Chapter 27: Unwanted visitors

Amina’s POV

“Benji, you can just drop me off at your parent’s. I need to change.”

Before I could fully understand what was going on, Benjamin had us both in his truck, driving towards the pack limits. He remained inattentive the whole ride and, from the way his eyes kept jumping back and forth between their natural blue hue to a cloudy grey, I knew that he was mind-linking with others. I wondered why he hadn’t let me out, instead, choosing to tag me along with him. I figured that, perhaps, he wanted to test me. I thought that, maybe, he felt the need to make sure I could learn and handle the duties of a Luna. *‘But what are her duties?’* I asked myself feeling the pressure mounting as we neared our destination. By the time he brought the car to a full stop, my stomach was in complete knots. My heart was racing and the palms of my hands became sticky. *‘Okay, this is it! He wants me to show him I’m capable of being Luna!*’ I psyched myself up as I unfastened my seatbelt and reached for the door’s handle.

“Stay in the car.”

*‘Or maybe not!’* I looked back at Benjamin who spoke up for the first time since we got in his car. His eyes never met my own as he kept his focus on the large gathering of men standing in front of us. He got out of the car and with a few long strides, Benjamin joined the rest of the men. From inside the car, their voices were barely audible but their body language showed that the conversation was getting heated. Benjamin stood very still, arms crossed while Ryan and Anderson looked about ready to pounce on anyone. I didn’t recognize most of the faces but I could tell there seemed to be two distinct groups, Benjamin’s men and the others.

‘*He took the keys, great!*’ I rolled my eyes as I realized I couldn’t even bring down the window to have a better listen. I was leaning in closer when something else caught my attention. I thought I had noticed branches and leafs ruffling on their own to the far right of the men. The rattling intensified and no one other than me seemed to be noticing. I stared intently towards the trees wanting to find out what kind of animal could cause such havoc. My face was almost pressed against the window glass when I finally caught a glimpse of the perpetrator. I instantly jumped back in my seat, bringing my hands over my mouth to cover my scream. I could feel all my blood rushing to my legs as I formed this desperate need to run away. My body trembled on its own and the hair on my neck stood up in fear.

‘*It can’t be! No! I’m dreaming!*’ My mind refused to believe in what I just witnessed and it cursed my eyes for their betrayal. The air got colder and I felt nauseous. Yet, I couldn’t look away from where he stood. He turned around and disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared and the ruffling stopped. I wanted to believe that I was really dreaming all of this. I wanted to believe that this was the product of my own sick and twisted imagination. After all, what else could punish me so harshly for thinking that I was living a better life than my own person. Still, I had to get to the bottom of it. I mustered all of my courage and opened the car door. I walked shakily towards the trees. My throat was dry and my vision fogged up from the tears forming. As I got closer, my mind begged me to turn around and forget everything, but my legs kept going. I heard the sound of branches snapping in front of me and I felt that he was still there. He knew that I would come to him. My heart clenched and I stopped breathing. Everything around me froze. All the noises surrounding me seemed muffled. He was waiting for me.

I was about to reach the very spot he stood on when two strong arms pulled me back. In an instant, my face was buried in Benjamin’s chest. My heart picked up increasing speed and I could feel it thumping in my chest. I looked up at him and I saw a mix of anger and worry in his eyes. It took a second for my other senses to kick back in and that’s when I heard his deep voice once again.

“What the hell, Mina? I’ve been calling you. Couldn’t you hear me? Where were you going?”

I couldn’t answer him because I didn’t know how to. I pursed my lips together to stop from crying. The last thing that I needed was for all of my demons to surge out.

“I told you to stay in the car, Mina.” His voice softened up as he gently stroked my cheek. “Come!”

He guided us back to where the other men stood and introduced me to them as his mate. He left his right arm around my waist and kept my body firmly pressed against his. I politely greeted them and shook a few hands. In my mind, their faces and features all blurred together as the only face truly occupying it was the harrowing one I had just seen.

“Mina, this is Christopher Reese. He’s the Beta of the River Creek Pack.” Benjamin introduced him. “And this is the Paxton, the Gamma.”

“Nice to meet you, Mina. Glad that to see that Alpha Benjamin, here, has finally found his mate.” Christopher’s voice was smooth and buttery.

“And a beautiful one, at that.” Paxton added with a playfulness in his eyes.

“And she’s a great dancer too. Aren’t you, Mina?” A tall familiar bearded man had spoken from behind them.

It took me a few seconds to replace him in my mind. When it dawned on me that he was the stranger I had danced with last night, my face flushed and I caved in embarrassment.

“I- I didn’t recognize you with uhh… with your hair tied up.” I stuttered, pointing out to the change in his appearance.

He took my hand in his and placed a soft kiss on me.

“But I recognize you.” He winked at me before being shoved by Benjamin who had placed himself between the stranger and I.

“What do think you’re doing?” Benjamin tried to reign in his anger which was coming off of him in waves.

“I’m just making conversation with an unmarked female.” He smirked boldly.

Before any of us could stop him, Benjamin had grabbed him by the collar, had lifted him off the floor and thrown him to the ground. I wrapped my hands around Benjamin’s arm to try and pull him back to me.

“Forgive my brother, Alpha Benjamin.” Christopher appeared in front of him. “He’s an idiot but, trust me, he’s harmless. I promise.” He tried to reassure Benjamin.

“Hey!” The bearded man laughed, getting up. “I’m just saying, she’s the one who danced with me.”

“Do you have a death wish?” Ryan hissed at the man.

“Oh no! Believe me, I love my life!” He smiled as he dusted his jeans off.

Benjamin eyes turned murderous and I could tell he was on the brink of hurting him. I did the only thing I could do and wrapped my arms around his waist, nestling my head in his back. I hoped that it would be enough to calm him down and it proved to be successful. Benjamin’s body relaxed a little as I heard him take a sharp inhale.

“Control your brother before I control him.” He said roughly to Christopher.

“I will, Alpha. Thank you!” He seemed relieved. He, then, turned his attention to his brother. “Go wait in the fucking car, Travis. I’ll deal with you later!”

Travis laughed at the order but decided to obey it. He put his hands up in defeat and bowed sarcastically to Benjamin. He shot me an obnoxiously flirty last glance which made Benjamin tense up again. Once Travis was out of sight, Benjamin eased up and the men all resumed their conversation.

I tried to listen in and concentrate on their words but my eyes kept darting back to where my tormentor had appeared. I couldn’t tell if he was still there or if he had ever really been there in the first place. The only things that I was sure about were the feelings that remained within me. Terror, dread and that of helplessness. I was reluctant to tear my eyes away from the trees but Benjamin’s tone of voice peaked my curiosity.

“We don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Our Alpha knows you’ve reached out to other packs for information about the rogues. And we possess the most useful information there is.” Christopher was saying.

“We’re not interested. Blackwoods has no interest in dealing with River Creek. Not now, not ever.” Benjamin retorted annoyed.

“Even if it could save your pack? Your families? Your mates?”

Benjamin shifted his gaze to Paxton upon hearing his voice. Benjamin’s disdain for the enemy pack was plain to see. His knuckles were turning white from maintaining his hands balled up in fists the whole time.

“We know you’ve been attacked last night.” Christopher added again. “And that’s only the beginning of everything we know.”

Benjamin hesitated a minute. No one besides his pack knew about the attacks and it was enough to convince him.

“Okay, we’re listening.” He finally decided.