Wild Wolves

Chapter 5 – Decisions

Mylee’s POV

Meeting my mate was meant to be the most precious gift. I had dreamt of the day that I would be swept off my feet by my prince charming. The man the moon goddess had made just for me. For some, my daydreaming would seem childish and unrealistic, but I have never known anyone who has not had the perfect pairing. It was what we had grown up believing in. It was part of our destiny.

Alpha Lexis, the man the moon goddess fated me to, was one of the only men my brother, and Alpha, despised. I was devastated. Not only did Malachi disapprove, but so did the rest of my family. If their disapproval wasn’t enough, I also had to contend with the icy cold and defiant Alpha, who seemed unimpressed that I was his mate.

Lexis was rude, arrogant and at times condescending. At the point at which I had to make my decision to stay with my current pack, and reject Lexis, or leave with him and accept our bond, he had given me very little reason to think he was worth leaving for.

However, it didn’t matter. Rejecting him would cause further friction, and if the moon goddess believed we were meant to be together, then there had to be something in that. Our pairing could potentially bring the packs back together. I had an opportunity to get to know him, and maybe Lexis was not as bad as they all thought he was.

I had always believed fated relationships were destined to be the completion of one’s soul. I hoped this to be true for me more than anything. I wanted things with Lexis to be as amazing. He was gorgeous. His brooding, moody and distant persona did nothing to distract me from his chiselled jaw, startling blue eyes, and perfectly toned physique.

However, I was not so shallow as to choose to be with him for his looks. Although they were inviting. I hoped it was a front, a wall he had put up for his own protection, but I wasn’t foolish enough to know that sometimes walls can not be knocked down, or that it may just be who he is.

If he was as bad as they thought, not all was lost. It would hurt to reject him after our bonding started, but I had a trump card. Mattie. The youngest of my brothers was a gifted healer, and I knew he would be able to help me if it came to it. My wolf, Shai, agreed.

She knew my plan, and as much as she pined for her mate, we both understood the importance of what I needed to do. I had an ulterior motive for going to his pack. There was no doubt in my mind when I was doing my research about the imminent war, that his pack had secrets.

Finding out what their secrets were, I was almost certain it would help us. So, that was exactly what I intended to do. I couldn’t tell Mal, he wouldn’t understand. My entire family saw me as the weakest. They were and always had been fiercely protective of me.

As much as I cherished and loved them all, they refused to see me as anything other than the weakest link. Vulnerable and in need of babying. Even Mykah, who I thought understood me better than that, seemed to mollycoddle me.

I may not be a warrior and physically strong, but I am tougher than any of my siblings have given me credit for. It’s not their fault, with 5 brothers and a warrior sister, they constantly measured their superiority and dominance through physical strength and agility.

I didn’t love them any less for it, nor did I see it as a weakness. I loved their banter and playful but genuine need to prove themselves to one another. However, they lost track of the strengths I did have at times.

Mal was supportive of my need to use my intellect to help the pack, but I knew deep down he wouldn’t think it would be worth going with Lexis just to gain information. Perhaps it wouldn’t, but I had to try. Knowledge is power.

There were many reasons to go with him, and only one pathetic one to stay. Fearing leaving my family just in case things didn’t work out for me, was not going to make me stay. As I said goodbye to my family, I could see the uncertainty, confusion and hurt in their eyes.

It wasn’t the way I had wanted this to be, but it was the way it had to be. As I walked out the door and into the car, Lexis remained stoic and silent. Even Abe, who gave me the impression he was much like Marley and Avery, jovial and carefree, seemed quiet.

My heart felt heavy as the car started. I had none of my belongings with me, Mykah had run off, and I was apprehensive about what was now going to happen. When I heard the bang on the boot of the car, it startled me.

When the window rolled down, seeing Mykah’s face, both filled me with anguish and love. She handed me a bag with some of my home comforts, but the sorrow and confusion in her eyes would haunt me.

Lexis rolled the window up, and we drove away. I watched in the rearview mirror as Mykah shifted and followed the car all the way to the edge of the border. When her form disappeared from view, I swallowed hard, my throat dry, trying to hold back my tears.

Now was not the time to show weakness. When we had been driving for almost 40 minutes, Lexis finally spoke. “We are entering our border shortly. When we arrive, Cal will take you directly to your room. I have some things I need to attend to. I will come and see if you have settled in when I can and we can discuss how this is going to work.”

