STREAKS OF EMBER

RIONA'S POV 

I walked back to the packhouse in ungraceful, staggered steps. The side of my ribs throbbed with pain from the fall, and constant hits I'd been subjected to.

Elara was all but satisfied, as I made my way to my quarters, in the basement. My wolf growled. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, Riona. Are you seriously not going to get the hell out of this damn pack! Girl, you were almost raped by those bastards.’

I winced in pain, “Elara, you are meant to stay a secret. I'll be fine, and I was lucky nothing happened to me. Stepmother was there to save me.” I managed.

Elara winced. ‘Talk about the devil herself. You and I know she still blames you for the death of her children. She wouldn't hesitate to throw you off a cliff!’

I reached for the tote bag lying by the side of my bed. It served as my wardrobe, the tote bag was filled with hand-me-downs, passed by Luna Stacy. She was kind enough to cover my nakedness, that counted for something right?

I pulled out a flora gown that had some patches, it was the nicest cloth I had. I laid it down on my mattress, then headed into my makeshift bathroom and had a quick shower with freezing water. For once, I was actually grateful, it would help with my fever.

After washing up, I slipped into my dress and tied my arm with a thick cloth to keep the bone in place. Then, I headed straight to the office. My head throbbed with a frustrating headache.

I made my way through the entrance of the main house, which smelled of Jasmine and eucalyptus. The mansion held fond memories of my childhood, which I held dear to my heart. I walked through the maze in the hallway. And, my heart sank to the pit of my stomach when I noticed my mother's portrait was taken out and replaced with Luna Stacy's.

“See, I told you. They don't want you here, they don't even care about you.”

“Learn your place, and don't try to draw father's attention to you,” I responded to her, blocked her out then knocked on the door.

“Come in.” A deep baritone voice responded behind the thick oak door. I drew in a long breath,then walked into the office.

His face lit up briefly, and my heart fluttered with warmth. The happiness in his face melted as fast as it had appeared. “Sit.” his voice was a command.

I nodded, and started toward the chair opposite his desk when a strong, masculine scent wafted through my nose. I froze in my tracks.

I whipped my head sideways, and my lips fell apart when I took in the intimidating figure, standing at the corner of the room.

Chiselled jaw. Sleek black hair well styled to suit his stoic face. His sterling gray eyes, devoid of the slightest bit of emotion— cold and distant. Gosh! My eyes took in his broad shoulders that filled in the black shirt that hugged his honed muscles in a way that made my stomach flutter with a strange need.

His eyes narrowed, searching mine, and I quickly looked away. Expensive masculine scent rushed into my nose, twisting my insides of its oxygen supply.

It wasn't just about his devastatingly handsome face. The stranger's aura filled the atmosphere, without breaking a sweat. And from the scowl that creased his face, he didn't give a flip.

Elara whined inside of me, sniffing his scent. In that instant, she became uneasy, twirling and grounding her fangs. The more I tried to push her back, the harder it became for me.

There was something about this stranger that threw her off balance. Another jolt of pain spiraled through my spine, when my wolf sensed. his wolf at the surface.

Heck! I bit down on my lower lips to put her in a mindlock. I couldn't risk Elara being seen by anyone. To the world, she never existed.

My father cleared his throat, and said almost immediately. “Alpha Theron, we're honored to have you in our noble pack—”

Alpha Theron. Alpha Theron Moretti.

That name sounded so familiar. I tried to rack my brain trying to click the puzzles into place when he made a tsk sound. The sound was so sleek, yet so commanding, it made the air around the room stand still.

He pushed himself from the wall. Scratch what I said about his physical appearance. Alpha Theron, wasn't the conventional kind of beauty a man should possess. He was…he was… nothing like I've ever set my eyes on.

Alpha Theron's presence made me feel equal parts chills, and equal parts warmth. However, the feelings snapped when he looked around my father's fairly spacious office, and shook his head, the scowl on his face replaced with disgust.

“You and I know there's nothing noble about this pack. I could burn it to ashes in a sec.”

Father bowed his head. “Yes–yes sir. You-you…” he stuttered as his voice trailed off. I whipped my head in the direction of my father, and I could see the fear on his face.

Alpha Theron scoffed. “Save me the stress of coming here, or I might be forced to make you and your entire subordinates my captives for the rest of your lives.” The confident undertone in his thick voice, sent fear trickling through my veins.

In that second, the puzzles pieced together. Alpha Theron, the young, brutal, and power-obsessed Alpha who ruled his pack– Silverfang, with an iron fist. The other packs around the province cowered at his very presence.

Rumors had it that he killed his own parents. What was he doing here? What deal did he cut with my father? I'd barely wrapped my head around it, when father spoke.

“Come here!” Father ordered me. “Here, take her and do whatever you wish with her. From now on, she's your slave.”

A loud bang sounded in my head, blurring my thoughts. My own father sold me out to a ruthless Alpha? Betrayal, and one other emotion I didn't have a name for hit me like a ton of bricks.

My wolf broke out from the mindlock, and my eyes turned black. I let out a groan, and pushed her right back. She retreated when she picked up on something strange.

‘Fuck you jerk!’ She cussed.

Alpha Theron Moretti, was my mate.

He hissed. “You've got to be kidding me. Look at this. She wouldn't even last a day working in my mansion.” his tone was cold.

Suddenly, a low growl rattled his chest, I looked up and our eyes locked. His scowl on his face melted for a quick second, I blinked and it was gone.

He knew it. He felt the mate bond between us. I nodded past the haze that gathered in my mind.

“I'll pack my bags, and go with you, Alpha.” Finally, I was going to give in to the voice in my head that wanted better for myself.

I was going to slip out of the car during the journey. My freedom was on the other side of this turmoil my father sold me into.