My head felt heavy on my neck, the weight crushing me with every step I took away from Alexander. The sound of my fast-beating heart filled my insides, and I could almost hear my blood pumping faster and harder.
'This isn't right,' a tiny voice echoed in my head with every step of defiance I took.
'This isn't right.'
'This isn't right.'
But I couldn't stop walking despite how much I wanted to; every cell in my body was yelling at me, urging me to let go of Callan’s hand, run back into the room, and fall at Alexander’s feet begging for his forgiveness - it wouldn't come easy but it would come still, at the price of violent hits and abuse hauled.
I shook my head. What was wrong with me? This was all I’d ever wanted, right? A getaway from Alexander's binds that had been clamped around me for so long but at what expense? I had no idea what the price for my actions was and this man, this stranger -
I halted immediately, breaking both our strides to roughly pull my hand away from him. A part of me protested at the disruption, missing the warmth and feel of his hand on mine but the sensible part of me remained still, letting my hand fall and remaining by my side.
He turned to look at me, his forehead creased in confusion, his brows furrowed together.
He was beautiful; it was a painful reminder that he was. I should have known he was no ordinary person from my first sight of him. He had such a powerful air around him that told me he was a man who had all he wanted at the tip of his fingers and got what he wanted at the snap of them.
He reeked of confidence, with every step taken, words spoken and even the slightest of his move spoke volumes about who he was and that was the Alpha of the most powerful pack amongst our kind.
'Oh hell, what have I gotten myself into?' I thought in horror, and from how the frown on his face deepened, I was sure my feelings reflected on my face.
His eyes ran me over, slowly inspecting all of me that stood in front of him, and compared to a man with his height and stance, I felt small.
“Did I mistake your words and actions earlier? Do you enjoy being tossed and treated like that?” he asked, his tone remaining calm and collected.
“Who enjoys that sort of thing?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
The corner of his lips curled up slightly and briefly so that if I hadn't been watching him closely, I’d have missed it and something in me itched to see what a full smile from him would look like.
“I don’t…” I took in a breath to steady myself, placating my heart to stop beating so fast lest I might cause myself a seizure. “What are you doing?”
He raised one of his brows, the thick, perfectly coiffed hair grabbing my attention. “Saving you,” he said, humor in his voice, his tone telling me he’d thought that was obvious.
“Yes, but why? You had… You’d told me last night to forget all about the mate thing and now you're here and fighting him over me.” I shook my head. “It makes no sense.”
I wanted his assurance, I needed him to make me feel I wasn't being stupid and that I was making the right decision.
I’d lived in this pack for most of my life. I’d been trapped between the walls of this manor for as long as I could remember, this place, this life, it was all I’d ever known, and the possibility of leaving with a stranger scared me.
He was my mate and I knew mates didn't hurt each other, but he wasn't mine fully, he wasn't mine and he’d explicitly said so last night so how could I trust him? My heart thumped at the fear of the unknown and I felt a trickle of sweat down my spine.
His expression turned serious at my words as though he’d been reminded of something and I pinched at the inside of my palm in anticipation of what it was but I had a good guess it was going to be a contradiction to his actions a few minutes ago.
“Who are you to Alexander?” he asked, completely ignoring my queries.
I turned away at the question. Who was I to Alexander? I pinched harder into my palm at the answer that lay at the tip of my tongue. It was one that I hated.
“His promised Luna,” I said after a few seconds of hesitancy. I looked up to discern his reaction but his expression remained the same - relaxed and not surprised in the least bit. I marveled at how that was possible.
“We are to be mated in a few months if I don't find my mate before then.” I went on to explain and immediately felt foolish for doing so. What was any of his business? I shouldn't be telling him all about the treaty that was made a long time ago, I didn't want his pity or to make him feel in any way compelled to ‘save me’ if he didn't want to.
If he was truly my mate, he wouldn't belong to another, right? That wasn't how it worked. How could I be certain that a fate far worse didn't lie in wait for me with him?
I took a step back from him. “And seeing as I haven't and never will, it was impulsive and rash for me to have come out with you. Thank you for today, Alpha Callan, but I’d like it if in the future you ignore me and Alexander's affairs.” Then I bowed my head at him, readied to leave his presence despite how much I didn't want to.
It had all been a silly mistake and I chided myself over it. I had let myself get carried away by the feelings he'd evoked in me, but now it was time to use my head because the only thing worse than being with Alexander was letting myself get swayed by a stranger and giving him clearance to break my heart over and over again.
“Ignore your affairs?” Callan asked with a hint of mockery in his tone and when I rose from my position to meet his eyes; they mirrored his tone, matching his sarcastic rhythm.
He took a step closer to me, my breath hitching at the sudden proximity. I forced myself to ignore our nearness despite the fact that our skin was inches apart and that when he spoke, his warm breath fanning my face, I felt my stomach twist discomfortingly.
“Does this affair include your intended physically hurting you and treating you like a piece he must own against all odds?” His eyes were fixed on me now, his gaze holding me in place. “Tell me you're fine with it and I promise to let it be.”
I wanted to say I wasn't, to tell him the truth and beg him to promise me a better future with him, but the words were lodged in my throat refusing to come out, my tongue opposing me to unfurl and say them.
He took a step back from me, a small, triumphant smile on his lips. “I thought as much.”
Without another word, Callan turned on his heels and walked away, each stride exuding his win whereas I had no idea we’d been playing a game.
I could only watch wordlessly as he turned a corner at the end of the hallway, disappearing into it.