The Pack House

CHAPTER THREE

Elara's pov

"What do you mean?" My hand goes slack on the handle.

"You want a choice in the matter and I will give you a choice" Ronan said coolly.

"I'm listening" I leaned against the car. It was unbelievable that I was in front of my mate, trying to negotiate my way out of our bond.

"You could follow me back to my pack, date me and give me a chance to prove to you that we could form an attachment beyond the mate bond" he began and I scrunched my nose.

"Or?" I probbed.

"You would have to pay in full for the damage to my car and bear the consequences of disobeying an alpha" he concluded, his voice rang loud and clear.

"That's barely giving me a choice" I quivered.

"All choices have consequences, you just have to choose one and live with the them" he said calmly.

"If I agree to go with you?" I questioned.

"Then you'll be giving me...us an honest chance to explore the mate bond. I would pay for all damages for both cars and you would be allowed to return to visit your pack on occasion when you are comfortably settled in" he explained.

"And what if we aren't compatible?" I wondered aloud.

"Fate doesn't make mistakes. If the moon goddess made us mates then it means we are perfect for each other" he declared.

"I told you I don't believe in fate" I commented.

"Well I do" he retorted.

"If I don't follow you?" I inquired.

"You already know how that will end mi alma" he remarked.

"Is this how it's going to be then if we choose to have a relationship? You coercing me in order to get your way?" I grumbled.

"I am not coercing you Elara. I have given you a choice-"

"I stand not to win in both choices. All those choices are to your advantage" I pointed at him accusingly.

"Nonetheless they are still choices" he stated calmly. The rain had reduced to a drizzle and I watched as his long lashes, cradled a few raindrops. How could a beautiful human being be so ruthless?

I rack my brain for a way out of this and as if a light bulb comes on in my brain a brilliant idea pops in my mind. All I had to do was follow him to his pack and reek havoc, he would want nothing to do with me if I proved to be overbearing and not helpful to the pack. With time he would fear I would drag his pack down and be forced to reject me.

"Fine, I'll go with you" I struggle to keep my face blank in order not to give away my excitement as wicked schemes take root in my mind.

"Smart woman" he commented as I walked towards his black SUV, the sick part of me wished I did much more damage to his precious car.

I plop down on his leather seats, ignoring my dripping clothes as he settled in after me.

"I'll get someone to come back for your car" he murmured.

"Don't bother. The car belongs to my boyfriend-"

"You have a boyfriend?" He growled, interrupting me.

"Had...I had a boyfriend" I whispered as I looked out the window. My words seemed to pacify him and he turns on the car and before long we are back on the road at a much slower pace.

"What happened between you two?" Ronan's voice pierced through the slow pitter patter of rain against metal.

"You don't have to play the concerned mate" I sighed without looking at him.

"I'm not playing. I am concerned, it's obvious something happened that hurt you" he revealed and this time I turned towards him and examined his side profile as he focused on the road. It was devastating that upclose he seemed even more magnificent.

"Today is my birthday and we had so many plans. He sent a text telling me he had a suprise waiting for me in his room but when I went up there I saw him in bed with another woman" I whispered, unsure what prompted me to reveal it to a total stranger.

"Was that why you were driving like a crazed person?" He asked and nods in understanding when I remain silent.

"I can't imagine the pain that must have caused you. I'm sorry but he was never going to have you anyway" he proclaimed.

"We were going to mate and mark each other" I don't know what compels me to reveal that piece of information, all I knew was that I wanted to rile Ronan up and crack his perfectly stoic exterior.

His hands squeezed the steering wheel and his jaw ticked but he remained silent.

 "Happy birthday" he said after a while and my lips tugged upward.

"Thanks" I replied just as we stopped in front of a large gate.

After few seconds the gate is opened and we proceed to go in and not long after we come to a stop in front of an enormous building.

"This is your pack house?" I asked with wide eyes.

"It's not much but it does the job" he replied before stepping out the car and I stared after him in disbelief, wondering what he would think if he saw the worn out three story building we used as a pack house back home.

I followed silently behind him as we made our way into the house. I was thankful it was late into the night and most people had already gone to bed as I wasn't ready for any awkward questions or encounters with his pack members.

He pushed open a door at the end of the corridor and stepped in.

"This is the only readied guestroom. You can stay here this night but I'll have a room by my wing cleaned and readied for you" he declared.

"It's fine, this room is perfect" I looked around the cream coloured room with a bed in the middle and sparse furniture on either end of the room. There wasn't much to the room but I loved it's simplicity and how it somehow reminded me that I was only here temporarily.

"The shower is right through there" he pointed towards a door by the corner.

"And I'll have some comfortable clothes you can sleep in sent up for you" he continued.

"Thank you" I murmured, unsure what to say.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Good night" he rumbled before he stormed out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.