Chapter Eight

(Riley's POV)  

I hadn't realized I stood there, staring at him.  

Finally recovering from the momentarily drool, I walked into Ryker's office.  

"I believe you are ready and packed, Riley."  

"Yes, Alpha," I said, a moment too late.  

"Call me Thane," he says, his burning gaze on me, and in that moment, I forgot about Ryker in the office with us. "Just as I had promised you, your mother is free, and she will come with us," he says. My mouth fell open in surprise. That quickly? Ten years of slavery had ended in just minutes.  

He was right; there was only a little he could not do, and I couldn't help but wonder what he had done to make Ryker give in.  

"I would be waiting in the car; pick up your things and join me; your mother would be transported to my pack tomorrow; and not to worry, she is already a free woman," Thane said, his eyes slipping from mine to Ryker's.  

I wasn't the only one affected by Thane's piercing gaze; I noticed how uncomfortable it made Ryker too, and I know he hated it.  

"May I leave?" I asked, and Thane gave a nod. I hurried out of the office, and my breathing normalized. There was something about his presence that kept everyone on edge—everyone, including me.  

.  

I picked up my already packed bag, and my mother had that same sad look in her eyes, reminding me again of how much of a mistake I was making. I gave her a hug, informing her that she was free now. She gave me a comforting smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.  

"I will see you soon, mother," I promised, and she held me tight in an embrace. Finally, it was time to go. I was going to leave this pack, but I didn't think I would miss it. There was nothing to come back here for—no friends, no siblings—and here I was all alone.  

I walked out of the pack house; there were two men waiting, both in black suits and shades, they looked just like bodyguards in movies. They took the single bag I held, leading me to a black limousine waiting.  

Everything about this felt too intimidating.  

The door was pulled open by one of the men, and I slid inside. My heart raced when I noticed who was in there waiting. Thane. I had sat a good distance away from him, but that didn't stop him from watching me like I was some prey about to fall into the trap of a predator, and that was exactly what was happening here. He was the predator.  

I tried calming down my nerves; it didn't really work; my heart still pounded against my chest, threatening to escape my ribcage, and I doubt that meant I was 'calming down'.  

"Do you have a habit of staring at people like a freak would, or is this meant for only me?" I asked, in an attempt to look less afraid and more settled in. I didn't like how loud my voice was; I almost didn't recognize my own voice.  

"It's just you. I like seeing you unsettled, and I seem to scare you a lot."  

"You scare everyone, and no, I am not afraid of you."  

"Are you sure?" he asked, and I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. "Come closer"  

"I am fine here," I managed to say, but I knew he would have none of that. I hadn't known Thane for a long time, but what I knew was that he was used to getting everything to go his way; he always got what he wanted.  

"We are mates; we have to act the part," he says, and I inhaled, coming closer. I could perceive his scent, so strong. His hand circled around me, bringing me closer till I was flushed against him.  

If I had managed to gather even the tiniest calm, I would have lost it there. This was the reality, and the reality was that he could do whatever he wanted with me.  

"I wonder how you would look naked," he muttered to himself, and there was no restraint in his words. I clamsped my palms together, feeling the mosture on them; they shook too, and I couldn't let him notice the effect he had on me, but he already knows. "I love the dress too," he complimented, his eyes on my thigh, and I instantly regretted not wearing something less revealing. His gaze on my thigh heated me up, and I turned red. I swallowed again, looking at everything but him; he got my attention, though when his hands robbed around my thighs, my breath cut off.  

"What are you doing, Alpha Thane?"  

"What does it look like?" he asks, his hands trailing higher up, lifting my dress as they went on. "Did you really think you would only act, and that's it?"  

I did think about that, but I always knew he wanted more than just me acting in public.  

His hands went higher; I could feel them against my panties now, and my breath came out faster.  

"Thane.... please"  

"What?"  

"Not here; someone can come in."  

"So what? I would fuck you, Riley, anywhere I see fit, and I do not give a damn if the whole pack is watching."  

There, that was it—everything I had been warned about. Ryker hadn't been trying to scare me when he said I wouldn't last two weeks in the pack. My mother knew this was bound to happen; that's why she warned me, but I had no options.  

Yet his touch...  

It was electrifying, calling forth feelings I had buried, and I hated the way my body reacted to his touch. He stroked my panties, and I felt him. Right there, I leaned into the chair. A small moan left my lips. What the hell was going on with me?  

Why did his touch feel so sinful and yet still so magical?  

Another stroke, and I let out another moan. I could feel my own wetness, and the smirk on his lips told me he could sense it too.  

"Beautiful," he muttered, but then he withdrew his hands and slid my gown back down. Just then, a man entered. I recognized him; it was the Beta Axel; he had come to the mating ball with Thane.  

"Welcome, Luna," he says, and his stare makes me uncomfortable. I felt like a kitten amongst a pack of wolves.  

I said nothing to Beta.  

The ride was long, and Thane had remained silent.  

"How did you get Alpha Ryker to let my mother go?" I asked the question that had been on my mind.  

"Let's say I paid a small fortune for that," he answers.  

A small fortune. All for me.  

I wondered what he was going to get in return. I reminded myself that I was free to leave if I didn't agree to his terms.  

"You talked about... signing some-" I had forgotten the right words he used.  

"Contract. Yes, and that's what you would do, but just as I said, if you don't agree to it, then you are free to return back to your pack," he says, and I really want to believe him.  

.  

The rest of the ride was in silence, and it was one long journey. I might have dozed off at some point, but I didn't trust them enough to fall into deep slumbers. Finally,  the car slowed down to a stop in front of a mansion.  

The Nightshade Main Pack house.  

I had heard about how rich the pack was, but this was totally on another level.  

Thane and Axel walked forward, and I hurried after them. I didn't miss the stares; it seemed like the news had reached the pack members and they were all waiting to get a glance at the new mate. Me. 

Thane slowed down to take my hands, but of course it was all for show. He led me into the pack, and I did my best not to gasp at every single thing I saw; everything screamed money.  

Beta Axel parted ways with us, and it was just me and Thane. I didn't like being alone with him.  

"Where are you taking me to?"  

"My personal space," he answers shortly. 

What Thane calls his personal space was actually a very wide office, suitable for meetings.  

"Take a seat," he says—more like ordered, and I obey. I was in his pack now, under his rules, and I would be a fool to cross him. "Do you want anything to drink or eat? It was a long drive after all,"  he offered, but the last thing I wanted to do was eat anything.  

"No, I am okay," I responded. Despite that, he filled out two glasses of wine and placed a glass before me.  

"Now down to why we are here," he says, his eyes lingering on my thighs. The memories of what had happened in the car flashed back in my mind, and my cheeks reddened. I could only hope he didn't notice it. Now we were alone, and he was giving me that look again.  

He passed me a file.  

"Open it," he orders, and that I did. I took out the document, surprise at how formal he was making this. "Now read it out loud".