Chapter 9

Alpha Lorenzo's Pov

This Marriage, it would be torture, premium torture to her. It would be the price that she would have to pay for all of this. She could not have gone very far and I was sure that my men would have her back to my palace safe and sound, soon.

It was only a matter of time.

"I understand you Alpha Lorenzo. I will get to it now," Leo said to me with a bow and turned to go. He suddenly stopped, hesitating in the doorway as if he was debating about something. I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to speak what was on his mind though I knew it would definitely be something really stupid.

"Alpha Lorenzo?" he said to me rather cautiously. "If I may ask you, what if she does not want to return? Would it not be easier to just let her go?"

"Let her go? Leo? Do you really hear yourself right now?" I asked him as anger simmered in my veins and my other blood vessels. "I should let her go you say?" I repeated in a quite menacing whisper. He shivered visibly at the devilish tone of my voice. "Leo, do you not know me? Do you not know that no one leaves here without my permission? She is mine. She belongs to me. She belongs here. She is bound to me and to this pack, and she must do her duty."

"Of course, yes, Alpha Lorenzo," was his quick reply as he inclined his head while understanding his errors.

"Remember this Leo," I said to him. "I will not tolerate disobedience of any form, neither would I be pleased with strong willed defiance. When she is brought back to my palace, she will be taught a lesson so that she can conveniently learn her place."

"Yes Alpha."

"Now hurry along before I teach you the lesson in her place and make an example of you." My words hung heavy in the air, the promise clear behind them. He turned and quickly scampered away, out of my presence without looking back even once, not even when he had to shut the door to the study room.

I was left alone now. I spent the next one hour in the silence of the study room, awaiting each and every information on her. And as the hours passed by and I began to pace around the study room, my patience quickly ran out. I was getting so angry that I was sure I would not be able to control my anger if she was brought back to my palace.

I was vexed because it was simply not that Loretta had run away from my palace, it was the audacity of it, the sheer defiance. The thought of her slipping away through the window in the night, thinking she could escape, filled me with a dark but yet furious amusement. She was bold, but boldness would only take her to a certain distance. It was one that was not so far I feared.

As the afternoon wore on and the shadows began to lengthening, I began to grow a bit worried because there was still no news of her even as I waited. I was not worried because she was not yet found, I could never be worried about such a measly woman. I was worried because the wedding could not take place if she was not found in time. I did not want to be mocked about my bride running away before our wedding. I was a man who was known for discipline, but my patience had worn thin. I glanced toward the door every few moments, waiting for the moment that Leo would return to me with the news that I wanted.

When the door slowly but finally creaked open after a knock and Leo entered the room with his face streaked with sweat and his expression one of tense satisfaction, I knew that it was good news.

"I hope it is good news Leo?" I asked him. He nodded.

"Alpha, we have a lead," he said to me while trying to catch his breath. He must have run all the way her in his excitement to tell me. "She was said to be spotted near the southern edge of the forest and moving really quickly on her feet, alone."

A slow and dangerous smile instantly curved my lips and spread across my face. "That is quite perfect," I said to him, the single word filled with pure venom. "And what about the guards? Have they gotten to her?"

"They are closing in as we speak to each other Alpha Lorenzo," he told me with relief evident in his voice.

"That is wonderful." I rose to my feet with my voice calm but lethal. "When they find her, she is to be brought directly to me. Tell them she is to be returned unharmed. But if she refuses and resists capture," I paused for a while for dramatic effect. "Please do not dare to be gentle."

"It will be done as you have ordered Alpha Lorenzo."

"And if any of them let her get away, again, they will have to answer to me. I want them to completely understand that," I added as he turned to leave.

"I will make them understand, Alpha Lorenzo."

"Good," I said as he left. Once he had gone, I allowed myself a moment to savor the thought of Loretta’s imminent capture. She would think twice next time before attempting such again. This marriage would happen, and she would come to understand that her fate was not hers to control. It was under my control, her and every other thing.

When Leo returned to me about thirty minutes later with a triumphant smile on his face, I knew that it was over.

"She has been found Alpha Lorenzo. We have her now," he announced. "She was found trying to cross over into rogue territory. She was alone, just as we thought. And because of her, we managed to capture a few of the rogues that were roaming. We have comfortably killed a lot of birds with just one stone." A sense of satisfaction and fulfillment washed over at his words.

"Where is she now?"

"They have captured her and the rogues. They are bringing her back as we speak," he replied. "She put up a fight but it was nothing serious. They should arrive here within the hour."

"That is excellent." I said as I settled into my seat with an anticipatory calm spreading through me. "Send her to her bedroom the moment she arrives with chains on her hands and feet so she does not attempt another escape. I will deal with her myself then," I finished.

Leo nodded and then bowed slightly . He then turned to leave with his steps quick and purposeful.

I waited while I pictured the fear that would flicker in Loretta's eyes when she saw me again. The stark realization that her escape had failed because of me would infuriate her. She might be a sharp witted and stubborn female, but she would soon understand that her place was in my world and no one else. She would soon understand that no one defied me and got out of it unscathed.

Leo came back to inform me that she was back, in her bedroom, chains on her hand and feet as I had previously instructed. I stood to my feet with a dark satisfaction filling me.

"Thank you Leo," I told him dismissively. "I will take it from here.”