Alpha's reclaimed mate

Chapter 4

Monica sat listening to the echoes of her fingernails as they drummed on the laminate desk in the vast room.

"I know this is hard for you, but I need your cooperation so we can get somewhere." Aiden's gaze settled on her face, holding her in an intense study, searching for the slightest glint of deceit.

"I have told you all there is to know. The rest are a blur, even I don't remember. If you doubt me you know what you have to do!" Monica shrugged negligibly.

"That'd only make things ugly, for you. I need you to tell me in simple words why you left...which Pack did you say it was again?"

"I already swore my fealty to this Pack, digging up those bones would only mean testing my loyalty. If you mistrust me then you can cast me out." She seethed silently.

"You speak boldly of things best dreaded. You spied on the warriors during the moon rituals..."

"Are we going to keep rocking back and forth?" She intercepted indignantly, "Look, being there that night was abominable and I'd never intentionally do that, you see...look...err, it's not that easy to say!"

"I want you to f*****g say it!" Alpha Bruno came into the interrogation room. His eyes were emotionless, his jaws clenched.

She caught a whiff of his sandalwood. Glancing at him, he wore some gray sweatpants and a white crew-neck shirt. She found his casual look incredibly appealing. His eyes, a darker shade now on her, sent her senses reeling.

Monica fought to fix her wandering gaze on the glass of water before her.

Whatever this was, she was being cornered by the Pack's commanders and for some reason, Ray her wolf didn't seem to cower. It had been a raging war at subduing her. She'd won against her wolf to take control of her mind and hopefully would stay that way throughout the unseemly interrogation.

"I have nothing else to say. I really can't say where I came from. If words spread and Seth finds out I'm here then it's all over for me." Her voice was now low. She intentionally left it low.

"Seth? Who is he?" Aiden regarded her interestingly.

"No one worth knowing. I'm not a bad girl, but you can dismiss me if you don't trust me enough to want me as a member of the Crescent Pack."

"Perhaps if we mount a little pressure, maybe you could cooperate?" Aiden stated tactfully.

"Aiden, I'll take it from here," Bruno said, his eyes not leaving hers.

Aiden hesitantly got up from his position on the armchair, "Let me know if you need me."

"How about we start over?" Bruno began, clearing his throat when Aiden shut the door behind him. Taking out the desk that stood between them, and dragging the armchair way closer to her until his knees were an inch away from her bare knees.

His scent now fills the room and her nostrils. His intense gaze and proximity made her fully aware of herself, reminding her of things best forgotten.

If he doubted her, why did he take her in ways that now haunt her dreams?

Was it just mere heat that night or there was more? She endlessly hoped there was more.

"What do you want to know?" She looked down at her knuckles.

"Exactly what you're not saying!"

"I thought your security men already did a background check on every lone wolf? This just doesn't make sense."

"Your scores are empty. It says here..." Taking out his phone, he turned the screen to her. "Blank!"

"Someone must've mistakenly wiped it off. I concisely stated all there was to know about me during the reception stage. Well, except if my data is lost, intentionally."

"Why did you turn your back on your people?" He asked, after a long pensive stare.

"You're my people..." Seeing his brows raise, she quickly added, "Crescent is where I belong. They picked me up when I had nowhere to go, when I was rejected they accepted me, they became my strength when all I wanted was to thrive."

"Doesn't count." He said bluntly.

"It's my honest shot. Let's say they turned their backs on me, it was safe to leave."

"They?" He prodded.

"I can't say! I wish I could."

"You once did, that night. Why can't you say it now my mind's clear?"

"Seth would haunt me, he wouldn't stop until... I can't even think of what he'd do."

"Don't f*****g make me ask again, or I'm gonna have to spill your guts the hard way." His eyes flamed up a dangerous red, his lips thinned to a scowl.

She remained quiet, unsure of what to say.

He loosened up, and just as instantly as the anger came it went. His gaze lingered on her face while hers lingered on her fingernails.

"Did you offer burnt sacrifices for the Goddess to match us?"

She quickly looked up at him, "I am not that pathetic!" She looked back at her fingers, "If I had a choice I would never have gotten involved with you!"

"You didn't?"

"What I mean is the choice of choosing who to be my mate. You'd be my very last option."

"Why does that hurt so bad?" He chuckled sarcastically.

"All I'm saying is that my life has been messed up from when life took a drastic change. Having you as my second chance mate in all honesty is..." She choked, coughed. "Flattering. It's enough proof I was made for rejection." She forced a laugh.

Her laughter ebbed as his face dropped. His features darkened again with anger, his eyes cold and distant.

"It's the lifestyle of an Omega! I keep wondering where I went wrong to deserve you." He nodded towards her like she was dung in a field.

"You should always trust the Goddess!"

His phone buzzed, he looked at it then back to her.

"I don't have all the time in the world! Tell me what I need to know or you'd be subjected to torture."

"I get tortured every day. It's the lifestyle of an Omega."

The eerie silence made her look up, stealing a glance at his face, to see what emotions his features conveyed. The dark scowl on his face sent a terrible chill crawling under her skin. Her palms, although sweaty, held firmly the glass of water. As a distraction from her thoughts, she took a sip of the water before putting the glass away.

Their gazes snagged. For the briefest moment, Monica loathed herself for looking up for it appeared at the side of his lips the arrogant smirk, confirming he'd read it all from her eyes the window to her soul.

"Seth McMahon, Gamma of Syzygy Pack, rejected you as his mate. You ran away because you couldn't stand the rejection."

Having him read her mind was the most cruel thing that could happen to her as a werewolf. Meeting his eyes had given her all away. It was unfair she never read his mind. Not yet, not ever.

"Now you know. Is this session over now?" She dragged her feet impatiently.

"I want to see her!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Ray, your wolf, I want to see her. Now." His commanding tone cut right through her to Ray who only curled up on her inside.

Monica would have laughed if situations were different but with his Alpha tone and snarls, she felt Ray tremble, she felt herself tremble from the effect his words had on her. From the effect he had on her.

With her whole being, she tried to steady her heartbeat and breathe as noiselessly as possible. The last thing she wanted was Bruno being aware of the hold he had on her.

He knew either way.

Leaning in, his palm cupped her face, and his thumb brushed the silk of her cheek, tilting their gazes to meet. Tingles of heat erupting from his touch.

Their speared gazes sent her pulse racing,

Lowering his lips to her ear, he whispered as softly as possible, "Release your mind. Release your fears. Release her." Taking her lobe in a soft nibble, he gently trailed soft kisses down her neck to the spot he had marked her.

A moan escaped her soft lips as his lips hovered around her neck, her nails digging deep into the flesh of his arm.

Perhaps we should go to a more open ground?" He asked.

She shook her head. A bigger or smaller space Ray was never going to come out. She did not want to break the contact. She did not want to think about or dwell on how hard it was for her to shift, unlike other wolves. All she wanted at the moment was to remain in his arms, to savor his taste for he tasted of cider and magic, of dreams come alive. She was hooked. She couldn't deny that. She couldn't deny that she wanted him more than she feared to admit.

He set her onto his lap, his hand wandering her back. His lips assailed hers, relishing every heated touch, smoldering every defense, taunting her with something she knew could never be hers. Not as an Omega.