Chapter 4

Alexander POV

I sighed satisfyingly as I downed my third glass of blood, emptying it to the last drop. I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the exquisite taste, but it only lasted for a few seconds before my mind snapped back to my actual dilemma.

"She's human for god's sake!"

"Are you fucking deaf?" I growled, my tolerance going thin. 

Dean pursed his lips and leaned against the door with his arms crossed over his chest, "I felt the connection. And my wolf just couldn't stop fucking repeating that she's his mate." I added, growing tired with the conversation we'd been having since this morning.

"She's your mate, too, Alpha."

I clenched my fist and glared, to which he remained quiet and stepped back — he knew my temper, then; he must if he was wise enough to back down. Or perhaps he saw last night an exhibit of my poor self-control.

After two years of searching, I'd finally met her, and she's fucking human. 

She's our mate, my wolf insisted, whether you like it or not.

His serene, almost smug, disposition enraged me. I was fuming. And listening to Dean arguing with himself wasn't helping at all. I didn't want them to know about my little dilemma, but since some pack members came running when they heard Ryan and I fighting, rumors spread even if they didn't know ‘why’ I'm sure they've invented novels about it based on pure bullshit and wit.

Even if they hadn't been there, they must have heard by now. And I needed to clear it out with my beta. He's my second hand for a reason. Despite me cursing her being human, I must inform him.

What raised my ire was that after all these years, after all the shit I had to go through for not finding her, she was right there. My gamma's sister, my third in command. His human sister. How the fuck is that even possible? His parents are both werewolves, I know so because his dad was an ex-beta to my parents.

This has never happened before, so why now? Why me? That pissed me off. It was as if the moon goddess was making a mockery out of me, giving me — the Alpha king — a human mate.

"I didn't even know he has a sister," Dean mumbled, his head shaking slightly.

"I don't give a rat's ass if he does or not. I just have to do something about this." I murmured, running a hand through my messy hair and resting an elbow on my desk office.

Dean had wondered about the murmurs in the pack since he stayed at the house and had seen nothing. I didn't want anyone else to tell him. And he was my beta. He deserved to know.

"Well, it's probably just a mistake, maybe you were just confused, or-or maybe it's just some witch crap trying to mess up you. Perhaps — it must be. It's impossible to have a human mate! What will this mean for the pack? How do you even tell them that the Luna they had been waiting for is human and therefore cannot help build this pack or-" Dean desperately started tossing out suggestions, however, my voice remained calm and even, a stark contrast to how I felt.

"Loosen up, we'll find a solution.”

"You should tell the pack," he added.

“Don’t you think it would be wiser to speak with her first,” rolling my eyes, I poured another glass of blood. 

"Yeah, do that or to Ryan, you know, with the lovely little chat the two of you had last night because it was his fault for not wanting to hand over his little sister like merchandise to his alpha because he said so.” Dean deadpanned, his eyes boring on me. 

Sometimes, he's too blunt for his own good. He had always despised the way I controlled my temper, even though he barely voices it out to me. I ignored him and sipped on my drink. I just couldn't get full. I just got hungrier.

Well, if you still hadn't noticed, you're also a vampire.

Quiet with your stupid remarks. You aren't helping shit.

I barked back. My wolf grumbled as if he were laughing in return.

"Though, as the guys told me, you frightened the living crap out of that girl. I don't think she'd even want to see you again, let alone talk to you."

I actually couldn't worry less about her. All that I wanted to know was how she could be my mate. Dean is right. I highly doubted she would want to see me again, not after the mess I'd made.

What he didn't seem to realize was that I didn't care. She was coming tonight whether she wanted to or not. I need to sort this shit out. And it was Ryan's fault if he got injured. I hadn't intended to lash out. He should've just handed the girl over. He knew better than to disobey me.

"Get two guards to bring her over. We have some chit-chat to do."

***

Skylar POV

"Why didn't you tell me?" my voice barely outmatched a whisper as a frown made its way to my face. Exhausted, I shifted on the couch and met Ryan's cloudy eyes while he continued tapping his foot nervously.

He had been in this position since he woke up. He looked extremely confused and in deep thoughts, yet slightly angry. I was just listening to the story he had just spoken. He informed me all about werewolves and the crucial reason behind moving in here.

I wasn't afraid of him or of what he turned into yesterday, though. At first I felt terrified.

Last night was a horrible night, but he was my brother and I would go to the end of the world for him. Nothing could ever stop me from loving him, even if he wasn't ... well, human.

Ryan healed completely as if the bite were never there when he woke up this morning, though, I barely kept my eyes closed for more than a minute last night. That must have been what that girl meant when she said his wolf would heal him. It was still crazy for me to believe that you can change into a wolf. I'd never believed that they existed, yet here I am with a werewolf as a brother.

"We were just protecting you, Sky," he replied, his voice sounding gentle while looking down at his slippers. His head hanging low. I rubbed my temple with my hand, crossing my legs on the couch, my eyes never leaving his figure.

