Chapter 5

RILEY:

There was absolutely no way out of this place. Guards upon guards flocked around the main compound and I could see that thick bushes surrounded the premises. Not just that, there were other buildings around making up the compound. It would take a miracle for me to make a clean escape out of here.

"This is the premises of the Alpha quarters. Mostly anyone you'll find here belongs to the Alpha's family or has sworn allegiance to the Alpha," Xavier explains, giving me a foresight of what this place entails.

I couldn't help but ask, "Do you live here too?"

"I don't. I might be Damien's second-in-command but I am not a part of his family. Neither am I one of the guards or the maids. I have my residence outside this premises just like every other pack member and that is beyond those gates you can see from afar."

I had to strain my eyes just to catch the sight of the gates he was talking about. They were far off from where we stood.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" Xavier offers and I didn't hesitate to agree. It would do me a lot of good to get myself familiar with the environment.

My eyes keep roaming about as we walk and I could see different activities going on all about. From the guards parading about and keeping watch of the premises, to the maids moving up and down to tend to their duties, to those I won't necessarily call people minding their business with their kids playing around... this place sure did have a life of its own.

"The Dark Moon pack, like every other pack, runs its affairs through hierarchy," Xavier starts to say, bringing my focus back to me. "The Alpha heads the pack alongside his Luna. The Luna is supposed to be his mate and together they ensure the affairs of the pack runs smoothly. The next in line is—"

I interrupted him before he could complete his statement, "If Damien is the Alpha, doesn't he already have a Luna or whatever you called that?"

Xavier stops, making me stop as well. His face is filled with hesitation but he responds anyway.

"He does," he says.

"And isn't she his mate?"

"She is."

"Then why is he calling me his mate? What does he want to do with me?" I quiz, trying to make sense of this.

"It's the same question I keep asking myself."

That didn't come from Xavier. No, it was a feminine voice and Xavier didn't have that. I had to look straight ahead to figure that the voice was coming from that direction where two ladies seem to be approaching us.

The lady in front had this charisma that went ahead of her. She was like an embodiment of that and it made me jealous a bit that she was able to reflect such an aura without even trying.

Both ladies eventually stop right in front of us and that is when Xavier does the introduction, "Riley. This is Luna Carmella. Show your regards toward her."

I look at him briefly in confusion but he has his focus fully on the lady with the charisma. What was I to do? Bow?

Looking back at the lady, I say, "Good day to you."

Her response is cold. "I wish I could say the same to you."

I was already sensing some bad vibes from her and it made me uneasy. I didn't even know what else to say to her so I just kept mute.

"You know, I kept wondering who the stranger was that Damien brought in here. Really wanted to see the person's face and was more intrigued when I heard it's a human girl," she pauses. "But now that I've gotten the chance to witness who the person is, I find out that it's just... you."

Her disgust was not hidden. She seems to hate me without ever having an encounter with me before today because I sure as hell haven't met her before.

"You make it sound like I'm not a person," I can't help but say.

She slowly moves closer to me until there's no distance between us. She was apparently taller than I am even though it wasn't too much but I still had to look up at her.

She then says the words that made me feel useless in some way. "A person you are. But a person worthy of standing in my presence? You will never be. Let that sink in your head."

"I would, but I'm literally standing in your presence," I rebuff. I wasn't one to let such foul words against me slide even if it was coming from the supposed Luna of the man who brought me here.

I could feel the tension rising in the air. I swear I was beginning to imagine being hit across the face and she being this close to me made me scared. The aura she possesses is really deadly.

"Carmella."

That was Damien's voice. I couldn't help but feel relieved from knowing he was here to maybe intervene. Hopefully that's what he's here to do.

The lady doesn't say anything. And with one last look at me, she walks off with her companion.

Damien is in front of Xavier and me now, taking over from where his Luna stood before.

"You are supposed to make her comfortable, Xavier," he challenges his beta.

"I can't go against the Luna because of that," Xavier states.

Damien looks back at me, his eyes scrutinizing me. I wonder what he's trying to find.

"Where are you two going?"

The question seemed to be directed at me but Xavier takes it upon himself to answer. "Into the pack."

"Why don't you let me take her? You can go back to doing whatever you have to do."

I first stare at Xavier before looking back at Damien who hasn't taken his eyes off me at all.

Instantly I decline. "I would rather walk with him than with you."

Without waiting for him to say anything, I pass by his side as I walk ahead. When I look back briefly, Xavier was already tagging behind me and I happened to catch the sight of the Luna lady standing not too far off and boring drills into my soul with her eyes.

*****

DAMIEN:

"Hurts, doesn't it?" the voice of Carmella gets into my head with my eyes closed. "It sure hurts for someone to deny you a chance to prove yourself to them. Especially if you have a genuine reason."

My eyes opened in no time to stare at her. She doesn't look happy with me and I didn't even expect her to.

"We're not doing this here, Carmella," I tell her and attempt to walk off.

"You can't run away from this, you know. You put yourself in this position by bringing another woman to share your bed with you when you still have one."

"She's not any woman!" I snap. "She's my mate. My fated mate. And you know that already."

"Then what am I to you?"

The question kind of hit me at a spot I didn't want. I wasn't prepared to face this challenge and even if I was, I didn't want it to be here.

I sigh. As much as everything seems not to be going too well for me, I would hate to hurt Carmella. She doesn't deserve this.

"We were never meant to be, Carmella," I say. "I'm sorry if this hurts you in any way but we are not fated to be together. We only got married out of obligation. And now that I've found my mate, I have to do the right thing. I hope you understand."

I could see tears threatening to fall off her eyes. She was fighting the urge to cry out here and it wasn't a good sight.

"There's nothing to understand, Damien. Nothing," were her words before leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the premises with nothing but a burden in my head.