Bound by nothing

“What does it look like I'm doing, Jennifer?” I retort. “I never expected something like this from you, of all people. But since it happened, it's only been proven that I have nothing here, so I’m leaving.”

She shakes her head, and I feel the sudden urge to slap her. Her motherly act is beginning to get on my nerve. QUIT ACTING LIKE MY MOTHER, GODDAMMIT!

“Loraine, seriously. You have to think about what you are doing now. You know, leaving the pack like this nullifies your membership in this pack. You risk losing everything you have worked so hard for.”

I tilt my head and ask, “Have I not already lost everything? I told you I suspected that the Alpha was my mate because of the pull I had towards him, but you forgot to mention that you both were already seeing each other.”

“I didn’t think you were actually going to be his mate, and I did not want to hurt your feelings.”

“Yeah, of course. Even in the end, you were thinking about me. Which is why you spent four hours in his room consoling him and not the actual person who got rejected, who, by the way, is your fucking best friend?” I scream at her.

I pull my luggage to the door. “I don’t care what you say, Jennifer. I’m leaving. You’ve gotten what you’ve wanted, right? Now stick with it.”

“You are going nowhere, Loraine.” I glance up at the new voice to find Alpha Gordon standing just outside my door. Thankfully, he has put on a shirt—though tight and framing his toned muscles—and looks quite decent.

I clench my hand into a fist. “What do you mean? I have every right to leave this place if I want. I get that you are Alpha of this pack, but that does not mean you can stop me from leaving.”

“There’s supposed to be a ball today, did you forget?”

I must admit that I had forgotten all about it. The ball was to celebrate the pack since today marks five years since Alpha Gordon became Alpha following the death of the previous Alpha, his father. All members of the pack are to be in attendance; omitting oneself for any reason was not an option.

“That does not affect me. If I leave your pack before it's time for the”

Gordon does not let me finish my statement before interrupting me. “You are attending the ball, Loraine, and it is final.” He turns around and begins to walk away, then stops as if recalling something.

“And try to look nice. There would be important guests at the ball, and I want to introduce you to all of them.”

He rounds a corner and disappears after the statement. I don’t know what just transpired, so I look to Jennifer for help, but it appears as though she is even more clueless than I am. Still, I return my already-packed luggage to my room.

The Alpha has issued a command, and while I was still a member of his pack, there was no way I could go against them. Also, I wanted to know what he meant by what he said. I was curious enough to actually dress up. I picked up the nicest gown from my rack and spent the entire evening making sure I appeared appealing.

If Alpha Gordon was really serious and was going to do what I was thinking, then I was ready to forgive him.

Several hours later, I stood in front of my dresser, admiring what I had done with myself. My olive skin glistened in the dim light, and my waist-length jet black hair fell in waves around my shoulders.

My reflection in the mirror told me I was an exact replica of my mother, who was quite beautiful during her days. I had not only inherited her ocean blue eyes but also her high cheek bones, full cupid-shaped lips, olive skin, height, and curves.

I was beautiful, but it seemed beauty was not enough when it came to Gordon.

Grabbing my purse, I stepped out of the apartment and made for the venue, which was a large hall two floors down from where my apartment was located. I had not seen Jenifer since our confrontation several hours ago, but I did not want to be bothered by her.

When I got to the ballroom, it was already packed with both members and non-members of our pack. Several eyes turned to me, but not the eyes of the man I wanted.

His eyes, though, were riveted on the form of a certain young lady who was gracing the dancefloor with her beauty and dance, which made her look like a true Luna. For a moment, I was envious. I wanted all of that attention for myself.

I wanted Gordon to look at me the way he looked at her. It was as though she was all that existed in his world.

Heat began rising to my cheek, and I felt as though my heart would burst out of my chest, so I looked away. Coming here was a mistake. I must have been a fool for thinking anything was going to change.

Turning around, I bump my face first into a solid wall, but when I glance up, I see that it is not a wall that I have bumped into—because I was beginning to wonder when the wall moved—but a chest, and attached to it is a neck holding the most stunning face a man can ever have.

His hands move to my back to steady my feet so I don’t go crashing into the ground, and my wolf whines inside of me. His eyes drink in my face, caressing every part of my face with those intense pupils, and I feel an overwhelming urge to squeal and run away.

“Are you okay, miss?” He asks, and I find myself sinking deeper into his honey and milk voice.

Before I can answer, another hand closes around my arm and snatches me violently from the gentle hands pressed warmly to my back.

“She is fine. Please forgive her clumsiness.” Alpha Gordon’s voice returns me to earth. Although his eyes and focus are on the kind stranger, I can feel the anger radiating off of him in waves. “Loraine can be such a klutz sometimes.”

The stranger says something, but I don’t listen because my attention is drawn to Gordon’s fingers, which are still tightening around my arm. When I look up, the stranger’s eyes are on my face, and then they shift to Gordon’s fingers gripping my arm.

Perhaps it was only the light or my imagination, but I could have sworn that I saw a dark shadow cross his face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

Gordon drags me away before I have the chance to dwell on it. He takes me to a quiet part of the room, where he flings me unceremoniously on a plush cushion.

“Maybe I should not have invited you here.” He spits, his eyes blazing with fury. “Jennifer always told me how clumsy you are, but I did not know it was this bad.”

I opened my mouth to say something in my defence, but no words came out.