5 "She's My Mate"

All eyes turned to Anastasia.

" Why not dear?" Alpha Ron's expression immediately softened as he looked at her.

Ana's chest was thumping. She didn't want to go because Chase made her feel so useless, so small and she didn't want that. But she couldn't say that. That'd only bring trouble.

And she was in no way a fan of trouble.

" I don't want to go because he… he says he has work to do and I don't want to impose on him"

" Ohh please, forget that! You're not imposing, he's just doing his job as your new stepbrother" Alpha Ron said.

" Chase, it has to be you who'll be with her. You're the only one we can trust" Sylvia spoke up.

Chase narrowed his eyes down on her.

" You see, Ana is not exactly strong enough to be by herself. We just came in and surely there'll be some hostility around, we just have to be sure she's safe with you. You know she can't do much to protect herself without a wolf" she continued.

Anastasia clenched her fists as her breathing got rigid.

As if Chase wasn't enough, her mother had to continue the job.

Chase was glaring at Sylvia. He didn't like her, not one bit.

" Chase, stop looking at her like that" Alpha Ron said. His voice was stern.

Chase sighed.

" I hate all this drama" a voice in his head said. " Just agree to it already. It'll give us some time to get to know her better" Tyga continued.

" Fine!" Chase said out loud.

Sylvia smiled brightly.

" Thank you Chase. This is highly appreciated"

Chase frowned at her. Why was she thanking him when they clearly gave him no choice?

" We'll be on our way now son. You two take care" Alpha Ron said. They excused themselves leaving Chase and Ana all by themselves.

Chase turned to Ana and his heart skipped. Her eyes were moistened up and her fists were clench.

" Are you okay?" Chase asked hurriedly.

Ana turned her glare towards him.

" Like you give two fucks" she said rudely, walking past him abruptly.

Chase sighed.

" Go after her, man" Tyga echoed.

Chase picked up his coat and went after her. It took a while to find her and when he did, he stayed behind her while she walked. He didn't want to further spoil her mood.

Anastasia's heart felt heavy. She was so stupid to have thought things would be better here.

She was an outcast at her pack. Nobody cared about her. She had no friends and she was always forced to stay inside by her mother. She never knew her father. Her mother made sure to remind her of her predicament everyday. It wasn't exactly as plain as Chase did it, either she would start crying and wouldn't stop saying it or she would recount an experience and repeat it after every line or she would sit Ana down and tell her how she was never supposed to appear before the Alpha or close to anywhere he would be at. He didn't have to know she existed.

Anastasia had only been surviving, she had never lived her life. No one even intended to find out why she didn't have her wolf. On her eleventh birthday, they just proclaimed her as "wolf less" in front of everyone after she tried to shift and couldn't.

Ana would never forget that day.

" Anastasia, watch out!" A heavy voice said from behind her and she was pulled by her arm roughly. She crashed into a strong chest and warm arms wrapped around her.

" It's a snake. They're everywhere in the pack lands during this season" Chase said.

He motioned for a worker to come take the snake away while Ana remained in his arms. It was only after then that he unwrapped his arms and looked at her.

" Are you okay?"

Anastasia had her senses come back to her. She pushed Chase away from her with all the strength she could muster.

" What was that?"

Chase's face twisted in surprise.

" Uhh… you're welcome? I just saved your life"

" I didn't ask you to, did I? I'm very much fine on my own" Ana said.

" Ohh, like you didn't just get too comfortable in my arms"

Anastasia eyed him and began walking again when Chase's hand pulled her back.

" Don't walk out on me, I'm talking to you"

" Let go of me or I'll scream" Ana threatened.

" Go on, I don't mind"

" Chase, let go of me"

" I'm trying to help you, what's your problem?"

Ana was heaving. The glare in her eyes was aligned with some kind of pain.

" You're not okay. Why try to hide it?" Chase said softly.

They remained in that position for what felt like minutes but was only seconds.

" Wolf Prince!" A loud voice interrupted them. Anastasia took this opportunity to snatch her hand from Chase's hold but she didn't walk away.

Chase turned to see Luke walking towards him. Luke was his very close friend and was most likely to be his Beta when he took over the Alpha position.

" Wolf Prince, I've been searching for you" Luke said.

" You're back"

" Yes, I just did. And I have news"

Luke finally noticed Anastasia. He looked her over and turned back to Chase in question.

" She's umm… my father's wife's daughter" Chase mumbled.

" Ohh she's your stepsister. It's nice to meet you, I'm Luke" Luke said, extending his hand for a shake.

Ana didn't take his hand. Luke retracted it and at the same time, he frowned. He immediately mind linked with Chase. Only few wolves could do that.

" I can't smell her wolf" Luke thought.

" She doesn't have one yet"

Luke's face dawned on realization. But the next words that echoed in his mind shocked him to the fullest.

" She's my mate!"

" What?"