4: 24 hours

Leni’s POV

Standing confidently beneath the lights was the same man from the hotel.

The same man I’d bumped into only minutes ago.

The same man I’d just snapped at.

I stared at him, completely frozen.

He’s… the Alpha’s son?

“My goodness…” Maya whispered beside me, her eyes glued to the stage. “He’s so hot.”

I barely heard her.

As soon as I recognized him, I sobered up instantly.

Panic hit me, and I could hardly breathe.

He wasn’t just some rich stranger in an expensive suit.

He was the Alpha’s son.

The future Alpha of Rainstone Pack.

My mind immediately jumped to the worst possible outcome.

What if he ordered my arrest?

What if he threw me into the dungeons for disrespecting him?

Or maybe something even worse.

I couldn’t stay here.

I couldn’t risk him spotting me in the crowd, especially in this ridiculous green dress.

Without thinking, I took a step backward.

Then another.

The moment I reached the edge of the crowd, I turned around and ran.

I pushed through the grand doors, ignored the guards’ and the confused looks on people's faces, and hurried down the steps.

By the time I reached the parking lot, my hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped my purse.

“Come on… come on…”

I finally found the car keys, shoved them into the ignition, and started the engine.

The front bumper scraped the ground as I sped out of the pack estate, not daring to look back.

The moment I got to Maya’s apartment, I rushed inside and locked the door. Then I cross checked to make sure it was really locked. 

I began pacing even without realising it. The once peaceful living room now felt hunted.

My heart refused to slow down.

“Think, Leni,” I muttered, biting nervously on my thumbnail.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Should I leave the pack tonight?

Disappear before he thinks of coming after me?

The more I thought, the worse it all seemed.

About forty-five minutes later, there was a banging at the front door.

Chills ran down my whole body, my chest pounding heavily as I stepped further away from the door. 

“Open up, Leni! I know you're in there!” Maya said, still pounding the door like she was about to send it to the ground. 

I eased up a bit at the sound of her voice, but something inside of me still held fear. Not until I peeped through the window and saw that she had come alone. 

I let out a heavy sigh before finally opening the door. 

Maya rushed inside, looking completely out of breath.

“What was that?” she demanded.

She shut the door behind her and stared at me in disbelief.

“Seriously, Leni! I looked away for one second, and you disappeared. I had to beg someone for a ride home.”

I covered my face with both hands.

“I’m screwed.” That was the only explanation that could make it out of my mouth. 

“What are you talking about?”

She slipped off her heels and walked toward me.

“Speak up, Leni, you’re making me scared.” 

I slowly lowered my hands.

“The guy I said I met at the hotel last week.”

She frowned.

“That guy. Yes, I remember.”

I sighed.

“He’s the Alpha's son.”

Her eyebrows pulled together.

“What?” She exclaimed. “No, you've got to be kidding me.”

“How come you didn't know he was the one?”

“It’s been eight years, Maya. How was I supposed to know that that chubby foodie of an Alpha's son from years ago could turn into something this fine?” 

“You’re right,” She admitted, then paused for a while, hands rubbing her temple. “What do you intend to do now?”

Before I could answer,

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

A loud knock echoed through Maya’s apartment.

Both of us froze.

Maya looked at me.

I looked at her.

Neither of us moved.

Another knock came.

Even louder this time.

She swallowed before walking slowly toward the door. She opened it just enough to peek outside.

“Can… can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Miss Leni Ashbrook.” A cold voice said behind the door. “The newly crowned Alpha requests her presence.”

My heart dropped. 

“I’m sorry, but Leni is not here.” Maya answered a little too quickly. “Maybe you should check…” 

“Young lady, I'm not here to joke.” He interrupted. 

“I'm not joking either.” Maya said in that high pitched tone that always made it obvious that she was lying. 

“What if we simply take you with us until Leni Ashbrook decides to come out of her hiding?”

I stood at a hidden corner as I watched the door fall open and two men dressed in the Royal guards attire stepped into house. 

My eyes widened as they lifted Maya off her feet. 

“Let me go!” Maya screamed. 

They didn't budge, as a matter of fact, they were already carrying her towards the door. 

“Stop!”

I hurried forward before they could harm Maya.

“Leave her out of this. I’ll come with you.”

Maya turned to me, eyes wide with fear, but I just shook my head at her.

There was no point dragging her into my mess.

The guards let her down, leading me towards one of the Royal SUV’s parked right outside of Maya's apartment. 

****

The drive back to the pack estate was painfully quiet.

The black SUV moved quietly along the road while my stomach twisted in knots.

