The Mate He Never Wanted

ChapterFive

Morning light spilled through the window as I stood looking down at the wolves pouring out in droves, all wearing training attire. My hands came shakily to my eyes as I rubbed them. I barely slept nightmares of Victor crushing my skull had plagued my sleep.

"Good morning, Rhiannon," a voice suddenly came.

"OH MY GOD." I turned around with so much speed the room began to spin, only to see Lori holding a tray of food.

"Calm down, it's just me," she replied with a hint of concern.

"I didn't even hear you come in," I said, holding my chest, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.

"I came in not too long ago. You were so lost in thought I didn't want to interrupt. If you had your wol—" she stopped abruptly.

If I had my wolf instincts I would have heard her before she even came in. She looked at me apologetically.

"I brought you breakfast," Lori said, trying to change the topic, which I was glad she did. I didn't want the awkward pity that came with it.

"I know you must be hungry given everything that happened last night," she said, setting the tray neatly on the bed.

"Yes, I am. Thank you," I said, sitting on the bed.

"You look a mess. Did you even sleep last night?" she asked, her brows furrowing slightly.

"No, I didn't," I replied, rubbing my eyes which I was sure already had dark circles.

"If it's about Victor, that's just how he is. He's really grumpy with everyone," she said tentatively.

"Does he refer to everyone as it?" I asked.

Lori didn't reply. She looked down, avoiding eye contact. Her silence was enough of an answer.

"I guessed right," I sighed, resting my arms on the bed.

"I promise you this , no harm will come your way. No one will dare lay a finger on you," she said carefully.

"I'll leave so you can eat and freshen up," she said, clapping her hands together, her giddiness returning. I was always surprised by how easily she could switch emotions.

"I'll bring you fresh clothes. Given the circumstances of how you got here, you weren't able to pack your things," she continued, and without waiting for my reply she walked out.

I eyed the food. It could be poisoned, or worse. Lori wasn't trustworthy. Not yet, at least. My stomach growled in protest. I didn't have much of a choice . It was either starve to death or eat the food and wait for the poison to kick in. Either way it was a win.

Lori came back with fresh clothes just as I devoured the food completely. She didn't make any comments about how fast I had eaten, which I was grateful for.

In no time I changed into the fresh clothes, brushed my hair into a bun and we were out of the room and into the hallway.

Anxiety began to creep in as the memories of last night came flooding back.

"Your tour starts now. The higher floors are reserved for high ranking officials and pack warriors," she said as we approached the elevator. "People the Alpha wants around him," she continued as we stepped inside.

My brows furrowed in confusion. My room was on the upper floors.

"My room is on the upper floor and I just got here," I said, looking at her.

Lori gave me a sad smile before responding. "It was personally assigned to you by the Alpha. He even had someone move out so you could have the room." He finds me repulsive, so why would he go out of his way to do that?

The elevator dinged before I could muster a reply. We arrived on the first floor. A few wolves were scattered around.

"Almost everyone has gone for training this morning. Otherwise this place would have been packed," Lori said.

"Good for me," I muttered under my breath. Lori let out a giggle.She showed me around the building, including the three lounging areas, the game room and many other rooms. We moved between floors, taking the elevator each time.

Wolves glared and sniffed the air as I walked past them with Lori.

" I need to show you the private gym," Lori said, trying to lighten my mood. We got to one of the top floors and she pulled me toward it.

And there he was.

He stood in the hallway with his back to us, talking to another man. Like he had sensed me, he turned around instantly. And just like last night I was held in place by his eyes. His gaze roamed over me and at that moment nothing else mattered. It was like time had paused.He walked slowly toward me until I could feel his warm breath on my face.His hand came up carefully and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His golden eyes glowed softly.

Then he recoiled. Abruptly. His face scrunched with something that looked like anger as he took two large steps back. He stormed off instantly, like he was fighting something within himself.The man he had been talking to glanced at me and gave me a smirk before following after him.

"What the hell just happened?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.

Lori gave me a knowing shrug.

She knew something I didn't. I just didn't know what yet.

"Is Alpha Andranus my mate?" I blurted out without thinking.

"It isn't my place to say," Lori replied.

She didn't deny it.

I couldn't feel the mate bond because I didn't have a wolf. Him saving me. Bringing me to his pack. The strange pull I felt toward him. His contradicting attitudes toward me. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I was desperate for an explanation and this was the only one that made sense.

"I think we should end the tour here," Lori said nervously. "I'll walk you back to your room," she added, and with that she escorted me back.

"We'll be having dinner tonight in the dining hall," she said apologetically before leaving.

"Will the whole pack be there?" I asked. Of course the whole pack would be present. Lori nodded and left.

The day passed in a blur.

* * *

A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Dinner time," Lori's voice came from the other side.

I sat up slowly from the bed. My mind was still turning over everything from that morning. The way his hand had moved to my hair like it had done it a thousand times before. The way he snatched it back like he had touched fire. Lori's silence when I asked her.

It isn't my place to say.

Not a denial.

I stood up and followed her out.

The noise hit me before anything else did. The dining hall was enormous and it was full. Wolves packed every long table, loud and alive.

Every head turned when I walked in. The noise didn't stop completely but it dipped. Enough for me to feel it. Enough for the whispers to fill the space where the laughter had been. Wolves at the tables I passed sniffed the air and raised their noses, their expressions ranging from shock to disgust. Lori led me toward an empty spot but before we could reach it a hush rippled from the far end of the hall. I didn't need anyone to tell me why.

He had walked in.

Alpha Andranus moved through the hall like the room had been built around him. Wolves straightened without being told. Conversations died naturally. Even the air shifted.

He didn't look at me. Not once.

He took his seat at the head of the table where his high ranking officials sat, and the hall slowly returned to its noise. Like he had simply pressed a button and everything resumed. I found a spot and sat down.

The food came and I focused on my plate. I could feel eyes on me from every direction. The hall felt suffocating.

"Rhiannon."

His voice cut through everything.The hall went quiet again. Instantly. Completely.

This was the first time he had said my name. It triggered something in me. I didn't know what, but it felt different.

I looked up slowly. He was already looking at me, those golden eyes giving nothing away.

"I won't have useless weight in my pack." My stomach dropped.

"You will not hide." My head snapped up slightly. Confusion flickered through the fear.

What?

"You will not be protected." Each word was slow and intentional. Like he wanted everyone to hear it.

"To exist here, you will earn it." The room was completely silent.

"You will train." The words hit like a slap. A ripple moved through the room.

"With them."

His gaze flicked briefly toward the lower ranked tables. The table filled with younglings, teenagers who had not yet shifted.

Somewhere behind me someone let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. My stomach twisted violently.

No.

Even in my old pack they had given me the dignity of leaving me alone. Training with the younglings was degrading. This was designed to humiliate me completely.

"If you fail," he continued, his eyes locking onto mine again, "then you were never meant to be here."

But it wasn't over. I could feel it. There was more. Something worse.

He leaned forward slightly. And when he spoke again his voice dropped. Lower. Darker.

"And I'll end you myself."

The laughter that followed meant nothing to me.The whispers meant nothing.What meant something was this a few hours ago his hand had moved to my face like I was worth protecting.

And now he sat at the head of that table like I was something he was already preparing to discard.

If he is truly my mate, then the moon goddess made a grave mistake.