. "I'll pull the bleachers down."

Liam nodded, his breath coming fast.

"One—two—THREE!"

Ava jumped back, sprinting to the side and yanking the lever. With a screech of metal, the retractable bleachers came crashing forward, slamming against the gym doors.

The Frostborn pounded against them from the other side. The doors rattled, Liam and Ava hoping it wouldn't get breached. And thankfully, the bleachers held. For now.

Silence settled.

Ava didn't realize how hard she was breathing until the sound of it filled the space. Her entire body ached.

Liam bent forward, hands on his knees, and Mia had already collapsed onto the floor, shaking.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then—

"…Is it over?" Mia woke up, speaking in a faint voice.

Ava let out a bitter breath before replying, "Not even close."

Ava tried to stop shaking, but her body refused to cooperate. The cold was seeping in, making her body more vulnerable.

Her arms wrapped around herself as she sat near the wall, her breath coming out in visible puffs. The cold was sweeping indoors.

Liam glanced over at her, frowning.

She looked away. The last thing she needed was for Liam to see her weak.

But a few seconds later, something warm and heavy dropped over her shoulders.

Ava blinked.

Liam had shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her.

She turned her head sharply toward him. "What are you—?"

"You're freezing," Liam muttered, his voice softer now. "Just take it."

Ava opened her mouth to argue but chose to swallow the words back. He was already pulling his sweatshirt sleeves down, clearly not taking it back.

She hesitated a bit, then wrapped the jacket tighter around herself. It was warm. It smelled like him.

Her ears flushed red as her heart began to beat even faster and louder than before, flustering her even more.

"Ugh." She placed her face onto her arms, her arms on her knees, clearly hiding her blushing face. She really hoped he didn't notice how fast her heart was beating.

Time went by, and nobody spoke. Mia was clearly fuming with jealousy while staring at Ava, but still, she also didn't say anything.

Ava wasn't sure how long they sat there. The gym was eerily quiet except for their breathing.

Liam was next to her, his knee barely an inch from hers. The warmth of his body cut through the cold, reaching straight to Ava's.

Ava felt herself unknowingly relaxing into this soft warmth.

But then—she felt a sharp tug.

Mia had grabbed Liam's arm, pulling him toward her.

"Liam," she whispered, her voice small but insistent. "Are you okay?"

Liam's posture stiffened, but he didn't pull away.

Ava swallowed. Her throat suddenly felt dry while Mia glared back at the jacket around Ava's shoulders.

Noticing Mia's gaze, Ava clung even tighter to Liam's jacket, clearly igniting Mia's fumes.

But still, seeing Liam and Mia so close to each other, Ava's stomach twisted.

'It's just the cold,' she reassured herself. 'That's only why my chest feels tight.'

Her fist clenched onto the jacket as she suddenly wanted to throw it back at Liam and storm off.

But she didn't. Instead, she pressed her lips together and looked away.

'His own girlfriend is shivering. Why did he give his jacket to me?' she thought.

'And if he did give it to me, why is he being so touchy with her in front of me?'

But she ignored all the questions. Instead, her attention went to her surroundings.

The gym felt too big. Even with the barricaded door, the air was thick with tension.

"Okay," Liam exhaled, pushing himself up. His voice had that calm and commanding tone that made people listen. "We need to figure out what we're doing next."

Ava huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't know if you noticed, but we almost died back there. Maybe give us a second to—"

But suddenly, a sharp clatter interrupted her.

They all froze.

Ava's pulse spiked high.

Someone was in the gym with them.

She barely had time to register movement before a group of shadows stepped out of the darkness.

Five of them.