4- You would have to reject your mate if...

Godiva stumbled. It was as if her legs had grown numb. "I..I don't understand," she went blank. Rocks' ways weren't just unusual to her but were also infuriating. Why couldn't he be friendly like his brother and talk a bit more? Not only did he use a few words but also made her uncomfortable with his unusual aura. She loathed him and couldn't see her brain and heart accepting that condition but maybe it wasn't what she thought he meant.

"Ask Xena," he said. Swiftly, he left her in the room without another word. Godiva has never met anyone like him. Not among her lecturers or her male friends in college. Rock was like a world in himself, doing and acting as he pleased. Not being able to wait to speak with Xena, she took a quick bath, changing into one of the clothes she bought, which had been neatly arranged in the closet.

Descending the stairs, Rock, Xena and Steel seemed to be discussing something but as soon as they saw her, Rock stood up and went out. Somehow, she felt relieved. At least she would have the chance to speak with Xena, and Steel was also approachable therefore she didn't mind him being there.

"I hope you like pasta? I'm not much of a good cook so the guys won't eat." Godiva's eyes widened, trying to guess Xena's age. All her sisters including Anita knew how to cook and they usually did a lot together. Not having eaten since morning, she was famished.

"No harm in trying, I guess," she casually responded, whereas Xena went to get the food from the kitchen. Steel switched to his phone but tapped on the side of the sofa where he sat. Godiva was about to go sit beside him when Xena excitedly brought her a plate of pasta in a tray, contemplating as to where to make her comfortable.

"Do you like to eat in front of the TV or the quiet of the dining?" She asked a bit awkwardly. The guys usually ate in front of the tv while they watched their favourite games but she didn't know much about Godiva yet.

"I say, in front of the tv. It isn't the most healthy but it's the most fun," Steel chuckled, glancing at the tv before going back to his phone.

"In front of the tv then," Godiva took the tray from Xena. She forced a smile, which came out a bit awkward as she plopped herself on the couch. She felt livable around Steel and Xena. They made her feel at home but the death of her father was still fresh on her mind, deterring her from being her usual bubbling self. Xena and Steel noticed her moodiness but they recounted it to the change of environment. Maybe it wasn't easy for her to adjust to this new life. She froze from the taste of the pasta.

"This is delicious. The best I've tasted," she uttered through a mouthful.

"Compliments to me the cook," Steel's lips thinned, while he taunted Xena with an amusing glare. Xena felt awkward, lowering her head. Godiva saw through their taunting exchanges, confusion ranging on her.

"I thought you cooked it," she said sadly to Xena.

"Nope. Steel here disposed off what I cooked and made another one," she clarified. Godiva was even more amazed. The food tasted like pasta from an Italian restaurant. 

Steel shrugged casually, "I'm not a bad person. I couldn't let you eat that shit on your first day," he casted Xena another taunting glance. Godiva couldn't imagine how bad Xena's food was but she figured Xena might be feeling awful with Steels' taunts. 

"I hope to taste your food someday, Xena," she tried to comfort Xena, who was now covered in an awkward smile. She was used to Steels' taunts but who knew he would expose her in front of Godiva?

"I'm just twelve and what about you, you know how to cook?" She asked Godiva, plopping on the single sofa. Godiva stopped eating and stared at Xena in awe. Was it the lights deceiving her?

"Twelve? Your height, posture and maturity speak nothing less than sixteen," Godiva lauded. Xena blushed. Living with the guys, she has matured real fast but her height was a gift from her father. She was about to speak when Godiva continued, "and yes, I can cook but nothing like what I'm eating," she confessed.

Somehow, Xena felt relieved. From the moment she saw Godiva's picture, she could feel a connection and this was a confirmation that she wasn't like the shameless she-wolves who threw themselves around her brothers. "We could learn from each other, especially when the men retire to the gym for training."

"Training?" Godiva's fork was held up in the air before she could fill her mouth with the next portion. 

Xena chuckled. "You haven't been around packs much, have you?"

"No, but we lived a bit away from the city though. I don't know the rules of the pack but can I ask you something?" Godiva wanted to know more about the packs but Rocks' words just kept ringing in her mind.

"You can ask anything. Don't worry, Steel is a great keeper of secrets," Xena wiped Godiva's worry when she stared pleadingly at steel to excuse them.

"Oh, I'm hurt. You don't want me to join in the conversation?" Steel run his hands through his hair, giving his full attention to Godiva.

Godiva felt narrowly remorseful. "It's not that, I just,"

"Feel free to ask anything. After all, we are family now," Xena assured her. Everything felt a little too much for Godiva to take in but perhaps, her question might give her the right answers.

"Rock said something and I quote: 'My mark, your protection.' Does he mean to Mark me?"

Xena and Steel exchanged glances. "Yes. If you bear his mark, those Alphas will stop hunting you because it will mean that you belong to Rock," Xena explained but Godiva was still uncomfortable. Not being close to packs didn't mean she didn't know about the mark. This was the reason why she wished to be mated to a human so she could live a normal life away from the violence of the packs but her father had already bonded her to not only one but seven.

