Chapter 6: Kidnapping

The humiliation of being dragged through the pack lands kicking and screaming on the Alpha’s back was nothing compared to the shame she felt for getting caught in the first place.

By the time they make it back to the main packhouse, Rain’s exhausted herself, throat sore from her screams and Orion’s huffing in his efforts to keep her from kicking his face any more than she has.

She can only curse at his back, using every word she’s picked up from the humans lingering on the streets. She couldn’t tell you what have of them even meant but she knew they were nasty from the wince he gave every other particular one.

She filed those down for later use.

Finally, she’s deposited not so gently onto something soft and cushiony. She huffs, looking at her new surroundings.

It’s a room, not unlike the one she’d been in before but this one is much larger and much more decked out in its fanciness.

The bed was big enough to house six of her, she’s sure. She glares up at the Alpha as he looks down at her.

She spots dried blood on his face and his nose is still a bit crooked, even though it clearly had healed already. Unfortunately, the blood didn’t take away from his handsomeness, much to her disappointment. Still, by the look on his face, he was livid.

His eyes were almost completely covered with gold, fury strangling him as he glowered down at her intimidatingly.

Most wolves would’ve bared their neck, tried to appease the angry leader but Rain was a rogue-born.

She had no such instincts. She glared right back, just as pissed off.

“You broke my nose.”

“You kidnapped me.”

“You’re my mate!” He shouted, like that made all the difference.

She raised an eyebrow, giving him a victorious smirk. It took him a minute to realize what he admitted out loud. She faked a clueless look.

“So?” She said flippantly, purposely riling him up. “I don’t know what a mate is. Forgive me for being stupid. I am a filthy rogue-born after all.”

She was only being half-truthful. While she had heard stories, She’d never really understood what a mate bond actually was. Something like a perfect half made just for you. It wasn’t all too clear to be fair. All she knew was that to the pack wolves, it was sacred. And the mate of the Alpha, was the Luna, like a Queen to her King, they ruled together.

She’d rather her fur plucked out strand by strand.

Frustration and Exhaustion colored his features as he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.

“I’m sorry.”

Rain froze, looking up at him as he looked at her earnestly, honest and open as he apologized.

“I’m sorry for bringing you here forcefully and not explaining it properly to you,” He said, “I wasn’t being considerate of you or your situation.”

Mouth agape like all of his hair had just fallen out, Rain couldn’t begin to answer that. She hadn’t been expecting this at all.

Anger, yes. Frustration, yes. Arguing, yes. But apologies? From an Alpha.

Hell no.

“But It’s late,” Orion said, crossing his arms, “and I’m sure you’re hungry and tired. We can talk in the morning. Is that okay?”

In her stupor, she found herself nodding before she could think about the offer.

He sent her a smile, crooked, a little weird with the blood still on his face but it lit up his face like nothing she had seen before.

Her face heated up, though she wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t that hot in here.

“I’ll get you some food if you’ll take a shower while I’m gone, alright?” He asked.

Honestly, he probably could’ve gotten her to agree to anything with that little smile.

All her courage drained out of the window, no longer knowing what to do in this situation.

He gave her some privacy and by the time he was gone, only then did she realize what he said.

Shower?

What the hell is that?

Turns out she didn’t have to wait long as only a few minutes later, which she spent twiddling her thumbs wondering what the hell she’s supposed to do when a new scent and a new face came into the room.

A girl, younger than Rain herself, she believed with her sweet face. She had those same freckles but much more pronounced as she entered with a bright smile.

“Hi!” The girl greeted her with the energy of a little puppy, “My name’s Accalia. I’m Orion’s sister. He said you needed some clothes right?”

Accalia paid no mind to the mud-covered dress nor that Rain’s arms were still wrapped up from her wounds. She carried a bundle of clothes, much to Rain’s surprise.

“Uh, I guess.”

Accalia seemed to sense Rain’s hesitance. The bubbly girl frowned, the look not at all suiting her young face. “Do you need help with the water in the bathroom? Knowing my brother, he probably didn’t even show you where it is.”

Lucky for Rain, she didn’t have to embarrass herself by admitting she didn’t know what a shower was as Accalia brightened and grabbed her arm.

Maybe she was just getting used to people touching her arms or maybe she found this girl too sweet to be threatening, but Rain didn’t mind all that much.

“It’s right through here.”

Rain followed her, blinking groggily as the warmth of Accalia’s hand-mixed with her already exhausted mind. It felt safe here for some reason.

Accalia opened a door Rain hadn’t even noticed, revealing a tiled room. A bathroom, like the ones Rain had seen in old broken gas stations. This one was different though as a glass window with various knobs.

“The one on the right is hot water and the one on the left is cold water. Do you got it?” Accalia asked.

Rain shook her head, pretty sure she was looking like a murder device.

Accalia frowned before opening one of the glass panels with a slight push. Rain’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. It’s a door? Without being a door?

If that was shocking, Rain’s culture shock only continued as Accalia reached in and pulled the right knob all the way. All at once, water began to flow from the top of the ceiling.

Rain gasped, jumping away.

“Have you never used a shower before?” Accalia laughed but her smile quickly faded as Rain didn’t answer, eyes transfixed both in fear and curiosity at the running water.

“Oh dear,” Accalia sighed, “I’m gonna have to show you how aren’t I?”

What proceeded was a messy two-and-a-half-hour session of pure hell for both Accalia and Rain. By the end of it, Rain was squeaky clean and the two had grown a very close bond but neither came out unscathed. Accalia needed her own shower, with claw marks down her arms and across her face. Rain licked her wounds figuratively by hiding under the bed.

Rain was dead on her feet. Her hair soaked, Accalia barely managed to get Rain into the pajamas she brought, fluffy pants with an older t-shirt that smelt suspiciously familiar.

Whenever Accalia would go to dry Rain’s hair, Rain had had enough. She dove under the bed to stop her.

Accalia huffed when Orion chose that time to enter the room.

He carried a tray of something delicious smelling. Meat.

Rain’s stomach woke from its slumber to growl loud enough for all of them to hear. Accalia giggled and Orion smirked, amused but Rain only had eyes for the plate of delicious looking and hot food. The only thing that could get her out from under the bed.

“I tried to dry her hair but she wouldn’t let me,” Accalia informed her brother, sending a playful glare at Rain.

“That’s okay. Thanks for your help, Lia,” Orion said, placing the tray down on the nearby desk. He reached out to ruffle Accalia’s brown hair. She huffed, pushing his hand away.

“You better treat her right from now on or you’ll be dealing with me,” Accalia threatened, eyes narrowed.

That took Rain’s attention from the food. Someone was defending her? A pack wolf nonetheless.

Her heart thumped, warmed by the gesture. She smiled just the tiniest bit but it was enough. Accalia sent her a bright smile back.

“After all, girls gotta stick together, right?” Accalia winked.

Orion rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Go to bed before Mom gets on you.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, Rain!”

The door shut, leaving only Orion and Rain and the plate of food.