Chapter 3 | A Choice

Maven

I don’t know what brought me to this cottage, but all I know is the person living here has a unique scent. I’ve only smelled a scent like this once before and… it’s not possible for it to be the same person.

I looked around and noticed whoever rescued me was no longer here. When I looked in the bathroom mirror, I noticed that the injuries I had gotten from being attacked had already healed because of my enhanced healing ability. I was grateful for the food the host had made for me and devoured it before I left.

The longer I was around this scent, the more it was bothering me and my wolf because it was so familiar to the one that my mate, Elana, had. I knew it wasn’t possible for it to be Elena’s scent. Elena was long gone, and the scent was slightly different from hers.

I try to shake the memories of her out of my head as I head back to my pack. I shifted into my wolf as I rushed back towards the Renegade Pack. As soon as I crossed over the border, my Beta was mind linking me to ask where I’ve been.

It’s rare for me to stay gone overnight, so I understand why he was concerned. We need to figure out who attacked me. I’m the Alpha and I don’t look weak, so I don’t understand why anyone would target me when they know I wouldn’t be an easy kill.

I huff as I head to my office so we can try to sort this out.

 

Days passed, and we had no leads on what or who could’ve attacked me. My scars were already healed by the time I woke up, so the only person who could know was the person who tended to my wounds.

I’m indebted to her. I plan to send her a check as a thank you… I don’t really want to see her again. Her scent was too familiar and brought back too many memories.

I shake my head as I try to focus back on my work whenever I get a mind link from my Beta, Kaden, and he shouts in my head, “Alpha Knight, the council is demanding an emergency meeting!”

My eyebrows furrow. This is unusual for the council and I mind link back, “What’s going on?”

“They found an exiled wolf in town. They think it’s too dangerous to be left alone.”

An exiled wolf? That’s… intriguing. It’s rare for a wolf to get exiled. They normally don’t live long after they are exiled because they can’t make it on their own or because a pack discovers them and kills them.

I straighten my tie as I stand up and head out to see the council. The council has a small building that is designated for their meetings in the middle of our pack. Normally, they handle all the disagreements between pack members. It’s rare for them to need me present outside of the bimonthly meeting.

As I walk into the building, I’m greeted by the one scent I didn’t want to smell. My head whips towards the scent and I see a woman with dirty blonde hair covering her face, her hands tied behind her back, and on her knees before the council.

I watch as one of the councilmen, William, screams in her face, “Why were you exiled?!”

He didn’t give her an opportunity to answer before he grabbed her by her hair and threw her to the ground. She cried out and I let out a growl as I stomped towards the council and demanded, “What is the meaning of this?”

The girl struggles to get back on her knees and William stutters, “I-I was trying to assess if she-she’s a threat to us, Alpha.”

My eyes narrow as I state, “You didn’t even give her a chance to respond before you threw her across the room.”

A different councilman tried to defend William’s actions as he says, “Alpha, the girl is dangerous to our kind. She’s been exiled, she must be a traitor! She has to be punished!”

The other councilmen voice their agreement and I look towards the girl. Normally, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill an exiled wolf. But… she’s the one who saved me. I have to return the favor.

Everyone talks at once, coming up with different ideas to punish her, and I hold up my hand for everyone to quiet down. I look at the girl and she looks up at me and I see her honey brown eyes for the first time. I breathe out and say, “She will be punished.”

The council mumbles their approval, and the girl trembles as I say, “She will have a choice. She can die or… she can be my slave.”

Amelia

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

All of that traveling for… nothing. I will not be free. I have to be a slave, or I have to die?! What kind of cruel fate has the moon goddess given me?

But… I recognize the man. He’s the man I saved the other night. Maybe he’ll be nice to me? He’s not killing me on the spot, so there’s a chance he is a good man.

He crosses his arm and cocks his eyebrow as he asks, “What do you want to do, girl?”

I bow my head towards him and say breathlessly, “I will be your slave.”

He walks over and grabs my arms as he helps me stand to my feet. He turns me around and unties the rope that those other men used to capture me.

The men around him start to say things like, “Alpha, how can you do this?”

“Alpha, she’s an exiled wolf! She’s too dangerous to be left alive!”

“You must rethink this, Alpha!”

Once he is done untying my hands, he yells out, “Enough!”

His voice startled me and caused me to jump and I noticed all the men in the room instantly shut their mouths and looked at him with wide eyes.

He says, “If you are against my decision, then by all means you can challenge me over it! If you win, then you’ll be the Alpha and can choose to do whatever you want to the girl as you see fit.”

His eyes flicker to each person across the room and he raises his arms up and says, “Come on! Any takers? Anyone want to challenge their Alpha?”

No response and he spits out, “I didn’t think so. Elder Julian, can the meeting be adjourned?”

The one he called on stutters out, “Y-yes, Alpha.”

The Alpha grabs my arm and pulls on it as he leads me towards a car. I tried to keep pace with him, but his legs were so long it was hard to keep up. I’m grateful that he saved my life, but I’m terrified of what the future might hold as his slave.

Once we get into the car, he passes me a phone and says, “Put in your address. I’ll let you have a few minutes to collect your things.”

I’m shocked that he’s even giving me this opportunity, so I put my address in as fast as I can and pass the phone back to him, hoping he won’t change his mind.

It takes a half hour to get back to the cottage, and we said nothing the entire time. He had classical music on in the car, which surprised me because, based on his rugged appearance, I would’ve expected something more… alternative.

The man is handsome. He has dark brown hair that is styled; he wore a button-down shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up and I could see tattoos creeping out at the bottom of his sleeves. There was a small amount of stubble on his square jaw. I haven’t had much of a chance to look at his face because I don’t want to look like I’m gawking over him.

We pull up to my cottage and he says, “You have 20 minutes and then we will head back to the pack.”

I nod as I open the door and rush inside. Thankfully, I didn’t come to this town with much, anyway. Everything that I had brought or purchased could fit inside a duffle bag, so I rush inside to get everything together so I can go back to the car.

A small part of me was tempted to run, but I don’t have much money left and if word spread about me running away from his pack, then I know other packs wouldn’t hesitate to kill me on sight. I must have faith that everything will be okay.

Then again... this will probably be the only chance I have to run. Shouldn't I take it?