Chapter Four

(Riley's POV)  

There was a lot running through my mind, but I couldn't stop myself as I let my lips move against his, his hands raked through my hair, and I let him touch me in more intimate ways. His kiss was unlike anything I had ever felt; it was like a breath of fresh air and, at the same time suffocating. I felt everything and nothing; the electricity rolling down my frame had nothing to do with a mate bond; it did have everything to do with the fallen angel standing before me. No, he was no angel, maybe quite the opposite, but he did have the looks of a Greek god.  

Finally he pulled away, and I was left panting, wanting more, my lips all swollen. What the hell just happened, and why is Alpha Thane calling me his mate when I was sure I wasn't his? From the look he gave me, he knew that too.  

"Pretend," he whispered in my ear, low enough for only me to hear.  

Pretend?. He meant I should go along with this. Why would I do that? , why...  

My trail of thoughts was cut off.  

"She is not your mate." A voice from behind us called out, and Thane turned as if finally noticing the Alpha for the first time. It was Ryker.  

"And why would you say that?" Alpha Thane asked with his arms around me, pulling me closer.  

Of course Ryker couldn't say it out; he had deceived the whole pack into believing that Zara was his true mate; he couldn't tell them the truth—that I was his mate, and he had done something forbidden, rejecting me in secret.  

"She is a low rank here, an Alpha as you can never be mated to a she-wolf like her," Ryker said, looking furious, and I wondered why he was so bothered about this. I didn't know what this was either.  

"Why should that bother you?" Thane asked very calmly, even if I felt the exact opposite.  

"She wouldn't be good enough; she is nothing."  

There was a deep growl from Thane; the sound weakened my knees, and the other wolves bowed their heads in submission. Ryker could never challenge that.  

"I apologize, Alpha," Ryker said, but I noticed the vein in his neck popping. He hated the fact that he had to acknowledge the greater presence here.  

"I believe the wolf besides you is your mate and Luna, right?" Thane asked, and Ryker only seemed to notice an unhappy-looking Zara by his side.  

He inhaled and gave me a single glance. He was contemplating, and then finally he spoke. "Yes, this is my mate and my Luna."  

"Then I would warn you: do not ever speak in such a manner to my mate. Else..." Thane left the silent threat, and Ryker gave a nod, giving way.  

I had always imagined what it would be like for Ryker to be put in his place; never did I think it would be this interesting to watch. A part of me wanted to give him a small smirk, but I shoved aside the want; I wasn't Thane's mate. Maybe he mixed me up with the wrong person... but then he had told me to pretend and had also called me by my name.  

How did he know my name?  

I was sure we had never met before; of course, if I had met Alpha Thane of the Nightshade Pack, it wouldn't be an incident easily forgotten; then how did he know my name?  

I still felt dizzy from the kiss; from having him so close to me and everything going on was almost too much to take in.  

"Come with me, mate," Thane said, holding my hands. I hesitated, and then he turned to me. The look in his eyes told me that disobeying wouldn't be an option, and so I followed him. Every single gaze was on me, but then I saw my mother in the crowd, staring at me. I had always believed that my mother was the strongest person, and she was; she had proved that to me time and again, but there she stood, horror-stuck, watching me walk away with Alpha Thane. She was yet again shoved backwards by the crowd of watchers.  

Alpha Thane led me out of the balling hall.  

His Beta Axel followed a very good distance behind us.  

"Where are you taking me to?" I asked, and the fear I felt made my voice sound so small and unsteady.  

"Where we can be alone"  

.  

All the stories I had heard about the Alpha resurfaced. He was one of the most feared Alphas in the world; his pack had the wealth, the connections, and the numbers. The pack's soldiers and members were well trained, but that wasn't the only reason for their reputation; they were also killers, they lusted after blood. Alpha Thane was less tolerant, and so was his whole pack. I had heard stories of a whole pack being wiped out because of a broken agreement.  

No one crossed the Nightshade pack and those who did were used as an example for the rest. 

Yet here he was, and he wanted us 'alone'.  

My heart raced faster. No one was close by, but even if they were, no one would come to my aid. I was not exactly one of the most loved wolves in my pack, and no one would ever cross Alpha Thane to come to my aid. I was doomed.  

"What is wrong?" he asked, as if reading my thoughts.  

"What do you want from me?" I asked.  

"To talk"  

Alpha Thane wanted to have a conversation with me. I found that very hard to believe. I had nothing to do with him; there was nothing to talk about. Maybe I was going to be used to send a message to the pack; maybe this would finally be my end, yet the sick twisted me was grateful that I atleast got to watch Ryker put in his place, even if that was the last thing I witnessed.  

"Do you want to kill me, Alpha Thane?" I asked  

And he didn't seem surprised by the question, not one bit, and that didn't help my condition.  

"No," he says.  

"No?" I questioned.  

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already, I don't have to bring you here to do just that."