Chapter 5

"Whose Beta are you?" I demand and he stands to face me again. "Who's you're Alpha?" He snorts, shaking his head before launching himself at me but the two wolves behind me intercept the attack. They both barrel into his chest and his attack towards me is lessened as they crash to the floor in a bundle. The other three have the second wolf pinned to the floor, the three of them having to sit on him to keep him in place. When the Beta somehow manages to shake off my warriors, I take the chance to punch him hard on the head. He yelps, his head hitting the wall.

Stand down. There are too many of them. Everyone is in the training ground; they've won. Luke's voice sounds in my head and I frown. Stand down? Why? Cecily, they're too strong. They want to speak to the Alpha but we are the only one's here.

I'm not giving in to them, Luke. Are you insane? I argue mentally but everyone else is captured and he is clearly being told to tell me this. I don't hear his voice reply but I relax, sighing in irritation. "You heard him. Stand down." Much to my dismay, my fighters around me Shift back into their human self and the wolves surprisingly let them get clothes. I gather up the shorts that are folded by the door and pass them over, getting a small "Thanks.". When they are all changed, the trespassers escort us to the training ground. Gasping in horror, I notice that everyone is put into the middle, clumped together and men in black are surrounding them, arms crossed and eyeing them hungrily.

I step in to see Luke kneeling in the centre, his arms being held to the back of his head. Tripping over my own feet as I am shoved forward, the Beta is behind me, Shifted back and face impassive. The man holding me is strong as I try to pry his fingers from my arm but to no avail.

"Don't touch me," I snap, whirling on him. He grabs my neck, forcing me to follow him. "Get your hands off me."

"What do you want?" Luke demands as he watches furiously as I am shoved to the ground but the Beta only flicks his head back for someone to replace him in holding me to the floor. I can see Tessa, Alec and Sam in the crowd at the front and they are watching as Luke struggles and I am brought to the floor with wide eyes. I hate being held down like this but Luke mind-links me to stay put. He doesn't want me to do something reckless.

"Where's your Alpha?" The Beta asks and his voice rings out around the hall. "What pack are you in allegiance with- Red Blood or Black Shadow?" Luke is wrestled when he growls and I see the Beta stiffen slightly; face twisting with...uncertainty before advancing on Luke.

"Screw you." He spits after the Beta punches him in the jaw. I jolt but the boot in my side is the only thing stopping me from ripping his hand off. Luke spits blood onto the floor, some on the Beta's boot, as it runs freely from where the cut on his lip leaks. I don't know where the Beta got the clothes but he still looks the part. I hear Tessa yelp as she hides her face in Sam's shoulder and Alec grabs her arm as they both stand slightly behind Sam. The other children are huddled at the farthest side of the hall and I see two of our omegas go up behind my siblings in case things get out of hand.

"You know whom I serve, even if the rest of your pack doesn't. I know who you are, Lucius Turner. I know you have brothers and sisters too, especially the older one." The Beta kneels in front of Luke, who is still struggling. I say nothing and Luke says nothing either; when you're cornered it's better not to do anything.

"Why?" Luke asks eventually, trying to not look at me. I can see the first dwellings of fear in his eyes as he looks at the Beta kneeling in front of him but we both know he can't show it. Where's Dad when you need him?

"My Alpha wants to know and what he wants, he usually gets." I can hear the scoff Luke does, earning another punch and this time the guy standing on me isn't enough. Everyone looks at me as I shove him off easily, suddenly reaching Luke's side in only three strides. We've done the move so many times before when Red Blood attack: I jump up, my feet bashing into the chest of the Beta as I place my hands on Luke's shoulders before I turn around and punch the man holding my brother's hands. Luke's back is straight and his shoulders are solid as he supports my weight. The Beta lands on the arena while the other one lands in front of the circle of the crowd.

"This time, he isn't getting it," I comment, watching as he drags himself to his feet and eyes me warily before stepping forward again. My wolf is near the surface, knowing we aren't getting out of this without a fight. I shouldn't have wished so hard for a fight.

"You might want to be careful, Cecily Turner. My Alpha doesn't do kindly to rebels." He growls at me. Luke tries to reach for my arm but I shake him off. "Where's your father?"

"Our Alpha isn't here at the moment; you'll have to reschedule your appointment. The door is that way," I say with a mocking tone, flicking my hand to the door. How does this man know my name? I've never seen him before. "My Alpha doesn't do kindly to trespassers." His lip twitches, as though he's trying not to smile. My shoulders are suddenly grabbed and I react purely out of instinct. Lifting my foot up, I feel it connect to a kneecap and the man behind me hisses in pain, giving me the opportunity to twist from his arms. Luke does pretty much the same thing, swinging a mighty punch to the man's head as the pair of them fall away from us. I spin back to the Beta, my leg lifting up past my hips when I feel him get close and the side of my foot hits the side of his face.

