Chapter 4

NEW MATE

There's a knocking then pounding. A large boom and everyone stirrs from their beds including myself. Bright lights suddenly envelop the darkened rooms, and I raise my arms squinting. There wasn't even the moon in the damn sky, yet here they were disturbing everyones sleep. 

"Everyone out now!"

"What the hell is going on?!" Asks Zara grabbing a coat as we all venture into the chilly outside.

A few girls start to sneeze while others huddle together for warmth. The second the cold night air brushed my ankles I wanted to run back in, but glancing back, they had already started to roughen up a few girls that were moving slowly.

"Line up"

Grayson. 

He had managed to clean himself up just for this I observed. No liquor in his hand either, though his jaw was set in that square that didn't dare make you question his command.

"There's a girl that's missing" Beta Channing starts. He walks to each line glaring at us, that jarring smile of his missing. "And you all know in his camp, dessertion is death" the torch lights flicker in our faces as he goes through each line. "Anyone knowing of her whereabouts, destination" he pauses for dramatic effect. "It's best you come forward now"

No one stirs or makes any move to offer assistance. Between being cold and terrified that two of the highest ranked members of our camp now stands between us with noting but death hanging in the balance, I doubted even if someone knew they'd say anything.

"Any slave found with information later will be charged with treason" Beta Channing says. There's a gasp from the back and I catch a flicker of a frown on Gamma Grayson's face. "And they'll be tossed to the wolves"

"Which wolves? These wolves or other wolves?" Some brave soul manages to ask.

"The wild wolves. And unlike us, there's no coming back from that"

Zara takes hold of my hand, a slight tremble in her frame I immediately recognize.

"We should shuffle the girls again. Whatever insurrection is planning must be twarted"

They're a little distance away from us, but we hear their plans nonetheless. It's not as if there's anything we can do to stop it.

But being separated from the girls....

"The girls you're looking for are the new ones yes?" The lady of our barracks asks. She's a middle aged woman that's strict but understanding, cross her though and you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the line. Literally. "They wouldn't have been able to make friends much more get any of the girls to help"

"They took the shortcut to the outback" Gamma Grayson explains. "They had to have had help. Spending a few hours in camp wouldn't give you access to the short cut"

His eyes does a short survey of all of us in one sweep, before his hands fold across that broad expanse of chest he has, matted hair along his arms brimming gold in the torch light.

"Everyone accounted for?" He asks after a beat.

"Yes" the lady answers in affirmative.

"Which means they have a head start" Grayson walks away along with a few more men, leaving us with the mistress and Beta Channing.

"Blaze is not gonna like this" he grumbles beneath his breath, walking away.

"What about the girls?" 

Beta Channing glances beyond his shoulder before continuing on.

"Leave them be for a few hours. Maybe it'll drag back something to memory. When they're ready to talk you know where to find me"

What?! 

We'd freaking freeze in this weather. A few girls automatically break into a fit of cries while I moved closer to Zara and Tish. 

"Don't say anything" Tish says to both of us shaking her head. "The less you say the better"

The wind blows more aggressively and my fingers start to go numb along with the rest of my body. We're all scantily clad for this weather, not expecting to have been here so long. When I think I'll crumble into the dirt, the Mistress calls my name.

"Leila" she says, wrapping her coat around her. "You've been requested to clean the rooms"

What the actual f**k?!

At this time of night - er morning, whatever!

A short boy stands next to her, maybe an omega. So they weren't sleeping either.

Ugh!

I hurry back inside and grab a coat before turning on my tail following the chilly wind to the boy child, back toward the pack house.

"Okay girls I think this has gone on long enough. Anyone with information, now's the time to talk"

"Thank the moon" the words leave my mouth the second my entire body lands inside the warm house. My eyes close, feeling blood rushing back to my extremeties, not feeling so much like a robot anymore.

The omega scampers away, I guess not wanting to be around any longer than he should and I search the closet at the far end of the hall for my tools.

There are six bedrooms in total inside but only three I've realized are occupied. I've cleaned Alpha Blaze's with utmost care yet speed, because I definitely don't want to be there when he returns. Beta Channing's was the filtiest, clothes strewn everywhere. Even f**king women's underwear!

I don't know why the camp is so much on edge and with the runaway, everyone's going to be so much more miserable with every act treated with suspicion.

Stupid selfish brats, now how was I supposed to runaway?!

My feet collapse me into a worn chair across from a large bed that's neatly made. Apart from the other two rooms this was the only one I wasn't sure who it belonged to. There weren't any photos or accolades. Nothing to remind you of a previous life or the world that was. Apart from the boots that laid in the corner, there's hardly any telltale sign of the room being used. Yet Grayson had to sleep somewhere, unless he only used the pack house for food. Or liquor.

I stretch, folding myself into a ball, curling into the comfort of the seat deciding maybe I'll rest a while. It wasn't everyday I'll have the chance to sleep this comfortably anyhow. Should take advantage of it. 

I eyed the bed thinkng maybe I'd be more comfortable there before changing my mind. Na, with that level of comfort I'll never be able to wake up. In addition if anyone came up the hall, I could jump up, with the bed it'd be a disaster in waiting.

I wake up with a start a few hours later. And late it, is judging by how far along the sky the sun is.

I bolt from my position in the chair, eying the plush towel that falls at my feet. My eyes automatically do a double take of the room finding it empty, but then who could've have left this here? I didn't even hear anyone come in.

Ah shit, I didn't even finish cleaning the damn house. 

