Chapter 5

Rachel's POV

I had been greeted with a shocking and unexpected sight as soon as Cole had pulled up to the curb. In one jarring moment I had witnessed Alpha Damon and another woman locked in a deep kiss, and I had also realized that he was the source of the scent that had tickled my wolf and I even before we reached the gates to the Moon Stone mansion.

So the man whose mate I was destined to be was already in love with another woman? Making me what, an intruder in their relationship? What a cruel joke the Fates and the Moon Goddess had decided to play on me, I had thought, shaking my head sadly.

I could hardly believe that the Moon Goddess had made us mates, much less understand why she would pair me with someone so cruel. It was so unfair!

"I have to get back home to our pack," Cole had informed me. "Now you take care of yourself and don't go stepping on tails that shouldn't be stepped on, okay?"

I had nodded sadly in agreement and reached out to hug him briefly, wondering how long it would be before I saw him again. I had retrieved my backpack and travel bag from the backseat and stepped out of the car, resolving to focus on why I had come here and probably find a way to deal with my misguided mate later on.

And then a pack member had ambled up to me, inquiring about who I was and why I was here. When he realized who I was, he seemed to start acting a bit nicer towards me and he had pointed me in the direction of his Alpha. Of course I'd already seen all that there was to see. If I wasn't sufficiently disappointed at the first instance, I was now completely appalled.

I had stood there for what seemed like a long time, contemplating how to approach him. Would I tell him that I had been arranged to become his wife? I shook my head. Now that the thought had crossed my mind, my wolf and I both agreed that it was a stupid idea. Who in their right mind would do that? I wasn't oblivious of the fact that he was obviously interested in someone else. Now what would I do with such a situation?

"First things first," my wolf, Kayla said to me. "Go and introduce yourself."

Right, I reasoned.

Finally I sidled up to him and cleared my throat for him to notice me. "Excuse me?"

He whirled around to face me and stared at me as if I was a ghostly apparition. Then just as quickly, his face contorted into a deep frown and for a split second I thought he might snarl at me for having just interrupted what was happening between him and the other woman.

"Who are you?" he said in a deep voice that sounded more like a growl to me.

I was so intimidated and somewhat scared by his countenance that I blinked rapidly, trying to recollect my own name, while also trying to anticipate what other possible questions he might have for me and suitable answers for those questions.

"I'm Rachel Meyers from the Dark Wood pack." I watched his eyes grow slightly wide with recognition.

He grunted. "And what am I supposed to do with that information?"

I sighed. "I assumed you would already know why I'm here."

I saw a flash of anger in his eyes, his nostrils flaring. "So you think you can just come into my compound and speak to me in such a condescending manner?" His hot breath fanned my face and I took a fearful step back from him. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Oh hell! What did I say now that was so offensive?

"I- I'm sorry," I stuttered. "I didn't mean to -"

"What are you even doing here in my compound, anyway?"

I swallowed, staring at him in fear with big, round eyes. "I- I thought that -"

He smirked. "You thought that you could just come here and move your things into my mansion like you own it? You thought that just because both our fathers arranged for us to get married, I'm automatically supposed to welcome you into my home with open arms?" He shook his head.

I stared at him, at a loss for words. Had I unknowingly done or said something to offend him? Why was he being so mean to me? We didn't even know each other. I looked briefly from him to the other woman standing behind him and then back to him. Why did she look so pleased to see him making me so uncomfortable with his hostile reception?

"I'm sorry. I- I wasn't -"

"Who let you in?" he asked me, scowling.

"Um... Gabriel?"

"Are you asking him or you're telling him?" the woman asked me, her arms folded across her chest.

I glanced at her and bit down on the insides of my bottom lip, willing myself to not glare at her and cause more trouble for myself.

"No," I replied. "He said his name was Gabriel."

Alpha Damon stared over my shoulder into the distance as if he was considering something, then he finally waved the pack member named Gabriel over.

I turned my head to see Gabriel walking over to us and he finally came to a halt a few feet to my side.

"Gabriel, take Miss Meyers to Francine's quarters," Alpha Damon ordered.

"Oh, I thought she was staying in your mansion?"

Alpha Damon frowned at him. "If she was going to be staying here at my mansion, I wouldn't be telling you to take her to Francine's quarters now, would I?"

Gabriel shook his head. "No. I'm sorry, Alpha. I'll do that right away." Then to me he said, holding out a hand politely, "After you, Miss Meyers."

"Excuse me," I said to both Alpha Damon and the woman, giving them a curt nod. Then I turned to leave with Gabriel. I didn't want to just turn around and walk away and have them accuse me of being rude or insolent.

As I bent down to pick up my duffel bag, Gabriel stopped me saying, "Let me help you with those."

I nodded, shrugging off my backpack, while he carried my duffel bag and took the backpack from me. I felt relieved not just because he was helping me with my things, but also because I was leaving the Alpha's and the other woman's unwelcoming presence.

"It still doesn't sit well with me that she has to live in our estate," I heard the woman say, but I kept walking, biting my tongue to keep from saying something that I might regret.

I knew that she was goading me, probably because she felt threatened by my presence here and what it meant. Well, where the hell did she expect me to stay? Out in the forest with rogues?

"It doesn't matter because I'll never accept her as my mate," Alpha Damon said.

"Then what's the point of any of this? Just tell her to go back to her pack. You're the Alpha and this is your life."

What a bitch! Kayla huffed.

A sigh escaped Alpha Damon's lips. "I can't go against my father like that."

Their voices sounded kind of distant by now so when she muttered something, it was inaudible to me. Then I heard Alpha Damon's voice reassuring her, "... could ever replace you, much less a pathetic stranger from another pack."

I scoffed, shaking my head in exasperation. So now they thought I was a pathetic stranger. Just what the hell kind of arrangement had I been forced into?