Chapter 2: New Home

Seraphina 

We walked together from the path up to the highway. The forest was full of trees, muddy, dark, and kinda creepy. This is the first time I ever did this. Xandriel never let me wander far, so I never did. It was a good thing because I would have definitely gotten lost.

A black Audi with dark windows and chrome wheels was waiting. In the back seat, where Alexander sat next to me, I kept my hands in my lap.

I put some space between us for safety.

He growled but respected my request. Alexander was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. His body was sculpted perfectly, and his tattoos were both delicate and masculine. He had two earrings in each ear, and his hair was neatly cut.

“Why are you so tense?” he said as he looked out the window. I could be angry and bitter about what he did, but part of me wasn't. No one knew what it was like to be with Xandriel, and I was one of the few who could handle him.

Xandriel had no heart or mind, I was certain. Alexander knew that if anyone deserved hell, Xandriel did.

"I am not tense," I said. I wasn't yelling or being weird, so yes, this was calm. I rolled my eyes because he was bossy, but not as bad as Xandriel. When we got home, he'd surely start giving me orders about where I could and couldn't go, what to do, and how to do it.

"You are, I can hear your heart beating," Alexander tried to take my hand, but I pulled it away. He stepped back, respecting my request not to touch me. "Don't ever roll your eyes at me again. There's no need to be so rude," His eyes snapped to me, but I didn't flinch. This kind of man wanted a reaction, but I wouldn't give one. I watched the trees go by through the window. It started to rain, and my breath fogged up the window.

"It seems like you will never give me a chance," Alexander said softly. "To treat you the way you deserve. What did Xandriel do to you that made you act like this?"

"Do you want me to answer?"

He wouldn't be able to handle the truth. At this time, I had no filters, so I was ready to tell him exactly what I thought. When the car stopped in the driveway and the lights came on, I moved to get out, but Alexander pulled the door shut from behind me.

"Yes, I do," He said firmly, still I hesitated to tell him the whole truth. It feels like the truth is a very sensitive topic that illustrates me and this can be my weakness. "I won't let you out of this car until you tell me what's really going on."

"Fine! Well, it started with simple housework, then a quick rape here and there, and then it was long nights with Xandriel. I don't remember if I fed him wrong or how he liked to be touched," I spat. "You will never understand the suffering and pain I’ve been through. I have scars you'll never see, Alexander. So please, just let me go on my own. There are lots of women in this world that you can choose to be your mate."

"I will kill him. This pack will hunt him down, and he will die," Alexander said. I opened the door and got out of the car by myself, even though he tried to help me. "You will never have to face him again," Alexander assured me. But I ignored him. I was tired of talking about Xandriel and just wanted to sleep.

I didn't know what Alexander's plans were or how he used his pack. I might not sleep for a long time.

His mansion was beautiful, showing he was a rich man. Rich people often had many slaves and girls, who were always beautiful and had a lot of money.

I didn't understand why I was being treated so well, entering through the front door and walking alongside Alexander and his men. I wasn't pushed or shoved at all.

Alexander showed me my new room. Although I felt uneasy, it had a bed with a mattress, sheets, and a pillow. The dark navy walls matched the charcoal gray bedding, which looked so soft and fluffy. I had never had my own bed before.

With Xandriel, I always gave him my bed, or he gave me some of his. It was better than the floor, but I had no choice.

"You will get in trouble if you leave this place without my permission," Alexander told me as I sat on the bed, looking out the window at the peaceful forest. While my whole pack was back home, suffering because of Alexander. "Am I making myself clear?"

"I might seem rebellious, but we agreed that you will save the lives of the people I care about most. I owe you for that." I didn't turn to look at him. I felt nervous and worried about what would happen next. Alexander might have silly rules, strange requests, or anger issues, all of which I had dealt with before.

"Is this all you see, a debt? Is that it?" He seemed sad, so I shut my eyes. I always thought that maybe Xandriel wasn't my mate and that it would be fun to find the person I was meant to be with. So far, I hadn't felt much, just a little bit in our first few minutes together.

"I don't want to get into trouble," I said, hearing him move in the doorway. "If you had seen what Xandriel had done to me, you wouldn't want to punish me either. I don't want you to touch me."

"I won't touch you," he replied.

I didn't believe him. If he got angry, I'd be the first person he'd take it out on. I only wanted to be left alone. "Without permission," I added, coughing to break the awkward tension.

"When do you want me to start making dinner?" I asked, changing the topic. If Xandriel's food wasn't hot and ready when he sat down, he'd grab me by the throat. If Alexander was trying to catch me off guard, he wouldn't succeed. He thought I wasn't as smart as I was. I wouldn't let him get the better of me.

"What do you mean?" He sounded surprised, but it might have been an act. "I'm not expecting you to cook for me or serve any of my men."

"How about laundry? Sex?" I asked. As I turned to face him, Alexander's tough image was starting to crumble. Did I ask the wrong questions? "On specific days or times?"

"You're my mate, not my slave, Seraphina." Hearing him say my name for the first time gave me chills. "One day, you'll be the Luna of this pack, but it won't be like what you're used to. It will be lavish and powerful, but for now, I need you to learn about my pack and how my people live. I am not Xandriel. I will never be like him."

"Then I think I'm lost."

Most wolves wanted sex more than once a day, whenever and wherever they pleased. Xandriel was no different, but maybe Alexander was. He seemed kind, gentle, and forgiving.

"You can do whatever you want here. My only rule is that you can't leave the property or come into my office." It was odd how things worked here. "There are some men I'd like you to avoid. I can get jealous, and you won't like me when I am."

"What do you want?" Even though it was a simple question, it seemed to anger him. I needed to know how many men I would have to entertain. "You don't share?" Suddenly, Alexander lunged forward, and I was thrown back against the wall. He stopped, barely controlling himself at the edge of the bed, keeping a safe distance. If he just wanted to scare me, it worked, but if he was about to attack, he stopped himself just in time. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"What do you mean by share?" Alexander didn't move, but his anger was evident. His hands were clenched into fists, knuckles turning white.

"I think we should stop talking for a bit so you can calm down." I thought he could hear my racing heart. This place was strange, really strange. I tried to talk to him, but the more I did, the angrier he seemed.

"No, Seraphina! What do you mean by share?!" If I hadn't answered, he might have torn out his hair from stress.

"I meant with other men—"

"Damn it, Seraphina! No! I don’t share what’s mine!" He grumbled loudly, shaking the walls. Alexander looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Even though I'd only been here for thirty minutes, I'd already disappointed him.