Chapter 4

Katherine Lark's POV:

Soon, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"She was probably sent here to deceive us!"

"But why can't I smell her?"

"Shh. Maybe it was true! She was here to spy on us."

My stomach dropped. I had expected their suspicion but not this. Soon, Alpha Harrison dismissed everyone and ordered someone to give me a place to stay.

The room was small and more for containment than comfort. But I was too tired to care about it. My clothes were still stuck to my skin from sweat and forest mist.

I set my bag down and loosened my cloak. I told myself I deserved a moment to breathe. I was about to pull my shirt over my shoulders when the door suddenly opened.

I froze.

Alpha Harrison stepped inside the room without warning and shut the door closed behind him with a deliberate motion. The lock slid into place with a sharp click that echoed far too loudly in the small room.

"What are you doing?" I demanded before putting my clothes back into place.

His gaze flicked briefly to my body and then back to my face.

"Getting the answers to my questions." Alpha Harrison calmly said.

I straightened my back despite the sudden spike of alarm that I felt.

"You could have knocked on the door and announced yourself."

"In my own territory? You're probably forgetting your place here."

The words sent a chill down my spine. Then he slowly moved closer. I stepped back without thinking until the cold stone wall was pressing into my back. His presence was filling every inch of this room and making it smaller than it was.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I asked in a sharp voice.

But Alpha Harrison ignored me. He braced one hand against the wall beside my head and caged me in without touching me. His eyes were searching mine with ruthless intensity.

"You're probably a spy." he said in a low and dangerous voice. "Or a weapon. Something meant to destabilize me, my pack or both."

"What are you—"

"Do you even know what you are?"

"What?"

Alpha Harrison stared at me then lifted his hand. His fingers spread across my cheek and jaw. It was neither gentle nor rough. My breath caught as his thumb pressed beneath my cheekbone and holding my head still.

"Tell me your motive while I'm still being nice to you." Alpha Harrison said in low voice.

"I told you already. I was sent in this place so they could finally discard me." I said while keeping my voice level although my chest tightened. "I was only sent here for political reasons."

But my answer made him scowl before suspicion started flickering across his sharp features.

"You're discarded? Or just a setup?"

"I told you. Alpha Darius and the elders sent me here to be a liability."

"And you believed that?"

His thumb slightly moved and touched my lower lip. It was a small movement that sent a sharp pulse through me.

"Without any proof or consent like a fool?" he mocked.

"I didn't have the luxury of questioning orders!" I finally snapped. "I was an omega and an orphan. I was told where to go."

The bond exploded in my chest again. The heat surged between us and the air seemed to sizzle. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth while refusing to succumb in front of this Alpha.

"Do you feel that?" he growled while stepping closer. "Do you feel how strong it is?"

"...I can feel it." I admitted. "But I'm rejecting it."

The bond screamed and resisting my defiance. When I looked up, something flickered in his eyes. It was control.

With brutal strength, Alpha Harrison grabbed my arm and pulled me against him. My back pressed the wall more as he lowered his head and letting his breath brushed my face.

"You are my mate." he stated.

"I don't want it." I insisted.

The words barely left my lips before his control almost disappeared just for a second. Then a low growl rumbled from his chest. His hand tightened around my arm in a possessive manner.

"But why?" he demanded. "Why would you reject something like this?"

I softly laughed without humor in it.

"You wouldn't understand." I said. "You've never lived your life being decided by other people."

His gaze darkened with a sliver hint of danger flickering there.

"Try me."

I shook my head once.

"I won't." I firmly said. "You've never been powerless, Alpha Harrison. You've never been told what you are allowed to be. You've never been given a fate of being an orphan and being rejected by everyone."

The bond was pulsing and reacting to the truth in my words.

"You are thinking this bond is a destiny." I continued quietly. "But for me, this is just another cage."

For a moment, I thought Alpha Harrison would snap at me. His jaw twitched with tension and his eyes were dark with anger mixed with a hidden confusion my words had stirred.

"Do you think I wouldn't understand?" Alpha Harrison asked once again. "Do you really think I wouldn't understand you?"

I met his gaze and ignored the pounding of my chest.

"You won't." I quietly said. "Not from where you stand."

That did it.

The air around him snapped. His hand gripped my jaw. It was not hard enough to hurt but enough to show control. His eyes burned into mine and demanding the truth.

For a moment, I thought he might go further. But he suddenly let go. The loss of his touch left me unsteady. Then he stepped back and put a distance between us as if he needed it more than I did.

"You will stay in this room." Alpha Harrison coldly ordered. "You will not leave unless instructed. You will not wander around my territory and you will not speak to anyone unless permitted."

I opened my mouth to respond but the look he gave me silenced every thought.

"This is not a request." he added. "This is an order."

He turned away and shut the door hard enough to shake the frame. The silence afterward heavily pressed me in. I remained where I was and felt my skin still warm from where his fingers had been.

I wrapped my arms around myself while staring at the door he had left behind. I knew Alpha Harrison didn't trust me. But what unsettled me was that he almost hadn't let go for a moment.

"Forget it." I told myself before sitting on the bed. "I need to rest."

I shut my eyes meaning only to breathe for a moment. But instead, I fell asleep.

In my dream, I stood in a dark place filled with smoke and heat. There were several people gathering in the middle. They were arguing but their faces were blurred.

"She's unstable!"

"It's not too late!"

"We have no choice! Do it!"

In the middle of them was a child. Just like these people, her face was blurred. But I noticed she was small and covered in blood. I tried to move but I couldn't.

Soon, one person stepped forward while the others went silent. After speaking a few words that sounded like an old language, a light burst out. The last thing I saw was the child screaming in pain.

I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I looked around and noticed my room was covered in darkness. My heart was pounding so loud and there was a dull pain spreading across my chest.

I instinctively looked down and saw a symbol right over my heart. I let out a hiss when I tried touching it. It was still faint but the I could feel it pulsing on my skin.

Then without warning, the symbol burned hotter and pulsing deep inside me as if it had a will of its own.