Chapter 5

Kaia POV

“I hear you’ve been asking about me?” The tall man smiles slightly at me, his eyes remaining on mine. Our eyes lock together as something inside of me doesn’t want to look away.

My head and eyes aren’t connecting...something is happening from the affect of his scent. Something I can’t quite register.

His eyes are grey charcoal, like the ash left over from an extinguished fire yet still hold that ember warmth. He is well dressed, a slim fitting black suit with a grey tie...which purposefully brings out his eyes.

He was exquisite. Groomed to perfection.

My fingers are itching to run through his dark brown hair, to ruffle up the perfect hairstyle.

I even clench my hands into fists to stop them from reaching up and touching him.

It is only when he blinks, breaking the eye connection that my wolf finally pushes through this haze that I have been caught up in....

“Mate!” She screams for joy, her enthusiasm not quite as strong as mine...not just yet.

Mate? How is that even possible?

I match his slight smile, readying to respond when it occurs to me...why isn’t he reacting like me?

He doesn’t seem to be struggling to breathe like I am.

He is composed, his hands normal...not even slightly clenched to prevent them from pulling me into him.

From claiming me as his.

He’s acting as if everything is normal, as if I wasn’t also his mate. As if my mere presence wasn’t sending his wolf into disarray like it is me.

I’d think I would have imagined it all. I am right, aren’t I? I’m not imagining it...

“You were asking about me?” He clears his throat forcing me to wake up from the spell his presence has created on me.

“About my pack?” His face now changes into a slight playful expression.

“Your pack?” I repeat, still trying to refocus.

“Yes, I am the Alpha of the Dark Phantom pack...”

The Alpha?

It would explain his strong aura that has taken over the coffee shop, even the humans are looking at him without realizing why.

Their natural born senses flaring up which they now choose to ignore. It was clear he was a very powerful man.

“Only that I’ve heard about it and was just curious.” I respond, trying to sound unbothered about the information now.

I had to be careful here, if Father was last seen at his pack...they most definitely would have met.

This pack was notorious, and I was now standing in front of the Alpha.

I can’t let him know I am related to Father. I’ll have to continue to keep my identity a secret like before.

Damn, yet I am now a rogue and need somewhere to stay and lay low. A place I can reassess my future plans without living like an actual rogue.

I don’t know why, but the Amber Desert and the Dark Phantom pack have had a long-standing hatred for one another.

Than never mentioned the reason, in fact refusing that the enemy pack should ever be mentioned.

If this alpha found out I was from Than’s pack..well I don’t want to think about it.

I’ll have to keep it hidden that I am from the Amber Desert pack.

“Perhaps I could join the Dark Phantom pack? I am looking for a new pack...” I place some money on the counter, acting cooly. As if I were ready to leave at any second...his pack not being the opportunity I now desperately needed. Even though it was classed as the enemy pack.

“So you are a rogue?” He laughs out loud, his eyes continuing to watch me carefully.

“Do you take in rogues?”

“Becoming a Dark Phantom pack member requires...certain tests.” He winks before his eyes glaze over.

“What kind of tests?” I ask, my eyes diverting to a male walking through the coffee shop door.

“Strict tests...extensive running, fighting, using guns, jumping from rooftops...” The new male counts each test on his fingers as the alpha moves away from us, engaging in a small conversation with the coffee shop owner.

He may be away from me now, but his eyes remain on me, readying to act. As if thinking I was going to run, little does he know I have nowhere to run.

“...underwater breathing...” The new male catches my attention.

“Underwater breathing? Whatever for?” I cut the man off, these tests were absurd and something I just couldn’t do.

I couldn’t even shift right now.

“I have other abilities I can bring to the pack...” I offer to the male as his fingers remain held up high in front of me as he has listed things I would be expected to do.

“Oh?” The male’s eyes scan to his superior before the alpha sits on a high stool at the counter and takes a sip of coffee.

“You really want to join my pack?” His eyes brighten slightly as he blows on the steaming hot coffee.

My wolf was still howling in my mind, almost whimpering as his wolf doesn’t even recognize her. But things were different now, I needed a place to keep safe.

A place to be protected from Than, because he will continue to look for me...I was Alora’s lifeline. He’d never give up.

Although the Dark Phantom pack was known as dangerous, perhaps its reputation will afford me the protection I require. Perhaps being the enemy pack, Than won’t think to look here.

“Yes.” I reply after a small pause. I also need to find Father; this pack might hold the answers I need.

The alpha jumps up from his stool with a smile. A smile that quickly turns into a serious expression as he once again closes in on me.

“I know who you are.”