I didn’t really know how to answer him. He was elusive and vague. There was no warmth in his tone. I thought when we had left the hostility of my brothers, he would relax. He was sending me off with a pack member I didn’t know, instead of escorting me himself.

Being taken directly to my room, instead of showing me around and introducing me to people, gave me the impression he was ashamed of me. His words indicated that I would be shut away until he was ready to deal with me, and I felt my heart sink.

It sounded like I was having my own room, and not sharing it with him. While I was glad he was not forcing his mark on me tonight, I was confused as to why he wouldn’t want to be with me. I was conflicted. Did it mean he didn’t want me?

“… discuss how this is going to work?” I asked, unable to hold my tongue.

What did that even mean? I thought it was pretty self-explanatory how the bonding process worked between fated couples. It would seem Lexis had different ideas, and I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted him to answer me.

Apparently, it didn’t matter what I wanted, I had no choice, “Yes. I have ground rules you will follow, and I expect you to agree to them. If you don’t, you can return to Scafell, and we can complete the rejection process.”

The idea of being rejected hurts. Even though I had no idea what was going to happen here, I still felt the pull towards him. His scent filled my senses and his aura was magnetic, despite his cool, frosty exterior.

I could see Abe raise his eyes to look at me through the rear-view mirror. Lexis’s statement surprised him as much as it did me. I had no idea what was going to be expected of me, but I am here now, I guess I would soon find out. I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned back to look out of the window.

The dual-track dirt path that we turned onto seemed to roll through the hills, the scenery was stunning. Even on this damp, overcast day, the muted colours of the heather and bracken that littered the side of the murky green hills looked beautifully melancholy.

It seemed to reflect my mood quite aptly. Unlike Lexis, his apathetic attitude was currently as hostile as the looming grey clouds that threatened a storm at any moment. The weather here, despite not being far from Scafell, seemed to have a mind of its own.

We were up high, and the sheer drop to the valley below made my stomach churn. There was no barrier should we veer off the edge. Lexis watched me closely as I concentrated on the scenery and not the possibility of my impending death.

I may be smart and pragmatic, however, it didn’t stop me from having irrational fears. The chances of that happening are slim. I knew that, but it was not impossible and before today, I had no idea I had any irrational fears.

I wasn’t sure if it was the height or dying in that way, that was what scared me. Maybe both. Dying itself, I didn’t fear. But there was something about falling from a great height in a car with these men that caused me to feel immensely sick.

Not least, as we approached the sharpest bend, I had ever had the displeasure of being driven on. As Abe made the corner with ease, and the descent into the pack commenced, I felt both relieved and anxious. We were nearly there.

Looking down at the pack below, it was like a fortress. Thick grey stone walls encased the packhouse and its immediate vicinity. Which I assumed had the pack houses in it. However, it was difficult to tell from the canopy of trees that covered the majority of the land enclosed.

The packhouse was unmistakable. It was about the same size as ours, but the stark grey stone exterior made it look like a prison. As we got closer, if I wasn’t mistaken, the windows had steel shutters. Although at present they seemed open. That was something at least.

The car pulled up to the black wrought iron gates and then opened without either one of the inhabitants of the car speaking. This was when I realised we had not been accosted or checked by a single security check.

I assumed they had called ahead to state their arrival. I didn’t notice either one of them mind link, but I wasn’t paying attention to them. When we pulled up outside the front doors, there was no one there to greet us. I was surprised. I had expected to be introduced to his mother and father at least.

I also knew he had a sister, although he had not mentioned her or his folks. She was 8 or 9 years older than me, but I had hoped we would get on. According to the census, she was not yet mated, so I had no reason to believe she wasn’t here.

The car came to a stop, and I moved to take off my seatbelt. My hands were shaking, and I was unable to click the stupid red button to release me. I was annoyed at myself. I didn’t want to show him I was nervous.

Lexis lent over, his scent, which had filled the car on the journey here, was stifling. He looked into my eyes as he clicked the button, freeing me from the restraint, without saying a word. His hand grazed mine and the sparks that shot through us were intense.

He pulled his hand back quickly and turned his head sharply. Opening the car door, the cool damp air did little to disperse the strong smell of rosewood and patchouli. Rich, earthy, raw, and fragrant. A smell now I would never be able to forget, no matter what happened next.