I kept imagining how I would look in the prison attire.

Images of how my body would look after they were done lashing me kept flooding my mind.  

I also pictured an angry mob throwing things at me as my crime is being read out to the people right before I'm used as a scapegoat for anyone who disrespects the newly crowned Alpha. 

None of it looked good. 

I wiped off the tears that had gathered by the corner of my eyes, bracing myself for whatever was to come.

When we arrived, the guards escorted me inside the Alpha’s residence. Surprisingly, they didn’t lead me toward the dungeon. Instead, we walked through a long hallway before stopping outside two enormous carved wooden doors.

They opened them.

A grand dining hall came into view.

Golden chandeliers cast warm light across the polished floor. A long dining table stretched almost the entire length of the room, covered with dishes that looked fit for royalty.

At the far end sat the Former Alpha.

To his left was Wesley.

His face was still pale, and he moved slowly, probably still hurting from the accident.

The six pack elders were also seated across the table. 

Then my eyes landed on the man seated at the head of the table.

The new Alpha.

I stopped walking.

My feet refused to move any farther.

“Good evening… My Alphas,” I greeted quietly, lowering my head. “Good evening, great elders of Rainstone Pack.”

Wesley looked up at me, probably expecting me to greet him too, but I acted like he was invisible to me. 

“Miss Ashbrook.” Alpha Martinez, our former Alpha called. 

His voice remained calm. “Please. Join us for dinner.”

Dinner?

I honestly would’ve preferred execution.

Still, with two guards standing behind me, refusing wasn’t exactly an option.

I slowly walked to one of the empty seats near the middle of the table.

As far away from Wesley and the Alpha as I could get.

The moment I sat down, a maid placed a plate of food in front of me.

I picked up my fork with trembling fingers and kept my eyes fixed on the plate.

I refused to look up, neither did I take a bite from my food. 

“You may eat!” The unmistakable voice of the new Alpha carried across the room. 

The silence around the table stretched for several minutes. The only sound was the quiet clink of cutlery.

Then…

“Whose mate is she?” His voice cut through the silence.

I almost choked.

I coughed into my napkin while trying to catch my breath.

“My Alpha,” One of the Elders said. 

“Miss Leni Ashbrook, was Beta Wesley’s mate.

“He rejected her recently.” 

He hesitated briefly.

“She is currently mateless… and wolfless.”

Across the table, Wesley let out a mocking laugh.

My grip tightened around my fork.

“I want her!” The Alpha’s calm voice echoed through the room.

Every fork stopped moving.

Even Wesley looked shocked.

He coughed so hard he had to grab his glass of water.

“My Alpha…” another elder began carefully. “With all due respect, she’s one of the least important members of the pack. She has no position. No wolf…”

The elder never got to finish.

“Say that again.” The Alpha’s voice dropped so low the room instantly went silent. “And you’ll spend the next week recovering in the pack hospital.”

The elder’s face was drained of color.

He immediately lowered his head. “I’m sorry, My Alpha.”

Alpha Martinez looked toward his son. “Out of everyone in the pack, why her?”

The new Alpha leaned back in his chair. “Because she’s the one I chose. And I hope you’ll respect my decision.”

Wesley immediately leaned forward. “My Alpha, I object.”

The Alpha didn’t even spare him a glance.

“You should reconsider,” Wesley continued desperately. “She’s...”

“My Alpha, I'm sorry, but I don't think I want this either,” I cut in.

Everyone looked at me.

Wesley pointed in my direction. “See? She doesn’t even want this.”

Still, the Alpha’s eyes never left mine.

“I don’t need anyone's opinion,” he said evenly. “My decision stands.”

“No.” The word slipped out before I could stop myself.

A heavy silence filled the room.

I slowly stood from my chair.

My heart pounded in my chest. 

“I'm a person, not an object. And I deserve to be allowed to make my own decisions.” 

To my surprise, he smiled.

Not a mocking smile.

Not an angry one either. 

He actually seemed amused.

“Well, If you say so.” 

“You have two choices.”

He leaned forward a little. “You accept my offer…”

He kept his voice calm. “Or you leave Rainstone Pack.” 

My stomach sank.

Then he continued. “And I’ll personally make sure no other pack accepts you.”

I understood what he meant right away.

I’d become a rogue.

I would be completely alone.

I stared at him in disbelief, “You can't just kick me out of the pack because I refused your offer.”  

Instead of answering, he glanced at the expensive watch around his wrist.

“You have twenty-four hours to make your decision.” His eyes met mine again.

He paused.

"And make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”