Three

VINCENT

Her honey colored eyes were wide with fear even as I approached her. She seemed to be terrified of me, not that I cared. I just needed to understand why her flowery scent was bothering me so much. The first time I'd perceived it, was the night I had ended up at her house. I had been too out of it to investigate the reason why my wolf became restless each time we perceived the scent.

The slave squeezed her eyes shut, once I was close enough. Her flowery scent hit my nostrils and I nearly groaned. My wolf had just been alerted. His excitement caused him to take over. When my fangs protruded, I knew that my eye color had changed. It was at this point that I realized why my wolf was reacting that way. The small creature cowering in front of me, with her back to the wall, was my mate.

With a growl of annoyance, I pulled away and turned away from her. I didn't want a mate. Infact, I'd been doing just fine without a mate. Even if I was going to have a mate, why on Earth would it be a weak, exiled Omega?!

"Get out!" I roared. She scurried out of my quarters like a frightened mouse.

'She's our mate whether you like it or not. Don't make a scene. We need her' Aries, my wolf said.

It was the first time in a long time since he was speaking to me.

"We don't need her. She's weak. She will only become a burden" I retorted, still annoyed.

I stared at the tray of food on the table, my appetite suddenly vanishing. Frustrated, I stormed out of my quarters and went to the gym. The thought of the slave becoming my Luna sickened me.

....

I was sitting in my office when I heard the knock on the door. Jared, my beta walked in.

"Where is the slave now?" I asked.

"In the dark room. Ava brought her dinner" he responded.

I slammed my palm on the desk, annoyed.

"I thought I asked her to stay away from the slave. Why on Earth didn't she listen to me?!"

"She has never listened to you, Vincent. I mean... she's the only one who has the guts to face you" he said, a visible smile on his face.

I glowered at him and he lowered his gaze, a muffled apology leaving his lips.

"Why haven't you asked?" I said and he looked up, his gaze meeting mine.

"I didn't want to pry. I just thought you might have a good reason for bringing the exiled omega to the pack. You never do things without giving it a lot of thought. We trust in your decisions"

"She's the one who nursed my injuries" I said to him. His eyes widened as he processed my statement.

"For someone who had tried to get a fresh start, she was a little careless" he commented and I rubbed my jaw.

"She was also compassionate enough to take me in. She wouldn't have taken me in if she knew that I was a werewolf, though."

"Oh... your scent. She couldn't smell it"

"That's right"

"Does she recognize you as the person she treated?"

"I think she does"

"How sad. She must think that you're an ungrateful person"

I let out a dark chuckle as I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I did her a favor by making her my slave. They were going to kill her. It was the least I could have done"

Jared grinned.

"For someone who is ruthless and has a temper as hot as molten lava, you are kind" he said.

"You know, I'm starting to regret taking her in" I said, my countenance darkening.

Jared cleared his throat, a nervous look on his face.

"She's just a slave. I don't think saving her life is a bad thing. As it is, the pack members are already bullying her."

"I don't care. I saved her life. I've played my part" I said and Jared snorted in amusement.

"I know how you are and how you've always been. I just hope that for your sake, someone will become the reason you can smile and be kind"

I looked away, an uneasy feeling making my stomach churn. I hated it when he became all emotional like that.

"You should get yourself a Luna, soon"

I glared at him and he shrugged.

"Just saying"

"You know, the only reason I'm letting all of this slide, is because you're my beta" I said and he nodded.

"Of course, I know that. I get afraid of you, sometimes. I mean, it's hard not to. You always look scary. I don't even remember what your smile looks like."

"Jared, that's enough" I said.

His expression faltered when he saw the look on my face.

"I apologise, Alpha. I'll take my leave now" he said and walked away.

...

Five days had passed since I brought the exiled omega to the pack. Ever since the day she came to my quarters, I hadn't set my eyes on her. I would rather not see her again. I could solve the problem of her being my mate, by rejecting her. But, I was just bidding my time. Besides, I had more important things to take care of as the Alpha of my pack.

Jared walked in after knocking on the door. I looked up from the documents I'd been working on, my gaze meeting his.

"Did you find out what I asked you to look into?" I asked.

"I did"

"And?"

He let out an exasperated sigh.

"It's a pitiful story"

"Pitiful? The slave does look pitiful. I guess her story would be pitiful as well" I said, leaning back on my seat.

"Tell me. What grave offense did she commit? Did she steal? Commit murder?"

"She was accused of murdering her mate on the night of the mating ceremony"

"What are you saying? It doesn't make sense. She seems to be someone who can't hurt a fly" I said, my brows furrowed.

"That's exactly what I thought. So, I inquired more about the situation and I found something interesting" Jared said.

"What is it?"

"They said she cooked up a false story. They told me that she had lied about werewolves from the Crescent Creek Pack murdering her mate because he knew their secret"

I blinked, surprised by the information I had just heard. I had a feeling that there was something fishy about the story.

"What secret did she claim was discovered?" I asked.

"The plan of the Crescent Creek Pack to destroy other werewolves"

This so-called secret was no news to me. As a matter of fact, I was probably the only Alpha in the town's werewolf council who was aware of the rumours rising discreetly. But, if the slave had become mateless as a result of her pack members denial, it was quite unfortunate. I know I can be ruthless and unforgiving, but what her pack members had done was terrible. Now, I didn't think that werewolves had actually murdered her mate. I also didn't think that she had murdered her mate. She must have heard something that made her believe that her mate had been murdered by werewolves. She was merely a victim of ignorance. Nevertheless, there was something fishy about the death of her mate. If he hadn't been killed by werewolves, how did he end up dying?

Now that I knew that the slave had been a victim of circumstances, I didn't know what to do with her. I couldn't keep her as a slave after discovering the truth of the matter. I couldn't send her away, either.

"What are you going to do now, Alpha?"

"She will remain an unofficial slave. But, officially, she is going to be a mere addition to the pack. She will no longer stay in the dark room"

"Go and make arrangements. Bring her here as well." I said and he left.

Few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in" I said, my gaze resting on the door.

The door creaked open and the slave walked in with her gaze lowered. She approached my desk with small, unconfident strides.

"You called for me" she said with a small voice.

"What is your name?" I asked and she flinched visibly.

I was starting to get impatient already.

"M-my name is-"

"Speak up, will you?!" I snapped.

"Rylee. Rylee Shaw" she croaked.

"Why were you exiled?" I asked and she stiffened.

"I-I was accused of killing my mate"

"Did you?"

She frantically shook her head, her gaze still trained on the floor.

"I would never. He was my best friend" she said with a shaky voice.

"Who killed him, then?" I questioned.

She went quiet, her small frame had gone rigid.

"Have you become dumb?" I demanded, tapping my foot on the floor.

She shook her head slowly.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you" she rasped.

"I didn't ask you to tell me a story I can believe. I only asked you to tell me who killed your mate"

"Members of Crescent Creek Pack. They killed him because he found out about their plan to take over other werewolf packs" she said, her voice reflecting her pain.

"I believe you" I said and she looked up, her teary eyed gaze meeting mine.

"You do?"