Five: Wilburn Pack

Chapter 5

Delia’s POV

I sat quietly in the back seat of the car, numb with shock of the day’s event. My hands were folded tightly in my lap, my nails pressing crescents into my palms. I stared out the window, watching the dark forest blur past, the trees casting long shadows under the pale moonlight. My mind however, was trapped somewhere else—caught in the memory of the happenings around me. I still couldn’t believe it all. My world had been rocked in a matter of minutes at it was all because of him. 

Graeme.

His name shot through me like a lightning bolt, sending shockwaves through me everytime it surfaced in my mind. And I couldn’t help but think about it, no matter how I tried. I could still feel the phantom touch of his lips against mine, a sensation so vivid it made my breath hitch. It had been more than a kiss; it had been an overwhelming flood of emotions, raw and all-consuming. For a moment, it had felt like the world had stopped, like there was nothing but the two of us. I was exactly where I was supposed to be and my life had never made as much sense as it did in those few moments. 

But then he pulled away and all those feelings had crumpled, my joy turning to ash within seconds. 

His rejection had been swift and brutal, leaving a hollow ache in my chest that I couldn’t quite understand. He had looked at me like I was something he wanted but couldn’t have. It made my stomach twist in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge. Even now my heart ached, ripped to shreds by the very man who had made it whole it merely moments before. 

Why did it hurt so much?

I didn’t even know him. I didn’t know why he had kissed me, why his presence had made my heart race, or why the memory of his lips on mine made my cheeks burn even now. All I knew was that his rejection had felt personal. It had torn something deep inside me and I was terrified that it could never be fixed. I didn’t understand how a stranger could cause such damage inside me, but I felt like a broken toy that would never work properly again. It was overwhelming, not to mention a b it frightening. 

I bit my lip, willing the tears to stay back. I couldn’t cry despite how hurt I was. I felt too numb— too empty. 

The two men sitting on either side of me said nothing, their faces impassive. I had tried asking them where we were going, but they ignored me, their silence more intimidating than their size. They weren’t cruel, but their presence was oppressive, a constant reminder that I had no control over what was happening to me. So I sat still and silent, trying not to lose it as they took me to god knew where. 

The car slowed, the gravel crunching beneath the tires, and my heart skipped several beats. Up ahead, a massive iron gate loomed, flanked by tall, shadowy figures. One of them raised a hand, signaling the driver to stop. After we were checked, the security waved us through and the gates swung open to admit us inside. The car rolled forward along a long driveway with trees lined at either side. Curious, I pressed my forehead against the window, trying to make out the shape of the building in the distance.

It wasn’t until we reached the end of the drive that the manor came into view. The building was massive, a handsome structure of stone and glass that glittered under the high moon. It looked old, regal even, but there was something cold about it, something that made my stomach churn.

The car came to a stop and one of the men stepped out without a word. My gaze followed him as he walked toward the manor’s entrance, where a wiry man with glasses stood waiting. The two of them exchanged quiet words, their voices too low for me to make out. From the way they kept glancing back towards the car, I knew they were talking about me.

The man with glasses glanced in my direction, his expression unreadable. He nodded once before turning back to the guard, who motioned for me to get out.

I hesitated for a moment, my fingers clutching the seat beneath me. But staying in the car wasn’t an option, so I opened the door and stepped out, the cool night air biting at my skin.

“Miss Delia, I presume?” the man with glasses said as I approached, his tone polite but distant.

“Yes,” I managed to say, my voice barely audible.

He gave me a thin smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m James, Alpha Oswald’s Beta. Welcome to Wilburn pack.”

Pack. The word hung in the air, foreign and heavy, a jarring reminder that I was a fish out of water. A stranger in this new and scary world of werewolf shifters. I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to speak.

“Come inside,” he said, gesturing toward the manor. “You must be tired. I heard you had quite the eventful day.”

Tired didn’t begin to cover it and my day was far more than eventful, but I didn’t argue semantics. James led me up the steps and through the massive wooden doors, into a grand foyer that was both beautiful and intimidating. The floors gleamed under the soft light of a chandelier, and the air smelled faintly of wood and something earthy.

“This way,” James said, leading me down a long hallway.

