Chapter 2—The Pack.

Rea's POV

The air wasn't just chilled; it smelled faintly of damp leaves as I raced far into the wolves' domain.

Cold winds sliced across my face as I forced my way through brittle twigs, letting the snow bite my skin, while withered leaves and broken branches clung to my pullovers until, finally, I found the gate.

The gate!

The massive iron gate shielding the alpha's space exuded so much power and authority that the sight alone sent shivers down my spine. A warning that no one could cross the territory recklessly and go scot-free, let alone me, a mere wolfsbane thief.

I stared at the gate for a while, exhaling deeply and convincing myself that I needed this more than anything in the world, and therefore, fear had no place in my heart.

My eyes stayed glued on the gate that towered above, my heart hammering against my chest, so loud I could hear it, thoughts racing in my head. How do I get in?

The night was quiet except for distant howls and small rodents chittering, then suddenly a van's engine roared through the quiet night, headlights cutting across the bushes, but luckily, I wasn't in sight. I had pressed myself deep into rustled leaves. And when the van moved by, I had no other option than to jump in and let the van carry me inside. It was hard. Even though I wasn't aware of anything else, at least I was aware of the fact that a territory like that must have heavily armed security, so at least I didn't just walk in like a stupid, ordinary thief. I made a calculated move. Immediately the vehicle rolled slowly past me and stopped at the gate, where the security personnel inspected the van before it was allowed to enter. I took advantage of the whole situation—the noise of the van, the little argument, and the chatterings the men seemed to be having. I slipped through the little opening at the back of the van and let the huge bagged delivery supplies cover me until the van rolled into the compound to a stop, then I slipped out of it, feet thudding gently against the ground, just to avoid being detected, heart hammering loud against my chest; it hurt so bad, and for a moment, my breath caught when a swarm of laborers spun around the van, offloading things as fast as they moved past me without any flicker of suspicion. No stares, no whispers.

Nobody asked who I was. They didn't even act like I was a stranger, just a place buzzing with workers at midnight, workers moving past me like I was a ghost. I, in return, wasted no time as well; since I wasn't detected, the environment was safe for the moment.

There was a voice at the far end; it was loud, guttural, and beastly. He seemed to be the master. He gave orders from a distance, and I couldn't see his face. I didn't care about what he looked like either; it was, in fact, better off that he hadn't seen me. So I picked one bag and followed the rest into the store while my eyes flickered desperately around for a garden, for a stem, for Dad's cure.

Bending slightly with one arm placed across the bag to support the weight, I fell in step with the workers. And as for the workers, no one was talking to each other. Everyone walked with heads down, avoiding eye contact, and everything looked strange; everyone looked strange.

"Hey," I whispered when I edged closer to the brunette lady. She looked around forty-something; her hair was unkempt, with several stray strands falling over her face. Of course, everyone here looked gaunt, with puffy eye bags and old shaggy boots; some had frostbite, bruises, and even animal bites all over their faces and necks, but she appeared to be the only one who looked normal.

"Shhhh," she replied, eyes darting around the place like she was guarding herself with her eyes. "They'd kill you if they caught you talking."

I swallowed hard. "Who?" The voice was barely above a whisper.

"You are still talking." She mumbled her neutral expression neutrally, like she hadn't said anything at all.

"Who are these people? What are we doing here? Where are we going?" I asked insistently, pressing closer to her, since my voice was barely even louder than a breath.

She heaved a sigh. "Well, kid, you've just arrived in Alpha Damien Remington's territory, and with the look of things, you might never be able to leave."

My breath snagged painfully in my chest; I felt it unmistakably in my chest and lungs, then panic clawed its way up to my stomach. If we are held captive here in Alpha Damien's territory, then getting Dad's wolfsbane would be delayed.

"What is he going to do with all of these people?" I asked in a rush.

"Nothing, you just pray you don't get ... by one of his men after now." Whatever she said came out in a very low mumble; I couldn't even catch everything.

"What?"

She balled her hand into a fist, lifted it to her neck, then dragged her thumb across her neck, then mouthed something. And I only read her lips and whispered, "K-i-l-l-e-d." One hand flew to my mouth the instant I read her lips, and then I gasped. "What?"

Almost instantly, the other men and women arrived in a spacious room where every other person was instructed to offload the bags. At that point, I knew I didn't have to keep fooling around or hiding anymore. I need to get straight to business.

My eyes caught a pillar above, then I found a space, an opportunity to sneak straight into his mansion.

Time to get to business.

"Hey!" She called my attention. "Don't play smart here; you won't like it."

"Well, I'm not one of the Alpha's captives." I twisted my long blonde hair into a tight bun, ready for what's coming. "I'm here for something different." I finished off, feeling my pulse spike at the sound of that and her wide-eyed stare glued on me.

I slipped out from the crowd of slaves and into the nearest hallway without saying a word to her. Luckily, the lights in the hallway flickered dimly, a good way to start.

"Try not to get caught." I mumbled to myself as I walked deeper into the hallway until I got to a well-lit corridor. And for once, I knew that this was probably going to be my breaking point.I let out a deep sigh, staring at the grand house in view.

A wolfsbane might not be found inside a house but in a garden, outside. Why hide in this magnificent house until dawn? I had better just navigate my way outside till I find why I'm here. The thought hung unfinished in my head when a sudden, heavy footstep approached me. Heart pounding, I yanked the huge lilac curtain beside me and pressed myself behind it.

"Found her! Seize her!"

I froze. Pulse hammering loud in my ears.

Give up, Mirella!

What do I do now? Of course I'm human; they'd kill me.

The curtain got yanked away with a brutal force, and a man built like a hawk, tall, impossibly tall, growled violently in my ears. Then a black razor-sharp claw erupted from his fingertips as he approached me, golden icy eyes locked on me with so much hunger, eager to devour me like prey.

I flinched hard, eyes shut, as terror took over every nerve in me.

"Bring her to Alpha Damien." Another voice yelled, and a violent shudder rippled through me.

Fear and sweat dripping, faith and hope slipping away from me like a ribbon in the wind. I'd be brought to Alpha Damien, and he could give me exactly what I needed even if it means I had to accept his term. Whatever it was. This was my chance to either stand before wolves and speak or hide behind them and... steal.

He shifted back to a human form and blindfolded me, bound my hands and feet, and then pulled me by the hair.