Chapter Four

Kara's POV

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping past the window and the waves of the trees in the woods. I panic the instant I see myself on a bed—a luxurious one at that.

Chris never allows me to sleep on the bed, even though there's one in my room. I sit up and cry at the sharp pain I feel in my core. I feel like I have just finished stretching my skin to the point where it cracks and leaves me with a wound.

My stomach hurts too, and my back feels like it's been exercising. Then I remembered what I did last night. My hands brush my hair to the back as I try to stand up.

I don't feel any regret about the sex, even though I felt judgmental about how I did it.

I make my way to the window afterwards, my legs shaking. My eyes, on the other hand, kept admiring the beauty of this space. I really wish I could get to know who this strange man was with all the wealth and connections he's got.

The Northern Capital Pack isn't known for its accommodations or a good economy for having such a grand place to live, unless you're the Lycan king himself or a family of his.

I let go of my thoughts at once the moment I saw something on my neck. At first, I thought it was a hickey until I saw a mark there. I'm gasp. No, I cannot be marked by this man. Chris will kill me if he sees it.

Hurriedly, I go to the bathroom and clean myself up. Thankfully, I didn't bleed much, so I was well. When I was done, I walked quickly to the window and saw that it wasn't that far from the ground. I can jump it.

I have taken one leg out before a thought drops into my mind. I walk back to the cabinet where I saw a jotter and a pen earlier and write, "Thank you for helping me yesterday. I am grateful, and do not find me, please."

Then, I get back to the window and jump down. Before I'd hit the ground, I had turned into my true form and run into the woods.

The reason why I had asked not to be found by that man is because he's marked me, and only a wolf who wants to keep a shewolf marks her, and it is dangerous for me.

As an Omega here, I cannot live as such a man's wife. Even if he loves me, the community or his family will find a way to kill me, and if they cannot, the man will get tired of me one day and reject me. My life will be tenfold worse because I will be rejected, mateless, and detached forever. I will be alone in the world.

So, I should run back to Chris and continue to live a sheltered life there.

Alaric Claw, Lycan King of the Southern Tail Pack's POV

As my fingers touched the door to enter my room, I felt heartbreak. The strange woman's scent has faded, and that means one thing.

Entering the room, my heart aches at the truth. She was gone. My jaw twitches at the realization. I used to be the one who made them beg for me not to leave them, not the other way around.

I headed to the bed and sniffed the spot she was on. It smells of the pleasure and pain she felt last night. My brows furrowed, and my breathing became ragged.

Then, suddenly, my eyes landed on a note on the cabinet. I picked it up and read the words. My brows got raised at the hard-to-get game. I wonder why she would leave, knowing there's no better life in this worthless pack than the one I have here. She isn't a royal, that's sure, so why would she leave?

My curiosity deepens, and I begin to think of what to do.

Just then, a knock lands on the door. I smelled Fang and spoke. "What is it?"

Without entering, he responded back. "Lord Xander wants to see you, sire. He sends a message about the arrival of the Lycan king of the Northern Capital Pack."

Immediately after he finishes, I open the door and head outside. "Come along." I order Fang, and he walks behind me.

I squeeze the note in my hand and whisper to myself, "Sorry, but no, sorry, I am not letting go of you yet, doll. Once I am done with the filthy king here, I'll be back for you." My jaw clenches as I approach the meeting room.

I see Atticus ThongClaw, the Lycan king of the Northern Capital Pack, sitting at the end of the long table, and Xander next to where I'd be sitting, which is directly opposite.

"Hello, Atticus," I say as I sit down.

"If it isn't the bastard Alaric himself, then who dares call me outside my own kingdom to a meeting in this...penthouse, which still resides in my own nation?" His words show sarcasm, even though, if allowed, he would rip my head off this instant.

"The effrontery, I know, right?" And then I gnashed my teeth at him.

Xander clears his throat afterwards, lowering the tension that's already built up in this room. I cannot wait for this meeting to be done and for us to get out of this place. It irks me already.

Xander begins speaking after a short period of silence. "We have just one reason for being here—your rogues. Your kingdom has the highest number of rogues because of the many rejections of Omegas, and somehow, they kept running around the woods till they arrived in the Western Bridge Pack and attacked our people. Before this becomes a war, you better find a way to control these beasts. And in this case, I have called for this peaceful meeting for a plan, settlement, agreement, and finalization of the deal. So, please, talk." Damn, my stepbrother still thinks that he can do this peacefully.

If anything, I vote for war.

My mind soon drifts off from the meeting, going back to the strange woman. Out of the blue, I heard a bang on the table, and it was Atticus.

He has stood up and is mad at Xander.

I didn't even relax, letting my anger and frustration be played by the strange woman, Kara. Fuck, I recall her name.

My wolf suddenly gets activated, agitated, and grabs the table, as hefty as it is. We tear it into halves, yanking each side apart. I speed inhumanly between the parts until I stop in front of Atticus and grab him by the neck.

"Do not, ever, raise your voice at my brother."

"Step brother, he is. And did you realize you're in my nation, my pack?" He speaks with so much calm and emphasis. I can tell he's arrogant. He didn't even come with a guard at all, knowing we would not hurt him.

I leave him right after Xander says inside my head without actually moving his lips. "Leave him now!"

"Brother, let me have a word with you." Before we left the room, he added, "And you, stay here if you don't want the start of a war. The meeting isn't over."

We arrive in a private room, and Xander glares into my eyes. It was freakish. "What is wrong with you?"

"I..." I pause. "Take care of the meeting. I have to leave."

"What?"

"There's someone I need to find." I say that and almost leave the room when he speaks.

"If it is another lady you want to add to your harem of women, I'd say you're doomed."

I chuckle and walk away. Kara seems different to my wolf. She calls out something that none of the other beauties I have seen call out. Anyway, one thing is sure: I'll find her. After all, she is mine.