Chapter 4: Enemy Or Not...

E M B E R

"I don't think you have a say in it, mate." His eyes suddenly darken to a furious red, an intensity that reveals something deeper, something vulnerable beneath—hurt.

My eyes sparkle, and Rayne hums in my thoughts.

Oh, good grief! Why does our mate smell so intoxicating?

My heart skips, but I remain firm.

I mustn't lose control, especially not before him, and here comes my uncontrollable urge to disagree. Breaking eye contact, I roll my eyes and let out an exaggerated scoff.

His frustrated frown deepens.

"I don't see it that way, sorry," I retort. Who am I kidding? Not sorry in the slightest!

He tightens his grip on my wrist, a vengeful rush coursing through my skin, making me wince at his forcefulness.

"What did you say?" he grits out, his demeanor more than just defensive—it's primal.

Enemy or not, our mate is hot.

I cut off my connection with Rayne; her relentless swooning over our mate has officially driven me up the wall, and the air between us crackles, charged with the tension of two alphas, realizing that this unpredictable clash of enmity is only the beginning.

In a swift and sudden motion, I jerk my wrist free and take a step back, creating distance between us. "Look, I understand there was a mistake—I unintentionally crossed into your territory. But seriously, just let me go, alright?" I turn to walk away, but my feet hesitate, and I glance back at him, clicking my tongue defiantly. "And just so you know, I make my own choices. Who do you think you are to try and boss me around?"

"Do you even understand what you're saying and where you are?" he challenges, stepping closer, his presence tightening the air around us. My heart pounds, anxiety bubbling within me, but I lift my chin and offer a confident smile, masking how much he affects me. "I already apologized for the inconvenience I caused, but that doesn't give you the right to stop me—" I pause again, momentarily faltering under the weight of his gaze as it captures mine.

Heat crawls across my cheeks, a betraying blush.

Nope.

I force myself to shake off the distraction before glancing toward the door. I need to leave now... and despite my wolf's disappointment, I stride firmly out, escape his unwavering stare that follows me as I leave.

Why are we leaving? Rayne whines with dramatic flair.

I quicken my pace, trying to waltz my way out of this nightmare.

Hey! Our mate is inside, probably feeling confused and pacing restlessly. Go back—I bury her further deep into my mind once more, stopping abruptly to breathe in the fresh air of freedom, finally realizing I'm out of that mansion... and on the expansive front lawn.

Ugh, seriously?

Again, why is he my mate?

Did the Moon Goddess err? Even a goddess can make mistakes, right?

This is such a mess.

Like, double ugh!

I let out a groan before lifting my head to gaze at the sky and sigh. What a lovely day it seems—sunlight streaming down, accompanied by birdsong that fills the air with a gentle, easygoing melody. It's a calm setting, almost surreal in its tranquility. An irony, I scoff, considering the vicious nature of this pack.

I calm myself, collecting my thoughts and steadying my racing heart. I almost smile, but fatigue and exhaustion weigh heavily on me, especially knowing that the notorious yet strikingly handsome Alpha is my mate. As I stumble a few steps, I'm startled by a gentle touch and a sweet voice asking, "Hey, you okay?"

I gasp and jump in place, turning to find Clayton with a concerned expression. "Ha—whoa, it's you. You scared me," I manage to say, trying to recover from my surprise.

"Oh, my apologies," he replies, his smile so warm and inviting that I can't help but wonder if I hadn't already met my mate, I might have melted at his sight. Wouldn't it be easier if this charming guy was my mate instead of that wild man inside the mansion?—Rayne growls in my mind at that thought, and I roll my eyes at her.

What on earth am I even contemplating about having a mate? I have no desire for one. My focus is solely on my pack, my parents' memory, and my unwavering quest for vengeance. The idea of having a mate or falling in love is nothing more than a distraction—an unnecessary waste of time for someone like me.

I straighten my posture and put on a brave smile. "It's okay. I should have been more aware."

A heavy silence weighs down around us for a few moments as Rayne fixes me with a sharp glare. It stirs a feeling of guilt within me, as if being here with another guy is somehow wrong. But honestly, who cares?

Rayne huffs in irritation.

Seriously, Ember. We've already got a mate; we should be with him instead of entertaining thoughts of running away.

At that moment, a click of the tongue catches my attention. "Ooo, I don't know if you remember me or not, but my name's—" he starts to say, but I cut him off, "Clayton, right? You're the Beta."

