Chapter 2: FALLING

RORA’S POV

“I'm sorry, you want me to do what?!” I stared at him wide-eyed and confused, but all he did was move closer to me, taking his sweet time with each step and making my heart beat louder.

It's not like I haven't been approached by men before. It's just the particular man asking this of me.

A million questions began to run through my head, and even Aira seemed stressed.

I took a step back with each one he took forward till I was backed up against a tree and he put his hands on both sides of my face.

“I would advise that you step back before my instincts kick in and I do something that I'd regret,” I told him, but he just looked at me with hooded eyes and leaned in, whispering in my ear.

“You will do as I say. Wouldn't you?”

I pushed him back with all my strength and he barely tumbled backwards.

“I wouldn't,” I said, adamantly, frowning as my chest heaved.

“I won fair and square so you would do as I say.” His voice had gotten deeper as he thundered and his Alpha voice came through.

I immediately bowed my head on instinct and anger clawed through my veins as I bit down on my lower lip, trying to go against it… But I couldn't.

“Now, I shall ask again,” he paused before chuckling darkly.

“Ask? I'm telling you. You will be my slave till I say you will not any longer. Is that clear?”

My fingernails dug into my palm as I shook, feeling my body go hot.

“Yes, Zayn,” I replied, purposely saying his name to spite him.

“Come again?” he said as he pushed me backwards with his hand to my throat, lightly squeezing.

“Yes, Alpha.”

He then smirked, let me go and took some steps back.

“Good.”

—

I was out in night garments and a towel, drying my wet hair when I saw a letter on my bed.

I paused and looked around suspiciously, but there was no one in my room, and my door was still locked like I had done earlier.

I picked up the letter and opened it and with each line I read, I felt like tearing it to shreds.

It was from Zayn and he wanted me to meet him tonight at the palace for dinner with my family.

There was an event scheduled for today with all the high-ranking members of the pack. It happened every month, and I have never attended a single one, no matter how much Elias fought with me to attend.

It was boring. All they did was discuss numbers, alliances, and possible chances of wars. Plus, the Elders didn't like me much. For starters, I was unidentifiable and secondly, I had beaten up all their sons in duels and refused to marry any of them when proposed to. So, yeah.

But this was different. The Alpha himself invited me. His signature was at the end of the letter and I began to consider.

“You will not go,” Aira screamed in my head and I just rolled my eyes. I guess I slipped and let the mental wall blocking her fall.

“You don't get to tell me what to do.” I retorted, but she started yapping about how he gave her off vibes and how affiliating myself with him was a bad idea, but I didn't listen.

But she had some good points like his sudden interest in me. So I tore the letter and threw it in my bin but seconds later a soft knock sounded on my door and a smile graced my lips.

“Stephan, hi,” I said happily as I saw my best friend since I knew how to walk, standing in my doorway staring at me, equally smiling.

“Hi, Rory.” He stepped in and sat comfortably on the bed before relaxing back and letting out a tired groan.

“What's up with you?”

“I have been at the palace all morning, now I have to be there again this evening for the monthly dinner and this time Alpha Zayn asks that we bring a plus one. Mum isn't attending because she came down with a cold, so Dad is taking Reya, so I'd have to take you,” he rambled off, and I frowned.

That cheeky Alpha. He was making sure that I had no other choice but to come. Everyone knew that Elias’ wife, Sarah, was sick since he made a scene when he heard she had collapsed while cooking and he was on the training grounds.

“Please, go with me. I owe you.” Stephan begged and with the dark eye circles that screamed tiredness and the way he looked at me pleadingly, I nodded.

“Fine. Get out so I can get dressed.”

And he did.

I pulled open my wardrobe and took out a long flowing skirt and a top that showed a bit of my stomach. I then took a transparent scarf to cover up since the top was armless. Some flats and my hair thrown in the usual braid and I was ready.

—

The palace came into view as we drove into the compound.

Stephan and I stepped out, hand in hand, as Father and Reya did from the other car.

Reya took in my dressing and scoffed.

“Surprised to see you in anything other than cargo pants and combat boots. You really let out your femininity tonight. I wonder why.”

I looked at her and raised a brow and she flinched. That was what I thought.

She didn't say anything afterwards and silently followed her dad inside.

Stephan looked at me apologetically, but I didn't mind.

I squeezed his hand and we walked in.

—

“I'd say that we should build higher walls. That would stop the rogues from coming in.”

“But that would make the members feel caged in and like prisoners. That is not advisable.”

“Well, if you have something better to say, why don't you tell us then?”

“Maybe you should think about your receding hairline this time and not give pointless ideas.”

“How dare y–”

“Enough!” Zayn yelled, and the two elders turned to look at him, before bowing their heads in shame. It was taking everything inside of me not to burst out laughing.

Why had I not attended this before again?

“This meeting is over. We shall be back in a short while. Let us move to the dining halls for our meal.”

The Elders nodded and they began to leave the room one by one.

Almost everyone had gone when I finally got up to leave.

“Rora,” his deep voice called out to me, and I spun to look him in the eyes with no expression on my face.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Follow me.”

“May I ask why?”

He didn't say anything and began to walk away.

That arrogant prick. Did he expect me to just go with him for no reason?

He didn't stop so I guessed that he did.

I let out a huge sigh, flailed my arms and then followed him out the door.

He walked down the dimly lit halls till he stopped at a door and pulled it open, stepping in.

I followed him and when I entered, I realised that it was his office.

He took a seat and then ushered me to take one too.

“Why did you ask me to come here?”

He didn't say anything but just stared at me. Then he got up, walked over to where I was, pulled me up flush against him and buried his face in my chest.

It all happened so fast that I didn't know what was going on.

My instincts kicked in and I pushed him off and instantly kneed him in his balls.

“Fucking hell, Rora!”