The Silent Ones

Chapter 1

Catriona Belle Abott danced to the soft music that was playing. Her leg came up as she twirled before someone cleared their throat.

"Catriona, stop dancing and come greet Alpha Carson." Catriona stopped immediately and resisted the strong urge to ignore Alpha Hale. She hated him. He killed her parents and then forced her to join his pack because she was only eight at the time. She pulled her hair tie from her name of fiery, blood red curls and walked to Alpha Hale. She didn't meet either of their eyes, but stared down at her little hands.

"Catriona is a dancer and painter. She cooks for the pack. She's a runt, obviously, and she doesn't speak." Alpha Hale said. He hated her, but not because of her status or size. He wanted her as his mate, but Catriona felt nothing for him. Alpha Carson took her tiny hand in his large one and brought to his lips, "Catriona, a name as beautiful and graceful as the girl it belongs to." Alpha Carson stated. Catriona slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes. They were shockingly blue and bright against his pale skin and black hair. At his touch, her skin lit on fire. The heat spread through her before settling in the pit of her stomach and dying her pale cheeks a bright red.

"How old are you?" He asked her. Catriona kept her lips sealed. The words were there, bubbling on her tongue, but she didn't will her lips to move. Not in the presence of Alpha Hale.

"Catriona is nineteen, I believe. She hasn't spoken in at least eleven years. Maybe she's mute or deaf. Things that are not uncommon in runts like herself." Alpha Hale was staring at her as if he could make her look at him. Catriona couldn't tear her witchy green eyes from Alpha Carson's blue ones.

"Catriona, would you accompany me on a walk?" Alpha Carson asked kindly. Catriona nodded and looked down at his offered hand before placing hers in it.

"Catriona should begin dinner for the pack." Alpha Hale said sternly. Catriona eased into Alpha Carson's side. He wrapped a muscular arm around her waist.

"It'll be short." He assured. Catriona's skin was burning in ways that she hadn't known was possible at the places Alpha Carson was touching her.

"Fine. If you don't have dinner on the table by seven, you will not eat tonight." Alpha Hale warned coldly. Catriona flinched and tried to hide herself behind Alpha Carson, but he kept her in her place.

"Why don't you order pizza? A beautiful woman like her should get a break every once in a while."

"Alpha Carson, it is not your place-" Alpha Carson growled at Alpha Hale before looking down at Catriona possesively.

"I claim Catriona as my mate. She is mine." He said, daring Alpha Hale to say anything else. Catriona's eyes widened, but something about those dangerous words felt so right to her.

"Yet she cannot agree, can she?" Catriona looked down, but Alpha Carson tilted her chin up softly.

"Do you take me as your mate?" Catriona looked into his eyes and nodded. Her heart pounded in her ears, almost giving her a headache, but it was a good feeling. For once since this pack took her, she felt free.

"See, that's all the agreement needed. My plane will be leaving in the morning now that I've found my mate and if she wants, Catriona is free to come with me." Alpha Hale growled, "She is a member of this pack. And as her alpha, I forbade her leaving."

"It is her choice, not yours." Alpha Game's face was bright red. The tension was building up as the alphas both shook, looking like they were about to rip from their human skin and shift into their lupine fur. Catriona released Alpha Carson, feeling instantly lost without the physical contact with her mate, but hurried from the room. Both alphas followed her, but for a runt, she moved fast. The three of them ended up in her room where she stood and crossed her arms before Alpha Carson looked to her, "You have to tell us what you want." He said gently, stroking the side of her cheek, sending shocks through her body. With a rare show of courage, she grabbed a marker and wrote on the mirror in the room.

'I have wanted to leave ever since they brought me here.' She smiled at the neat cursive and dated to shoot a look at Alpha Hale who was bubbling with anger.

"You are mine. You can't leave." He growled, "Get downstairs and cook." Catriona defiantly shook her head. Before Carson could stop him, Alpha Hale slapped Catriona hard across her cheek. She did something that obviously surprised him and cried out in pain when she fell to the floor. Alpha Carson roared in anger before attacking Alpha Hale. They were a flash of fists and feet as they fought, yet Alpha Carson fought gracefully, landing each blow he threw. When Alpha Hale fell the floor, Alpha Carson wiped the blood from his lip.

"Do you have a suitcase for your things, Catriona?" He asked through his heavy breaths. She shook her head before he nodded, "I'll clear space in mine, okay?" She nodded before he moved hair from her face. For a moment, she thought he'd kiss her, but instead cast a look at Alpha Hale.

"We'll be getting ready to leave now. Unless you want to try stop us again." He said. Alpha Hale stood up and growled before looking down at Catriona.

"You'll regret this, runt." Catriona took Alpha Carson's hand and brought it to her lips while she locked eyes with Alpha Hale.

Deal with it, she wanted to say. Alpha Carson walked out to get his bag as Catriona and Alpha Hale glared at each other.

"We treated you good here and this is how you repay us?" Alpha Carson came back, he had a large green suitcase. He set it one Catriona's bed and opened it.

"Anything you want to bring? I can buy you more clothes when we get to my territory if you'd like." He offered. She nodded eagerly and pulled the handmade quilt from her bed. Her mother had made it. She folded it tightly and places it nearly into the suitcase before moving to her dresser and opening the top drawer. There was a picture of her parents, a locket, and next to it was her bag of paints and brushes. Alpha Carson looked at the picture, "Are these your parents?" Catriona nodded as pain flashed in her heart.

"They were the Alpha and Luna of the Lunae pack, right? Was that your pack?" Catriona nodded and looked at the picture.

"I thought that a neighboring pack and then got into a war and the Lunae were all killed. Catriona shook her head and pointed a tiny accusing finger at Alpha Hale before picking up the last things, her father's wedding band that had her pack's crest in it and her mother's engagement and wedding bands that had been strung into a gold chain. She put it in and concealed it under her shirt.

"Are you ready now?" He asked before lifting up her ballet shoes. She watched with curious green eyes as he put then into the suitcase before zipping it. Catriona nodded and looked one last time at Alpha Hale as Alpha Carson led her out. The pack came to watch as Alpha Carson put the bag in the car and opened the door for his tiny mate.