Chapter Seven

Skylar

"I understand, you're not the tallest, but surely you can pick up the pace," he said, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

I rolled my eyes, expecting nothing less from the adversary I seemed to have become in this territory.

I was certain they all harbored resentment towards me because I belonged to the pack they despised, yet they had brought me here against my will. Without their interference, I wouldn't be in this predicament. Not that I was entirely unhappy about it; leaving that pack was something I desired. However, being here wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

"Just ignore him," Maya whispered, offering me some solace. "How do you deal with him?" I murmured back.

I felt sorry for her. Having a mate like Evelyn made me slightly less envious of not having one myself. The man ahead of us suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"You do realize I'm not deaf. I can hear you perfectly well," he said, his tone implying the enhanced hearing of Wolves. I quickly muttered an apology.

Maya chuckled. "He's not so bad," she replied, sending her mate a genuine smile. "He's just different."

I glanced between them and cringed inwardly. The concept of mates suddenly felt repulsive to me. I couldn't quite understand how I remained so composed, but it helped me think clearly, constantly reminding myself of my plan: to escape.

We continued walking for another ten minutes or so before reaching our final destination.

I marveled at the black marble interior, visible through the glass walls. The openness of the house surprised me. Anyone could peer inside, and the beauty was breathtaking.

In all my years, I had never seen such exquisite design. It was simultaneously dark and mysterious, yet cozy and intriguing. The house drew me in, and I longed to enter without waiting for an invitation. It was a strange sensation.

"I've missed that reaction," Maya grinned.

Her gaze lingered on me, and when she noticed my puzzled expression, she explained, "This house elicits the same reaction from people outside our pack. It's nice to see others appreciate what we take for granted."

"Ah," I replied, feeling embarrassed for being caught off guard.

I said nothing more, quietly following behind. The closer we got to the entrance of the building, the faster my heart raced. I was nervous. What if the Alpha ordered my execution?

My breathing grew heavier, and the exhaustion I had momentarily forgotten returned in full force. I could feel myself slowing down.

"Do I need to carry her?" Evelyn's voice, stern, snapped me out of my thoughts. I narrowed my eyes at him.

If only I were more powerful, I would have at least attempted to harm him, just to boost my ego a little. He was really getting on my nerves.

"She seems tired, Evelyn. Cut her some slack," his mate defended. "I don't owe her anything. She's our enemy," he retorted.

Maya sighed. "Do it for me, please."

Evelyn cocked his head, shooting her a questioning look.

"I don't understand why you're defending her. You barely know her," he argued.

The girl beside me shrugged. "I know she's not a threat, and I don't see why you can't take my word for it."

Evelyn exhaled loudly, but before he could say another word, the door to the house swung open.

"Can you two save the flirting for later? The Alpha's patience is wearing thin,"Finn scoffed before disappearing inside.

His presence didn't surprise me at all. However, his words earned a snarl from Evelyn, who couldn't do anything since Finn had already vanished.

"Don't be afraid," Maya reassured me, squeezing my hand.

I wasn't sure how to feel about the affection she was showing me. Her mate had been right; she didn't know me. I felt guilty for having these thoughts, considering how sincere her gestures seemed.

But besides my mother and two best friends in Pale Moon, I had never been able to trust anyone else. When I felt Maya's blue eyes boring into mine, I nodded hesitantly, realizing she was waiting for a response.

"I'm not sure why you're being so kind, but thank you."

"Of course," she beamed. "Let's go inside before you become the subject of a second Alpha's search party."

I was surprised she knew about that, but I didn't press her for details. I was sure Evelyn had told her everything, given their status as mates.

Instead, she led me inside through the double glass doors, where her mate had just disappeared.

"Have you brought her?" a cold voice filled with authority echoed in the room.

I couldn't see him, as he had his back to us, standing tall behind the massive black desk that could fill an entire room. It was hard to appreciate the interior of the house with the Alpha's chilling presence. His aura exuded tension, and I was sure I wasn't the only one who felt it.

The trio, loyal to this particular leader, stood patiently while their Alpha poured himself a drink.

"Took you longer than I would have liked," Evelyn barked, glaring at me before turning his attention back to his leader. "But, yes. Apparently, this is her."

"I don't doubt that, Evelyn," the Alpha scoffed.

"I appreciate your understanding," Maya interjected firmly. "I can guide her out of our territory at your command."

The Alpha's mention of her name finally clicked, and I realized he was Alpha Dominic—the same enemy Marcus had clashed with many times. This was the man who had torn families apart in my pack. I didn't know how to feel.

When the sound of a drink being poured stopped, the Alpha raised the glass in his hand, filled with liquid, before finally turning around to face us.

"Joseph's offspring, huh?" he mused, his eyes scanning his members before settling on mine.

I was once again surprised by the mention of my father. I didn't understand why my father was interested in this pack. What did they know about him? But my thoughts were quickly diverted when I met the Alpha's intense gaze. The smugness on his lips vanished completely at the sight of me.

I couldn't comprehend why his gaze was so piercing. It felt like time stood still.

His eyes, dark with swirling ocean-blue specks, completely captivated me. His perfectly shaped face, with pale skin and a black shirt that accentuated his muscles, made him look mysterious yet gentle. I couldn't explain how I felt, but I wasn't intimidated.

Despite being possibly the tallest person I had ever encountered, I felt no fear whatsoever. He was breathtaking. A literal breath of fresh air. It angered me that I found him attractive.

The sound of glass breaking snapped me out of my trance.

His hand, previously holding the glass, was now covered in the liquid contents mixed with what appeared to be blood.

"Dominic?" Evelyn's voice filled with concern echoed in the room. "Are you alright?"

"Does it look like everything's alright?" the Alpha ridiculed, his voice cold.

His narrowed gaze shifted to me before he turned to tend to his injured hand. He removed the glass shards before clenching his hand into a fist. Within seconds, his hand had completely healed. While I knew Wolves healed quickly, his speed was impressive.

"All of you, leave," Alpha Dominic ordered, his gaze fixed on his hand.

The trio seemed momentarily stunned by their leader's command. Personally, I wanted to leave to catch my breath. The atmosphere here made it feel like my lungs were failing me.

"I don't understand," Maya hesitated.

"Leave, all of you," the Alpha repeated, his voice barely steady. It seemed like he, too, was struggling for air.

"I need to speak with her alone."

As he gestured toward me, I glanced at the trio in a panic. If I hadn't been afraid of the Alpha before, now I definitely sensed something. But strangely, my Wolf seemed eager for this.

Though I was still getting to know her, it didn't take a genius to sense the emotions radiating from my Wolf. She was excited, purring with happiness and chaos. Meanwhile, I felt confused, scared, and frankly defeated. Perhaps death was my only option in the end.

"I'm not leaving her alone with you," Evelyn argued, shooting me a dirty look. "We don't know what she's capable of."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. If I were as strong as the annoying boy thought, I wouldn't be in this situation. The Alpha clearly didn't appreciate the boy's words, growling loudly. It made me flinch. When he noticed my reaction, his demeanor softened.

His eyes met mine, and I could swear they held concern. It made me frown.

"Evelyn, we've discussed this. Leave, or I'll make you," the Alpha said, his gaze still on me.

To my surprise, the trio slowly disappeared.

The room felt even more suffocating. I was nervous, and my heartbeat sounded loud in my ears. I prayed he couldn't hear it, but with Wolf hearing, I knew my prayers were futile.