He nods, a slight frown crosses his face, prompting me to ask, "What? Am I wrong?" Blinking, he shakes his head. "Oh, it's just that you seem unusually calm right now."

I raise an eyebrow, stifling a snort. "Why? Should I be panicking?"

His wide eyes convey his surprise before he clears his throat. "Oh, I wouldn't want you to panic. It's just our reputation precedes us. We're known as ruthless killers, especially to intruders. People see us and immediately lose it. So it's surprising that someone like you, a human, is so unfazed. Wouldn't it be hard to wrap your head around the fact that beings other than yours exist—"

He pauses, locking eyes with me.

I impulsively blurt out, "What?"

He let out a resigned sigh. "Well, you do seem different from the others."

My heart skips a beat.

Not just because of what he said—okay, maybe a little bit from that. But did he figure it out? Does he know who I am?

I clench my fists behind my back, trying to keep my composure as I scan his expression. I have to keep my identity safe... for the time being. With a cough, I say, "I guess I've been told I'm different, but I don't quite get the mate concept the guy inside mentioned—" My eyes go wide as I realize my mistake.

Oops, I got too cheeky. I'm supposed to reveal that the Alpha of this pack is my mate.

Looking back at Clayton, I feel a rush of relief as he appears oblivious. I chuckle and wave a dismissive hand. "Oh, never mind. I don't really understand—" He blinks and sighs again. "I've known Sebastian my whole life." Hearing our mate's name fills my wolf with joy, and my heart races. But I grunt in frustration when he adds, "I'm used to seeing people chained and tortured in the dungeons, yet you seem unafraid and unharmed."

I nod slowly, trying to play the role of a naive, unsuspecting human girl. Thank goodness I can mask my scent.

"Dungeons?" I feign shock, though deep down I question the need for that exaggerated gasp.

Amused, he nods, a scoff escaping his lips. "Yeah, you walked out of the Alpha's office unscathed. That definitely says something about you. You—"

My heart races like a wild drum as I blink, clearing my throat. "Oh, don't worry about it. I've always been a fearless child, and I can't stand disrespect. Luckily, my qualities tend to stun people, which keeps me out of trouble." Or at least, that's how I see it. I force a laugh, gathering my composure, and say, "Anyway," straightening up as I take in my surroundings. "I think it's time for me to leave—"

"Excuse me? Go where? You're leaving?" he stumbles over his words, surprise and disappointment flickering across his face.

"Yeah, why?" I shrug, mumbling as we glance upward.

He lets out a tired sigh, "Well, like I said before, it's not easy for someone to walk into our territory and just waltz out like it's nothing."

Oh, I know, but honestly, it feels like child's play. I plaster on a fake smile and shift the conversation, scoffing, "Midnight Hunters? No offense, but that sounds pretty childish."

Clayton chuckles, giving a nonchalant shrug, "What can I say? Sebastian and I were only 17 when we came up with the name."

Rayne purrs once more at the mention of our mate's name.

"He envisioned himself as the most feared leader of the most fearless and ruthless pack in the world." It seems he's well on his way to achieving that goal.

I give him a sarcastic grin and nod, wondering, am I not just like them? After all, I named my pack Crimson Shadow after the bloody moon that night.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you're allowed to leave. Letting go of something or someone isn't what our Alpha usually does. That's not the person I know."

I snort, retorting, "Maybe your Alpha has had a change of heart, or perhaps I managed to convince him to let me go. It's not like I plan to return here." For a brief moment, I catch his face falling, but he quickly recovers, shaking his head. "It's a bit hard to believe since I know him, but well, I suppose I'll have to take your word for it," he concedes.

We share a laugh, the moment lightened, until an arrogant presence interrupts us. "Whoa! What are you doing here, Beta?"

Clayton keeps his cool, turning to face him. "Oh, hey, Graham."

The devil incarnate strides closer, bristling as he huffs, "Don't 'hey' me, Clay. What happened back there? Aren't you supposed to follow the pack's rules? You always tell me that." He jabs a finger toward Clayton, who forces a smile, eyes darting toward me for a brief moment before he chuckles awkwardly, "Uh, haha, anyway, what brings you here? Is your shift over?"

Graham groans, a snort escaping him. "I just got hungry."

Does he not even see me?