"That's really...confusing? I mean, if you're a...well...a werewolf, doesn't that mean I'm one, too? What about dad? And mom, was she--?"

My breath hitched. Was my whole family someone I didn't know?

"No." He mumbled, running a hand over his face, slowly shaking his head.

I sighed in relief, playing with the sleeve of my sweatshirt. I almost winced — there were a few cuts on my hands from the night before. My back also sported an enormous bruise, and my head was pounding when I woke up. The painkillers barely helped.

"How come?" I asked, desperate to understand.

"That's not my story to tell. My dad should be the one explaining it," he stared blankly. I glanced up at him, tilting my head to a side with a frown. 

"That's not what I wanted to talk about," he added, licking his dry lips, bouncing his leg still.

"Then w.. what?" I stuttered, afraid of what he may say next. I pulled my sleeves over my hands and wrung them nervously, a habit I can't seem to quit.

"It's about the man you saw last night." 

Pursing my lips together tightly, I nodded for him to continue even though I wanted to hear nothing about him.

"He's someone that's going-" he cut himself as if he couldn't find the right words. I observed him, perplexed. Finally, he sighed and locked his black orbs on mine, "I mentioned that there's someone who controls our pack, right? Well, that person is him. He’s our Alpha, Alpha Raphaelo, our leader."

"And I should care because?" I spoke, raising my eyebrows at him. 

Ryan ran a hand through his inky hair and stroked his chin thoughtfully with the other.

"You know Jasmine and I are mates," he spoke but stopped himself with a pout as if he suddenly didn't know how to continue explaining. 

"Mates? As soulmates? Ryan, you’re confusing me. What does that have to do with that creepy psychopath dude? And what do 'mates' even mean?" I asked, frowning.

God, I wish I read books about werewolves instead of always going for the stereotype of billionaire men or dangerous guys and hot boxers.

Before I could ask more, Ryan's ears perked up and his eyes widened fearfully. Quickly, he stood and turned towards the door.

"Ryan." Jasmine suddenly appeared in the living room, sheet white. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Go out through the back door. Run, do you hear me? Don't look back, and whatever you do, don't stop! Run!" he commanded, shoving me toward Jasmine roughly.

"What's going on? Why would I run? Ryan!" I cried out as Jasmine took my hand and pulled me towards the back door.

"I'll find you, I promise. Until then, trust no one, just run. I'm sorry, Skylar." he murmured the last part sorrowfully. He watched me as if this was our last goodbye forever. 

And that made me tremble to the core.

The front door suddenly flew open, but Jasmine kept dragging me through the house like a madwoman.

"Wha--"

"Shh!" she cut me off by placing her hand over my mouth and opened the back door with the other. A smash broke the silence, making us both stare wide-eyed. With one push, I was outside and standing on my now shaky legs. I looked to Jasmine in horror, but she just gave me a small nod, mumbling 'run' before quickly turning her head to where the noises were. Then she glanced back at me. I stood still.

"Go!" This time she shouted, and the imminent danger I was in hit me full force. I ran. I didn't know why or from whom, but I just kept going, replaying my brother's words in my head. I trusted him with all my heart. Why else would I do as he said for no reason?

Is he okay? Jasmine? Are they hurt?

My legs grew heavy, and it was as if I was running through quicksand. My hair flew behind me, the cold air cut through my lungs. I run for a long while, as long as my legs could until I just couldn't anymore. My heart was racing, and I was seeing colors. I collapsed next to a tree and tried to control my breathing.

Shit

I was in the middle of a forest, but that was all I could tell. I was lost. Now what? Savage beasts could surround me, or a serial killer could stalk me. And to think of it, maybe that was the case.

My eyes blurred when I realized I had nowhere to go. I couldn't go back to Ryan's house, he was the one telling me to escape, from what, I didn't know. My home is one hour away with a car and on foot, it would take at least five hours. Even if I walked, I had no key with me.

I cried quietly and felt like a failure, but the tears wouldn't stop. I was cold, uncomfortable, and lost. However, it seemed now was not the time for self-pitying because I heard a loud crunch, and then unfamiliar male voices echoed throughout the forest.

"Check that way."

My breath quickened, and a twig snapped just a little too close for comfort. I tried to plan my next move, but I was running out of time and my heart just beat faster as I heard him close in on me.

Why are they looking for me? This must be about what that man said last night 'give her to me'? That psychopath wanted me for some unknown purpose. 

I didn't know how they'd found after I'd run from the house, but if they followed me, they were silent. Part of me wanted to run back to Ryan, but that wasn't a viable option.

"Oh," another voice taunted. "A hide-and-seek fan, are we?"

I ran without thinking. I couldn't fight but could flee. My calves screamed for me to stop, I ignored it. I had to escape. I ran out of wind again just a little later, so I attempted to hide behind a gigantic tree.

Before I got close, I felt a presence behind me. He was close, so close I could feel his fiery breath on my ear when he triumphantly whispered, "gotcha."