Chapter Six

Zach drove into his territory which had a weird but comforting ambiance. The road was covered with fallen dried leaves the both sides of the road were covered in wood. The gentle breeze from mother-nature was sending down more leaves and Aramina stretched out her hands unconsciously to get hold of one of the leaves.

Zach looked at her relaxed face and a complicated look crossed his face. He pushed a button in the car and the roof of the car opened, she turned to Zach to know if he actually noticed her trying to reach out for the leaves but Zach kept a straight face and focused his attention on his driving.

 Weird guy, but thanks for the consideration she thought as she lifted her hands and grabbed some leaves.

They drove for a mile before entering what seemed like an estate. Surprisingly, it was busy, Zach immediately covered the top of the car and drove slowly into the estate. People stopped and bowed as he drove by. He didn’t bother acknowledging them, but instead, wind up his car louvers. He drove toward a mysteriously gorgeous-looking house.

“We’re here,” he said.

She wondered what a place like this would be doing in the middle of nowhere. Noticing the confusing face she made, he continued

 “It’s the pack house I built only for my pack and the location is still unknown to the outside world and most packs” Aramina loved the place.

When they came down from the car, he walked towards an old fountain that has no water spreading out of it and stepped on a circular stone. A walkway that was hiding under the fallen leaves came up leading to the entrance porch.

“Walk with me” Zach stated.

As they were walking towards the house, she noticed that the fog was covering the atmosphere.  

Is this my imagination or a coincidence that the fog came immediately after they stepped foot on the walkway? she asked herself.

Zach opened the door and Aramina gasped in awe; the interior wasn’t the same mysterious look she got from the entrance... It has a modern interior; the walls were coated with white oil paint and the stairs were constructed as a floating stairs with a wooden handrail. The TV wall had a touch of wood as well and the ceiling had drops of artificial moon and stars hanging around.

 “This is totally different from what I imagined” she murmured.

“I know, you imagined that we lived in the woods right” Zach looked at her, barely concealing his amusement as she guiltily hid her face.

“This is the place where I meet with my pack leaders to make decisions,” he said as he opened the door to what looked like a conference room, “we have a banquet hall at the other side of the building, but for now, come, let me show you your room”

“This is my room” Aramina opened and closed her mouth in awe. It was thrice the size of her stepmother’s room.

“Zach, I feel this is too much”

Zach’s heart bled. He looked at the beautiful woman the goddess had granted him as his mate. Her eyes sparkled with joy and surprise, as something in his heart shifted, he moved closer to her, more to feel her warmth and perceive her scent than to talk to her.

“Come, let’s get you settled, I have a meeting this night. She turned and looked at him, her eyes filled with questions, he knew she wanted him to tell her what the meeting was all about, but like hell, he will.

He kept her bag by the closet and turned around “owf…what the…” he had not expected her to stand so close to him, “are you okay”, he asked peering at the dazed look in her eyes

“You smell nice, like, it’s different from your normal scent, it’s too familiar and soothing; you smell like the earth after the rain and a whiff of roasted nuts”, Aramina replied, looking lost

Zach looked at her, he knew she felt the connection as the mate bond was working, he felt elated but he still couldn’t help feeling sad for this pretty woman the moon goddess has given to him; for her hurt, for her lost identity, he felt like paying everyone who has hurt her.

 “Rest Mina, Karen will come to pick you up by eight,” he said gently as he headed to the door

She suddenly looked at him, he could still see the confusion in her eyes.

“Where are we going she asked?”

 Zach looked at her mysteriously, “It’s a secret” he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

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

Aramina cocked her hair as she involuntarily closed the door, she suddenly missed him and his scent. She didn’t understand this sudden longing for Zach; she has always acknowledged that he was handsome. His six points three feet in height and dominating aura spoke to power, and his broad shoulders bespoke reliance and dependence.

But it was this scent that she was unfamiliar with, she knew intuitively that it was the mate bond Zach had told her about earlier. it made her think things she had no business thinking. She yearned for him, for his lips suddenly touched hers and his hand, what will it feel like to have those large hands on her body, caressing her and going down her

...knock knock… her eye flew open as she suddenly snapped out of her imagination.

Karen stepped in smiling “welcome home Mina”.

She suddenly sniffed the air and with a knowing smile looked at Aramina “you are as red as a tomato, what were you thinking?”

 Aramina turned redder from embarrassment

 Karen busted out laughing, “Don’t worry, you will soon get used to it, we wolf blood love sex, we have no inhibitions, and we sure are animalistic in the act”

 Aramina closed her eyes with her hands and ran into the bathroom closing the door to Karen’s laughter.

“You look beautiful Mina,” Karen said happily, she applauded herself for a job well done. It had taken her two hours to dress Mina up for Zach’s surprise.

She turned the chair towards the mirror and Aramina let out a gasp of surprise, she hadn’t looked more beautiful. She wondered if Zach will find her beautiful like this, but then, why did she suddenly want him to find her attractive

“Thanks, Karen”, she said sincerely, no one has ever accepted her as Karen did.

She stood up and sashayed before Karen.

“Wow… “

They both turned towards the voice and saw Caleb at the door, “Zach will definitely be wowed’. 

“What are you doing here,” Karen asked

“Zach told me to bring her”, Caleb replied smiling mischievously

 “That was my duty”, Karen complained, “what stunt did you pull this time Caleb”. She said looking at Caleb suspiciously,

“Sorry dear, office duty calls for you... Shall we, Luna”, Kaleb said turning to Aramina who blushed to the roots of her hair as Karen scowled behind them as they left.

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

The figure stepped into the basement as the sound of loud music gradually disappeared, after two turns, he got in front of what seemed like a wall until he pushed a statue above, the wall slid open to reveal a well-lit room, and the figure stepped in and walked towards his target, his face bore the sinister look of a predator as he grinned at his target whose eyes widened with fear.

“Please, please…I’m sorry, just let me go” she whispered in fear. Her lips were already patched from thirst and her body bore the signature of one who has been abused physically and sexually.

“Tsuk tusk…you hurt my feeling pretty, I thought we’d gotten along well” the figure smiled, evidently enjoying the fear he beheld on the woman’s face, he could hear her heartbeat erratically from fear of him.

He approached her and gently caressed her hair, “didn’t you miss me Cee, I came because I missed you, so…much. Stop shaking,” he ordered her frowning, “I don’t bite. I said stop shaking”, he shouted as he angrily slapped her across her face.

His face looked immediately apologetic as he examined her face,  “ I’m sorry, it’s just that you are disobeying me again” the woman whimpered, “I told you the alpha wasn’t for you but you refused and went with your so-called mate, I won’t have you disobey me again, now stop shaking”, he growled as he forcefully poured water into her mouth.

He pulled a chair out and sat down,

“I met someone today Cee, she has your eyes and she is witty, you might meet her soon if you are a good girl for I intend to claim her as mine, and do you know the twist? she is Zach Toople’s mate” he smiled and relaxed on the chair as his eyes turned dreamy.