On one hand, it's a relief that he's unaware; on the other, I can't shake the feeling that I may have spoken too soon. "Wait, what are you doing here?" he growls, giving me a sharp glare.

I hold his gaze.

"What are you staring at, bitch?" he snaps, then shifts his attention to Clayton. "Why is she here, walking around freely instead of being restrained?"

I narrow my eyes, enjoying this little confrontation as he continues, "Did she escape? Are you bringing her here? How about I take the pleasure of throwing her into the dungeons myself?" His evil scowl is directed at me as he hisses, "How dare you run?"

He steps closer, his tone dripping with menace. Honestly, what a child! "Do you have no fear, huh? Our Alpha—"

Before Clayton can step in, I cut him off, stepping forward with a confident smirk. "Oh, I'd love to see you try."

Graham snarls, "What'd you say?"

Smugly, I taunt him, shrugging in feigned ignorance. "What? Can't you? What a pity." He growls, raising a hand threateningly, but I remain unflinching.

Just then, Clayton steps in, grabbing his subordinate's wrist firmly.

"Beta?"

"Grow up, Graham. There's no need to flaunt your authority. Just because the Alpha allows you to act recklessly doesn't give you the right to bully others," Clayton reasons, lowering Graham's hand.

Graham yanks his hand away with a scoff. "Seriously, Clayton, how did you become the Beta with such a soft attitude?"

Clayton smirks, his eyes glinting with a suppressed power. "I can be cruel when it's necessary, but right now, this isn't the time or place." As he steps back slightly, his subordinate interjects aggravatingly, "What's different about this one? She trespassed and deserves punishment."

I roll my eyes and stifle a laugh as Clayton, ever the charming knight, calmly declares, "Because she's powerless compared to us."

Oh really? Glad to see a "good guy" underestimate me. Spoiler: I'm tougher than I look.

My lips curl in a bemused smirk, fueled by disbelief.

He adds, "Just look at her—she's not like us, and she's clearly injured. You want to hurt someone so weak and defenseless?"

His junior scoffs dismissively. "That never stopped us before. We've killed trespassers without a second thought. Accept it—you're being soft on this helpless girl."

Clayton looks drained by the discussion, and I shoot a cold, deadpan glare at the fool. Suddenly,  a familiar scent envelops me, stirring something deep within, as a loud voice pierces the air: "What the fuck is happening here?"

"Alpha!" The two men bow their heads in submission as I turn to meet the intense gaze of their formidable leader, raising an eyebrow at their quarrel. My heart racing unbidden.

He climbs down the steps, a force of nature, and I can't help but admire his strong frame, even as anxiety grips me. Rayne howls happily. "What are you doing here, instead of fulfilling your duties?" he snarls at Clayton and Graham, his vibrant forest green eyes locking onto me with a fervor that sends chills down my spine.

The men straighten up, clearly intimidated.

Graham, ever the arrogant one, throws a smug look my way and clears his throat. "I just finished my shift and was on my way to get something to eat when I saw Beta, and then this girl tried to run off—" My fists clench at his words, furious at the thought of him belittling me, when Sebastian interjects, "She isn't running away."

The men gasp in disbelief, and I nod absentmindedly, and just then reality hits me like a ton of bricks. I snap my gaze to Sebastian, stunned.

Wait, what? My mind races, caught in the struggle between the unease I shouldn't feel and the spark of hope that Rayne ignites in me. Is this really happening?

Graham then smugly snorts, "With all due respect, that surely isn't Alpha's way." he grins at his Alpha and speaks, "Don't mind the trivial matters, Alpha." Clayton rolls his eyes, but in his own world, the Gamma beams devilishly at me and startles me by roughly grabbing my arm. "I will handle this problem, Alpha."

Graham smirks, an arrogant glint in his eye. "With all due respect,  that certainly isn't how Alpha operates," he retorts. "Really, don't dwell on these trivial matters, Alpha."

Frustration erupts from Clayton, his voice raspy as he sputters, "What do you mean she isn't running? It's not that I want, but certainly you can't just leave her to rot in some dank dungeon! Are you really just letting her go?"

An arrogant glint lights up Graham's eye as he smirks. "With all due respect, that's not quite how Alpha operates. Honestly, let's not get caught up in these minor issues." Clayton rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed, while the brazen grin aimed at me from the other man makes me shiver slightly as he gives my arm a firm but not unkind squeeze. "I'll take care of this problem," he declares, his voice dripping with confidence.

