6.

SASHA.

‘MATE.’

‘MATE.’

‘MATE.’

Ash chanted as she paced in my head. It was taking everything within me not to flip, and everything within me to stop myself from falling into the arms of a man I had never seen.

A man who was my mate. A man whose brother had just claimed me as his soon to be luna. Now, what has running from home done for me? In the end, I am still marrying the man I ran to avoid.

Shock flitted across his face for a brief second before he schooled his expression, raising a brow.

“Huh? Your luna? She...” the man cleared his throat, his eyes leaving my face to his brother. “She is your mate?”

Turk laughed, gripping my shoulder even more, his fingers digging into the bare skin on my arm due to the spaghetti-strap red dinner dress he asked me to wear.

“A mate? Why do I need that? She is perfect for me and for the position. Why wait for a mate I‘m not sure I’ll get?”

“Right,” the man, my mate, nodded, still avoiding my eyes. Why wasn't he saying anything? Why wasn't he reacting? Didn't he feel the bond? Wasn't he going to fight for me? Was he going to just let his brother…have me?

He reached for my hand while speaking. “My name is Bello…”

Our hands were mere seconds from touching when Turk yanked my hand back. But he wasn’t quick enough. Because I felt it. That tingling. That heat. That burn. That spark that flared as our fingers brushed past each other. A small gasp escaped my lips at the sensation, as my gaze travelled widely across his face.

Bello’s jaw ticked, his mouth set in a grim line.

“No, there’s no need to touch her to introduce yourself. Little one, this is my brother and beta, Bello. You’ll see him around. I may even consider making him your bodyguard. Say hello.”

I nodded, clasping my hands together and whispered a quick hello.

“She doesn’t have a name?” I heard him ask, his voice carrying a gravely edge that wasn’t there before.

“Of course she does. But the name is only for me. You can just call her sister in law. Or Luna, which is the right way to address her. Don’t bother with knowing her name. At least, not yet.” Turk answered.

“I see,” he murmured, and this time, he found my eyes, and he held them for a fleeting second. But that second was enough for me to catch the color of his eyes. Golden, with a tint of black in the middle. And the look…that look nearly knocked my breath out of my throat. “Congratulations,” he added, slipping his hands into his pockets.

Turk grinned, pulling me closer. “Thank you, Bello. Now the title is officially mine.”

Bello smirked, as if Turk had said something funny.

“The title has always been yours, big brother. You know that.”

Turk stared at him for a moment, then grinned.

“I know. Oh, I do know,” then he turned, dragging me with him to the middle of the room, where a table of three was set. We had been sitting there before the arrival of my ma…Bello.

I was not even sure why I was here. One minute I was in the dungeon for spitting on him, and now I was here. I had given up hope of ever seeing the light outside. Of hearing the voices of others. Locked in that dungeon for hours, without food or water, I thought that was it for me. And I had truly believed that.

Surprisingly though, Turk sent for me. Asked me to get dressed as I was fed, and then, here we were. Him introducing me as his future luna.

I wondered what prompted the decision, because if I remembered correctly from the conversation he had with his guard this morning, he was going to wait for my father until next Monday. Today was still Tuesday.

‘He…he isn't trying. Why isn't he claiming us?’ Ash asked, sounding agitated.

I swallowed as I settled into my seat, unable to take my eyes off of him as he sat opposite me. And despite Turk’s big frame, it felt like Bello’s took up every space around. Every bit of air. Every breath. I sucked in a deep breath, filling my chest and nostrils with his scent. A combination of spice and musk. So fulfilling. So satisfying.

‘He…he isn’t saying anything, Sasha. Could it be because he thinks you are human?’

‘I don’t know, Ash. I don’t know what is going on.’

“So,” Bello began, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze fixed on Turk, yet, somehow, I couldn’t help but feel like he was watching me. Like his eyes were on Turk, but his attention was on me. “You are not marrying Alpha Lamido’s daughter anymore?”

