THE ALPHA KNOWS?

KAYLA

As the sun began to set, the guard watching me finally spoke, “You can go now, Kayla. It's dusk, unless of course you want to take over my job,” he grinned mischievously.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I collapsed onto the ground, my legs feeling like jello. “Thank you,” I managed to say between gasps for air– for a while, I thought I was going to die whilst kneeling.

I slowly got up, my body ached, and my legs were shaky from staying under the scorching sun for so long.

I started making my way back to my room. Just then, my mind went back to the scenario that happened earlier with my stepbrothers– I couldn't imagine being mates with them, the price I would pay if I was found out sent shivers down my spine.

I walked back to my room, lost in my thoughts and unaware of my surroundings, that I bumped into someone.

“Ugh,” I groaned and looked up to see Jason, standing before me, with his eyes as cold as ice.

Jason hissed spitefully, “You clumsy little witch!”

I moved backwards and looked up so that our faces would meet. For once, I took in his facial features, his gray eyes blazing with anger, his full brows that arched to perfection, the way he raised his brows slightly while he talked– He was handsome!

I wondered if he was my mate too. But before I could say anything, he grabbed me by the neck roughly, causing me to wince in pain.

“Are you too blind or too stupid to see that I'm walking here?” he glared at me, his voice full of contempt.

I opened my mouth to fire back at him, but the words caught in my throat. I would rather not start an argument with him, especially not after the punishment I had just endured.

Instead, I swallowed back my words and tried to remain calm. “I'm sorry,” I said softly, trying to sound as apologetic as possible.

He tightened his grip on my neck and pulled me close, causing me to wince again. “Save your apologies for someone who cares,” he sneered. “Just stay out of my sight and don't ever show up”.

I nodded profusely as I struggled to fight back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. Jason lashing out at me was typical and as long as I remained in this pack, I would be subjected to it. No matter how painful his words struck me, I wouldn't take it to heart.

He growled at me before finally walking away, his broad shoulders tense with anger. I shook my head and wiped the tears that escaped my eyes and continued on my way back to my room. I wondered if he knew about the mate bond. Was he going through the same turmoil as me, or this is the usual anger I was used to? Or was it something else entirely? Did he feel any attraction towards me?

My heart raced with questions and doubts, but I quickly pushed them aside– I thought of what life would have been outside the borders of this pack, had it not been the letter, I would have been outside in the woods or in the human world… Maybe I'll be termed a rogue, but being a rogue now seems like bliss compared to what I'm facing. Sporadically I wonder how I survived in this hell.

I removed my clothes as I stepped foot into my room and got into the shower, desperately needing to wash off the sweat and grime from standing under the sun. Just as I was about to step into the shower, the letter fell from my pocket. I quickly picked it up and hid it under my bed– I couldn't risk anyone finding out about it.

I turned the shower and the warm water cascaded down my body. I was relieved to wash away the dirt and exhaustion. My mind was still reeling from the encounter with Jason. I couldn't believe he had spoken to me like that. I tried to push his words out of my mind, but they kept ringing in my ears.

“You're too blind to see where you're going, or too stupid to get out of the way!” he had spat at me.

He had always been mean to me. But then, why did his words torture me?

I quickly washed off and got out of the shower, still lost in my thoughts. I dried myself off and got dressed in a fresh pair of clothes. Finally, I jumped into bed and reached out for the letter that I hid underneath it.

The words in the letter replayed in my head, but what kept nagging at me was the fact that my mother had asked me to remain in this pack.

This same pack that punished and said spiteful words at me at every slightest mistake.

A part of me wanted to leave and never look back, but another part of me felt a sense of obligation to stay and honor my mother's wishes– even though it would be really difficult to pull it off.

I let out a sigh and put the letter back underneath my bed. Just then, my wolf Anna spoke up in my mind.

“Kayla, I know this is a lot to process, but you'll be okay. No matter what happens… remember I'm here for you,” she said soothingly.

“Anna, this is hard,” I answered,

Anna could feel every pain I felt, and I knew this was hard for her as it is for me, “You'll be fine,”

I rolled to the other side of the bed as my eyes gave in to the tiredness of my bones. I was startled out of sleep when I heard a knock on my door. I rubbed my eyes and made my way sluggishly to the door. When I opened it, it was one of the guards.

I looked at him trying to hide my confusion – it was weird for him to come to my room at this time,”Is there a…problem?” I questioned trying to hide my fears.

“The Alpha demands everyone to gather at his study this minute,” he replied in a cold tone.

My heart raced with fear. What could the Alpha king want with us?

I followed the guard out of my room, and we made our way to the pack house. When we got there, everyone was already gathered, including the quadruplets…

The Alpha king cleared his throat and started to address us. “I heard that something has happened in the pack today, and we must get to the root of this. Otherwise, things would get out of hand,” he dropped , his voice grave and cold.

My heart raced fast at his words. What could have gone so wrong that he summoned us this late? Did the Alpha king get wind of the mate bond I shared with the boys…his sons?