From Outcast To Alpha's Mate

Chapter 4

“You! What are you doing here Child?” the man said in a panicked tone. “Do you know what danger you bring upon yourself by coming here?”

The man tightened his grip on her hand and Hanna got scared. Who was this creepy man? And what was he talking about?

“You must leave at once! Before they find you. Leave Child!” the man yelled at her. She freed herself from his grip and ran, frightened. What on earth was he talking about? Was he mad? She kept running blindly until she bumped into Katherine. Katherine hardly moved but Hanna was knocked to the floor. She silently cursed her mundane body as she got back up.

“Oh Dear. You look so pale. What’s the matter?” Katherine asked with a worried look.

“I-I was looking for the d-dinner table and this old man grabbed,” Hanna stuttered like a fool and turned around to point out the old man. But he was nowhere to be found. Katherine’s concerned frown deepened.

“An old man? Are you sure it was not just a guard? If it was I will personally have him punished,” she said but Hanna shook her head.

“No this wasn’t a guard. This was an elder,” Hanna said and Katherine frowned again. Suddenly, realisation passed across her face.

“Do me a favour, Dear. Don’t roam on this particular floor again. It’s…for elders. And they don’t like to be disturbed. Understand?” Katherine said and Hanna nodded. She was more than happy to steer clear of this floor and the creepy nodded. Katherine offered her a smile.

“Now let’s get to dinner shall we? Let me introduce you to the rest of my family,” she said and they both walked to dinner. Hanna was grateful for the direction and even more grateful for the food. Katherine went to check on the servants.

She sat down and met only a teenage girl and a female elder. They did not eat with the other pack members much unlike her pack. Where everybody pounced on the meal and those that were too weak to fight for a portion slept hungry. She looked around. Erik wasn’t there. She was partially grateful for not having to deal with his invasive stares and questions but partially wondering if she was the reason he wasn’t there.

She looked to her left to see a pair of big green eyes staring at her. The teenage girl peered shyly at her behind her long brunette hair. She looked a lot like Erik. Even more than Katherine. She seemed about 14 or 15.

“Hello,” she whispered.

“Hi,” Hanna whispered back, smiling.

“What’s your name?”

“Hanna. What’s yours?”

“Elizabeth. But you can call me Lizzie.”

“Nice to meet you Lizzie.”

“You’re really pretty,” Lizzie said and Hanna smiled.

“You’re really pretty too,” she said and the girl flushed. She showed Hanna a book she seemed to be hiding under the table and pointed her forefinger to her lips in a ‘shushing’ motion.

“Shh. Mother doesn’t like me reading books at the table,” Lizzie whispered. By ‘Mother’ Hanna was sure she meant Katherine. Meaning this was Erik’s younger sister. The green eyes were a family trait. Yet Erik’s looked different.

“I won’t tell,” Hanna whispered back and they smiled at each other, keeping their little secret.

The food was served and Hanna couldn’t wait to dig in. Katherine came back and sat.

“Hanna, meet my daughter, Lizzie. And my late mate’s mother, Elder Faun,” Lizzie gave her a knowing smile and elder Faun just stared at her.

“This is Hanna. She will be staying with us as a pack member,” she announced and Lizzie cheered. Faun simply raised her brows in acknowledgement. Hanna quickly understood that Faun just wasn’t very expressive. They began to eat. The food was absolutely delicious and this time it wasn’t just plain meat. It was well spiced. Before long though, Lizzie pushed her plate away.

“Mother, where’s Erik? He hardly comes to dinner these days and I haven’t seen him for days,” the girl pouted. So it wasn’t just about Hanna. This was a recurring thing.

“Lizzie, you know how busy your brother is. He can’t always be here. Go on and eat your food,” Katherine said but Lizzie refused.

“Lizzie!” Katherine called with a warning tone. Everyone would obey her except her teenage daughter. Elder Faun’s eyes suddenly went to Hanna. Something flashed in her eyes but Hanna couldn’t note what it was.

“Hanna, would you help us call Erik to the dinning please?” Faun spoke for the first time at the dinner table. Hanna hadn’t expected that. Why her? She certainly didn’t want to face him again. But Faun kept her questioning gaze.

“Of course Elder Faun. Excuse me,” she said and stood up from the table. She glanced back briefly to see Katherine whisper to Faun. Every second in this castle left her with a new question.

Now to find the arrogant Alpha. How was she even to do that? She could hardly find her way around the fort. Still, she began to climb the stairs like she knew where she was going. She stopped at a particular floor and looked around. Her eyes stopped at a particular wooden door. There, her instincts told her and she made her way to the door.

Before she could knock or open the door it flew open, knocking her off balance. She expected to greet the floor for the second time that day but someone caught her, pulling her close. She opened her eyes to meet Erik’s stare. He merely used one hand to hold her and the other was on the door handle. They maintained eye contact. Hanna’s heart accelerated once again and she couldn’t tell why. The air around them felt electric and he came closer until their faces were just an inch away from each other. Those forest green eyes had never been that close. He suddenly blinked and released her. He looked at her from head to toe, taking in her new appearance before meeting her eyes again.

“What are you doing here, Human?” he asked and Hanna frowned. There he was being an asshole again.

“I told you. I’m not human!” Hanna argued.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Your family has called you to dinner,” she said and spun to leave, eager to be rid of him. He grabbed her hand and spun her back to him.

:”How did you know I was here? You barely know this fortress,” he said and Hanna blinked. How did she know where he was?

“I just… knew,” Hanna said earnestly. She didn’t know how but she just knew where he was.

“You just knew? Are you a spy? Or are you just stalking me?” he said the last part with a smirk and Hanna scoffed.

“I have better things to do than to stalk an arrogant wolf such as yourself. I only came to call you to dinner. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going back,” she found herself saying angrily before walking away.

She really disliked him but she disliked more that she didn’t have an answer to his questions. Why did she know where he was?