Chapter 5

Raven’s POV

From the expression and look on Asher’s face, I could feel him trying to make sense of the situation, the wheels turning in his head.

His eyes seem to grow distant for a while like he’s communicating something to his betas through the mind link.

Suddenly, his expression changes from longing and want to that of fury.

Anger radiating from him, even the pack could feel it too, from the way they seem to scurry back away from him. Scared of him.

My father seemed tense and shocked. Sweat trickled down my back.

Have I done something wrong? What could suddenly be wrong? I thought, from my side eye I could see my mother glaring at me as if this was all my fault.

“What’s the meaning of this”. Asher asks in a booming voice 

“How dare you tie her up like a slave! Let her go”. He directs his words to my father, who seem to flinch at his anger .

My father looked so scared right now, if not for the situation we are in i’d be laughing right now at the look on his face.

I didn’t think Asher would claim me as his mate right in front of everyone so soon.

Right, he still doesn’t know I'm a latent wolf. Once he finds out, I'm sure he won’t want me anymore.

“What do you mean your mate, Alpha Asher. That’s my daughter there who is supposed to go with you today as the exchange”. My father replies looking so anxious and scared.

“You mean your daughter who you sold to me to save yourself right?” Asher snarls at him and my wolf rolled with happiness, clearly liking his show of dominance and claim for her.

“I didn’t know she was your mate Alpha Asher, I wouldn't have tied her up.

I didn't want her to make a run for it”. My father says, trying to defend himself.

“Is this how you’ve been treating her? She is your daughter” Asher asks, looking at all the pack members present. None of them could look him in the eye.

“I don’t care if she is latent or not, she is my mateHe defended me. 

This brought tears to my eyes. No one has ever stood up for me this way before.

Yes my little brother supports me but he doesn’t have it to stand up to my father for me.

My lover and childhood best friend Torren, who I had thought loved me so much and would be my mate, didn't even stand up for me either. 

Instead I caught him cheating on me with another member of the pack, the one who had publicly disgraced me before and which he’s well aware of.

My wolf preens at him and if i could shift right now, she’d probably be rolling all over him, showing him her stomach and licking him until he’s marked with her scent. Then he suddenly turns to me

“Hello” that voice so raspy and thick with a baritone underneath made me wanna purr into him and ask him to keep talking.

 I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him and it seemed my voice chord wasn’t functioning properly right at this moment.

“Are you okay?” He asks with concern in his eyes. His eyes seem to rake all over my body, searching for any signs of discomfort or injury.

“Let’s take these chains off you first, okay” I nodded in response to him, I still seem unable to form words together.

 He sniffs at me, a gesture I think to calm his wolf down and stop him from killing my father in a fit of rage. Mine, he growls.

“What’s your name beautiful” he asked me 

“Ra…Raven” I answered, still feeling shy but comfortable in his presence. 

My wolf nips at me, no doubt displeased at my tone. She wants to claim our mate right here just as he claimed her.

“Raven, that’s such a pretty name for a pretty thing like you. 

Now Raven, you’re my mate and I’ve been searching for you for a while now. 

It seems my present today is you, not something i would have guessed but i accept it all the same”

“You’re my mate” I say, trying to affirm it.

“Yes Raven, and now let’s make everyone here know how the dynamics of things are going to change from now henceforth” he says, before turning his back to me and addressing my pack.

Listen here everyone, Raven is my mate and I claim her here right in front of everyone. 

Alpha Nicholas do you have any objections to this. He dared my father to say otherwise.

No objections, you can have her, she was meant to be yours anyway. Be careful, she likes running away.

She's a little stubborn,you might have your hands full. My father says still looking at me with so much disgust.

In a blur Asher is standing right in front of my father and has his hands on his neck in a choke hold manner.

 You would not speak to my mate like that again, you will not look at her with such expression, you will not touch her, this is your last warning Nicholas. He says my father's name with disgust and fury.

My father tries to say something but can’t, Asher still has his hands on his neck.

 Do I make myself clear on this Alpha Nicholas or do I have to take a stand on this. Asher asked him releasing the hold on his neck

I understand. I’m sorry for insulting your mate. It won’t happen again. 

My father says looking very frightened and scared right now.

That’s good. Now we take our leave. It was nice doing business with you. Asher says to him in a snarl before walking back to me, sniffing me first to calm his wolf and picking me up bridal style before leaving the clearing with his betas following behind us.

Asher doesn’t say anything as we get to his car, he just puts me inside and climbs in followed by his betas.

“Where next, Alpha?” asked a man sitting at the driver's side, couldn’t quite see his face as he was backing me. 

“Home” he replies. Home, that word alone seems foreign. Where is my home? Is my home finally with Asher now? 

All these questions keep turning inside of me, giving me a headache. It seems Asher could sense a change in my mood because he suddenly wraps his hands around me.

Safe. My wolf relaxes in his embrace. Asher is my home now.

After what feels like hours we finally arrive at our destination. The shadow pack was huge. 

The largest building I've ever seen stood tall amidst others, no doubt this is the Alpha’s house. 

Though calling this monstority a house is a grave insult. 

An archway rests at the entrance, six pillars holding up the roof. The mansion is constructed out of stones, marbles and wooden pillars.

Somehow seamlessly blending modern and ancient architecture together. I could see Asher is an Alpha of unique taste. 

Judging from his outfit, his demeanor and now his mansion, I could just tell.