Chapter 4

Leo pov

“ Is she gone?” I ask my Beta, Lucas, and he nods. I smile at that. That's so unlike her. My Flora. Last night was the longest night of my life. That little bird tortured me mercilessly until I had to knock her out to escape her temptation.

Despite my burning desire to claim and mark her as mine, I have to do things right. She was broken and hurt last night and the alcohol was making her act and speak recklessly. The Flora I know is one conservative lady. Last night though, she was nothing like that image I had of her.

“ I don't understand you though. You finally had her in your arms, why did you hesitate?” Lucas asks and I heave a heavy sigh.

Lucas knows about my feelings for flora and the connection we share.

“ She was not herself. I didn't want to take advantage of her.”

What I won't tell Lucas is that I am afraid she will not choose me for the second time. I don't think I can survive that.

“ That doesn't sound like the Alpha Leo I know. You are ruthless and don't care about others, only what you want.” Lucas scoffs.

“ She is different,Lucas. She is my mate. I want her to be with me willingly.”

I lost her once, I don't want to rush things and lose her again.

“ Besides, she is still not over that bastard. I refuse to be a rebound for her.”

The thought of that man hurting my precious mate makes me want to snap his neck. After taking her away from me knowing what she meant to me, he had the balls to hurt her and banish her from the pack?

“ I heard the pack will be hosting the Luna crowning ceremony in a month. He could not wait to make that two-faced woman his Luna.” Lucas scoffs. He hates Valen as much as I do. He never told me why, I never pressed since he never seemed comfortable talking about it.

Our hatred for Valen and his family brought us together.

“ It's time for him to pay for his sins and his family's. We will make him taste the hell they put us through.” I vow with clenched fists.

“ He hurt the most important person in my life. I'll not stop until I have destroyed him.”

Twenty years ago, his father, Alpha Alonso, plotted my father's death. Being the beta, no one would have suspected he was responsible for his death. My father was the Alpha of the pack and trusted the man with his life. Who would have thought the man he trusted like a brother would stab him in the back just to usurp the position of Alpha?

Since I was barely five years old, I could not take over as the next Alpha. The council agreed that Alonso would temporarily lead the pack until I came of age.

That greedy bastard didn't however honour the agreement. After my Alpha training which I took with Valen, the rules suddenly changed.

I was forced to compete with Valen to decide who would take over as the Alpha. Growing up together, Valen and I were best friends.

A night before the contest, Valen dragged to have ‘fun’. I opened up how I wanted to win and claim Flora as my mate. I had scented her as my mate before I left for the Alpha training academy.

All I had in mind was winning then claiming my mate. Too comfortable around Valen, I didn't realise he slipped poison to my drink.

That night, I lost control of my wolf and three pack members died as a result. The following day, I was tagged as a threat to the pack and banished.

A month later, the news of Valen and Flora’s wedding spread throughout the land.

I was devastated, drowning myself in alcohol until Lucas came along.

Together, we created our pack and developed it to what it is today.

Three years and I have a pack two times if not three stronger than Valen's which was originally supposed to be my pack.

“ Did you find out who sent those rogues after Flora?” I ask, changing the topic. Lucas shakes his head in disappointment.

“ The few we captured committed suicide before we could get any information from them.

I am trying to look into the matter but whoever ordered them was very careful.” Lucas explains and I scoff.

“ I wouldn't be surprised if it's Bailey who ordered a hit on Flora.”

“Aren't they supposed to be sisters?” Lucas asks and I snicker.

“ That woman has an evil poisoned heart.”

She is capable of anything just to get Flora out of her way.

“ I'll look into her. If she had something to do with the rogues, she would definitely leave a hint.”

***

I make my way to the training ground with Lucas trailing from behind me.

Today is the first time I'll be visiting my warriors as they train.

“ Are you sure you want to monitor the warriors' development or just want to see a certain someone?” Lucas mocks from behind me.

“ Just shut up. I am the Alpha, do I need a reason to see my pack members?” I retort. Lucas has been teasing me since I announced I'll be joining the pack warriors in their training today.

“ Why don't you just drag her to your bed and watch her everytime. You don't need to do this.” Lucas presses before chuckling. I choose to ignore him or I'll end up punching him in the guts.

Who am I kidding anyway? I hardly come to the training ground but the idea of seeing her beautiful face had me clearing my schedule for this.

The air inside the training ground suddenly becomes heavy when I make my entrance. Everyone halts and acknowledges my presence.

My eyes scan the crowd until they land on a round shaped beautiful face. Our eyes lock in a gaze until she looks away.

She then turns to Kiran , whispering to her. When she looks at me again, her face is flushed. I fight the urge to walk to her and pull her in my arms.

Her scent hits my nose, sweet and tantalising,and my beast purrs in delight. I can make out her scent amidst the hundreds of different scents. It's unique and very inviting. I can feel my wolf clawing to take control but I push him back. Who knows what he will end up doing to our mate. The last thing I want to do is scare our little bird.

Lucas addresses the warriors and instructs a few to spar so that I can watch. My eyes however remain on Flora.

When Lucas pats me in the back, only then do I come back to my senses.

I thank the warriors for their commitment to the pack.

After addressing the pack members, I reluctantly turn to walk away when Elena approaches with a wide grin on her face. I scowl inwardly, knowing what her intention is.

When she throws herself at me, I sidestep and she lands on the ground with her face.

I pin her down with a glare and Lucas clears his throat,hiding the smile on his lips.I didn't miss the rumours she has been spreading around that she is my mate. Just because I fucked her one night doesn't make her anything special to me.

Turning around, “Flora Carter, to my office.” I cast one last glance at her before walking away.