-Her 004-

Petrified looks were shot in the middle of the room. The look of horror could be seen on the faces of Alpha Fred, his luna, and their daughter. I could feel the hands of the guards gripping my arms go cold, they began shaking as the magnificent man let out a growl it felt like the earth shook. They bowed their heads further, exposing their necks of submission. Everyone in the room did and in instinct, I did as well.

"Mate!"

Hands shaking, knees trembling, palms sweating. I stared at his amber orbs, they held a mixture of rage and desire. My wolf was anxious, excitement rising and a mix of longing despite meeting for the first time.

His amber eyes seemed like they would hold so much authority without effort. A tattoo was on his neck, to her exposed chest, his arms, and I wondered which part of him had ink. That thought alone made my wolf and myself feral, heat coming to my cheeks. His shoulders were broad, muscular to his arms, my thoughts wandered to how he could break me with his bare hands. With him before me, my wolf and even I could not help but suggest certain images provoking something within.

His presence stopped everyone's movements. His domineering aura was enough for everyone to bow and expose their necks of respect.

His eyes explored mine, as they slowly lowered and glanced at my whole being. A snarl formed his lips and a growl rumbled on his chest when his eyes stopped on my arms. The two guards holding me bowed further, baring their necks before speaking.

"Our apologies, alpha Salazar," the man on my right said. "We will just escort this rascal and the party can resume."

My eyes were glued on my mate, charming as if he was carved by the gods and goddesses themselves. The thought the goddess had given me another chance for a mate is enough to give me a small assurance.

All my life I have been surrounded by those who love me. I was never short on love, my family was my backbone and I feel like I have so much love inside me that I can love to the fullest and give my all. That's why everything went downhill the night I saw my mate mating with another, the night my mate rejected to be with me. From that day, I feared being mated and rejected if I were given another chance. The first time was enough to send me to hibernation, but deep inside me I knew I still held on to a small silver lining that the goddess would give me someone worthy of my love this time.

The fear inside me arose when I saw my new mate still. My wolf inside me herself whined from the thought of our mate not defending us, feeling betrayed enough to whimper and descend into the corner. My heart tumbled in my chest and I gasped when he gave a small nod and the guards holding me began to drag me furiously away from the party.

I couldn't utter a word from shock, a tinge of bitterness could be tasted from my tongue and I gritted my teeth upon seeing the victorious smile of Michelle.

All the time I spent healing slowly slipped away from my grasp and I could feel myself shatter, my wolf howling of agony. Once again I knew perhaps I never deserved a mate. That thought itself brought tears to my eyes that they threatened to fall.

The guards had just taken a few steps when a growl from behind stopped their strides and everyone bowed their heads of submission. I myself dropped my head, showing my neck not of submission but of watery eyes I refuse to let anyone see. I could hear footsteps drawing closer and I felt the guards holding me shake a bit, their grip on me tightening with each stride until it stopped and a low, menacing, and deadly voice from behind spoke.

"Let her go," his voice was enough for my stomach to feel the zoo and my wolf's back into a frenzy of pleasure.

I felt the hands of the two go cold as they shook, but didn't let go, earning another growl from the alpha.

"I said let my mate go!"

Everyone was nearly on their knees when he shouted and the two guards held on their knees of submission, facing the alpha behind me.

My heart was already like a drum set playing itself like a rock song when I felt a strong arm laced around my waist, pulling me to his large and strong chest. Oxygen was knocked off my lungs when my back hit his chest and I felt how it rose and fell. My lips were quivering when I felt his other hand come in contact with my chin, the tingling sensation of our skin touching probably of the bond. He pulled my chin up, tilting it backwards and I met his hazel orbs filled with emotion I couldn't name. I saw another flicker of emotion cross his eyes when they met mine, and his brows furrowed moments later. I felt myself burn when he closed his eyes and in an instinct so did I when our foreheads touched and I breathed in his magnificent scent.

It felt as if time refused to continue as he held me to him. My wolf was practically purring within me, the satisfaction of the touch of our mate as we relished the sparks of our skin touching. The feeling was as if I was above the clouds, my head heavy yet there was some sort of relief.

Our moment concluded when it was as if he was brought into reality, I felt his chest vibrate as he let out a growl before speaking.

"Get them."

My eyes followed his hold when it settled on my arm, a bruise was starting to form and the traces of Michelle's nails digging to my skin was there, not bleeding but open.

"Who did this to you?" his voice was laced with anger.

Whispers and mumbles began and the guards who held me earlier were the ones being escorted as well. My gaze fell to my luna and alpha, a look of disbelief plastered on their face, slowly they went pale.

Alpha Salazar placed a finger on my chin and fixed my gaze on him so that we shared a look again. This time, rage was evident that his eyes went black. His brows furrowed, his nose flared and his teeth gritted. My body began convulsing at his anger, and I struggled to speak.

"Who did this to you?" he repeated but it sounded as if he was asking everyone in the room. He scanned the room and everyone exchanged looks for a moment, until everyone was looking at Michelle.