I quickly fold the beautiful cover made of fur, smoothing it down as I laid it back against the seat of the chair and hurry out. Something catches my eye atop a small table and the turning back I find food. Automatically my stomach grumbled from need and I swipe a few sandwiches from the platter, groaning when my tongue detects cheese within the middle. 

The tea is cold however, when I taste it sadly and I leave it be, taking the other slices of bread and tuck them into my clothes. 

What? If they left them there they probably didn't want them anyway. Why let it go to waste?

A look left and right of the halls and I bolt through the door and down the stairs, the throwing the front door open and away I went. As far as I was concerned, I did everything they asked and if not, someone else would have to do it.

When I burst the door to our bunker, I'm surprised to find all the girls present but lamenting as they sat against the floor. I take them in, in wonder but remain silent heading to my section of the barracks, hoping the girls were still present as they were.

I find Trish and Zara gazing at their feet, preoccupied with time. Zara clenching her stomach. 

"What's going on, why is everyone still here?" I ask going to sit against my bed.

"We haven't figured out who helped the women" Trish speaks up.

"And because of that no one has eaten from morning"

"No one?" I ask astonished. That was odd. "Who's at the kitchen?"

"No one" 

"But- who's doing all the work if everyone's here?"

"The omega's more than likely. And they won't be happy about it. This is just gonna cost more problems for us. People are gonna go missing left, right and center now. They're bound to kill is in cold blood" Zara complains.

She speaks the truth. As much as it chills my blood, we all knew it was true. It's only a matter of time.

I extract my treasures from my clothes handing them over to my friends. Their eyes light up, grabbing greedily, stuffing their mouths with the treasures of life. Both girls groan satisfactorily, reclining into their beds as they finish up.

"Where did you get this Leila?" Trish asks wiping her had against her dress.

"Yeah, there's cheese. Only the wolves get this much of good food"

"I know. It was lying on a platter on my way out in one of the rooms"

"And you stole it?!"  Zara whisper yelled in horror.

"Technically, I helped out. No one was there and they'll just throw it out. And you were all starving"

"We're dead for sure now" Zara says flipping unto her back against her bed. "First the runaway now you're stealing. Everyone has a death wish"

"How is it any different from what Trish does?" I glance at both women with righteous indignation. "It was either or either. I'd do it as long as it takes. We can't starve, they need us"

"You should be careful though Leila" Trish touches my good arm and I nod.

"I know"

The rest of the day is like that. There's nothing more to eat and everyone returns to bed with complaining stomachs. My chores start before dawn once more. I'm not sure why I'm the only one working, but I take it as the only life line I've got to at least ensure Trish and Zara survive the cruel challenge that their putting us through. 

I find the same room as yesterday, dark sheets covering the made bed, while the grey curtains billows in the night wind. A headache over takes me having been dehydrated all day and I take refuge in the comfortable chair once more.

Chills over take me in my sleep and I curl further in on myself shivering. Someone must have opened a window. Zara, no maybe Trish. But then my thought rationalizes that this wasn't my bed. One eye opens then the other glancing around the darkened room. My fingers falls from my ankles brushing the familiar soft covering that has been my savior for the second time. 

When did it even get here? 

Another glance around the room leaves me with the same observation. 

Empty.

The only shadows stemming from my own and objects around the room from the flickering candle light. Something appears in the periphery of my vision and my eyes snap to the window finding an startling revelation. 

A wolf sits content and unassuming watching me at the window. It's white and black, yellow eyes with flecks of black starting back at me, majestic yet fierce. I scramble in my seat when it tips back crashing to the ground with me, the animal cocking it's head wondering maybe if I've gone insane.

I didn't even know they had these things lying around.

Would it eat me?

Unwilling to find out, I back myself slowly away heading for the door, keeping my eyes on my predator, when I've got a good grip of the lock in my hands, I pulled it open, throwing myself on the other side of it.

Omega's throw me weird looks as I hurry down the halls, others huddled together as they head out whispering about some meeting. It doesn't even surprise me seeing the sun up and out in all her shining glory. I shield my eyes heading back wondering where everyone else had gone to, save the guards. It's the chill that suddenly overtakes me that causes me to stop and listen hearing the Alpha's voice in the distance.

Shit, did they call a meeting.

"Youre late" A wolf hisses at me as I joined the party.

"Won't help if you draw attention to me idiot" I mumble as a few humans as well as wolves turn to glance at me momentarily.

There's a feeling of bewilderment and unease that's hanging above the camp. Two announcements in one week. This could never be good. Grayson's eyes roam the crowd with boredom but then his statue straightens when he spots me. I'm not sure if he spots me, I want to think he doesn't but I'm fibbing by the expression on his face. I glance away but I can still feel it, those steel gray eyes of his trapping me in their gaze.

"I've decided on a mate" he suddenly says. "Against my better judgement and since it's not my decision to forgo the frugality" he walks forward eyes magnitized to mine. "Leila. I choose Leila"

I'm not sure if time stops or maybe it's the fact that I think I've gone f**king insane. I didn't just hear him say my name. I laugh to myself. He didn't just say my name.

"Leila? Who's Leila" 

The questions stirs all around me as everyone asks their companions.

No, no. This couldn't be.

"Wait, wait" the tramp waltzes to the front attempting to calm the confused crowd.

"Grayson darling don't you mean me, Daina? It's Daina everyone"

"No. Leila. Leila with an L not Daina with a D. She's the mate I want and will have. That's final"

I can't breathe.

I can't breathe.

Tish and Zara would know. It was only a matter of time before everyone else figured it out too. 

There was only one thing left to do.

I ran.