“When I have her?” Turk shifted, and placed an open kiss on my cheek. I did my best not to shudder. “No. I am not interested anymore. Not when he keeps wasting my time.”

“Hmmm,” Bello picked up the glass of wine and downed it in one gulp.

Turk grabbed my left thigh and squeezed, and I bit my bottom lip. I hated him touching me. I hated everything about him. But I dared not react. I dared not show my disgust, because one slip, and I knew I was dead meat. Just like he promised me earlier before the dinner began.

“Killing you would have been the right thing to do after the shit you pulled earlier,” he squeezed my neck, pressing me against the door, my eyes wide and desperate for some air. “But I am giving you another chance. Just one chance. You mess it up, and I won’t hesitate to snap your neck and be done with you. Just to be clear, I am not human like you. I am a creature from your nightmares. I eat human flesh and drink their blood. Perhaps you’ve read stories about us? No? Then don’t worry, I am here for you.”

Then he let go of my neck, for a few seconds as I took large gulps of breath before he was back squeezing, his tongue licking my face, wiping the tears rolling down my cheeks.

“I am going to make you mine. I will introduce you tonight as my soon to be wife, Luna, who is like a queen. This is an honor I am giving you, you filthy human,” then he kissed me, forcefully shoving his tongue into my mouth. It was at that time that I felt Ash returning, but my panicked state was throwing her off, so she was worse than I was.

“If you value your life, you will smile out there and accept me in whatever form I come to you. Because believe me when I say I can find your whole family and ruin them. Not just you, everyone and everything you’ve once cherished, I will end them. So do well not to TEST MY PATIENCE.”

And I plan to heed to his warning.

‘Sasha, he…’

‘Not now, Ash. Please. He is not claiming us. He is not even acknowledging us. Which means he doesn’t want us.’

‘What if he doesn’t feel the bond like we do? What if the potion has another side effect?’

I didn’t think of that. But now that she said it, it did make sense. But what difference did that make? If he couldn’t feel the bond, then there’s nothing I could possibly do. Not if I valued my life. Besides, how sure was I that Bello would treat me any differently than Turk had done so far? In both their eyes, I was nothing but a filthy human. And they were brothers. Even if there wasn’t much news coverage on Bello, as I didn’t know anything besides his name and rank before I got to the pack.

“Did you close the deal?” Turk asked, breaking through my thoughts. By the look of it, they have been discussing things, but I was too distracted to listen.

Bello filled another glass and finished it again, before looking up at Turk and replied. “I did. The supplies should be here by next week.”

How many glasses had he finished?

“Good. See to it that everything works flawlessly.”

“Sabbene,” a guard rushed towards us, panting. “I…Al…”

“Alpha Turk!” A loud booming voice called, and my insides dropped, crashing like a porcelain glass against the floor.

Turk stood up, tucking me once more into his shoulder. He had a smile on his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Alpha Lamido,” he greeted as my father reached us, his eyes, as always, lined with kohl, as he donned on his favorite red robe with black touches, a red cap, and was holding his staff.

I quickly ducked my head down.

‘This is bad. This is really bad Sasha.’

Awfully. Terribly. Completely bad.

“So sorry for arriving unannounced and late. I know I was supposed to deliver her yesterday, but I was caught up in last minute preparation. Allow me to present my daughter, Jamilah,” Abbati spoke, shifting to the side to show a woman. She was dressed in a beautiful yellow ball gown, which complimented her dark skin. She was beautiful, and she didn’t look any older than me.

No, beautiful was an understatement. I don't think I have ever seen someone as gorgeous as this woman, not even in the magazines Arnold, my brother, sometimes sneaked to bring me. She was poised, yet she had a softness about her. She stood with elegance and class, as though she was born to be royalty. She had no makeup on, yet she looked…perfect. Perfect for the role Abbati wanted her to play.

“I have brought her as promised, to be your wife and luna.”

What in the world was going on?!