Chapter 4.

Something about him spoke to me. My body reacted with a burning sensation, an urge-filled fire that roamed around in my veins, a feeling I hadn’t felt before. The last time I felt this was when we had our kiss all those years ago.

But a feeling like that couldn’t hold on for this long, could it?

I hadn’t felt anything before, it was impossible to resurface now and it was more than inconvenient. It would cause me more trouble than I already had.

Without realizing it, I had been staring at him. His face turned and his lips parted slightly.

It was barely noticeable but he gulped, I saw his adam's apple bobbing up and down.

I licked my lips which had grown dry and when I heard someone calling his name, I came to my senses and looked away.

I finished the salads, meats, and platters as quickly as I could and told Cathy that I was leaving.

“Wait, you need to eat.” She said and handed me a plate with a little of everything on it.

I looked at her in shock but her eyes didn’t quite meet mine.

“Thank you,” I said timidly before leaving.

I placed the plate of food on my bed and darted out. I needed a walk in the woods to clear my head.

~PERCY~

After Selene left my office, Bella and Patrick remained. I let go of Bella’s hand and she straightened out the dress and cleared her throat while lifting her head.

Bella had been my go-to girl when I had an itch that needed to be scratched. My mistake.

Now she was always there, wherever I was or whoever I was talking to, she thought she had the right to interrupt.

I stood up and turned to face her.

She took a step back and when she saw my eyes, she visibly gulped.

“You never walk in here without permission. You never interrupt a meeting regardless of whom it is with. You never disobey your Alpha, is that clear?” My voice rose an octave with every syllable.

“Yes, alpha,”

“I just-“

“No.” I cut her off and started to leave.

“No? I have been here for you for over two years and that’s all I get? That tramp got more from you than-“I had her pinned against the wall with my hand around her throat before she could finish the sentence.

She was gasping for air and her hands clawed at mine.

“You will stop disrespecting the others in this pack, no matter the rank. I’m sick of your bitchy attitude and I know I’m a reason for it. You have too much air in that thick head of yours, Bella. Don’t make me deflate it for you.”

She nodded her head against my hand and I let her go.

I know that Bella was one of the girls responsible for what happened to Selene. She wouldn’t talk but Patrick had seen them leave.

That made me wonder what else had happened to her.

Me and Patrick headed for practice. I needed to blow off some steam.

The warriors were going at it, doing combat and close-up training. Some had shifted and were practicing in their wolf form. Me? I wanted to hurt.

“You okay?” Patrick asked me. I didn’t look at him because I knew what I’d see. Pity and pain from my best friend. I didn’t care for it so instead, I went out on the field and got ready. He caught up and readied himself as well and three seconds later, we were fighting to kill.

• * *

As we walked into the kitchen after training, her scent once again filled my nostrils, invading my entire being. But I couldn’t look, there were too many people here for me to revise in the joy of seeing her.

But then another scent hit me. I could feel her eyes on me, I could sense her body's reaction. The scent grew stronger and I couldn’t look away, I couldn't resist. I turned my head and locked eyes with her. Selene’s cheeks were a dark shade of pink, her eyelids were heavy and her breathing was ragged.

Her chest was moving up and down quickly and her hand was clutching the knife so tight that her knuckles were turning white.

That scent was her arousal. She was turned on and didn’t even know it.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her nor could I stop the images forming in my mind about how I would take her. How I would rip her shirt off and bend her over the table. Separate her legs and pull her pants down.

“Yo, Percy!” Selene’s eyes widened a fraction and she looked away. It was Adam who had called. The thought of him made my anger stir up. The same anger I had beaten the shit out of Patrick to get rid of.

“What?” I snapped.

As he walked toward me I could see the bruises still fresh on his face.

They would be there for a few more hours.

“This came for you,” Adam handed me a letter with the royal sigil stamped on it.

I looked up from the letter and scanned his face.

“Um,” he stammered. He scratched the back of his neck and nervously looked around.

“I’m really sorry,” with those words he left the kitchen.

When I looked over again, Selene was gone.

I sighed and bit the inside of my cheek, my eyes constantly wandering to where she had stood.

“What’s that?” Patrick asked with a mouth full of potatoes.

I flipped it and showed him the stamp. He placed his plate down and we walked to my office.

• * *

‘Alpha Craft,

We know that what we asked of your family all those years ago was a lot. We are forever grateful that you stuck by the deal even after your parents came to join us. We are glad to inform you that after the Jule, we will be bringing her home. We want everything to go smoothly and I have been told by your father that I will get nothing less.

See you soon,

King Rasmus’

“So that dickhead is really coming to take her, huh,” My eyes were glued to the letter. They were coming and they were taking her. Albeit they’re her family, technically she’s mine too.

“Percy, don’t fight this.”

“She’s beginning to recognize me,” I said and looked up at my best friend.

“You’re her Alpha, she’s bound to recognize you,” his eyes held confusion.

I shook my head slowly and remained in eye contact.

“Not as her Alpha,” his eyes widened and he took a step back.

“Oh, shit,” Patrick fell back a few steps as though someone had punched him in the gut, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Dude, I’m so sorry but there is nothing-“

“I know.”

“Maybe that’s why he’s coming now. Wasn’t he supposed to wait until she turned eighteen?”

I remembered the conversation I had with my father right before he left to join the king.

He said that after she turns eighteen, the king will come for her unless something interrupts the planning, to which he will act accordingly.

I was the interruption and he was acting on it.

“FUCK!” I stood to my feet and slammed my hand down on the desk.

Patrick hung his head with his hands in his pockets.

“He knows that Selene is my mate.” It came out a growl. I was pissed and there was nothing i could do about it.