A Mate Without A Mark

3. The Alpha

Cindy

How did I end up in this situation?

We were on our way to the Highland Pack at a moderate speed. Thanks to the open windows of the SUV, cool wind made the stray braids in my face fly around like whips while the rest of my hair was in a ponytail.

I clenched the bag in my lap. Before me, in the driver and passenger seats, were members of the Highland Pack.

Behind me, Benjamin was there, steadily tailing us. If these two hadn't come to escort me, I would have been in his car with him right now.

One of them had flaming red hair and tanned skin. She had to be 5'2" or less.

Her finger swiped the screen on the dashboard until she found the song she wanted.

"Ah yes~" A song by Mitski played on the speakers. "This is it!" She turned around, her brown eyes taking me in with a smile. "Do you listen to things like this back in the Maple Pack?"

When I didn't answer her smile seemed to brighten and she held out her hand for me to shake. "I'm Emery, it's a pleasure. When we heard you were coming, we were pretty surprised. We didn't know humans could hold such high positions in your pack."

That's because we can't. I returned her smile and gingerly shook her hand. "It's ok. Nice to meet you, Emery. If I'm allowed to call you that."

Emery shrugged. "I can't see why not?"

"I never thought that you would pick me up," I said.

I heard a huff from the driver's seat. "We have enough manners to escort a guest. We're not savages,” the guy said.

"We are pretty nice." I met Emery's eyes through the rearview mirror. There was something in them that was soft, yet very cold. "As long as you're not a sorry ass, self-righteous, cocky, rude and untrustworthy person who sticks their nose where it doesn't belong, we will be nice. Right Bryant?"

She finished talking with a giggle and changed the music to a Bruno Mars song. The boy snickered as well.

Seeing their reactions, I decided to refrain from saying anything more for the rest of the ride.

The SUV climbed up a hill with more rocks than bushes. The further up we went, the more vegetation I saw. There were houses scattered around the mountain range. Soon, we arrived at level ground. And three minutes later, stopped in front of a house large enough to block out the sun.

Bryant was the first one to leave the vehicle. Before Emery could exit, I had a question for her. "Uh, is there anything I need to know before going in?"

Emery looked up as if trying to find an answer in the air. "The less you say, the better it will be. Just be polite. I don't know what they tell you in that happy-go-lucky pack of yours, but we're not monsters."

I would believe that if your pack members hadn't harmed my friend.

Benjamin parked behind the SUV and got to retrieve my luggage right away.

"Come on," Emery said, nodding her head towards a set of stairs. We strode side by side until we reached the top, where two men stood outside the front door.

The first man I noticed dressed up in a blue polo shirt with khaki shorts, blonde hair gelled back.

"Alpha!" Emery grinned and lowered her head slightly. I did the same. The man she was referring to nodded, but his eyes didn't leave my face. I gazed up at him through my eyelashes.

Dear goddess, this guy could crush me under his feet and karate chop my Alpha in two.

Silver eyes as sharp as a blade. His white dress shirt strained to stay intact thanks to his muscular build. His coffee brown hair was trimmed at the sides, exposing small black hoop earrings.

Dark green slacks were paired with black dress shoes. His pale pink lips separated and closed as he gazed at me.

"Beautiful," he muttered.

I froze in shock.

Emery frowned.

Their Alpha glanced sideways at the man in khaki shorts then continued. "For a human."

I frowned.

Emery smiled.

As the men laughed, I stood up straight and relaxed my hold on the bag. My shoulders were rolled back, chest out.

I made sure that my voice was firm and clear. "Human Cindy here at your service, Alpha Reiss."

They stopped laughing and stared instead, expressions unreadable.

I would not let them intimidate me.

Alpha Reiss seemed like he was waiting for me to say more but I was smart enough to know when to keep my mouth shut.

"Honey Bear!"

Emery practically skipped to her Alpha and hugged his arm. The skirt of her sky-blue sundress was tossed around by the wind. "The drive was so long and tiring. I missed you, honey."

Alpha Reiss stopped staring me down to give her a tender smile. "Did you, princess? I missed you too. What took you so long, hm?"

A light pink blush spread across her cheeks. She looked so tiny compared to him. "Next time, I'll tell Bryant to drive faster," Emery said. He lowered his face, allowing Emery to plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

Then he returned his attention to me again. "Good job referring to me as my proper title. Keep it that way. This is my second in command, Cerberus."

"Nice to-" Before I could finish, Cerberus walked up to me and shook my hand so hard half of my body shook with it.

"Same here. Well, not really." He let me go and I had to swing my wrist to get my blood flowing again. "Since I'm the one in charge of making sure you don't cause any trouble. I could have been having fun with some women-"

"Cerberus," Alpha Reiss grumbled.

"Or spending my time ensuring our people were safe and comfortable."

I nodded and averted my gaze. "As long as I'm left alone and no one bothers me, then there won't be a problem. If that happens, you don't need to worry."

Cerberus furrowed his brows. "Ah, I never thought of that. Too bad I can't leave you alone. What's stopping you from leaking our information to your friends back home?"

What makes you think you can stop me? Of course, I couldn't say that. If I needed to pass the time with less problems, then I needed to be a bit more passive.

Instead of replying to him, I shrugged.

Someone snickered behind me and I realized it was Bryant and Benjamin, each arriving with one suitcase each.

They strode past me and went inside. Emery tugged on Reiss' arm. "I have to go, or else who'll organize tomorrow's training session?"

Emery and Reiss shared a kiss before she left. "Take care, Cindy,” she said.

"You too," I replied.

So far, Emery hasn't explicitly been hostile to me. Maybe not everyone here is a savage.

"We're wasting daylight for no reason." Alpha Reiss rested his hands on his hips. "Come."

Reiss' home had a mix of vintage and modern interior. He led us to a kitchen with cherry walls and golden brown cabinets. Cerberus claimed the stool beside me, arms folded. Alpha Reiss decided to sit on the opposite side of the island.

"There are a few things you should note," Reiss started.

"I'm listening," I said.

Suddenly, he picked up an orange out of the fruit bowl and began to peel it with a nearby knife.

"All that you see here, you can't relay it to your folks back home. That's why Cerberus will be installing a software on your phone that'll monitor your online activity and calls."

Cerberus nodded without looking up from my phone. I frowned and said, "When did you get that?"

He shrugged, a coy smirk making its way along his cheek. "I took it away from your pocket when you weren't looking. Hope you don't mind."

Hold it in, Cindy. My eyes closed for a brief second and opened them as Reiss continued.

"You're free to talk to who you want to and hang out with who you want. After all, you're a guest, not a prisoner."

Could have fooled me. "I understand."

"I'm sure they told you this before, but I'll tell you again." He cut off the last of the orange peel. "Your classes have already been taken care of. And lastly, always obey my orders." Reiss looked directly at my face. "If you have an issue, go to Cerberus…"

Cerberus coughed then cleared his throat.

" …or come to me. Understand?"