Abe had already exited the car, unbeknown to me. I went to pull the car door handle, but before I could open it, the door opened for me. Assuming it was Abe, I smiled as I said thank you as I stepped out of the car, before looking up and realising it was Lexis.

His expressionless face gave nothing away, and my smile faltered, quickly turning my own appearance solemn. Abe had disappeared, but another man appeared from the front door. He looked about my age, and he looked at me with curiosity.

I wasn’t sure I liked the way he was staring at me. It was weird. “Alpha,” He came closer and nodded his head in respect. He looked at me, “Luna,” and greeted me with the same respect.

I looked at Lexis for confirmation of etiquette. I knew the correct procedure, but none of what was happening here was by the book. I was confused. This man was calling me Luna when Lexis seemed intent on hiding me away.

I swallowed hard as Lexis ignored my silent plea for help. The strange pull I felt towards the man in front of me was unnerving. It wasn’t like the mate bond, but I felt it, nevertheless. I smiled weakly at the man before me. Not knowing what else to do.

Coming here was a mistake. I thought I was stronger than this. I thought I could handle it. I thought he would at least give us a chance once we were in his homeland. Instead, I felt weak and pathetic. I lowered my gaze. I just wanted to go home.

“Take her to the foxglove guest suite, Cal.” He said without sparing me a single look.

He walked ahead and straight into the packhouse. I looked at Cal and he uncomfortably shifted on his feet. He afforded me a small smile but gave me no indication he could feel the strange pull between us. I chose not to mention it. I knew nothing about him, this pack or what was happening.

He picked up my bag, and I followed him into the packhouse. Inside, the stone floor was beautifully patterned but seemed unwelcoming against the dreary and bleak grey interior. Our footsteps echoed around the large expanse of the reception area.

The sound seemed to bounce off the stark walls in the eerie silence. The lack of noise and commotion seemed out of place in a busy packhouse, late afternoon on a weekday. I felt a strange chill in the air. It did nothing to ease my discomfort.

We climbed the expanding staircase that split into corridors to both the left and right as we reached the top. The large window at the top of the staircase overlooked a large communal garden area. The traditional English garden layout was enchanting.

It was the first time this place didn’t feel like a jail, with me being led to my cell. The foxglove suite sounded nice, but I wasn’t taking anything for granted. Beautiful but deadly, this particular wildflower was known to have the power to both cure and kill.

Checking over his shoulder once or twice, to ensure I was still behind him, Cal moved swiftly to the left and back on himself. Instead of following the corridor that seemed to lead to countless doors, we were now facing the stairs we had just walked up but were standing in front of steel lift doors.

I craned my neck to see what was on the opposite side of the landing, but I was ushered into the small space as soon as the doors opened before I was certain. I guessed it was an identical layout to what I had seen.

The keypad was self-explanatory. -1, I assumed was the basement, 0 for the ground floor, 1, 2 and 3 for the first and second floors. I wondered why we hadn’t got into the lift on the ground floor, but I hadn’t noticed it. We were on the first floor, so I wasn’t surprised when he pressed the number 2.

When the lift sounded to inform us that we had reached our destination, the door opened, and I followed him willingly to the left. Directly in front of us, slightly set back, was the door. It looked like a front door you would see on the outside of a house.

Cal shrugged, taking in my look of interest. “Gamma Masters home.” He said stiffly. He stopped abruptly, “This is you,” he turned on his heel to his right, and pointed to a door I hadn’t noticed.

This was an ordinary-looking internal door, but I knew better. The plaque on the front had ‘Foxglove suite’ engraved on it, with an image of the plant innocently beside it. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door.

Stepping in, it wasn’t as glum as I had anticipated. It wasn’t homely or warm, but at least the stone walls had hanging tapestries to give it some colour. The four-poster bed was in the centre of the room and a two-seater couch was placed under the window.

I walked over to look out at the view. “Alpha will come up with your dinner a little later.” He said as he dropped my bag on the floor by the door.

I turned to say thank you, but he had already left and was shutting the door. It was only when I heard the click of the lock that the panic set in. Had he just locked me in? I ran to the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. I sat on the bed in a daze.

It wasn’t long before the tears started to stream down my cheeks. I curled up into a ball and sobbed. What have I done?