Chapter 4

Mary had put the three of us in the library, I sat between Ryan and Arabella, leaning into Ryan with his arm around me, Arabella leaning on me looking just as ready as I was to go to sleep.

A familiar whining hit my ears that made me cringe, “why can’t this wait until morning, I want to go to bed.”

Coming into view, Alpha Azai, Beta Zaine, Austin, and Shayla. All of them looked at Ryan and I, Shayla looked at me the same as ever, as if she’d tasted something bad. Zaine, raised his eyebrows, pursed his lips, putting his hand on Azai’s shoulder. Azai’s eyes were flashing black, his jaw tense. Austin was glaring at Ryan looking pissed, who suddenly realized and took his arm from around me as I sat up straighter. Why is everyone so angry?

Austin was a foot taller than me with the same jet-black hair we inherited from our father, but he had amber colored eyes that he also got from our father. His jawline was sharp, and he had five o’clock shadow. Shayla had light ebony skin with silver eyes, full lips and dark brown curly hair that went halfway down her back, she was tall and her body was what you would expect from a runway model.

Ryan got up speaking to Austin, “Alpha, safe to assume you’re here on business since you had said you weren’t able to come.”

Austin looked back at me, “yeah. We’ve got some issues. Hunter came to Cerulean for a meeting with some outrageous claims.”

I yawned, “do Ara and I have to be here for this, or can we go to bed? It’s not like it involves us.”

Mary walked back in with Tasha following behind her, her hair, and clothes as neat as ever. “Will that be all Alpha?”

Azai gave her a small smile, “yes Mary, you could have left hours ago.” He waited until she was gone from the library. “Alpha Austin, tell us again what happened.”

Austin cleared his throat, “Hunter came in early this morning for our meeting, he’d requested it a week ago, I honestly didn’t think much of it and assumed it was our yearly meet that we had as we hadn’t had one since early last year. He came in talking crazy, something about an agreement with Dark Moon for the Celestite Wolf, that he wanted the same agreement with me.”

Azai’s brows furrowed. “Zaine and Ryan, take Arabella and Luna Shayla to the common areas and grab them some food if they want anything.” The two nodded and got up to escort the others out. Azai waited until he heard the library door close. “Tasha, do you know anything about this? It’s your area of expertise.”

Tasha was frowning, “unfortunately I do. My grandmother mated to the dark moon Gamma, she was of no importance to the Silver Dawn pack other than her abilities but because of them, she stayed in the pack house as an informant and using her powers to the Alpha’s benefit. When she discovered to was mated to the Dark Moon Gamma her life was changed, she got to live for herself. They later discovered the only reason she was allowed to leave was because Silver Dawn didn’t want to be cursed by the Goddess, but they had formed an agreement with the Dark Moon Alpha that the next Celestite wolf born would return to Silver Dawn where they rightfully belonged.”

“Sounds more like abuse of power and enslavement,” Azai growled. “What was his exact request, Austin?”

“He’s under the impression that one of my children will be the Celestite Wolf and wants to lay claim to it.”

I sat in silence listening to their words. An agreement of enslavement to an Alpha of Silver Dawn. If they knew, would they hand me over because of the agreement? Austin was quick to send me away before, technically he wasn’t my alpha now but why would Azai care where I went?

We are no one’s slave, Amara snarled in my head.

I know that, but what are we going to do? Run away and become rogues? Wherever we go, it will be hard to hide that we’re different.

I could feel Amara become restless; she knew I was right but naturally we desired pack life. My attention went back to the conversation in front of me.

“He requested a lunch meeting with me for tomorrow, likely after he left your pack.” Azai said, sounding irritated.

“He knows Allie is here,” Austin said.

Azai’s eyes went black, “Hunter will take no one from my pack,” he snarled.

Austin took a step back, “seems there’s some history there.”

Azai regained composure of himself, “he’s an arrogant man, you’d think with age it would have gotten better but it hasn’t. Their entire line seems to have an issue with entitlement. I’ll make no such deal.” Azai crossed his arms. “Go home, Tasha. Alessia will be staying here, under my watch until I find out what Hunter wants.”

I opened my mouth to protest but was too tired to argue, “what about Arabella and Ryan?”

“They’ll be staying here as well. Mary prepped rooms before Tasha arrived and Zaine has taken them to theirs, and Luna Shayla to hers.”

