Thank you

Viktor

After Jake gets her into the car he comes back into the house. We're still in the kitchen where he left us. "Are we good? Or are we going to have a problem?" I ask him firmly. Any hint of rebellion and I'll fight him here on his territory.

Exhaling he closes his eyes and looks up at the ceiling. When he opens his eyes, he takes a seat and signals for me to take mine.

"What're you going to do with her?" the girl at the end of the table says boldly. I look over at her and decide how I should answer. I don't know what I'm going to do with her. I don't need any weaknesses. "She's my mate. I'll figure it out."

"You just took my next Luna from my arms Alpha Viktor. I require something in return," he says to me with a smirk on his face. If I could I'd rip his mouth off of his face and skin him alive. "You've taken something of his sir, you need to give him something to replace it," Jake links me.

"I can offer you, someone, in place of... your slave," I say holding my wolf back. Flash wants to dig his claws into him more than I do. "She was ours in the first place, we owe him nothing," he growls. "Didn't you see how submissive she was? He's BROKEN her! She wouldn't even lift her eyes," he whines.

I did notice her submission. I don't see it as an issue but Flash has ideas of love and believes in the mate bond. "I will provide you a replacement, and we will sign the treaty during the next meeting," I tell him itching to get out of here.

Alpha Ken nods and I head for the door. Getting outside I reach for the door and am hit by her chocolatey scent. She's sitting in her seat with her head bowed and eyes cast down. The urge to touch her has me growling.

Flash is wagging his tail and almost drooling at the sight of her. "Drive," I tell Jake and he pulls out of the driveway. I hear a sigh and look over to her as her shoulders droop in relief. Hmm... What shall I do with you? "I've got a few ideas," Flash laughs. I smirk and look out the window. "We have time," I tell him.

***

Kacie

When the car came to a stop, I tasted food in my mouth. Jake opened my door and helped me out of the car. Mate walked through the doors without looking at me once. "Don't mind him, he'll come around," Jake said with a sad smile. "Follow me, I'll take you to your room."

The packhouse was huge and my jaw dropped in awe. The ceiling was high up and the walls had a Victorian period feel to them. We went up the stairs and stopped on the second floor. "Your room will be here. Alpha stays on the third floor, so try to avoid it unless he calls for you," Jake says as he opens the first door on the right.

Walking in I'm speechless, there's a kingsized bed by beautiful double doors. The headboard is a puffed white and my room is at least 3 times the size of my room back at the Blood Moon pack. "Thank you," I say with my head bowed.

"Please don't bow to me, Luna. He may not announce you as our Luna, but you are of a higher rank than me. I'd feel more comfortable if you called me Jake or Beta," he says and I can hear a smile in his voice.

I lift my head a little and see that he's being genuine. The kindness in his voice makes me want to get closer but I can't.

"Thank you... Beta," I mumble out. "There's a shower in the bathroom and I'll have some clothes brought up to your dresser," he tells me. "Breakfast is at 7 in the morning, so if you'd like to eat, come down at that time, he says before walking out of my room and closing the door.

I'm left alone for the first time since we left Blood Moon. I take the red dress off and throw it into the trash bin. Turning the water on hot, I look at my reflection as I wait for it to heat up.

The girl staring back at me looks a mess. Her eyes are tired and look haunted. Her hair is messy from when Alpha had me on his bed.

Thoughts of what happened in his room and in the kitchen have me leaning over the toilet bowl retching. I'm so disgusted with myself I don't know who she is anymore. "What happened isn't our fault Kacie," my wolf tells me earnestly.

"Who are you trying to convince, Athena? Me or you?" I say after I've emptied the contents of my stomach. She whines and crawls into the farthest part of my mind. I get up and sit in the shower. The hot water dripping down my skin, the heat searing my face.

I let out a breath and sigh. My tears mix in with the water and I look at the wall. I won't fool myself. This place won't be any better than Blood Moon. The sooner I realize that the easier it'll be for me when everything comes crashing down.

I lift my head and look at the ceiling as the water covers me in warmth. I close my eyes and just feel the water wash over me. I pull my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs. I cry and cry until I'm all cried out.