Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I laughed bitterly,

“I’m afraid people will look at me different. Afraid people will see me the way my family and pack members did. I’m afraid of rejection,”

I finally admit. My hands balled around the blanket over me. The rush of emotions hitting me all at once when I think about it.

“I’m so afraid of being rejected again. If my own pack, family, and mate can reject me, who’s to say the people who I just met won’t?”

I muster up the courage to look at him. Alpha Thompson’s gaze softened. I half expected him to get angry at my insinuation that his pack members would do a complete 180 on me. But he didn’t. He calmly reached over to rub my back. The touch of someone simply listening rather than responding with false pretenses soothing me far better than any therapist could. I decide to go on. I had nothing to hide anymore. There was no reason in holding back.

Let me lay my heart out to people who genuinely cared.

“When he finally marks her… he’ll transfer me back. He said so himself. The mate bond’s burden will still be there but it won’t be strong enough to make him act out on instinct. I’m a different story though.

Rejected and unmated. I respect myself far too much than to simply give myself away just for the sake of wearing the bond. So I’ll su ck it up. I’ll feel every ounce of the torture from our mate bond. Not like it’ll make a difference to him if it

didn’t.”

“Then why don’t you permanently stay here?”

My head shot up to him. My jaw hanging open at the bluntness of his suggestion. It wasn’t uncommon for members to transfer out to other packs. Some would do it because they had mate’s over there, others would leave because they didn’t agree with the pack’s rules. To officially leave a pack, the Alpha had to agree. I knew Landon, aside from what he says, would never allow me to go. He may not have me but that didn’t mean he’d let anyone else have me either.

“What?”

Alpha Thompson smiled, looking at the closed door behind him before returning his attention to me. He looked so sure of what he said. There wasn’t a string of indecisiveness in his expression.

“If I’m being honest, I was kind of thinking of a way to convince you to stay. It was a selfish thought on my part but Lila needs you. Bentley does too. The old prude hasn’t had that smile on his face since his son left. He sees you as his own daughter like he does Lila. They may not be your family family but to them, you are.”

He squeezed my shoulder,

“Staying at that pack will do you no good. No offense, but your family seems like real s hitty people. If Alpha Walker tries to prevent you from making your stay here permanent, I’ll personally handle it. We take care of our own, Selene. No one left behind. Just say the word and I’ll assure you I’ll make it happen. If we have to bring this up to the Chancellor, so be it.

14:56

The Female Alpha’s Sanctuary

6.4%

We’ll do whatever it takes. Whatever.”

Never in my life had people ever treated me this way. Treated me with priority. All the restraint I had on trying to be strong broke away as I cried into my hands. Wet, blotches of tears collecting in my palms as Alpha Thompson patiently waited for me to calm down. When I looked up, red eyed and all, he grinned.

“I’ll take it as a yes?”

I smiled for my future. And for the first time in two months, it was a genuine.

“Yes.”

Alpha Thompson let out a huge breath before raking a hand through his thick hair. I guess he was really insistent on keeping me here for Lila. Most of the pack members have noted that Lila was attached to me. It brought them a sense of relief to know Lila was finally opening up to someone.

“Thank Goddess, I was worried I’d have bad news for-”

“Alpha Oliver!”

Alpha Thompson quickly stood up, the chair falling behind him. A male’s shout filtered through the door.

His eyes stared down at the the direction of his voice. Not a second went by and the door busted open, revealing his Beta, Beta Crawford. His dark hair slicked wet against his forehead and his shirt drenched with sweat. He was breathing hard, body heaving up and down rapidly.

“What’s wrong?”

Alpha Thompson asked, his tone intimidatingly dark. He caught a whiff of tension from his, Beta and immediately knew something had happened. Beta Crawford shook his head, eyes visible with fear. A Beta shaking in his skin was never a good sign. Beta Crawford turned to look over his shoulder when a loud scream resonated down the hall. He ground down on his teeth.

“R-Rogues. They-they breached our borders.”

Alpha Thompson’s eyes flashed with deep rooted anger. Protruding down his neck and arms were his veins. You could feel the fury oozing off him in thick waves. His wolf was fighting for control at the enemies threatening his pack.