"What if he isn't my mate and what if I find my mate? Can't it wait until I turn eighteen? I must have been around humans a lot in school but I'm not ignorant of the rules," she vexed her thoughts but didn't stop eating. Well, she ate a lot when she was nervous. It was the only way to hide her shivering hands and her teary eyes. This was the worst day she had ever experienced in her life and it was getting worse. Perhaps she might even die of shock.

"Then you should also understand that your situation is dicey because of those other Alphas. You will have to reject your mate if it turns out not to be Rock," Xena explained further.

Godiva clutched tightly to her fork to stop her trembling fingers, feeding herself with more pasta to ease her nervous strings. "Earlier, you said you knew me. How?" She asked.

Xena exchanged another uncomfortable glance with Steel. Godiva could tell she was hiding something, seeing her smile was forced. "Oh that, it wasn't what I thought. Rock explained that he rescued you from some Alphas trusted men."

Now Godiva understood what Rock thought in his head. From the boutique, yes he rescued her but thinking critically, he was the one who got her there. The correct word should be abducted because that was what he did and if he hadn't, she would have left with that taxi. Who knows, she would have been at the airport or even on a plane. It was too late now. She couldn't do either of those. 'It's not interesting to know that I was sold to seven Alphas. What should I do?" Godiva lamented, exasperated.

"You were sold? By who?" Both Steel and Xena turned bash as Xena asked. Rock hadn't finished explaining when Godiva came out but even Rock didn't know that they were seven Alphas. He only encountered two and wondered why they were after Godiva. Godiva didn't see a reason to hide it from them anyway. Nervously, she was about to dig into her plate again when she realised her supply had run out. "I'll get you more," Xena took the tray from her, heading to the kitchen. Godiva felt her cheeks heat up like red wine when Xena returned with more pasta for her but it was so delicious, she couldn't, for courtesy's sake, refuse it. Besides, she hadn't eaten since morning.

"Thank you," she politely said and began to dig in. Eating reduced her nervousness, as she continued to speak. "Just this morning, I lost my dad after he confessed to selling me out to those seven Alphas. She left out the part where he drank poison. I narrowly managed to escape when I run into Rock," She helped herself with another serving and continued, "that's why I want him to be my bodyguard but he is giving me this ridiculous condition.

Both Xena and Steel didn't know the full story. Even Rock didn't know. The siblings contemplated whether it would make Rock change his mind because all he knew was another Alpha chasing her but, how could he know that there were seven contenders? 

"So you know the names of all these Alphas?" Steel asked. Godiva nodded and mentioned the names. Only then did Steel and Xena realize that the last name was Alpha Ice. Godiva was reluctant to accept Rocks' mark because she didn't know that Alpha Ice did the purchase for Rock because he was his father and Rock was the first son. Steel gave Xena a sharp glare and the latter swallowed whatever she wanted to say.

"Why don't you go to bed, you must be tired. We should come to a reasonable conclusion tomorrow," Xena said. She knew her brother's temperament and after his first warning earlier, she wasn't going to give the information he didn't approve of.

"I have to go to school tomorrow. How about that? I'm a freshman." Godiva was excited when she got her admission and had only been there twice. Her late father had paid all her fees in full, together with that of Theresa and Ivy the second born, who were her seniors in college. She looked forward to getting a decent job in a good company after graduation, with a simple life.

"Let's let things be for now. Rest and let's have a fruitful solution tomorrow," Xena was careful to not sound suspicious. Rock had his way of doing things and as the Alpha, they always obeyed him but he was still her elder brother who always watched out for her protectively.

Godiva nodded, just as Xena took the almost empty plate from her as she climbed the stairs. As soon as she shut the door, she picked up her phone and saw so many missed calls from Theresa.

She knitted her brows, both in worry and excitement, her finger redialing the number. "Godiva, are you alright?" Theresa's nervous and worried voice echoed at the end of the line. Godiva broke down instantly. She missed her sisters so much but she had to be strong.

"Yes, what about you, Anita, Ivy, Marie.." She was mentioning the names of all her sisters when Theresa interrupted, "We are all fine and also safe. Send me your location and I will arrange for you to be flown out. Papa still has a lot of money in his account.

Godiva was slightly excited, even though she didn't know how she was going to leave this pack but she had to keep hopes alive. "Thanks a lot, Theresa but where are you living?" Godiva was also concerned about her sister's wellbeing. She didn't want them to sacrifice everything just for her and they have never been separated from each other but this seemed inevitable.

"With a friend. We have to lay low, which means boycotting school for now but where are you? Are you safe?"

Godiva had no intention to boycott school for whatever reason. "No, I can't.."

She didn't finish her sentence when a strong hand grabbed the phone from her ear, smashing it on the floor.