Chapter 5
NADIA.
My Uncle Salvodor dragged me out of his car onto the border of the Silver Moon Pack. I flinched with every movement because every part of my body was aching from his beating.
I tried to withstand all that he gave me until I couldn’t anymore and finally told him how I got marked. I wish I had told him the truth right away. Then maybe I could have avoided all the pain and bruises I got. But then, the pains and bruises were better than what I felt.
I felt humiliated, standing in front of the men manning the Silver Moon Pack border.
My uncle told them that I was a slut, claiming I jumped at the first wolf that showed interest in me and got myself marked.
Although my actions might come off as such, I didn’t do it because I was a whore. I was in heat.
My uncle had a fated mate and knew how heat could affect mates. But instead, he made it clear to everyone within earshot that I couldn’t even wait to ask for details before jumping on the man’s dick.
This was nothing new. All my life, he had been humiliating me.
I kept myself from crying and tilted my head to the side, looking at the forest instead of the males in front of us and letting the memory of my mate come flooding back into my head.
Three months ago, I met him on the night of the full moon.
He came like a hurricane—and wrecked me. He fucked and marked me, and then he abandoned me. But what he did made me stronger.
I tried to move on from him. For the most part, I succeeded, but his memory and smile would always haunt me, especially at night or when I was alone.
I had never felt more alone than I did after what happened to us.
I left the neutral forest the same day he abandoned me. After crying for an hour or two, I decided that was enough. I couldn’t stay there and cry over someone who didn’t care about me.
I still have my wolf, Arrow. That was all that mattered.
I got back on my feet and proceeded with my plan to run away and seek solace in the human territory. I reached Orleans and was able to find a place to stay. I found work in a diner, and I worked my ass off to earn a living.
For three months, I was able to survive alone until my uncle found me a few days ago.
He took me back to our territory and spent days beating me up in hopes that I would reveal who had marked me. I finally told him everything, but he couldn’t get a name because I knew nothing of him.
I told him I was marked in the neutral forest. Since it wasn’t someone from our pack, he assumed it was from the neighboring pack. It could be from the Silver Moon Pack or the Blue Meadows Pack.
He took me first to the Silver Moon Pack, the nearest territory. He wanted to ask permission from its Alpha to allow me to be placed in one of their centers, like a piece of meat, to draw attention so that my mate could see me.
He told me Alpha Riley wouldn’t mind this act because he didn’t care about anyone, especially after what happened to him. He then laughed like a devil as he shared the misfortune of the Alpha when his chosen Luna left him for another Alpha.
My heart clenched in pity for Alpha Riley while internally cursing my uncle for being a devil.
Then I felt more sorry for myself. I didn’t know how I could avoid further humiliation. If the Alpha allowed me to be on display, the gossip would surely spread like wildfire.
This was my fault. I should have gone further than Orleans. But then I didn’t have enough money, so I had little choice.
The sound of an approaching car took my attention back to the present. My heart began thudding loudly. I was terrified of what would happen to me inside this territory.
After what felt like an eternity, the car stopped, and the door on the passenger side opened.
A good-looking male with dark hair came out. He could definitely make any female swoon just by his looks, but I didn’t feel any attraction toward him. Perhaps it was because I knew my mate was far more attractive and sexy than he was.
I scolded and reminded myself that I was here because of my mate. I should stop swooning over him. But I hope he was not from here. My uncle couldn’t sell me as long as I remained marked. Who would want a marked female as their mate?
Is he Alpha Riley?
My attention went back to the male who stepped out of the car. I couldn’t remember how he looked exactly since I was only fifteen when they had an Alpha Camp in our territory. But I knew that among all the young Alphas that were present, it was he who caught my eye.
But I couldn’t remember him having black hair. I was sure it was lighter, almost blond.
It had been six years, and maybe his features had changed. And so was my taste for men. And also because I would always compare everyone to my mate.
The male, who I assumed was Alpha Riley, was looking at me. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened.
Why is he looking at me as if I had done something wrong? What did his men tell him? Or is it because of the bruises on my face? I tried to hide it with a concealer, but I wasn’t successful. Fortunately, my long-sleeved blouse managed to cover the ones on my arms.
I couldn’t meet his stare anymore, so I dropped my gaze away from him, focusing it on the ground. And then I heard a car door open, and, in seconds, an intoxicating scent filled my nostrils—a musky forest scent mixed with mint and coffee.
‘Mate!’ Arrow whimpered in my head.
