Chapter 4

Amara

Hearing that voice, I raised myself from my bed. My room was on the second floor, but at the far end, so were Chloe's room and the guest room where Magnus was staying.

I opened my window and it felt like someone had jumped from a window and ran toward the north direction, where Alpha Xavier's house stood.

I was sure I heard heavy paw sounds. Who could be that? From my window, the view stretched all the way to the forest.

I walked toward the entrance door, wondering whether I should check who was outside. I opened it and stepped out of the house. I guess I was stupid enough to come outside at this hour.

I looked around but couldn't see anyone. I sighed, as gentle breeze was blowing though, cool and pleasant, soothing my broken heart.

I shivered as I felt someone staring at me. Then I heard a heavy, familiar thud and my eyes snapped toward the direction of the sound.

Oh my goddess.

A dark black wolf emerged from the bushes, bigger than any wolf I had ever seen, even bigger than Alpha Xavier and Jack. There was no doubt this wolf was an Alpha.

He moved slowly toward me with predatory grace, like a predator wants to hunt his prey. I stepped back, feeling scared. Zia whimpered too, both of us instinctively shrinking. As omegas, we were bound to submit to higher-ranked wolves, especially in the presence of an Alpha.

His eyes felt strangely familiar to me. Then his familiar scent hit my nostrils and my eyes widened in realization. I took another step backward until my back hit a tree.

He stood in front of me and I whimpered and fell to my knees. He looked feral, like he wanted to kill me. I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. I guess this was my end, killed by my mate.

I waited but felt no movement. Slowly, I opened my eyes, expecting the Alpha to be standing over me, ready to strike. But he was gone. I looked around. He had already disappeared.

Why had he suddenly left? I thought he would hurt me, but he didn't. And the more important question was why he was here at all. Something was off. Everything about Magnus felt shady and unclear.

I took a deep breath. He was so tall, so dangerous. I would never step outside again. The Alpha could kill me, and he already hated me.

Pain gripped my heart, and there was nothing I could do.

I came back to my room and lay down on the bed. Soon, darkness took over me.

In the morning, sunlight streamed into my room. I woke up and shivering as I remembered Magnus's magnificent wolf.

I freshened up and stepped out of my room. No one was around yet and everything in the house was in order. Good

Then Chloe's screaming voice echoed through the hall.

I rolled my eyes. What happened to her now? She hurried out of her room with a dress in her hand and

stopped right in front of me.

Everyone else came rushing into the hall too. Dad asked her what was wrong, but Chloe was already staring at me with furious eyes.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Magnus standing there as well. Then without warning, Chloe slapped me.

My face snapped to the side from the impact. My eyes filled with tears. I glanced toward Magnus. He looked bored, like it didn't matter to him at all whether someone hit me or not.

"You stupid girl, you ruined my dress!" Chloe screamed.

I stared at the dress. The color had faded when I washed it.

“Alpha Magnus gave me this dress”, she screamed again

This dress was Magnus's gift to her.

Magnus's gift. Hearing those words, I felt that familiar pain again.

"Sorry," was all I could say. If I said more, I would break down in front of all of them.

"You are so stupid. I will throw you out if you cannot do your work properly," Julie snapped.

Dad said nothing.

Chloe stepped closer again, her hand raised and ready to slap me, one more time. I closed my eyes.

"It's okay, Chloe." A deep, dangerous voice cut through the room. "It was just a dress. I'll buy you plenty more."

Magnus said it the way someone would dismiss an inconvenience, like he hated unnecessary drama. For a brief second, it felt like he had saved me. But then his next words tore something open inside me.

"Don't waste your time on a maid. I'm hungry."

"Oh yes, yes, Alpha Magnus, you are absolutely right. Let's eat," Dad said, finally speaking up.

They moved toward the dining table. Chloe shot me a nasty glare before following them. My eyes dropped to the ground. I felt completely humiliated.

I served them breakfast. The whole time, my eyes kept flickering toward Magnus. He ate like a man who hadn't eaten in days. Not once did he glance in my direction. Not a single time.

When they were nearly done, Magnus looked up at my father. "I want to speak with Alpha Jake."

Chloe stiffened.

She smiled nervously and asked, "Why, Alpha Magnus?"

She looked scared, of course. He was her ex, after all. Ever since Jake's mate had beaten her, Chloe had gone out of her way to avoid him.

"I want to discuss an alliance with him. He is the current Alpha of this pack and I intend to move forward with it quickly."

The moment Magnus said those words, Dad's face lit up. "Of course. It would be honoured if we could form an alliance with the Red stone pack."

Chloe didn't look happy at all.

*************

Voices drifted in from outside and I stepped out to see what was happening. Chloe was in her wolf form, her wolf Tee is a strong beta female,and I recognized the others too. They were sparring.

Something stirred in my chest watching them. I wanted to spar too. I glanced around and felt a pang of longing. I wished Tom were here.

He was the only one I had, the only person who ever sparred with me as an equal.

I turned to go back inside.

Suddenly My foot caught on something and I tripped. I braced for the ground, but before I could fall, a strong arm caught me firmly around the waist.