Chapter 3: Pack Liem

SELENE POV

I had all but given up trying to free myself from Tor's iron grip by the time he strode back into the settlement with me slung over his shoulder like some type of trophy. It was times like these that I wished my magical abilities went beyond healing and defensive spells as I fantasized about the h*ll I would unleash on this arrogant b*stard with his superiority complex.

I was brought out of my fantasies when I noticed people in the village streets were stopping to stare at the spectacle of me being hauled like a bag of grain. Unable to stand one more moment of this embarrassment, I conceded.

"All right, all right!" I muttered. "I give up. I'll stay here for the time being, but only if you put me down!" It seemed that was all the shifter needed to hear as he stopped and gently lifted me off of his shoulder and placed me in front of him as if I weighed nothing at all.

I let out a breath as I smoothed my hair and tried to compose myself. We stood there for a few moments just observing one another.

"Maybe we should start over," I said holding out my hand. "My name is Selene."

Tor's mouth lifted in a soft smile and gripped my hand with surprising gentleness considering the strength that radiated off of him.

"You can call me Tor." He made no attempt to hide his admiration as he gazed into my eyes. I felt a blush growing on my cheeks, so I cleared my throat and looked away. Tor took a stride beside me as I started to walk down the street.

"I never got an opportunity to thank you for last night," I said while fiddling my fingers.

"You do not have to thank me. I'd happily eliminate every last one of those cowards from the entire region," he said tightly. I noticed his jaw was set and couldn't help but take in his features.

His black hair feathered across his eyebrows and I watched as he ran his hand through it to brush it away from his eyes. His full lips were set in a frown as if he was picturing eliminating the witch hunters in his mind. I also noticed the tattoo that ran from his neck and down to his shoulder. The abstract design framed a triple goddess moon symbol with a dagger that impaled the inner circle. This brought my thoughts back to the night before and Tor's magnificent power as a wolf.

"So, you're a wolf shifter. I did not realize that there were any shifter tribes in this area," I say with genuine interest.

Tor found my gaze. "I could say the same about you, I didn't realize there were any lone witches hiding in the forest," he said.

I sighed as I looked around the town.

"That was the idea. I thought I was far enough off of the beaten path to avoid those bastards." I watched as young children ran across the street playing with one another. Their laughter reached my ears and a rise of worry enveloped me. It felt like my mere presence here made this peaceful place vulnerable.

Yet, I couldn't explain the utter calm within me just by walking beside this complete stranger. I couldn't decide which emotion was more unnerving. I dropped my gaze to the ground and worried my lip. My eyes landed on Tor's bare feet.

"Aren't your feet cold?" I asked looking at him. Tor chuckled in response.

"Don't worry, little witch. Wearing shoes is the oddity around here." He lifted his chin to the streets. I followed Tor's gaze and took in those who occupied the small village. It was then that I realized nearly every person in the town was barefoot.

Many were dressed in furs and pelts, and very few of them wore anything that resembled regular clothing. I noticed I was being watched by nearly every person we passed. Women stopped their washing to stare at the two of us as we made our way by, and men stopped mid-swing as they chopped wood.

"What is this place anyway?" I asked, trying to ignore the puzzled stares of the villagers. Tor scanned the village with a smile.

"This is Alder, home of Pack Liem."

We continued our walk through the town in silence. I noted once again the soothing calm within me in Tor's presence. In all my years practicing magic, I had never felt anything quite like it before. Before I knew it, we had made it to the front steps of Tor's manner. It was a beautiful granite stone structure with tall chimneys and multiple balconies adorned with ivy that stretched its flower-covered fingers around its stones.

"Your home is beautiful," I said with admiration while I gazed at the hand-crafted windows carved with ornate images. Tor was just about to respond when the large front door burst open. The same woman who had brought me food this morning came rushing out before stopping dead in front of us.

"Alpha-" she cut short when her eyes landed on me. "I mean Lord Tor."

Alpha? I gave Tor a bemused look. No wonder he had a superiority complex.

The servant's eyes found mine and she narrowed her eyes. "I was just looking for you. You gave me quite a runaround!" she said, her voice exasperated.

I smiled sheepishly not sure how to respond.

"It is all right, Ava," Tor said gently, "I was just giving her a tour of the village."

The woman named Ava put her hands on her hips and gave Tor a pointed look.

"Will she be staying for long?" Ava asked him.

Tor glanced down at me, waiting for my response. In my heart, I knew that my next words were a lie as I looked at Ava and smiled.

"As long as you'll have me," I said.

***

TOR POV

Ava and I walked with Selene through the manor entrance.

"Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours," Ava said with a smile.

I turned to Selene. "I would love it if you joined us for dinner as my guest."