The moment I realized my mate—who never wanted me—was here made me step back. But I forgot that my uncle was holding my arm. He abruptly pulled me forward, and I wasn’t prepared for it.
My legs buckled, and I stumbled, falling onto my knees before my body collapsed on the ground with a loud thud.
The next thing I knew, a loud growl erupted in the air, making me stop from trying to sit up.
Uncle immediately let go of his grip on my arm, and I turned my head, tilted in the direction of the growl, only to meet my mate’s piercing blue eyes.
My mouth opened as I stared at him. He was standing beside the car, his eyes narrowed as he stared back at me. His face was so deadly that I felt my body crumbling from his gaze.
Is he mad that I showed up here?
My eyes watered as the thought of him rejecting me again brought pain to my heart.
He was still staring at me, and I couldn’t keep up. I dropped my gaze to the ground, but I didn’t stand up. My hands were still leaning on the ground, and they were the only thing that kept me from collapsing again.
I just wanted the earth to swallow me. Death sounded better than this.
I closed my eyes when I heard footsteps approaching. I knew he was coming closer because his scent was getting stronger.
“Why do you want entrance into this territory? The voice was cold, but I knew it wasn’t him. It must be Alpha Riley.
But who is my mate? Is he Alpha Riley’s Beta or Gamma? That would explain why his aura was strong.
My uncle cleared his throat before he answered. All the while, I kept my eyes closed and my head down. “I want to find out who marked my niece. I knew he must be from this pack because she told me she was marked on the…”
I didn’t hear the rest of his words because I felt a hand touch my chin, tilting my head up while sparks traveled all over my body.
“Who did this to you?” His deep, baritone voice sent shivers of pleasure down my spine.
Despite the horrible situation I was in, I couldn’t help but clench my core. If we were alone, I would probably be soaking wet from how sexy his voice was. But I needed to control myself, or my arousal would be potent in the air.
My lips quivered as I opened my eyes. He was crouching in front of me, and his eyes were boring deep into mine, making me forget everything.
He carefully tilted my head to one side and then to the other. His jaw tightened, and his eyes dilated into black as he looked at all the bruises on my face.
“Did you do this to her?” His voice was so loud. The tone was too different from the way he asked me earlier.
He was asking my uncle this time, but his eyes never left mine.
My uncle stuttered with his reply. “Ah… because… she lied...”
“Enough!” My mate growled before he let go of my chin and stood up. He then bellowed at him. “Who the fuck gave you the right to lay a hand on her or any female?”
In seconds, he was already in front of Uncle Salvodor, and his coiled fist hit his face hard without a warning. I winced at the sound of the impact, and I knew that he had broken my uncle’s nose. My uncle staggered backward until his body faltered to the ground.
“Leave!” His expression was deadly, making me move back. “You’re not allowed in this territory, and I’ll ensure that Alpha Darvin is made aware of your abuse. Now, fuck off from here!”
My uncle stood up, his hand cupping his jaw while a scared expression was written all over his face. My mind went into a daze as my uncle rushed forward in my direction, making me stumble backward on my ass.
I was terrified he would grab me, but my mate was faster. He blocked his way and coiled his hand into the collar of his shirt. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? Didn’t I tell you to fuck off? Or do you want to die in my hands?”
“Alpha Riley… I’m… taking… my niece. We’ll leave…”
Alpha Riley? My mate is Alpha Riley? My eyes widened as my jaw dropped open. What did I get myself into?
“You’re not taking her! She will stay in my territory!” My mate shouted at him, his teeth gritting as he flung my uncle’s body away.
A loud thud echoed as his body dropped to the hood of his car. I hissed at the impact, but he deserved that. It was nothing compared to what I suffered at his hands.
My mate turned around and ordered the men standing by the border. “Make sure he leaves. He’s not allowed entrance here or anywhere near my territory.”
My eyes shifted from him to everyone around us until they stopped at the man with black hair who came with him. He was watching my mate with a smug grin on his face as if he were thoroughly entertained.
“Yes, Alpha.” I heard the men reply in unison, and my heart thudded louder.
Alpha. He’s really an Alpha. He’s Alpha Riley.
I closed my eyes and clutched my chest, remembering Katarina’s words about Alpha Riley being difficult and temperamental.
Will he turn his wrath on me? What should I do next? Should I get up and leave?
Before I could decide, I felt sparks traveling all over my body as an arm coiled under my knees and on my back, scooping me up off the ground. My head tilted to meet his eyes, and my arms instinctively snaked around his neck, clinging to him as if he were my savior.
Well, he was. But I had no idea how long he’d be.