Chapter 5

Laura

Sleeping in a mansion that isn't yours is somewhat unsettling. I also think I've woken up like a billion times because it isn't nighttime. 

Everything is bright. Ths sunlight is creeping in through a crack in the blinds. Birds are singing the song of their people outside, and I've heard many people stomp past the bedroom I claimed as my own. 

Ugh, why can't they all just be quiet?!

I've been tossing and turning throughout the morning, but since I got no sleep in the car, can anyone blame me?

KNOCK

KNOCK

Some bastard knocks on my door, and I growl in response. I'm usually never this aggressive, but I was kidnapped. People got to understand I'm pissed about my situation!

And the only clothes I have is a freaking wedding dress that smells like ABSOLUT VODKA!

I growl in irritation. "What the fuck do you want, and why are you disturbing my sleep?!"

"Uh, it's me."

Me?

Is that a weird werewolf name around here, or is the man outside my door a complete tool?

"Who the hell is me?" My voice comes out hoarse and annoyed. I sound like I've smoked my entire life and might have to consider connecting myself to life support sometime soon.

"M-Marcus! Please don't castrate me, Miss Edgard! I'm just here to invite you to lunch. I mean no harm!" 

"Lunch, huh?" I stretch in the bed. "I would love to eat, but I don't have any other clothes than this wedding dress. It would be embarrassing to strut around in this thing..."

"I bought you stuff. Bags from Chanel, GUCCI, and Burberry. You can pick and choose something to your liking."

Really?

Marcus got me stuff?

Good boy!

I smile. "Let's see... The Chanel brand is attractive for their bags. Burberry likes beige and checkered clothes, so that's not for me. GUCCI is cuter and more feminine. I want that bag."

"Uh, okay?" Marcus gulps. He sounds suspicious and fearsome of me for some strange reason. "Come and pick it up."

"One moment!"

Hastily, I leave the bed and hurry to the door. Marcus looks terrified of me and shoves the bag to my chest. I smile at him, but that makes him whimper and hurry down the stairs.

What the hell is his problem?

I mean, I only threatened to castrate him...

Whatever.

Regardless of the weird beta freaking me out, I close the door. I fish through the bag and choose to wear a beige Adidas and GUCCI jumpsuit. It sits tight enough to highlight my curves.

I love it!

Smiling, I head downstairs and use my nose to locate the kitchen. The scent of coffee and meat hits my senses—it seems like there are luxurious, juicy steaks for lunch!

I enter the kitchen, frowning when I catch Caleb sitting around the table wearing a navy suit. He is holding a newspaper and lifts a coffee cup to his lips, smiling when he sees me. 

Gorgeous smile, killer eyes...

Fuck.

I swear the mate-bond phenomenon is already starting to get on my nerves—part of me is ready to kiss him. My knees buckle, but somehow I make it over to the table.

"Good morning," Caleb says. Like always, his tone is deep and a little more whiskey-like, as if he recently woke up. "Did you sleep well?"

Reluctantly, I take a seat as far away from him as possible. His lips twitch at that, but he doesn't comment on it. 

"Better than I did in the car after you kidnapped me."

He chokes on a laugh and returns to his newspaper. There is an amused expression on his face. "Brutally honest."

"I'm just pointing out facts." 

This time, he can't help but chuckle. "Well, at least you won't be starving at my mansion. The food will be served any minute now. We are just waiting for my beta and gamma."

"I haven't met your third in command yet," I pick up a sugar cube from the table and pop it in my mouth. "What is the name of your gamma?"

"Ryan."

I'm not given a chance to ask Caleb another question before Marcus strolls into the kitchen. He freezes upon seeing me and proceeds to take a seat far away from me. 

Seriously, is that giant really THAT afraid of me?

The other man, who I assume is Ryan, is chirper and smiles upon seeing me. He is handsome with brown hair and chocolate eyes, totally gorgeous, but not very tall for a werewolf. 

He is tall for a human, but werewolves are naturally larger and more muscular than humans. 

I'm short, but Caleb is a giant. It wouldn't surprise me if he were like seven feet tall. Marcus looks to be six-foot-two, and Ryan might be five-foot-eight or something. 

