Chapter 5

Samantha’s POV

I waited until there was no sound in the hallway. Grabbing the hem of my dress, I quietly ran to the end of the hall.

Luca hadn’t returned to his room, and the maids had left after assuming I was well taken care of.

‘You’re making a big mistake, girl! Luca won’t hurt you in any way!’

“Not now, Aldrina,” I whispered. I didn’t expect her to understand. I knew he didn’t actually believe me when I told him Killain and I weren’t mates. I didn’t care-I’d leave on my own. Luckily, I reached the back door in the kitchen and tugged at the handle. Damn! It was locked.

I removed one of the hairpins from my hair and picked the lock. The lock-picking classes with Killain hadn’t gone to waste after all. I walked quickly the moment I got out past the castle walls.

The cool breeze rushed through my hair, and I looked around, acquainting myself with the kingdom’s developments. People walked by the road; bars roared with merry cheers and the clinking of beer glasses. I trotted down the road quietly—I must not be noticed. Silver Rose people are extremely observant; they can detect who belongs to the pack and who doesn’t.

I passed a group of young men standing by the road, their eyes glued to me. “Hey, gorgeous, looking good!”

Dropping my head and wrapping my arms around myself, I ignored them. “You’re ignoring us now, gorgeous? Not even a hello?”

“Not interested,” I whispered and kept walking. I was stopped when all four of them blocked my path.

“You’re leaving without a goodbye?” the one with dusty brown hair said as he lifted my chin.

“I said I’m not interested.”

They laughed. “It’s a dark and cool night, love. We can even get a room,” the blond one with a gold tooth dangled a set of keys in my face.

“Please let me pass…I won’t bother you. Get your hands off me!”

“We want to be bothered, alright.” They grabbed me roughly by the hair and dragged me down a dark path into the woods.

“Let me go!” I struggled, but they muffled my screams with their large, dirty hands. I tried to kick my way out of their grasp, but it amounted to nothing. Suddenly, I was dropped roughly on the ground.

I can’t be this weak. Why can’t I push them off?

“Shut your trap, whore! If you’ll be quiet, we’ll get this done quickly!”

They bound my hands, making it difficult to move.

“Open your legs!” The blonde forcefully spread my legs, his hands creeping up under my gown.

“Please,” I begged. I can’t cry in front of them—I won’t.

I felt helpless-once again. I shut my eyes and tried to break free of the binding, even if it seemed impossible.

“Please don’t…please.”

“Hurry up before we get caught.”

Suddenly, there was a swift movement in our midst, and the men saw it too. The warmth I felt afterward hit me hard. I felt different—my tears had dried, and I felt stronger. Confident. That feeling like I was safe, and that strong pull toward something…

My mate bond.

I looked up and saw the figure towering above the four guys.

Alpha Luca. He is my second-chance mate.

“I will give you five seconds to run,” he said, and they all turned to meet his gaze. “Or else, I’ll find you, and I’m sure you boys know what that means?”

“A-Alpha Lu-ca,” they trembled.

Luca’s fiery eyes were on them-calculating, feral. His eyes were green, the only thing sparkling in the night. His breath fanned his skin, and out of fear, the jackals ran for their lives.

“Luca…you’re…” His eyes went wide in shock, and there was something more. Amusement? He could feel the mate bond. He had been aware of it all this time.

The blond boy stood in front of him. It was like a challenge, and I knew I was the damsel in distress, but it didn’t feel that way because—when did Alpha Luca get so hot? He grabbed the blond by the neck and squeezed vehemently.

“A-Alpha,” the blond wheezed.

“What were the orders?” Luca growled.

“You c-can’t hurt me. Y-you can’t kill your subject.”

“Then it wouldn’t hurt to make an exception.” Blondie gasped for air and choked. He could barely breathe while Luca squeezed his neck tighter every second. He kicked his legs in the air, his eyes bulging…and then—snap!

His limp body dropped to the ground—separated from his head. Luca walked toward me slowly. It made me hot all over.

I should not feel this way. This man is my enemy-someone I shouldn't trust. Alpha Luca's eyes alone speak one thing when he looks at me-Death.

"What did I tell you, Samantha?" he asked as he got closer and dropped to his knees in front of me.

"I had to go! You can't keep me in your pack forever!"

"You come to my pack unannounced, disobey my orders when I told you to stay put," he freed my hands, "and now you raise your voice at me?"

"Let go!" I tried to tug free from his grasp.

"That's not a nice thing to say to someone who just saved your life."

"Read my lips. I will never sing praises to you because you don't own me. I do not belong here!"

He smirked as he tucked the strands of hair falling onto my face. "This is my pack. My territory."

"What do you want from me?! I have nothing to give you, just let me go," I whispered. His gaze on me was intent, and a messed-up part of my brain loved it.

No... that's not right.

"You see, I can't, Samantha. There are so many things I want to find out about you because you intrigue me. You are my mate, and you won't leave here until I know how the fuck I got an enemy as a mate.”