Fated but feared

Elena's point of view.

The tall man, with a hand towel in his grip, answers me, "Sometimes the Alpha’s sister comes to stay, but she’s mated and living with another pack, so it doesn’t happen often. They don’t live here, but his men—the Beta and others—are usually around."

I nod, resuming my meal, not wanting to overwhelm them with questions, though I feel more comfortable asking them than Vanda. When I’ve finished and my plate is empty, one last question crosses my mind, and I take the risk to ask.

“Are there any rules I should know about?”

“Rules? Yes,” the tall man replies. “Lots of pack rules—probably more than you’re used to.”

“I mean, are there house rules? Like where I’m allowed to go or what I can do?” I clarify.

“Oh, well, it’s not really our place to tell the Alpha’s mate what she should or shouldn’t do.”

This answer doesn’t bring much clarity. Despite the bond, I don’t feel like his mate. I feel more like a prisoner he’s been forced to accommodate, although he’s shared details of our bond with these people. Maybe that’s a sign of progress.

The woman takes my dishes away, and I admit, “I don’t know much about being an Alpha’s mate.”

The sound of heavy footsteps from the hallway catches my attention. I straighten and stiffen as Vanda appears in the archway leading into the kitchen.

The tall man and woman greets him, “Good evening, Alpha,” 

“Good evening,” Vanda says, and a tightness settles in my chest. He steps closer to the table, standing beside me, his hand resting on the back of my chair. Leaning forward slightly, he places his other hand flat on the table and looks down at me. “Have you eaten?”

His proximity stirs the instincts of my bond—goosebumps, a restless energy, curiosity, and a fleeting urge to lean into him. I press my feet more firmly against the floor, grounding myself.

“Yes,” I reply, avoiding his gaze.

“Do you want to rest now?” he asks. I rise from my seat and turn to face him. He straightens up as I do. “Which bedroom do you want?” he asks, nodding towards the staircase.

“Will we talk later?” I question.

He glances at the house staff before replying, “We will.”

“Thank you for breakfast,” I say to the woman and the tall man. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” the woman replies, her voice warm despite the late hour.

I turn to Vanda, hesitate, and move past him, escaping the tension in the kitchen to find air untainted by his scent. I hurry up the stairs and scan the upstairs, noticing a set of double doors: the master bedroom. My feet carry me away from it to the far side of the house. I close the door behind me and stand in the darkness, pressing my palms against the wooden surface.

My breaths quicken as the mate bond becomes undeniable. Vanda is no longer in front of me, but the fluttering mix of anxiety and excitement in my stomach won’t subside.

I wake up abruptly from a nightmare, the bedroom dimly illuminated by the moonlight. I push the blankets off and sit up, the silence around me almost palpable. The details of the nightmare slip away, except for one unavoidable memory: Vanda.

Dreams and nightmares swirl in my mind as I drift in and out of sleep. My escape from Kane’s territory and the sleepless night in captivity make it easy for exhaustion to pull me back into slumber repeatedly. There's nothing I can do until morning, and if I stay awake with my racing thoughts, I’m unsure where they might lead.

Should I run away and go back home, where I'm an endless disappointment but undoubtedly safe? Or should I accept the Goddess’ choice and stay?

When the sun rises for the second time on this land, I decide I can’t keep hiding from reality.

The mattress shifts as I get out of bed. I open the bedroom door just enough to listen for any sounds of movement. All I hear is the quiet of the house, but then I notice a large trunk beside my door. I pull it into the bedroom as silently as I can. Unlatching it, I find more clothes and toiletries—things like a hairbrush, toothbrush, and even a pair of shoes.

The clothes are slightly loose, but they will do, and the shoes fit with thick socks. The toiletries are a small comfort. I organize everything, change into fresh clothes, and clean up in the attached bathroom.

The morning light filters through the window, so I make my way downstairs and hear someone in the kitchen. It’s one of the women from last night, the older, quieter one. I’m relieved to see a familiar face.

She glances up as I enter. “It’s early. Didn’t sleep well?”

“I did sleep, just not much,” I reply, moving to the counter. “Do you know when the Alpha usually wakes up?”

“He’s already up and out of the house,” she says, placing clean dishes into the glass-paneled cabinets.

“Really?” I ask, surprised.

She nods without pausing her work. “He’s a busy man.”

“I see,” I murmur. “Is it always like this?”

“Always,” she confirms.

Maybe that’s a good sign. I step back, about to leave, but then pause, remembering something. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your name yesterday.”

“I’m Elizabeth” she replies. “The man I was with yesterday morning is Ben.”

I smile and nod. “Thank you, Elizabeth.” I turn to leave so as not to disturb her work. As I walk down the hall toward the front door, I decide to go outside and explore the territory in the daylight, anxious that Vanda might appear.

The paths, forests, and houses look different than they did before, but I can hardly focus on where I’m going when the memory of my mate’s discovery still stings. Vanda was never supposed to find me in that state—dirty, locked away, and broken. I was supposed to be waiting for him, clean and perfect, with my father escorting him into the house. The Goddess chose this path for me, and I feel as though I’m failing her. If my own mother knew the way Vanda found me, she’d be enraged, but it’s more than just their expectations. I regret this for myself too.

I choose one of the wider paths, allowing it to lead me where it may, marking my way in my memory for the return trip. Most of the houses line paths branching off this one, and the only people I see are men heading in the same direction. I notice they shift their course to avoid me as I move along my chosen path.

I’m surprised when I spot something familiar even in daylight: the building where the guards brought me, where Vanda took me from. I approach, examining the exterior and noticing the barred window of my cell. When I walk around to the other side, a man leans against the heavy metal door and calls out, “Hey, it’s not safe here. Non-guards shouldn’t be here.”

I step closer. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I was here just last night, and—”

“I know,” he says, his voice stiff. “You’re the Alpha’s mate. You were held here for trespassing, and now the men who locked you up have paid for it.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.

He glances past me, eyes darting as if to make sure no one else is around. “They’ve been exiled from the pack, turned rogue.”

I frown. “Vanda did that?”

“Who else could? This is his land, his men, and you’re now one of his assets. His Luna,” he says.

The guard’s words sink in. No one else has the authority; this is Vanda’s territory, his pack. I am bound to him, part of his world now. It isn’t romantic, being treated as property, but the mate bond stirs at the thought of belonging to him. I feel curiosity bubbling up again: what does a man who controls everything want with me?

I take a deep breath and do as he says, quickly retracing my steps back to the path. I scan my surroundings, half-expecting Vanda to appear and watch me, but even if I manage to avoid him now, I know I’ll see him soon enough at the pack house.