I followed him in silence, my eyes darting around as I tried to take in my surroundings. The manor was quiet, the only sound the faint echo of our footsteps. Eventually, James stopped in front of a door and pushed it open, revealing a spacious room with a large bed, a desk, and a window that overlooked the forest.

“I hope you’ll find this to your liking.” he said. “Make yourself at home. If there’s anything I can do to make you more comfortable, don’t hesitate to ask. A guest of the Alpha King is highly welcome here.” He said in that eerily soft voice of his. 

“Thank you,” I said automatically, though the words felt hollow.

James gave me another one of his thin smiles before stepping back into the hallway. “If you need anything, someone will be nearby. Just check at the end of the hall for the guard. He’ll know how to reach me.” He assured and I nodded my understanding.

“Goodnight, Miss Delia.” He said before heading back out. The door clicked shut behind him, and I was alone.

I stood in the center of the room, staring at the bed as if it had grown a head. It was beautiful like the rest of the room but it didn’t feel real. None of this felt real. This wasn’t my room. This wasn’t my life. I should be back home with my parents, talking about college and my future. Texting my friends, flirting with my boyfriend. 

My breath hitched as thoughts of Zack flitted into my mind. In light of the storm Graeme had awoken inside of me, I had forgotten all about him and the startling revealation about him. I hadn’t recognized him back on the road. That wasn’t the kind, sweet, considerate boy I knew and it added to my confusion with the entire situation. 

Panic clawed at my chest, closing my throat off. My legs felt like led and I crossed the room to sink on the bed before they gave out on me. Burying my face in my hand, I tried to calm my increasingly volatile thoughts. The harder I tried to push the thoughts away, the louder they became until I was physically shaking. 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, something strange was happening inside me. It was hard to describe but I suddenly felt like there was something else inside me that hadn’t been there before. Something or someone. I felt it right at the edges of my consciousness, a new presence that threatened to bubble forth if I gave it the slightest room. It was the last straw for me. I shot off the bed, panic getting the better of me. As if I could outrun whatever it was that was growing inside me, I headed for the door and yanked it open before fleeing outside. 

I had no idea where I was going. I just knew I couldn’t stand sitting still in the room that wasn’t mine. I needed some space. Some room to think. 

I slowed my steps when I came into the hallway. It was eerily quiet, the only lighting from flickering fluorescent lights on the ceiling. 

I moved cautiously, my bare feet making no sound against the polished wood floors. Despite how dark it was, my vision was surprisingly excellent, something that only added to my rising panic. I had no idea where I was going, but it was better than sitting in that room and getting overwhelmed by my own mind. After turning several corners, I realized I was lost. Only then did I begin to secong guess my decision to roam about after all. 

I tried finding my way back and ended up in another corner of the house. A slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway drew my attention. Light spilled out of it, a faint voice drifting through the night’s air. I didn’t know I had moved until I was beside the door, I peered inside to see a large bear of a man seated at the desk, a phone pressed to his ear. 

“Graeme? I don’t like this little stunt you pulled.” He gruffed and I stiffened, my attention keen now that I knew who was on the other end. There was a pause as he listened to Graeme’s response before speaking again.

“You can’t just drop this strange girl here without any explanation whatsoever. Forgive my language but what the hell were you thinking?” He growled and there was another pause. 

“Dammit Buchanan!” He exploded, “How long are you planning to have her stay?” He growled, the irritation clear in his voice. 

“Why? Let’s see. Neither of us know who attacked her or why. She’s an untrained mutt who just got a wolf and it’s a full moon. Plus there’s something else you’re not telling me here and I don’t like it.”  There was another pause, this one longer than the others. I wished I could hear what Graeme was saying. As it was, I held my breath, anxiously waiting for the man’s next words to see if I would be able to deduce what was going on from there. After a long moment, the Alpha Oswald sighed. “Fine Buchanan. You win. But you owe me for this. Big time. And I don’t want any excuses when I come to collect.” 

The conversation ended shortly after that and the man made a sound of disgust before slamming the phone back on his desk. 

Before I could move, the man’s voice called out, sharp and commanding. “You might as well come out so we can introduce ourselves. It seems you’ll be slumming it with me for a while.” He drawled and I froze, my mind racing. I contemplated running away bu

“I know you’re there,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m a wolf. I can scent you. A little tip for next time you try spying on shifters.” He gruffed. 

Swallowing hard, I stepped into the doorway, my eyes meeting his.