Chapter 21

Alpha Dancescu stepped outside the building, his eyes scanning the horizon for Avram and Ionut’s return. He allowed Sorin to accompany him, but only if he agreed to be held back by two of their fellow wolves.

They waited on the sandy path that led to the grand entrance.

Sorin’s restlessness grew with each passing minute. The time it was taking for the women to return was longer than expected, and his worry was mounting. He longed to be back in his cabin, with the snow piling up outside and Colette in his arms, her autumn scent filling his senses.

The sound of angry voices reached Sorin before he saw them. Avram looked furious, dragging a fuming Shemika along. Ylenia walked ahead, looking annoyed but compliant. Sorin’s heart pounded as his gaze landed on Ionut, who had a woman slung over his shoulder.

A wave of possessiveness washed over him. His mate shouldn’t have been so close to another man, forced to move against her will. He couldn’t see her face, but he recognized her round ass.

“Alpha,” Ylenia called out, crossing her arms in irritation. “You summoned me?”

Dancescu grinned, a devilish glint in his eyes. “Yes, dear.” He motioned for Ionut to bring Colette forward.

Ionut dropped her at the alpha’s feet.

Sorin strained against the wolves holding him back, wanting to rush to Colette.

She looked startled and scared, but she remained on the ground.

Alpha Dancescu extended a gentle hand and helped her up from the dirt floor. “You’re quite beautiful…” He paused, waiting for her to offer her name.

“Colette,” she responded softly, trying to turn to look at Sorin.

Her heart fluttered at the brief sight of him before the alpha gripped her chin and forced her gaze back to him. She hadn’t seen Sorin in hours. Not since she’d heard the women talking about them being…mates.

“You smell human,” he stated, studying her with curiosity. His gaze shifted to Shemika, who was seething. “Why is she here? Can’t you follow simple orders?” he asked bluntly.

Avram shook his head. “She wouldn’t let us take the human.” Surprisingly, Shemika had tried to protect Colette.

Alpha looked back at Colette, his thumb tracing her plump lips. “I am Alpha Dancescu. If you stay here, I am your leader,” he said, watching as her lips parted slowly.

She was attractive, human or not. He brushed her black hair back, inspecting her neck. Sorin hadn’t marked her, and she didn’t smell like he’d claimed her.

Her big, icy blue eyes widened.

“Come. Follow me inside,” Dancescu ordered, turning on his heel.

They’d become a spectacle now. With three women gathered together, the males were creeping in to watch. They were practically salivating at the sight of the new woman.

Colette hesitated before following him. Her eyes darted back to Sorin, silently asking him what she should do. He nodded for her to follow, which seemed to calm her. She quickly followed after Dancescu.

She was wearing Sorin’s clothes but no shoes. Her bare feet were cut by the rocks. The sight of the scratches on her feet filled him with anger.

Colette followed Alpha Dancescu down a back hallway to the room Sorin and he had been in before. Sorin didn’t join her. Only Ylenia did, which brought her some comfort.

Alpha Dancescu sank into his chair, stretching back. He must have been quite handsome in his younger years. He had light brown hair and pale green eyes. Even with age, he still had a certain charm.

He gestured for her to sit—on the floor? Ylenia nodded, helping her into a kneeling position before joining her on the deep red carpet.

“So Colette, do you have any lycan in you? Before you answer, only speak with certainty,” he added.

Colette swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”

Ylenia leaned over and whispered, “End each sentence with ~sir~.”

Colette’s eyes widened. “I don’t know, sir.”

Alpha Dancescu smiled, amused. “You don’t know.” He turned to Ylenia. “How can I prove she has a wolf, Ylenia?”

Ylenia looked up at him. He was a powerful man, the kind who liked to remind you of his position. “I have a ritual that can bring forth an individual’s wolf, no matter how repressed, but it’ll be lengthy and painf—”

Dancescu waved a hand dismissively. “When can we do this ritual?”

Ylenia tried not to glare. “We need a full moon, sir.”

“The next full moon isn’t for another three weeks, Ylenia. Is there any way to do it sooner?” he demanded.

She shook her head, her big, red curls swaying with the movement.

Dancescu turned his attention back to Colette. “Do you refuse the ritual?”

She shook her head.

“Good,” he purred. “I have a question for you, sweet thing.”

Colette recoiled at the endearment. “Yes?”

He leaned forward, his fingers interlaced on his desk. “Sorin has neither marked you nor claimed you. Why?”

Colette didn’t know what either of those meant, to be honest. “I…I don’t know what you mean,” she said quietly.

The corner of his mouth twitched in delight. “Why has your supposed mate neither marked you as his own nor had sex with you?”

His words made her blush. “I…I didn’t want to.” Did she want to now? She wasn’t sure. “He doesn’t want to either until I’m ready.”

Dancescu’s nose crinkled in disgust. “What a gentleman,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Ylenia.” He turned to face the redhead. “Take this young woman to the separate holding cell,” he instructed.

Colette followed Ylenia, her body trembling with fear. They journeyed down a long corridor, leading to a winding staircase made of cold stone. The further they descended, the more Colette felt a weight pressing on her chest.

They finally reached the bottom. To their right, a long corridor lined with cells. To their left, a single, imposing steel door. Ylenia led her towards the solitary door.

Behind it was a spacious room, with a single large cell on the right. A few chairs were scattered on the left.

“Do I have to stay here until the full moon?” Colette’s voice wavered as she asked.

Ylenia nodded. “I’ll try to get the alpha to grant you visitation rights. I promise Shemika and I will come to see you. And I’m sure Sorin will be here as much as he can,” she reassured, her voice gentle and understanding.

Colette didn’t want to cause any trouble for Ylenia or jeopardize their growing friendship, so she stepped into the cell without protest. She flinched as the heavy door slammed shut behind her.

Inside the cell, a small cot was pushed against the wall, and in the far right corner, a bucket that made her blush. She slowly sat down on the cot, which had the thinnest of cushions and nothing else.

She swallowed her tears and waited, hour after hour, for someone to come visit her.