CHAPTER 18
Ann was right, Alpha Travis was not just angry, he was brimming with rage, enough to send down a torrent of thunder and brimstone, enough to destroy creations if he were a God.He grabbed me by my shoulder, the same one that was hurting and slammed my back against the wall, repeating his words in the same terrifying tone he had used earlier, "Who the hell asked you to leave?"Tears pooled in my eyes at the sudden pressure on my shoulder and I fought it back desperately.They were not allowed to fall, at least not now.Judging by his question and the extent of his fury, I could guess that my mate had misunderstood my intention."I was not trying to leave, Ann took me on a tour of the Pack and we were suddenly attacked..." I was glad my words did not come out as a stuttering mess but they did trail off when he suddenly took a step back from me.He raised his hand off my shoulder in surprise, revealing a bloody iI resisted the urge to ask Alpha Travis about what Ann had told me earlier, about being the Luna.It was a decision he had to make or had already made as the Alpha and if I had any chance of refusing that role, I had to talk to him.However as I sat across from him in the restaurant, I lost all courage.Soft music was playing in the background, whispers rising above it from the people seated around us but all I could stare at was the small flickering candle on the table.Earlier today, after Alpha Travis had left, I had spent the rest of my day with Ann, listening to her tell tales about the Pack and its wolves.Some were real while some were myths and fables they told each other to pass the time.Ann left when it was time for dinner, after reminding me not to be late.My mind was against the whole idea of having dinner with everyone, knowing fully well there could be a repeat of what happened yesterday or even worse.
"No," was his curt reply and my shoulders sagged in relief. My back was sweaty, a telltale sign of how anxious I had been."I told you just now, I would never hurt you," He added then picked up his fork and began to eat, gracefully like the last time at dinner.He glanced at me, still chewing then swallowed. I watched his Adam apple bob as the food went down his throat and his mouth moved, "Stop staring at me like I'm some big bad wolf who is going to jump you."So he was capable of some humour, I forced a laugh that even to me sounded like a grimace.His influence on people was noteworthy, he had not even done anything besides eat but the way he had done it made me self-conscious."Stay away from the hybrids or rather, the next time you see one, run. Don't try to be unnecessarily courageous and fight them, you will die." His words made me choke on my food and I hurriedly reached to grab a napkin but he was already offering one to me, alm
"Adriana, where are we going?" I had been asking this question for the past hour, ever since she told me she wanted me to meet someone."You would have gotten the full details last night but my brother decided the both of you would not have dinner with us. In light of that, it's now a surprise. You will see when we get there." She answered with a mischievous glint in her eyes."Come on Larry, get us to the Cascade restaurant." She said to the driver while brushing her finger through her hair, taking a peek in the rearview mirror to make sure it was properly laid back.She was just like Travis, beautiful and elegant, except the latter did not have to put in an effort at all to exude grace.Andriana, on the other hand, had a certain feistiness and cheerfulness to her that I adore, maybe because it reminded me of how I used to be."Are you going out for Lunch?" I asked curiously, "That can't be right." We just had breakfast a while back and
My gaze met with Sylvia's, the only female in the room who I recognized besides Adriana and I smiled back at her when she smiled warmly at me.Her little gesture helped ease the tension I was feeling, as I walked over to take my seat next to Adriana who was already patting the seat next to her, gesturing for me to sit.She seemed oblivious to my nervousness, "Come quickly, Maya. They have all been expecting you." She said, shifting to create more space for me."Adriana, why did you not tell me there would be so much people?" I inched closer to whisper to her, completely forgetting the fact that everyone seated here was a wolf and whispering in such close proximity was no use."It seems Riana did not mention a word to our guest here," A brunette with an haughty air said, shooting me a look that I translated as her unwillingness to have me in their gathering."Maya is not a guest, She's the Luna of the Pack and the new leader of the Éclat s
"You did great," Adriana said on our way back home, her eyes gleaming with pride and a little bit of excitement that dampened with her next words, "That Jana, I have to teach her a lesson next time. She demeans everyone she meets."Her mention of Jana made me recollect the latter's words from earlier that seemed more like a veiled threat.What exactly lay ahead that I was ignorant about?"Adriana, what other things does the Éclat society do?"I turned to ask the only other person I could get my answers from."Everyone of us is from a longstanding family of aristocrats, with mine being the head. Besides managing internal relations, we also dabble in various businesses across the Pack. Leah is on the advisor team that handles Pack policies, Brooke commands the female sentinels, Sylvia is one of the record keepers and also manages the largest mall in the city. The others, including myself, also handle other important things in the Pack."I wa
His eye held mine with an intent stare, one that carried unvoiced emotions.I felt an almost irresistible urge to morph and run into the ring to lay and curl myself next to him, just so I could revel in the warmth of his embrace.'Stop it, Lia," I chided quite harshly, interrupting her purrs of affection. She was influencing my feelings and clouding my thought process and that was not good.Firstly, I did not want to do something I would instantly regret, and also, I did not want to interrupt what seemed to be a favourite pastime.That was what I told myself, but my wolf knew better, "You know you find him attractive too, right?""What are you talking about?" I asked even though I knew exactly what she was implying."If you are attracted to him as well, then let us just make a move. I do not understand why you keep stalling when he is right in front of us." She went on to say."Maya, come. Let's watch from the stands; th
"What sort of Trouble?" Travis asked as everyone's mood turned pensive.Adrianna looked especially concerned, and her earlier boisterousness was long gone.In just that few seconds, even I was fraught with worry because whatever could make Beta Jay look so grave-faced had to be serious.It was not like the man had ever put on a happy expression, not that I had seen but this was much more heavy."We have received a report of an unknown Pack settling within the northern lands, and following that, a few of our people have gone missing subsequently.""And why are you just reporting this?" Travis demanded, his voice sharp and commanding."They settled just a few days ago and seeing as they have posed no threat to our city, I did not think it was worth mentioning.""Well, now they might pose a threat," Travis's jaw ticked with a restrained anger that was easily recognizable."I apologize, it was a lack of appropriate
The way he had me backed up against the chair reminded me of an alcove, a space where he could freely intrude on my privacy with a sense of intimacy like right now.My shoulders bumped against the leather fabric of the sofa, cool to the touch."Um, Travis," I cleared my throat awkwardly, glancing behind me for a way of retreating from the hunger that was written visibly in his eyes."A nice upgrade from Alpha Travis," He mused amusingly, his hot breath fanning my face.He lowered his head and his lips, smooth and silken, laid a feathery kiss on the side of my neck, one that made my toe curl involuntarily.Right from the moment I laid sight on this man, I thought he was the most attractive person I had ever seen yet I was scared of him, scared of what he could do to me and terrified of what being his mate meant and how it would change my life but right now, it all didn't matter.All I could focus on was the warm pressure of his li