And since I'm only five feet tall, I shouldn't comment on Ryan's height. He is a giant to me either way. 

"Ah, who is this cutie?" Ryan beams at me while taking a seat next to mine. There are dimples on his face. 

Caleb looks up from his news magazine, and his lips curve into a slight smile. "This is my future wife and luna, Ryan. She just doesn't know it yet."

Despite my previously calm state, I almost choke when I hear Caleb say I'm his future luna and wife. My don't-give-a-fuck attitude goes up in smoke. Caleb can get under my skin, and I hate it!

Damn...

My cheeks burn hotter than the sun, and satisfaction washes over Caleb's handsome features. 

I can almost see it in his eyes, how he seems to tell me, "Oh, you think you don't want me? Game on."

"Your future luna?" Ryan's eyes grow huge as he turns back to me. "Are you two mates? That's amazing! It's a pleasure to meet you—" he reaches out his hand for me, but Marcus shrieks.

"Don't touch her!" Marcus exclaims. "Miss Edgard doesn't like that, and I wouldn't upset her because—..."

He falls silent when I calmly shake Ryan's hand. 

I might not like that I was kidnapped from a freaking parking lot, but Ryan seems to be a gentleman. He shakes my hand and then dips down his head as if to kiss my knuckles. 

My eyebrows shoot into my hairline. Is Ryan about to kiss my hand in front of my alpha mate? Interesting. Perhaps this man is crazy and secretly wishes to die.

I sit back in my seat. Ryan's lips are inches from my skin, but he never gets to kiss me before Caleb snarls. 

Within seconds, Ryan is pushed up against the wall by a furious Caleb, and I watch his feet dangle in the air. 

Holy shit. 

Caleb is fast.

My eyes swell huge. The sheer strength in Caleb's bulging arms is sexy, even though I would never admit that out loud. He holds up Ryan to the wall without breaking a sweat.

Hot.

Marcus sighs in frustration. "Why did you have to test him, you idiot? Everyone knows not to touch someone else's mate... Especially the one belonging to their fucking alpha."

Ryan manages to cough and speak. "I just wanted to ensure they were mates and that it wasn't a joke. I'm sorry!"

Caleb releases his gamma, but he seems to still be upset even after letting go of Ryan. When his eyes briefly touch mine, I see this possessive darkness within them, but he quickly averts his eyes. 

"If you touch my mate again, I will murder you." Caleb brushes invisible dust off his clothes with a sour expression.

Ryan gasps. "But I'm your third in command!"

"Doesn't matter," Caleb sends him an icy glare. The aggressive aura surrounding him is miles away from the sweet guy he was on the phone. It's like someone pulled a switch. "You touch my Teacup, and I won't hesitate to rip you into shreds."

"Teacup?"

Caleb growls.

Ryan gulps. "U-understood."

I blankly stare after Caleb as he retakes his seat. Marcus tries to choke a chuckle, and when I look at him, amusement circles inside his eyes. He glances between Caleb and me, seeming to find my mate's overprotective behavior amusing. 

"Looks like things are about to turn interesting," Marcus comments and dares to beam at me. "Caleb has found his mate..."

Ryan gets air at those words and snorts. "I know, right? It's funny because Caleb is already betrothed to Jenna. Oh boy, some drama is about to unfold."

Huh?

Betrothed?

I let my eyes travel to Caleb, who doesn't even look up. He seems intent on trying to read the news magazine, and I notice his nails aren't human but have turned into claws. 

I pause. 

Normal werewolves can't turn nails into claws. We turn into full-fledged wolves, which would mean...

Caleb lifts his chin, silently eyeing me. His eyes aren't their usual calm blue but have turned fiery red, which inserts fear into my heart.

It can't be, but there is no other explanation...

A violent bloodthirst surrounds Caleb's aura. I can sense power coming off him in waves, and he is monstrously tall. 

Shit.

Caleb must be a hybrid. Is he part lycan? Vampire? I'm not sure what creature he is mixed with, but he frightens me. What if Caleb can't control his mixed blood, and he would hurt me?