Chapter 3

Elie's POV.

My father's pack, the Crest Moon Pack, Alpha for more than two decades, was the safest place I had known in my entire life.

I had had everything handed to me, except my father's affection. He was always so cold after the death of my mother when I was just a young girl. Everything seemed bleak as my father took all of his time to make sure the pack was fortified and safer for me.

James was the only thing that brought a spark to my life. Whenever he was around, I felt more alive. I felt like I couldn't ask for anything more.

But suddenly, everything was taking a wild turn. The pack that my father gave his time to make the safest pack was reportedly under attack. James had slipped out of the room and danger loomed just at my doorstep.

“I said open up,” the man kept banging.

I crammed my back against a corner as I sank my fingers into my thighs and whispered for help. Any more minutes and the locks were going to fall off.

“No please,” I mumbled.

He continued to hit the door until I heard a loud thud on the floor. An unnerving silence followed next. I couldn't tell what to do next, who was at the door? What had just happened?

My head was a trainwreck of emotion until I heard his voice again, like a calm in the storm. “Eleanor, you can open up. It's me, James.”

I heaved a sigh, placing my right hand on my chest as I let out a mouthful of air.

I rushed to the door and opened it. A huge man lying stiff by my door caught my attention. I exchanged glances with him, and James stated confidently.

“You are safe now.”

I looked up at him and nodded slightly. “When can I see my father,”

“He should be heading back by now,” he glanced at his golden watch and coughed gently.

Time went by silently, and my father returned to the mansion, almost torn apart by the news that some of the rogues had infiltrated the pack house. He barely looked at me before calling an urgent meeting with the elders.

That night, I slept alone with the thought of James on my mind. I wondered if he felt the same thing when he lifted me in his arms. Was he going to accept me? Why did my wolf pick someone twice older than I was?

“There’s trouble, Elie,” Leine said to me.

“The attack was sudden,” I added. “This is the first time I'm witnessing a breach.”

“We would have had to fight by ourselves if James hadn't shown up earlier,”

“Yeah, James,” my eyes turned dreamy. “He saved us, and you called him mate. He's our fated mate,” I tossed around in my bed excitedly.

“If the moon goddess decides it, then I guess he is. You should be more scared than excited.” Leine growled. “You think the Alpha would be thrilled that his beta is mated to his only daughter. His only child.”

“Your father will forbid it and James might… might reject us,” her voice turned low. “People might see this as morally sordid but…”

“That's enough,” I raised my pillow and covered my face with it.

My wolf was right. As much as my heart throbbed from his presence, and I felt the dark, ungodly connection with James, it wasn't something I could go public with or push through.

My head jammed with thoughts, thoughts I couldn't dismiss until I was wrapped with the warm hands of sleep.

The next day, I was woken up with a whistle from the head maid. She bowed her head as I groaned and sat up.

“Forgive me, but your father wants to speak to you,” she curtsied.

I looked towards the window, realizing that the sun hadn't even peered its head out, nor had the bright clouds flooded in their numbers.

“This early?” I grumbled.

I crept out of my bed and quickly washed up to meet him in his study room. I put on a blue top and a pair of jeans and strutted out of my room.

By the time I got to his study room, he folded his arms and hung up a call.

“Eleanor,” he called my name sternly.

“Yes, Father,” I replied.

A brief silence encapsulated us, then he tapped his finger on his table, forcing his lips to part open.

“It's no longer safe for you here, as you may know, my pack is under attack. You'll be leaving, I have arranged where you will be staying temporarily,”

“What? Leaving? Where am I going? You can't be serious. I have lived here all my life,” I lashed out, leaning forward.

He raised a brow, scanning the defiant look on my face. “There is a power play at work and you might keep getting targeted. I'm not going to let anyone lay a finger on you. I need you safe before I engage in any war of any kind.”

“I can stay here. You can't push me off to a strange land. Where the hell are you taking me to?” I fumed.

“I got a house for you at the Northside of the Skullraid pack. The Alpha has agreed to help me with a house and nobody knows.”

“Of course, you will be living alone with a little house help, but James will be with you. He will follow you everywhere and make sure you don't get yourself in trouble.”

James stepped into the room at that moment, and his eyes fell on me, staring at my waist with an unreadable expression.

“They'll think of you guys as a normal family. A mere human. You will keep your head and allow James to do his job as your personal guard,”

He turned his attention to James, raising his brows as he spoke. “Make sure she gets everything she wants from you, and not a finger should lay hands on her.” He ordered.

But I wanted more from James, I knew he wanted the same thing too. I wanted his finger in me, to do everything I had fantasized in my head.

“You'll both be going today!”