I grunt in exasperation, pretending to be weak, knowing I can easily escape his feeble hold.

"Graham, let her go—" Clayton intervenes, his hand brushing against my skin just as I think I hear a low, vexed growl emanating from somewhere deep within.

In a jarring twist, Sebastian seizes my wrist, yanking me closer. I gasp as I collide with something hard. A sharp pain shoots through my head, but I am momentarily paralyzed, captivated by the mesmerizing scent that sends my heart racing—intoxicating and alluring. Then, I feel a soft, velvety touch against my skin.

Wait. A. Minute. This isn't a wall at all.

I reluctantly tilt my head upwards, only to find his striking gaze ensnares mine, both challenging and comforting, stirring a storm of emotion within me.

Rayne's joyful purring contrasts painfully with my turmoil as I snarl and struggle to wrench my arm free from his iron grip.

His voice is low and steady, never wavering from my eyes, saying, "I'll handle her." Handle me? What does that even mean?

My wolf purrs once more.

Please, Rayne! Enough! Stop it! Have some self-respect!

He's not worth it.

Love isn't worth it either.

Liar!

"Alpha!" His men call out just as their leader turns to walk away.

Sebastian pauses momentarily, casting a threatening glance over his shoulder, dripping with authority, before issuing his command: "Do not follow us."

Silence drapes like a heavy blanket. As I catch Clayton's last incredulous look, my destined mate, not giving a damn, drags me away.

We walk around the area until we arrive at a smaller building nearby. I clear my throat and manage to say, "Where are we going? Listen, I told you, let's just pretend this all never happened and let me go. I promise I won't tell—Aah!"

Before I can finish, he flings the door open and pushes me inside. "What the heck!" I stumble but catch myself, spinning around to glare at him. "Did you really have to shove me like that?"

I cross my arms, glancing around the unfamiliar interior as frustration rises within me. "What is this place? Why am I even here?"

My eyebrows rise in disbelief as I wait for a legit explanation, when he leans down, bringing his face close to mine, making my heart thump in a chaotic mix of anger and confused feelings that definitely don't belong here. "What—what do you think you're doing?" I stutter as he tilts his head with that infuriating smirk on his lips.

"What? This is just a cozy little prison for you—your new home and workspace under my watch!"

"What?" My feet feel like they're glued to the floor, eyes wide with shock. "You must be joking! This isn't how any of this works! You can't just decide I'm going to work for you... in some random place!" I scoff, shooting him a defiant glare, my voice steeped in rebellion.

Rayne watches with eager anticipation as I hiss, adding, "Didn't you say I'm your mate?"

"Well, you hardly acknowledged our bond, and deep down, you don't really want me as your mate," he growls, his tone laced with frustration.

I swallow hard, forcing steadiness into my voice.

"Sure, I didn't. I still don't. And even though I might not know much," the masquerade isn't easy, but a girl's got to play her part. I lean into the role, rolling my eyes internally. "What I do know is that your kind clings to their other halves like they're something precious. It's almost sweet, in a ridiculously desperate way. So, am I really expected to slave away—"

"I gave you a chance," he says, his low, husky voice slicing through the air with a teasing edge.

I stop in my tracks, dumbfounded. "What?"

He merely shrugs, a wicked glint in his eye, leaning in closer, his breath warm against the shell of my ear. I shudder at the sensation, feeling a mix of thrill and dread as he whispers, as if sharing a dark secret. "But you stayed."

Huh?

Ugh, that familiar fluttering feeling comes back as he clears his throat and adds, "No one leaves my territory alive, so count yourself lucky that I'm in a generous mood today; otherwise, you wouldn't have seen another sunrise."

He locks eyes with me, a muscle feathering in his jaw, and I feel a chill ripple down my spine. "Alright, let's get started, shall we?" he sneers, masking his true feelings with a hollow smile.

I swallow hard, my nose crinkling in irritation. Then, I retort, "I'd embrace death with open arms if that's the deal."

His feigned playful demeanor vanishes, and a scowl replaces it instantly. He grips my arms, his hold firm and uncompromising. I wince as he shoves me against the wall, leaning in to whisper, "Oops, my bad, but it seems you don't have a choice at all."

Fists clenched, I glare defiantly back at him.