Chapter five

The room was empty save for Erin, who had offered to get me some clothes and also show me to the pack house. I looked at myself in the mirror after Erin applied some concealer on my face to cover up the bruises.

“You are really pretty, you know? You are going to turn heads here,” Erin said.

“Thanks,” I said. “Same with you. You’re pretty.”

“No, you don’t have to compliment me back just because—” she said with a shy smile, and I noticed that she lacked self-confidence no matter how much she tried to hide it.

“No, I really mean it. You’re pretty—not like sexy, but cute. You should be more proud of yourself,” I said to show her I meant what I said.

“Thanks,” she said, her smile widening.

“It’s fine,” I said. “So, what should I expect?” I asked. “From the Alpha’s summoning, I mean.”

“Nothing much. They’re going to decide what to do with you. And don’t worry, Turner is kind, so rest assured you won’t be in any trouble.”

“Who is Turner?” I asked.

“The Alpha,” she said. “Now let’s get going. I’m sure it’s not only the Alpha, but the council must be there too.”

“Okay, now I’m getting really scared,” I said as we left the room and walked down a flight of stairs. We arrived in a gym-like room, only it was the size of a large theatre.

“This is the delta room. Pack members are trained here,” she said.

“Relax, I know what a delta room is,” I replied, looking around the room and realizing this was my pack. This pack had both male and female members training.

“The girls train too?” I asked.

“Yeah. I know it’s unusual, but Turner believes in equality. I mean, not only men need to defend themselves,” she said.

“He seems like a nice guy,” I said as we left the room. I thought they would be on me since I was a stranger, but they were too engrossed in their training to notice me.

Outside the gym, I got to have a good view of the pack, and it was mesmerizing. Not that it was bigger than my former pack, but all the structures here had a medieval design that made the surroundings colorful.

As we came into full view of the people, a wave of hushed murmurs swept through the compound and all eyes rested on me, just as I feared.

“Can you tell me why they’re all looking at me? I mean, I expected some surprises, but all eyes on me? Literally, I did not expect that,” I said in a quiet tone, genuinely concerned. I was getting the sort of attention a captured serial killer would get.

“See? I was not joking when I told you you would turn heads here,” she said, smiling.

“Seriously? It looks like I’m unwanted,” I said.

“I know. And don’t worry, we’ll talk about it later. But now let’s deal with this,” Erin said as we stopped in front of a standard wood house—the only one we had seen so far.

“Okay,” I said, opening the door nervously.

“Girl, I’ll see you when you come out,” she said.

“Sure,” I replied, having not expected her to come in with me.

As soon as I entered the room, the first thing I sensed was the alpha energy. Then the stillness of the room—and fifteen eyes boring quietly into me.

“This is Turner, the pack Alpha,” one of the men said, pointing to the youngest in the room. “And this is Victoria, the lead elder,” he said, pointing to a middle-aged lady who somehow looked graceful and admirable.

“What is your name?” A cold voice broke in, and for some reason I sensed resentment or hatred in the voice.

I turned to see it was the Alpha, Turner.

“Chelsea Keith,” I replied.

“Which pack are you from?” The cold voice came again.

My heart instantly stopped, and I swallowed hard at the question. If I told him my pack, he could most likely send me back—and Jordan would finish what he started.

“I don’t know,” I replied when the silence got too long.

“You don’t know?” came the elegant voice of Lady Victoria as she addressed me.

“Well… yes,” I stammered. “I was forcefully gone from my pack and abandoned, and almost left to die.”

“Is that so?” the Alpha’s voice came again, his tone unreadable.

“You don’t believe her?” Lady Victoria asked.

“I don’t,” the Alpha said flatly, producing a pendant. “This pendant is a family heirloom, passed down through generations. It’s meant to protect its bearer. Surely, a rogue wolf wouldn’t have one unless she got her hands dirty first.”

“Are you suggesting she is a thief?” one of the elders asked.

“Yes.” He said nothing more. “But I’ll give you guys a vote on her fate,” he added, getting up to leave the room. As he got close to me, he said quietly, “But if I find out you lied, you will not care about what happens next.”

For the first time, I noticed his good looks—something the darkness of last night and my nervousness had not allowed me to see.

“Alright, Chelsea. What do you want?” Lady Victoria asked as soon as the Alpha left.

“To be accepted into the pack,” I replied.

“Okay. All in favor of her staying should raise their hand, and those who are against it should place their hands down on the table. No one is allowed to abstain,” she said.

“And what if it’s a tie?” one of the elders asked.

“Then she will be sent away,” she replied.

“Okay, let’s vote,” she said, raising her hand.

I immediately closed my eyes. I surely did not want to be sent away. I could die—not survive long on my own.

“A tie,” one of them declared, and my eyes snapped open.

“Then she has to go,” Lady Victoria said.

My heart sank. I was done for. And Jordan—Jordan could still find me lurking in the woods.

Just then, the door opened and a young man about the Alpha’s age walked in.

“Looks like I am here just in time,” he said calmly. “I am the Alpha’s beta and  I always get a vote, don’t I?”