We all walked out of the library, a large guard with a scar down the side of his face stood at the front of the pack house door waiting, “Gavin will take you home again Tasha.” Azai said to her, she smiled and thanked him, leaving the packhouse. Austin and I followed Azai up the stairs, “Austin you will be down the east wing, fourth door on the left. Ryan and Arabella share the third room on the right.”

As Austin was about to leave, I grabbed his arm, “are you leaving tomorrow? Or do we have time to catch up?”

He nodded, “a lot to deal with at home sis. How about we do breakfast? Shayla usually sleeps in anyway.”

I gave a small smile and nodded, “see you at breakfast then.” As he walked down the east wing I followed Azai down the east wing, he stopped at a room with an open door. Next to what appeared to be his room with big double doors. “Keeping me close for comfort? I’ll be sure to keep you safe, I’m a great fighter.” I joked, surprised my brain still worked after being awake almost 24 hours.

Azai chuckled, “more like keeping an eye and an ear on you. Good night, Alessia.” He turned on his heel, going into his room.

It had almost been 24 hours of being awake, I was exhausted. Walking into the room, I realized I had no clothes other than what I had on. I sighed and looked around the room. A king size bed with an emerald green comforter and silver silk sheets, a door off to the left looked like it was probably the bathroom. A shower sounded so good. I walked over there, turned on the water and took off my clothes as it warmed up. I tied my hair up with the hair tie from my wrist so it wouldn’t get wet and stepped into the steamy water. I stood there for a moment letting the hot water run over me, soothing my aching muscles. I washed with the lavender body wash in the corner and got out and dried myself, turning off all the lights and practically falling into bed. Hopefully I’d get some sleep.

I was in his room again, looking at him as he sat in one of the armchairs by the fireplace in his room. He downed whatever was in his glass, looking broodier than ever. I took a few steps toward him and stopped as the door opened, it was Zaine. “If you don’t change your ways you’re going to age prematurely, Azai” he joked.

Azai chuckled, “do you think she knows?”

Zaine shrugged as he sat down in the chair across from Azai, “how would she?”

Azai poured himself another drink from one of the decanters on the table beside his chair. “I don’t trust that Beta from her birth pack, something about him is off. Her brother though, I like him. Straight forward and to the point, a lot like his father.”

“I like her redhead friend,” Zaine smiled.

Azai lifted a brow at him, “always thinking with the wrong head, nothing new there.”

“Woah now,” Zaine pretended to be offended. “I can use the right one when its necessary, nearly 4 am is not the time.”

“Head off to bed. We still have to get up at a decent hour.” Azai stood up, rolling his shoulders to shake off the tension.

Zaine stood up and walked over to the door, “we’ll see what Hunter wants tomorrow. It may have nothing to do with her.”

Azai grunted as Zaine walked out, taking a few steps toward the center of the room, toward me, when he stopped moving. A confused look came across his face as he smelled the air, as if he could smell me.

Suddenly I was awoken by a hand covering my mouth, the other trying to drag me from my bed. I tried my best to scream and kick but whoever the man was he was a lot bigger than me and had the advantage because I’d been asleep. Trying to fight him off I could feel Amara coming forward, trying to push through the exhaustion. Claws sprouting from my hands, I reached up behind me digging into the arms and shoulders of whoever had ahold of me.

I could hear him trying not to cry out in pain. He let go of me with one hand, the other still covering my mouth to prevent me from calling for help. This was my chance, come on Amara, don’t let me down. I felt myself starting to shift causing him to lose his grip has my face elongated. He cursed as my wolf form slipped through his hold and turned around to grab ahold of him with her teeth. Just as she grabbed ahold of his arm, we felt something pierce our neck and a burning sensation.

As Amara’s grip on his arm loosened the door busted open. Azai stood in the doorway, eyes black as the night, Zaine right behind him. My vision was blurring, I felt myself collapsing. The last thing I heard as everything went dark was a guttural snarl.

Pounding headache. Yelling.

“Where is he from!” Someone demanded, I recognized the voice but couldn’t put a name to it. The yelling hurt my head.

“Maybe we’d know if you hadn’t killed him,” someone else snapped

Darkness.

Bright light. Headache.

“She was injected with a good amount of wolfsbane. Give her a few hours, she’ll come around,” a woman’s voice said.

I groaned. “Allie?” a man’s voice questioned.