The look of bashfulness on her face whenever she looked at me never failed to send a wave of satisfaction through my body.

"Of course, I would love that," she said then turned to Ava. "Is that offer for the bath still on the table?"

Ava nodded. "Of course, dear. Go on ahead and I'll send someone up with some hot water."

After Selene thanked Ava, she left Ava and me alone in the receiving hall of the manor. That is when Ava turned to me.

"Alpha, may I speak to you in private?" she asked.

"Of course, Ava." I led the two of us through the manor to my council chambers.

I could feel the stress of Ava's energy. There was clearly something weighing heavily on her mind as we entered the council chambers. I shut the door behind us while Ava paced back and forth in front of the hearth wringing her apron in her hands.

Ava was like a mother to me. She cared for me like I was one of her own when I lost my parents to an illness as a child. I trusted and cared for her deeply, and much like Cassius, I always wanted her to speak freely with me. I let out a sigh.

"Ava, you may speak what's on your mind," I said as I leaned against the large maple desk. Ava stopped her pacing and turned to face me.

"Alpha-" she paused wringing her hands together. "I do not understand why you have brought this woman here. She is an outsider. It goes against the pack code."

I also did not know why I had brought Selene here, other than that insatiable feeling within me to keep her close. When I felt her leaving the compound earlier today I … well, I would have done anything to stop her.

"It just doesn't feel right," Ava said. She continued looking at me with worry in her sharp eyes. I gave her a warm look hating to see her in such distress.

"Ava, I am very aware of our family code and I appreciate you bringing your concerns to me, but it is too dangerous for her to be wandering through the woods with all that is going on. So as of now, the girl stays and that is the end of it." My words were gentle but firm.

I failed to mention the wrenching pull in my stomach that was drawing me to the woman in question. I was still trying to figure that part out on my own. Ava dipped her head.

"As you say, Alpha," she said.

"Thank you, Ava, for always taking care of us." I offered her a smile.

Ava met my gaze and smiled back.

"This whole pack would be lost without me," she said with a wink.

***

After I bathed and dressed for dinner I made my way to Selene's room. I knocked on the door and waited. A few moments later she opened the door and my breath caught in my throat.

She was stunning. The forest green dress she wore hugged her curves and accentuated the mossy green of her eyes. While her body was agonizingly feminine, she also had a strength to her figure which made her all the more irresistible. The white lace accented the lines of her shoulders down to the softness of her breasts. I caught myself staring and cleared my throat, bringing my eyes to her own.

I could see a teasing gleam within them as she gave me a dazzling smile.

"I didn't know wolves could clean up so well," she said addressing my dark grey dress suit.

I held my arm out to her and she raised her brow teasingly.

"Who says savages can't have the best of both worlds?" I said.

She laughed lightly and took my arm.

Together we made our way to the dining hall.

The dining hall was like the rest of Alder manor, the decor was elegant, yet everything had a purpose that made it cozy and warm. With red velvet drapes over ceiling-high windows, polished wood floors, a large oak table in its center, and a large ornate candelabrum hanging from the ceiling.

I escorted Selene to her chair, which placed me on her right and Cassius on her left. Before I sat down, I cleared my throat to gather everyone's attention at the table.

"As you all may have noticed, we have a visitor among us." I gestured toward Selene. Curious eyes darted in Selene's direction. Some I could tell were less than pleased at her presence. "For those of you who do not know, I have invited Selene to stay with us for the time being."

"I'd also like to mention that Selene is my personal guest and I expect everyone to treat her as such." At my pointed words, a few angry faces softened and looked away quickly.

"Now let's eat!" I sat back down and Selene was watching me curiously. I gave her a wink and smiled when another blush colored her long gorgeous neck.

Dinner was served and the conversations around the table began to pick up.

Cassius quickly turned to Selene with a friendly smile.

"So, Selene, I've heard a rumor that you are a witch," Cassuis said lightly. A few curious eyes at the table turned toward Selene.

Selene laughed.

"Well, we don't really call ourselves 'witches'," she said before taking a sip of her drink. "That is the equivalency of calling a wolf shifter a werewolf."

Cassius raised an eyebrow. "Allow me to rescind my comment then. There's nothing worse than being mistaken for a werewolf." Cassius held his hand out to Selene.

"I am Cassius by the way," he said offering her a kind smile.

"It's nice to meet you, Cassius," she said taking his hand obligingly.

Cassius' expression went dark.

"I heard about the attack last night. I am glad you were able to escape," he said.

Selene's eyes dropped to her dinner plate.

"Thank you, but really if it wasn't for Tor, I'd hate to think about what would have happened," she said sparing a glance in my direction.

"Thank you again, Tor," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. I raised my glass to hers.

"Of course, little witch," I said quietly so only she could hear.