COLOURED

THERON'S POV 

I trudged behind her as she walked in unsteady steps towards the car. Vuk, my wolf hissed. ‘You jerk! Can’t you stop being such a stuck-up Alpha for a minute and go help your mate?’

I let out a low growl from the corner of my lips. ‘She is not my mate, she doesn’t even have a wolf.’

‘This is my mate— our mate Theron. We spent a good part of our lives searching for her.’ 

‘I never looked out for her,’ I denied. Vuk clawed at my insides. A low groan roared in my chest as I approached her.

Well, I was this close. This close to taking my word back. Vuk let his damn guards down, the instant we set eyes on this fragile, delicate thing.

Albeit, she was the daughter of my pack's enemy. She could be a spy or something. 

Vuk snapped. ‘She doesn't seem that way to me,’ he purred, completely drowned in the sea of emotions. 

I hated—No. I loathed emotions. 

My jaw clenched. There was no such thing as a mate bond in my opinion. It was a useless spurge of energy, people imagined they felt, when they came in contact with people they perceived were destined for them by the moon goddess.

Despite my strict attitude toward my subordinates, I didn't stop them from their mating ritual. But for me, it was the limit. One, I was never going to touch. Especially when said, mate— Vuk believed so, was a wolf-less excuse of a female.

‘For Pete's sake. You can't deny it, Theron. You're so attracted to her, you're on the verge of going insane.’

I grunted. The lousy tingling that simmered in my veins in the wake of her presence, was not enough reason to act on it. A weak groan from someone in front of me jolted me from my reverie.

Riona staggered and fell to the ground. I grimaced. I stomped towards her in anger and pulled her up forcefully.

Christ! Her wrist was so thin, I could pull out the bones. I shoved her hands aside and pushed her into the car. 

Vuk let out a wince, but I ignored him. ‘Easy with the female,’ he cautioned. 

Gamma Vincent bowed in greeting the minute his gaze rested on me.

“Vince, let's get the hell out of here. Shadowmoon pack suffocates the hell out of me.” I mumbled. 

He nodded. “We'd be leaving right away, Alpha.”

“Make sure this weak thing doesn't soil my car with her blood,” I added.

Vuk reared its head, fuming. ‘Ah, c'mon man! You could lay down your life for this female if it trickles down to it.’ 

I curled my hands into a fist. ‘Good thing I'm not a weakling like my father,’ 

Vincent's face was drawn in a frown. “Are you sure about that, Alpha?” Vincent quipped, snapping me out of my deep thoughts. “She looks like she might not last the entire journey,” he said as he got into the driver's seat.

I glowered at him from the rear mirror, and he swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” he apologized, got down from the car, and pulled out a blanket from the trunk.

Vincent wrapped her and got back into the car. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see her struggling, her face colored in pain. If I didn't know any better, I'd have fallen for her facade.

I'd seen this happen to the man I hate. It wasn't going to repeat with me. 

Halfway through the journey, a light sound of someone's breath filled the air. Not only was she a weak wolf-less female. She trusted her entire being to a total stranger, pfft. I could have her tied to a stake and leave her as a ransom to the Rogues, who constantly tried to force themselves into my pack.

My wolf perked its head up again, this time brewing with determination. He vibrated with a dire need to feel her, run his fangs through her hair, and dig his fangs deep inside the side of her neck, marking her.

‘You wouldn't do that,’ His voice dripped with confidence. 

I shifted in my seat. ‘Vuk, for the last time, she doesn't have a bloody wolf!’

‘Oh yes, she does. You insufferable thing. She cursed at you in the office. I felt it.’

‘Vuk. Look at her, I doubt she has the strength to even curse at all.’ I fired back at him.

He snapped. ‘I haven't become so insensitive that I can't recognize my mate.’

‘Enough. I don't have time for this.’ She doesn't have a wolf. If she did, she would’ve picked up on the energy that crackled between us. After all, she was my mate.

The drive back to my pack, Silverfang, happened in silence. Deafening silence. I'd caught Gamma Vincent stealing glances at her, his eyes filled with questions. And I wasn't going to answer any of it. 

“What's the situation at the borders?” I asked, switching the conversation. 

Gamma Vincent's brows arched upward. “The warriors are doing a good job,” he paused and made a right turn. “During the winter, the attacks are doubled so we plan on sending more warriors to help them secure the pack.” 

I gave him a nod of approval. It wasn't like I didn't know what to say. The presence of the female around me seemed to make everything die in the ditch of oblivion. 

Suddenly, a soft thump landed on my chest. I stiffened, as her head rested against my chest. This fragile female was going to bring more chaos to my life than I could handle.