Chapter 8
Kaeleen's POV
I watched my sister, Rebecca, and her mate, Alex, settle into their assigned room. I had no idea they would arrive this early but it turns out Alex knew about my plans and had one in place also.
"So," I said, leaning against the doorframe, "think you two can manage a night without causing too much trouble?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes. "As if we're the troublemakers. You're the one who's always getting into trouble, Kaeleen."
"Hey," I protested, feigning offense. "I'm a responsible Alpha. I only get into necessary troubles."
Alex chuckled. "Right. And starting a brawl with the minister of finance's son last month was totally necessary."
"He insulted Rebecca," I said, my voice hardening. "And you'd have done worse if you were there."
Alex fixed his gaze on my sister. "Well, what can I say, I'd do anything to protect my mate."
I gagged at the eyes they were now making at each other. "With the way you guys are making eyes at each other, you're not so far from climbing each other need I remind you Alex, since I am a good friend, Rebecca's weight has doubled now that she is carrying your spawn."
Rebecca gasped. "Did you just call me fat?" She asked me.
I shrugged. "Wow, I'm so proud you know yourself." I said to her,
Thank God for my sharp senses,I made sure to duck before Rebecca's shoe hit me. That was my cue to leave.
"See you lovebirds tomorrow." I said as Alex's laughter followed me.
Later that evening, after a restless attempt at meditation..I don't know why I try. I decided to take a stroll. I couldn't shake the image of the woman I had seen that morning, the one with beautiful brown eyes. I didn't know her name, but I felt drawn to her, a pull I couldn't explain. Even Ryker, my wolf , was drawn to her.
Maybe this was my chance to get something similar to what my sister and Alex shared. To be honest, I was a bit jealous of them and what they had. It was like they were half and half and together they were full.
I walked through the pack grounds, the air thick with the scent of pine when I saw it.
The commotion at a building I was told belonged to the luna. In my pack, both the alpha and his Luna lived in the same building. They shared the same bed also but this was different. I recognized the woman immediately. She was arguing with a harsh-faced woman, her voice trembling but defiant.
I stayed in the shadows, watching as the scene unfolded. I saw the maids throwing her belongings into the hallway, treating them like garbage. I saw the Alpha, Leon, arrive and dismiss her with a coldness that made my blood boil. I saw the other pack members watching, their faces a mixture of amusement and disdain.
Disgust churned in my stomach. How could they treat her like this? How could Leon, her supposed mate, humiliate her so publicly? It was barbaric.
I wanted to intervene, to defend her, but I knew I couldn't. I was a guest here. Interfering in pack matters would be a grave offense, one that could have serious consequences.
So, I stayed hidden, my fists clenched, my heart aching for the woman who was being stripped of everything she held dear.
After Leon left, I watched as she gathered her scattered belongings, her shoulders slumped with defeat. That's when I stepped out of the shadows. I couldn't stand by and do nothing any longer.
I crouched down and helped her pick up her things. She looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise and suspicion.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Helping you," I said, my voice gentle.
"You don't have to do this," she said, her voice flat. "I can do it by myself."
"Nonsense," I replied, forcing a smile. "I couldn't possibly stand by and watch a lady in distress struggle like this."
I offered her my most charming smile, the one that usually had women swooning. But it didn't work on her. Her eyes remained guarded, her expression unreadable.
After she gathered her things, I followed her as she walked towards the edge of the pack grounds. I watched as she stopped in front of a dilapidated building, a structure that looked like it was about to collapse.
"Is this...your room?" I asked, my voice incredulous.
She shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "It's all that's available," she said, her voice flat.
"You can't stay here," I said, my voice firm.
She chuckled bitterly. "Where else can I stay? It's the only place available."
I was quiet for a moment, my mind racing. I couldn't let her stay in this building. It was too dangerous, too exposed.
"Sleep with me," I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.
Her eyes widened, and she stared at me as if I had grown two heads. Her expression hardened, and her body tensed.
"What the fuck did you just say?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.
"I am not a slut," she said in a cold voice. "I do not sleep with men as a favour or for a favour. And I will not start now. I'd rather bleed to death here than sleep with you.
I was taken aback by her tone. This was a side of her I hadn't seen before. The submissive woman who had been insulted by Leon was gone, replaced by a fiery, independent spirit. A smile tugged at my lips. I found her fierceness incredibly attractive.
"Calm down," I said, my voice soothing. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant you could sleep in the same room as me. I wasn't insinuating that we should have sex." I told her calmly.
She stared at me, her eyes narrowed. "I don't even know you," she repeated, her voice suspicious. "You're a stranger."
"Allow me to introduce myself properly then," I said, extending my hand. "I'm Kaeleen, Alpha of the Emerald Glade Pack."
She just glared at me, refusing to take my hand.
"And what's your name?" I asked, my voice gentle.
"Astrid," she said to me with a soft voice
"Astrid," I repeated, testing the sound of it on my tongue. It suited her.
"Well, Astrid," I said, my smile widening, "now we know each other. That's enough to sleep under the same roof, wouldn't you say?"
"No," she said, her voice firm. "It's not. You don't belong to this pack. I don't want to tarnish your reputation by associating with me."
"Tarnish my reputation?" I scoffed. "Astrid, I don't care about my reputation. I care about your safety."
"I'll be fine," she said, her voice dismissive. "I have a blanket. I can make do."
The way she said it, as if she had done it a thousand times before, made my heart ache.
"There's no bed, no pillow," I argued. "You can't sleep on the floor in this damp…whatever this thing is. How the fuck is it even still standing? This should have been taken down. It's not suitable for a human to live in."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I'll resolve everything tomorrow. I just need to sleep here tonight."
"I'm not even sure this place will survive an hour." I argued.
"And I can't sleep in your room, Kaeleen. It wouldn't bode well for you," she said, "The pack members wouldn't approve. They already hate me enough as it is."
Even in this situation, she was more concerned about me than herself. It was infuriating and endearing at the same time.
"I don't care what they think," I said, my voice rising. "I'm offering you a safe place to sleep. Why are you refusing?"
She pushed me towards the door, her eyes pleading. "Please, Kaeleen," she said, her voice soft. "Just go. It's for your own good."
"But—"
"Goodnight, Kaeleen," she said, cutting me off. She pushed me out of the building and closed the door, leaving me standing in the darkness.
I stood there for a moment, stunned. She had just kicked me out. Me, an Alpha. It was unbelievable. Grumbling, I turned and walked back towards my room. If she was going to be so stubborn then she should stay there. But even with that thought, I was restless, unable to shake the image of Astrid alone in that building. I had just gotten to my room, grumbling as I removed my shoes when I heard the sound of what sounded like rain.
The wind howled through the trees. A storm was brewing and there was no way that stupid building would be enough to shelter that stubborn woman.
"Fuck."