Chapter 0005

CARLA

He had the brightest eyes I had ever seen. I could just stand still, feasting my sight of him all day.

Only if he didn't emit an Alpha aura.

And because of that, I knew I shouldn't do this.

Therefore, I lowered my head, cutting the connection between us, and resumed proceeding to the door. But I knew he kept looking at me until I was outside. Not only that, but he also followed my steps.

And I couldn't hold it anymore. "What do you want?" I tried to make my voice low, as I didn't want to cause a problem. Also, I respected this pack.

"I should be the one asking. You're a rogue. You can't be here." His voice was firm, and I spotted a slight hatred in his blue eyes.

Hatred? It seemed more a sadness to me.

But wait. What did he call me? A rogue?

Just because I accidentally crossed his border didn't mean I was a rogue and had an evil plan for this pack.

But I could only swallow my objection as I sensed his Alpha's aura getting stronger. I hoped for peace, not another way around.

"I'm sorry for crossing your border. We were just passing by and stopped because my daughter was hungry. And we will leave now." After I said it, I immediately turned around. But before I could take the first step, he stopped me with his words.

"Who says you can leave?"

My breath hitched as my body froze at his authoritative tone. He was asking, but he sounded ordering.

I spun my body to face him back. "Please, let us go. I promise we won't cause trouble." I was begging. Soon, Cherry's hands snaking my neck tightened. She must have felt uneasiness in my gesture, which was probably her defense after constantly being exposed to an abusive father.

"No. You can't leave this territory as you please. I have a lot of questions for you."

"Y-You can ask me."

His gaze swept the surrounding and said, "No. Not here. You need to go with me." He returned to look at me while uttering the last sentence. His eyes were like penetrating mine, but strangely, they were warm.

Or was I hallucinating?

One thing was for sure. I couldn't say no to this.

"Will you allow me to go after that?"

"It depends."

He then motioned me to follow him to his car, to which I voluntarily complied. 

"Where are we going, Mommy?" Cherry asked, her hands snaking my waist as uncertainty crossed her eyes. Also, there was fear.

"Uncle invites us to visit his pack. He has a lot of cookies for you." It was a lie. Of course.

"Really?" She was excited, but it washed away when she glanced ahead at the male driving us.

"Yes, honey." I tightened my embrace on her petite body. "Don't worry. Uncle is a nice person." I assured my daughter. But honestly, I did it more to myself. I really hoped nothing terrible happened to us.

"How old is she?" The male suddenly spoke.

"Four."

"She's a nice kid." He commented the same way I did it for him.

"Yes."

Then silence. There was no talk for the rest of the journey, and it was better because I was like having a heart attack every time the Alpha voiced a word. Besides, I needed to prepare myself for the actual conversation.

We arrived in the central area a few minutes later. My head turned to the side, looking through the window to learn the surrounding. I found a lot of buildings, shops, and houses along the way. It was full, more crowded than Lake Pack.

But then my eyes widened once I spotted a sign which led us to the pack house. It also had the name of this pack. Wild Fire Pack.

I must have made a big mistake by crossing this land.

Wild Fire Pack had a reputation on its own. They were mysterious yet cruel. So was their Alpha. And I happened to meet him!

But what made me terrified was the rumor that the Alpha of Wild Fire Pack hated a rogue so much, and they called me one.

Goddess, what would happen to us?

The car came to a complete stop in front of a big house. The Alpha was the first to leave the car, and it automatically signed me to do the same, though he said nothing.

"You can leave your daughter to Travis."

It must be the name of the male trailing us—the same male who talked to Cherry and me earlier—from the moment we left the restaurant. In fact, he was the one driving my car.

I bit my bottom lip, hesitating to obey his order this time. What if Travis hurt Cherry?

The Alpha must be sensing my fear because he said something to reassure me. "Don't worry. She's safe with my Beta."

I looked at my daughter, then Travis before my gaze returned to the Alpha. He seemed to have no bad intentions.

Maybe, it wasn't bad to trust him.

I crouched in front of Cherry so I could see her in the eyes. "Honey, can you play with Uncle Travis? Mommy will get back to you soon after finishing talking with that Uncle?"

Cherry tilted her head up as if observing the Beta. A second later, a smile graced her lips when she saw Travis smiling at her. "Yes, Mommy."

I was slightly taken aback at seeing her reaction. It contrasted with the fear she showed inside the car.

"Follow me." But Alpha's voice quickly cut my mind off. He already took a step away.

"Be nice, okay?" I said the last words to my daughter, and then I had to let her go. I saw her leaving with Travis until they disappeared before spinning my body around to catch the Alpha.

However, I was baffled when I found him standing three meters ahead with his figure facing my direction like he was waiting for me. "I'm sorry." So I hurried to his place. Only then did he resume his steps.

"Let's begin with an introduction. My name is Zurin, Alpha of Wild Fire Pack." Zurin spoke once we were already inside his office. "What is your name?"

"I'm Carla. I'm really sorry for crossing your border. It's my mistake because I'm too careless to see the sign." Again, I said my apologies. Being obedient was the best I could do in this situation.

"Carla. Nice name." He mumbled the name that caught me off guard by the way he uttered it. He sounded amused. "Where are you from, Carla?"

This was it. How should I reply to such a question? I couldn't tell the truth because I was aware of where it ended. But if I answered I didn't have a pack, it would justify his assumption that I was a rogue. And I didn't know what he would do to us. He might throw us away—it was actually better—or worse, imprison and then kill us.

No!

"Red Star Pack," I said, whatever crossed my mind. Surely, I made it up.

His brows furrowed as he stared at me deeper. "I've never heard of Red Star Pack."

I couldn't help but feel nervous. Zurin's gaze was like sweeping my brain, searching for truth in my lies. "I-It's a very small pack and so far away from here."

He was silent, but his eyes were still locked on mine.

"Where are you going?" He asked again after a few seconds of silence.

"I don't know. I was just driving and accidentally stepping into your territory. We were meant no harm. I promise." My hands were up on my last words to show my honesty. It was all by mistake, and the moment I realized everything, it was too late, though, I could have walked back to the car and driven away from his land.

But perhaps, it might disadvantage me more because they saw me like I was running away.

"Who are you running from?"

My eyes widened at his unexpected question. How did he know?

"No one."

It should have been a perfect lie, right?

However, I heard a growl, followed by his face darkening. "Don't lie to me."

It instantly silenced me and crushed my brief composure that everything went in a better direction. "I don't." But I knew I couldn't lie to his eyes.

And I was right because he suddenly rushed into my place with anger all over his face. Without warning, he grabbed my jaw and tilted it to the side, exposing something I desperately wanted to hide.

"Then tell me about this."

He saw it. My bruises.

I had put a lot of foundation to cover them. But it seemed it wasn't enough.

I opened my mouth, ready to voice my protest, when I noticed something odd about his expression. I still found an annoyance, but now it was mixed with pain. His eyes were also flitting the same.

Was he hurt for me?

I was still confused with everything when he spoke again.

"I will ask you again. Who are you running from, Carla?"