CHAPTER 15

Alora’s POV

I don't know where I am going to go to , but I am happy that I am finally escaping. The  pack border is just in front of me and my plans are seemingly attainable in my head. My disguise has worked well so far but my heart nearly stops when I see the increased number of patrol guards at the border. Something is different today- the usual pattern I memorised has changed. I wonder why

I try to maintain my elderly woman disguise, balancing the laundry basket of my head to gain a little bit of pity when I want to cross. I don't want them stopping me. But the environment is not helping me now, the morning sun is beating down on my shoulder making the shawl on my head almost unbearable because of the heat. I am suffocating as sweat trickles  down my shoulders. I am contemplating removing it,  but I can't. Not when I am in front of the border and the patrol guards

“Stop right there, woman,” a big guard calls out to me. “Did you not hear the Alpha's order that we should check everyone passing by the border?”

I freeze at the spot. I feel my fingers tightening instinctively around the walking stick. They never stopped elderly wolves before- this one must be a new rule. I stand there trying to control my racing heart when I hear footsteps approaching from behind the guards.

“What is happening there?”

Oh my goddess, that voice. I would recognise it even if I am sleeping. The voice sends a jolt of pain, anger and fear through my body. The voice belongs to Lucas of course. It is Lucas the new chief security appointed by my father- the perfect position for the perfect son-in-law to be now that his engaged to Leah, the most favoured child

I keep my head down praying that he would not recognise me, but alas,  I feel his eyes on me. It takes only one simple glance at me for him to catch me - he realises who I am and I can see that he is surprised. Is that how bad my disguise is? That Lucas can see through me with just a simple, lazy glance? Oh, of course, we were once mates- maybe that is where he developed the special ability to recognise me no matter the disguise I am putting on. Nonsense! I hope he is enjoying his new mate, Leah. I can't help but chuckle lightly at the thoughts in my head

I still try to keep my head down when he suddenly turns to the guards and he says, “You guys can go back to your positions. I would handle this one,” he says in a neutral voice. “I think I know this old woman,” he emphasising on the words ‘old’  when he speaks, probably because he wants to get that information unconsciously into their skulls

The guard looks at Lucas before straightening up, “Sir, should I call for backup? Is it a dangerous case?”

“No… no need for that, officer…” he tries to ward the stubborn officer to go away. “I will handle everything by myself, thank you”

I feel uncomfortable as Lucas gestures for me to follow him and I drag my legs lazily behind him, still feigning like an old woman. I consider running away, but I know it is pointless now. The patrol borders has doubled maybe even tripled since I disappeared

Lucas leads me to the small interrogation room. It is a small, dark,space with two chairs and a metal table like I am going to be tortured by guards. The small fluorescent light above us made shadows cast everywhere including across Lucas’s  face as he closes the door behind us. I notice he didn't lock it. Probably, he  is trying to make me feel safe with him

“It has been two days Alora,”  he says quietly gesturing that I should sit down before he even starts talking. “Everyone in this pack is looking for you. We have all been looking for you for two days now. Where did you even go?” he asks, but I remain standing, saying nothing but letting the laundry basket drop to the floor.

“Why are they looking for me?” I let out a bitter laugh, and I start pulling off my disguise starting from my shawl. “They are looking for me because I am an embarrassment to them and they want to deal with me, nothing else”

“No… no…” he steps forward a little bit. Your family is so worried about you…”

“Please, stop saying what you know nothing about,” I interject, looking sharply into his eyes. “They might rub it in your face that they care about me, but I know they don't, okay? So just shut up and stop saying what you have no idea about!”

Lucas flinches at my harsh words and I feel guilty for talking to him in that way. Even though I am still angry at him, I mutter a small and hesitant, “I am sorry”

He doesn't say anything for a while, he just looks at me. But after a while he takes a deep breath and says to me, “So where are you going now? What was your plan before you were stopped?” he is asking in a more gentle voice

“Anywhere,” I throw my hands up in the air in uncertainty. “I am ready to go anywhere that is not this pack…” as I  am talking, I meet his eyes again and in it I see deep concern in them. “Fuck!” I mutter under my breath because of the way the softness in his eyes makes me feel. I shouldn't have looked into his eyes. But just as suddenly as his eyes had softened me, it's linger on me is begining to annoy me.

It would have been different if we were still mates! I would have let him look at me if he had not rejected me. He lost all rights to care about me when he turned his back at me.

“Alora, please, you can't just leave the pack like this…” he starts to say. I am assuming he thinks I am now cooperative with him

“Like you care…” I scoff

“What did you say…?” he stammers. He heard me the first time

“I said, like you care,” I say in a louder voice this time around. “Don't pretend that you care about me. If you cared, you wouldn't have rejected me!”

I feel a now dulled pain pulsing within me. When he had rejected me, it was more painful than it is now. But it doesn't really matter that the pain is dulled- all I know is that he rejected me, he broke my heart and left me in pains

I always expected to find my mate so early in life. Ever since I was small I was always mistreated in my family, so I had always had it at the back of my mind that I would find a mate who was going to save me from all I was suffering. When I didn't see my wolf when I came of age, I was heartbroken. I thought to myself that I'll never find the one for me. When I found Lucas, I was very happy. I thought finally, everything with finally make sense, but instead Lucas had chosen to listen to my father over prioritising the feelings of me- his mate- he rejected our mate bond because of an order from my father - the Alpha

“Alora, how many times would I explain to you that I had no choice?” he says in a strained but apologetic voice. “I had to obey the orders of the Alpha…”

“Alpha’s orders, but he engaged you to my sister and you are comfortable with it,” I make a side comment. “Explain how any of your choices makes sense!” I shoot him a cold glare

There is silence between us now after I speak. I can see the struggle on his face. I know he wants to start another litany of apology and I'm not ready for it. So I decide to speak before he can even speak

“You know what?” I say, standing up sharply so that the chair can scrape the ground and screech too, to show the extent of my anger. “Just hand me over to the patrol guards. Let them take me to whatever punishment I would be met with. It is better than staring at your betraying face”

“Alora, please, please…” he says just as I predict. “I know you are mad at me, but please don't take any rash decisions…”

“I don't want to hear anything from you!” I snap as I interrupt him. “You are a betrayer!” I fight the tears from dropping down my eyes and onto my cheeks. “You were supposed to be my mate- my saviour. You dashed my hope against the wall! Now I don't even know if I will ever find a second chance mate! Do you know what this kind of uncertainty feels like!?” I am too weak from grief to keep standing, so I collapse to the ground and let myself sob