CHAPTER 9

TRAVIS' POV

I knew she was there the minute a sweet Lavender scent began to swirl in the air, mingling with the smell of the colourful spread of ivy flowers in a vase across from me, the scent thick like smoke from a hidden opium den.

My mate, I had finally found her.

Our meeting was meant to be one of the most important moments of our lives when love met with passion and lust but in my case, the love was non-existent.

She was brought in by the scout that had reported the presence of an invader to me earlier and a first glimpse at her was enough to drive my wolf insane.

"Mate!" I let out a guttural groan at what seemed to be a jolt of electricity passing through my organs and Jay faced me swiftly in surprise.

He was my Beta and had been right beside me when I received the report.

With long strides, I crossed the distance between us and stood before her, close enough for me to hear the erratic beating of her heartbeat.

She was nervous and kept her head down, an action I found irritable.

I wanted her to look at me, to know if she could feel what I was feeling too.

"Look at me," I commanded, angry and impatient but she dipped her head even lower.

"I won't repeat myself," I growled threateningly and she snapped her head to face me then quickly lowered it again when our eyes met.

It did not matter to me what anyone had to say but she was the most pretty little thing I had ever laid sight on, with fiery red hair that seemed to sparkle beneath the dispersed light of the suspended chandelier and her honey-coloured eyes glowing against the creamy pearl of her skin.

With a growl of vexation, I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me, "So you are the intruder? You sure know the right place to barge into."

"I...I..." She stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence while I was on the verge of losing control.

"You what?" I snarled, my voice harsher than intended and I felt her stiffen beneath my finger.

I dropped her chin and took a step back but I did not miss her quiet exhale of relief.

"Where did you find her?" I passed a glance over the scout who lowered his head in submission.

"We located her in one of the alleys downtown. She tried to run but we subdued her." He explained.

It was then I noticed the bruise on her cheek and the mark on her neck, the evident sign of suffocation.

Again, I grabbed her chin and exposed her neck, inspecting the blatant red bruise on her pale skin.

"Did you do this?" I questioned the scout and my eyes narrowed into slits.

He seemed confused as to why I was asking him that question but nodded meekly to signify that he had indeed hurt her.

In a flash, I grabbed him and sent him flying back against the vase.

He crashed into it, shattering the white porcelain that scattered the spread of flowers within it.

"Alpha Travis!" I heard Jay gasp in surprise behind me.

My mate whose name I still didn't know was also staring at me in stunned silence, her eyes revealing a fear she could not mask.

"You are scared of me?" My eyes darkened further when she swallowed nervously.

"Get out!" I barked at the scout who was still whimpering and groaning in pain and he hurriedly got to his feet and scampered off.

"Back to you," I faced my mate. "Why are you here?" Although I knew she was my mate, I was still clear on the rules of my Pack.

"I'm...I'm not a..an invader. I had no idea Strangers weren't allowed here." She squeaked inaudibly but my extra sensitive hearing helped me pick up on it.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"The Raging Flame Pack," She answered, biting her lower lip nervously.

I had no idea where that was so I looked at Jay to see if he knew.

"That's out in the Southlands, it is a long journey from here. Why would a wolf from the Southlands come all the way here?"

I glanced at her again, awaiting her reply.

"I had to leave, it...it was not safe for me there anymore," Her voice had increased in volume but it was still barely above a whisper.

"Why won't your Pack be safe for you anymore? Did you commit a heinous crime?"

She lowered her head again, staring fixedly at her toenails peeking out from the sandal she had on.

The clothes she had on were white-washed and tattered but did nothing to tone down her beauty.

"What's your name?" I asked when she would not answer.

"Maya, Maya Sloan." She mumbled quietly.

"Maya," The name rolled off my tongue smoothly and a glint of determination flashed across my eyes.

"It doesn't matter why you came here or why you left your Pack, you belong to me now." My words filled the air, authoritative and possessive and she glanced at me again in astonishment.

"Alpha Lukas, you can't keep her here! We have no idea who is she or what her intentions are. This is against the rules of the Pack."

"What did you say?" I faced him with an overwhelming oppressive aura.

"The Pack rules don't allow this," He answered, still not backing down.

My eyes flashed with a murderous glint and I stalked towards him like a Lion approaching its prey from behind, "I make the rules here." I said, staring him down venomously.

"The Elders won't like this, they have been seeking chances to nitpick at your methods. This will create a perfect chance for them..."

His words were cut off when I grabbed him in a chokehold, tightening my grip until he was gasping for air.

"I make the rules, no one else!" I reiterated coldly, enunciating my words one after the other.