Chapter 6----The Alpha's Rage

Leila 

I wish I could stay. I should be able to stay but I just called off my mating ceremony. Sleeping in another man's house even if he's the Alpha of our pack doesn't speak well of me.

“Good night Alpha.”

I was stuffed. He kept on adding more to my plate and insisting I finished it. The delicious taste kept me from refusing.

“Good night Leila.” He stroked my hair. A pleased smile formed on my lips. 

Alpha Xander stood at the door and watched me leave. 

The security in the pack was tight with guards on patrol duty round the clock and torches lighting up the road. It was foolish to assume that our night vision can keep us aware of everything that happened around us in the dark.

“You have the guts to come back here” my stepmother voice said in the dark making my heart miss a beat.

The pallor was dark so I didn't notice her when I walked in.

“Don't you think you've done enough?”

She sounded calm. Sonia was too elegant to shout, too collected to let her emotions show.

“Enough?” What was she talking about?

“Catch up girl, you're not that dumb…” I ignored her subtle barb, years of experience had gotten me accustomed to it. “... you disrupt the peace of this family, are a stain on your father's image and now he got punished because of you. Clearly, you have done a lot of damage.”

I sighed and sat down. This was clearly going to be a long talk, might as well get comfortable. 

“I didn't ask him to do anything.”

“You should have kept your mouth shut. Goddess, you should know where you spew anything that enters your head.”

It felt like we were having a friendly conversation except the room was dark and Sonia hated me with all she had.

“I don't see anything wrong in not staying with someone that isn't your mate. You of all people should know that.”

Sonia hated me for the sole reason that my dad had me with another woman. That another woman got to him before she did.

“You also loved him, you should be able to overlook somethings” she said, ignoring my comment.

“You should take the advice that you give” I replied. Talking to Sonia was easier in the dark. I knew she could see me perfectly but I couldn't see her clearly because of my poor link. Years of being on the receiving side of her subtle anger had also thought me a thing or two.

“Do not expect this house to be conducive for you.” This was her only warning.

“That would mean that it was conducive before now.”

“Good night Leila.”

I was being dismissed.

“Good night Sonia and I'm sorry about dad.” 

When she didn't reply, I got up and went to my room. Irrespective of whatever happened to me, I loved my dad. I may not be able to forgive him right now but I loved him.

****

Xander

Leila was acting funny. I used the excuse of seeing the progress her neck and throat were making in recovery to get her to come to my house for the past three days.

My mate was fun and helpful. Her instincts knew I was her alpha, that was the reason Leila found herself giving me shoulder rubs after I leave the office. I never complained of aches or felt them, she just liked to give them.

“Beef?” Leila asked from the front of the stove.

“Yeah.” She never allowed me to cook again.

“Did your meeting go well?” She asked, adding spices to the meat.

I had a talk with some neighbouring priestess about the relics and they confirmed the rumors about the one with the ability to perfect bonds with our wolves.

One had a lead on where the relics were located.

“Yes.”

Soon…

Leila subtly paused the cutting of the vegetables to pull the sleeves of her shirt down. The act caught my attention.

She had been doing it since she entered the house. No matter how shy or nervous she was, pulling on her clothes wasn't something she did.

“Come here” I ordered.

Leila looked suprised but she obeyed. She stopped a few feets away from me.

“Closer.”

I watched her pull the sleeves before obeying.

She stopped directly in front of me.

“Good girl, now give me your hands.”

I heard her heartbeat increase. Hala woke up, interested in what was going on.

Swallowing, she slowly stretched her hand.

“Good girl…” I pulled up her sleeves. Dark purple marks designed wrists.

I clenched my jaw. Who?!!

“I used it to block a whip…” she murmured, looking down.

What?! Who?! Was the punishment I gave Carlson not enough?! 

“Explain.” I growled.

“Amelia…she said it was a mistake…she bought a whip, I was in the room with her and my stepmother…Amelia wanted to test the elasticity of the whip…she did it in my direction, I just used my hand to protect my head…”

That wasn't a mistake. From her behavior, Leila also knew. Have they always treated her like this?

‘Killing them will remove the problem…’ Hala adviced, he couldn't stand it.

‘... you're right…’

‘Yes…’

I shook my head…killing them will not look good in the eyes of my pack members and the neighbouring pack.

“I applied something on it…it won't scar.”

“Just because there's no scar doesn't mean that it didn't happen” I said, tracing the coloured, slightly swollen skin.

Her work as Marenza's apprentice had started and she enjoyed it.

Leila nodded, “... sorry.”

“There's no need to apologize, it isn't your fault. You know that my offer still stands.”

She smiled, “I know. Thank you Alpha.”

I released her and she returned to her cooking. I had asked her to move in with me in a moment of weakness but Leila declined. She didn't want to put me in any compromising situation.

Not that I give a fuck about others opinion.

“The breeding season is starting the next moon.”

“Yes…I can feel it approaching.”

The breeding season was the period omegas of age had a high chance of getting pregnant. Their heats start that night, triggering the ruts of alphas around.

“I want you to be the Luna during the ceremony.”

Leila stared at me, the food forgotten on fire.

“But…the priestess is there…”

“I know, I want you to do it.”

I didn't have an official mate so the priestess do the part of the Luna during the breeding ceremony. By then, I would have had the relic and I wanted Leila to be the Luna that day.

“Really?” Her excitement was so clear in her eyes.

“Yes.”