"Cecily, that's enough. We could get into serious trouble." Luke pulls me away and behind him as the Beta holds his jaw, eyes locked onto mine. Luke knows something and it's got something to do with these men. I can feel it. Suddenly the Beta stills, back straight before glancing at the door. I frown, following his eye line. He steps back, smirking.

The smell hits me hard.

The man steps in casually as though the sight of hundreds of people in a small space is normal. He's dressed in black, much like the other men in the room but he radiates authority and everyone older than twenty shivers when he walks in. They know who he is, I don't. His black hair is sitting stylishly on his head and he would be picture perfect if he smiled.

His coffee brown eyes land on mine as he steps closer to me. Luke's head seems to lower without his violation and he steps back a little but I can't seem to look away. One word zips around my head, making me hate the masterpiece in front of me more with every step.

Mate.

Fuck.

I look away from him, angry and admittedly a little annoyed. Why now and why him? I hear a chuckle vibrate through him as he stops in front of us.

"Interesting." He mutters but I still refuse to meet his eyes again. "Aren't you going to look at me, sweetheart?" I hear Luke grumble behind me at that name but it makes my heart skip. Why, oh why Goddess? He lifts his hand, cupping my chin, forcing me to look at him. I hate to admit the nice tingles he sends through me when he does and I flinch at the contact. To take out his satisfaction at my reaction, a growl escapes my chest as he raises my head to look up at his. He narrows his eyes as he does and I then see the light silver outlining his irises. "What's with the growl?"

I rip my face from his hand, stepping back. I force down my mate affection towards him and feel the anger inside replace it. He looks mildly surprised at me stepping away from him.

"What do you want with my pack?" I ask which makes him growl slightly.

"I want to know where your allegiance lies: with the King or with Red Blood." He answers, smirking when I tense. He's accusing us of being allies to Red Blood? Everyone is watching and the tension is thicker since this man walked in.

"We aren't allied with Red Blood," Luke says, walking up behind me and wraps his hand around my wrist, pulling me behind him slightly again. My 'mate' narrows his eyes dangerously at where he does and I can see the anger reach his face. No one else seems to have noticed the mate bond between us yet much to my relief. He seems to shake his head to get out of the sudden possessiveness of his growl and instead sharpens his eyes on Luke.

"Why should I believe you? You refused to answer the first time you were asked. I have every right to believe you work with Red Blood." It feels offensive when he says it which is why I can't stop my hand from flying out. It slaps his cheek and it slaps him hard. He grabs my wrist, pulling me forward until I'm pressed right up against him. Everyone gasps as the slap rings out around the hall. My back instantly straightens and all my muscles tighten as I feel my wolf growl, whether at me for slapping our mate or the fact we're standing so close to each other. "Don't you ever do that again. Do you know who I am?" He snarls. The Beta and all the men are all looking at us, all with wide eyes.

"Someone who attacked an innocent pack who is a victim to Red Blood attacks almost every week," I answer, biting off the end of my sentence and refraining from calling him the name I really want to call him. His gaze is enough to make my father's Alpha gaze to seem childish. Who the hell is this guy? I refuse to let my wolf's cowering from his heated gaze show and I lift my head as high as I can. Not even Luke tries to intervene as my 'mate' tightens his hold on my wrist slightly making me hiss slightly. His lips twitch into a small smile before letting me go.

"We're leaving." He steps back from me, rushing to do so, like he can't stand being near me and the Beta nods stiffly. This 'mate' of mine can't possibly be Alpha; the Beta's old enough to be his father. "And you're coming with us." He tilts his head in my direction, using a tone that says he shouldn't be argued with. My jaw drops.

"What? I can't leave. My dad- I mean Alpha hasn't given me permission to leave." I correct myself but he catches my mistake.

"That's not something you need to worry about." He steps closer to me, well aware of how much I really hate it when he does it. "Now unless you want me to carry you out, I suggest you move." His threat is said almost through gritted teeth as though forcing himself to say it. I'm really beginning to hate my mate. Taking a deep breath, my head turns to look at my brother who is standing a little in front of me now.

Luke shakes his head, silently begging me not to go or maybe not to fight back. Does he know who this is? My mate reaches out quickly, catching my arm and dragging me out behind him. I swipe at his hands, causing him to chuckle as the other men surround me. Sadly, I look back at my family and pack as I walk towards the door and let them escort me out the training ground before making me leave my home.