“Allie, can you hear us?” another woman’s voice asked.

Something smelled so delicious. Whatever it is, I wanted to wake up for it.

My head hurt so bad. Darkness.

It was quiet this time, no lights shining in my eyes. The horrible throbbing in my head was reduced to a dull ache, the delicious smell still filled the room. I hadn’t opened my eyes but knew I was in a bed. Trying to move, my whole body ached, I settled for rolling over. Let’s get it over quick, I thought to myself, throwing myself to the left. I hit something, or rather someone. I could feel bare skin against my face, that wonderful smell stronger than ever. Everything still hurt, I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes and see who it was. I let myself fade back into darkness.

If I’m recovered, so are you, Amara said in my head.

Maybe I wanted some more rest, I groaned in my head.

Here I thought the smell in here was enough to get you out of bed.

I wanted to roll my eyes at her, why the sassy remarks? The room smells so good. I took a deep breath, the smell finally registering in my head. Oh, shit. My eyes shot open.

There’s the reaction I was expecting, she chuckled.

I locked eyes with Alpha Azai, sitting shirtless in his chair by the fireplace, leaned over with his elbows on his knees, a drink in hand.

His face emotionless as he sat up straight, clearing his throat. “Nice to see you’re awake.”

I looked around to get an idea of the time but realized the room had blackout curtains. I sat up, my legs going crisscross as I sat on the bed. “What time is it?”

“Almost 5 pm,” he said. He sounded angry. “You were injected with wolfsbane when you were attacked.”

I hugged myself, “I was asleep. He had both arms around me but let go, I guess to grab it.” He stood up from his chair, walking over to me. He looked down at me waiting for me to finish, then I realized what he was waiting to hear. I shifted; he saw Amara. He knows what I am. Oh god, I had no clothes. I looked down as I drew my knees up to hide myself, I had on a loose t shirt, if I stood up it probably would completely cover me to my thighs.

Azai touched my jaw, turning my face to look at him. “I didn’t let anyone see you.”

My stomach was full of butterflies as his honey eyes looked at me. Use your brain, fool. He knows we’re the Celestite Wolf.

I backed away and his hand dropped. “You know what I am,” I accused

“Yes. I’ve known since yesterday morning. Before you lied to me about what you were doing. You were seen by border patrols.” He paused, trying to read my face. “No one knows besides me, Zaine, Tasha, and you. We didn’t tell your brother or friends.”

I nodded, “Thank you.” Thoughts turned over in my head, I felt like a heavy weight was coming down on me. What would happen to me now? I’d never be able to escape, I’d be used for my abilities that I didn’t even know how to use. My face felt wet, and I realized I was crying. “I don’t want to be locked away; I don’t want to be used for something I didn’t ask for.”

Azai looked angry more than anything. “They’re not taking you anywhere.”

“That doesn’t stop you,” I sobbed.

Azai cupped my face with both his hands, wiping the tears away. “I would never, you have the free will to do whatever you want. If you don’t want to stay in the packhouse, you don’t have to, but I would prefer if you did. You’re safer here.”

I nodded, “what happened to the man that attacked me?”

Azai dropped his hands from my face, his eyes flickering dark, “he’s dead.”

There was a knock at the door, Azai growled but walked over and opened it revealing Arabella. “I brought her clothes, Alpha.” She spoke softly, not making eye contact with him.

He opened the door more so she could see me, “stay with her, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Arabella nodded, coming over to the bed as he closed the door and she handed me some clothes.

“Thanks,” I smiled. Getting up to change out of the alpha’s shirt. Arabella had grown up with me, so we’d gotten dressed around each other a bunch of times.

“I can’t believe you’re in the Alpha’s room, in his shirt,” she squealed. “Maybe he’ll fall in love with you and make you his Luna,” she waggled her brows.

Her girlish excitement made me laugh. “It’s not like that at all, besides, he’s an alpha, he needs his true mate.”

“Hey, you never know, you might be. You’re not 18 yet. You know who I want as a mate? That fine ass Beta he’s got, what’s his name? Bane?”

I laughed out loud this time, “Beta Zaine.”

“Who cares that man is so fine. Finest Beta I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a couple since your brother took over as Alpha.”

Alpha Azai cleared his throat from his doorway, looking like he felt like he had intruded on a conversation he didn’t want to hear. “Mary has dinner ready; you need to eat Alessia.”