Her mouth hung open and color was drained from her face. Her knuckles were balled into fists on her sides and she failed to speak up for a moment.

"I---I...," she stuttered and gulped before she met my eyes and another look of anger was shown once again. She shrieked while pointing at me, "she hurt me! She followed me to the bathroom and attacked me!"

Everyone went quiet and Alpha Salazar strode across the room, getting closer to Michelle as if he was engrossed and curious to what she was talking about. He stopped a few feet away from her and put his hands inside his pockets.

"Come again?" his tone was icy and emotionless that Michelle gulped a couple of times.

"She attacked me! She pulled my hair and kicked my stomach! I have zero idea why she does it but this isn't the first time she's done it!"

She was shouting profanities and stories making me a bad guy. She kept on talking about how I bit her and how I scratched her and how I grabbed her hair so hard she swore her scalp could be removed. She went on and on and even started crying that she may convince others. She began having hiccups that her friends rubbed her back in comfort but was halted when Alpha Salazar raised a hand.

Michelle instantly stopped crying, her eyes hopeful that she looked at me and smirked. For a moment there I felt my heart skip a beat and unwanted thoughts came into my mind.

"She hurt you?"

"Yes!"

"She attacked you?"

"Yes!"

"She scratched you and tackled you to the floor?"

"Yes, she even landed me a punch!"

"Then why on earth is my mate bleeding?" Michelle wasn't able to answer. "Who gave you the right to lay a finger on her?"

His second statement had my stomach doing somersault and Patrice purred.

"I don't give a damn if she stabbed you, if she broke your bones or murdered you," I held my breath as he spoke. "The bottom line is MY mate was harmed, and even if she wasn't my mate, even a child can make up a gist and deduct how you repeatedly insist on tainting another wolf's name."

His gaze landed on my pack's alpha and luna. The pair held their breath and alpha Frederick opened his mouth but was immediately cut off.

"Your pack alpha and luna are beyond incompetent and pathetic. You vowed and swore to protect and uphold laws and that no amount of favorites should be practiced. I'd say you disappoint me for being your age yet you know no better," Alpha Salazar's words were so venomous that no one dared to speak nor move.

Seconds passed before a few she wolves I do not know walked to me and gently held my arm. They spoke so carefully.

"Good evening, we are from Crimson Summit and we are to aid you with the order of our alpha," they bowed their heads slightly. "We are also ordered to send you home along with your family."

I looked at my family and they too shared a similar look to mine. Even Alpha Raven was quiet, he stood besides Davis.

As if he was brought back to his senses, Alpha Frederick finally spoke and spat.

"She is a rascal. Even if my daughter had initiated a fight she knew what was coming if she fought back," he squared his shoulders and raised his chin as if he was proud. His remark earned him a growl from Alpha Salazar, daring him to speak further and he did. "She hurt her leader! It is only right that she be punished, being your or not, she laid a hand on my daughter! She will be punished. I am her Alpha, I am her law!"

Deadly silent seconds passed before Alpha Salazar took strides to get near my alpha, until their faces nearly touched. Alpha Salazar was taller than Frederick, and the latter was looking up at him as if he was proud when it was obvious how his body shook.

"I am her mate, she is my Luna. I will not let any peasant of an alpha punish what is mine to protect," he spoke slowly. "With this practice and thinking of yours, the council should rush a meeting knocking you off the title."

A gentle hand tapped my wrist and the lady spoke again about me getting aided and sent home. She nodded to whomever and my family walked to me moments later.

I hugged my mum immediately when she got to my side and I cried on her shoulder. She whispered to my ear words of affirmation before cupping my face with both hands and wiping my tears. She smiled at me and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

The lady who was gonna aid me cleared her throat and told us to follow her outside. A couple of men in black also tagged along and before I left the venue, I looked back to the man of amber orbs and saw he was looking at me as well.

We stared for moments until Alpha Frederick spat another context which made the other pack leaders gather to calm him down.

The lady sat me down in one chair while my family along with her help and the men in black surrounded us. She began putting cream on my cuts and wounds and one of her help had begun pressing an ice pack on my bruised arm.

All the while everyone was taking care of me my thoughts wandered back to my wonderful mate.

'He's magnificent,' Patrice said with so much adoration and I second that.

When I was done, they had escorted us to our car and said they would be taking another upon following us home.

When me and my family got in the car everyone let out a breath. Everyone looked at me before Davis spoke.

"I knew I should have stayed in the bathtub."

We laughed at his remark and David started to drive home. I was looking out the window, watching the trees pass. When we arrived home the men in black had promised to stand by outside but stated they wouldn't be a bother and added to stay lurking in the shadows. They said they couldn't risk the slightest for their future luna.

I know my family would want to talk about everything that had happened but one look at me and they knew I needed space and time. When I had gotten out of my dress and I had laid on my bed, I gazed on my ceiling as my thoughts lingered to only one thing.

Alpha Salazar Alfonso.