The Beta Who Bought Me

Chapter 4 - Purpose

Werewolves and other were-species were all quite used to nakedness, as shifting would destroy your clothes if you didn’t remove them first. Some carried bags with them, tied their clothes on to themselves, or even stashed extra clothes in various locations around their territories. In this case, the extra items would possibly create noise, and they were not on their own territory. Abel was not a bit shy about his body anyway, even in front of a stranger.

Like most alphas, he was devilishly handsome with a muscular physique. His ebony hair was cut short, faded on the sides with a little extra length on the top, giving him a commanding, militaristic vibe. An ominous scar on his left cheek sealed the deal that he was not one to challenge if you valued your life.

“W-who are you? What do you want?” Laurel barely whispered in fright at the man bearing down on her.

“Hello there, girl,” he smirked at her, his voice laced with malice. “I am your new alpha. You will come quietly with us, unless you want your family to get hurt.”

Her blood ran cold in her veins at the threat. There was no way that she would allow anyone from the Twisting Rivers family to come to harm because of this monster and his cronies. She gulped audibly, summoning all the courage she could at that moment.

“Where do you plan to take me? What do you want from me? If it’s money you want, I have some saved…”

“I don’t need your money, b****!” He interrupted her gruffly, insulted that she thought he might be a common thief. “You, girl, are needed for a higher purpose.”

“What... purpose?” Her eyes widened as he slinked closer to her, running his fingers over the frame of the wooden bed as he approached.

He grasped her chin tightly in his fingers as he spoke his next words. “Don’t worry. You will know only what you need to know. No more, no less.”

A sharp feeling of dread ran down her spine, and she shivered as if she was naked in the snow outside. Her eyes remained locked on the man towering over her who still had that ugly grin on his face. She didn’t see the other wolf shift behind her, ready to plunge a large needle into her skin.

The quick prick hit her in the arm, and suddenly the room spun wildly as she desperately tried to rasp out a cry, but no sound came out. And then everything went black.

***

When Laurel awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar place. The bed had simple crisp and white sheets and sat in a plain room with white painted walls and an older wooden floor. She found she was dressed in a white silk nightgown that flowed to her knees, rather than the pajamas she had put on the night before.

There were three other beds in the same room as hers, each neatly made with identical sets of white linens. The room had only one tiny rectangular window high on the outward-facing wall. It was so high that only a small stream of light came in, and only a bit of blue sky or the occasional cloud over it.

On the wall opposite was a brown wooden door with an aged brass knob. Laurel’s first instinct was to run and try to escape. She tiptoed rapidly over to the door, but she found it to be locked. She slumped against the door and tried to think of how to get out of this place - wherever it was.

All she knew was that she had been taken by other werewolves. One of which was an alpha. And they had injected her with something that completely knocked her out.

She could hear footsteps approaching outside the door, so she quickly scrambled back to the bed and waited to see who would enter.

The lock clicked open, and the door creaked as a lovely woman, probably in her early thirties, with a short platinum blonde wavy bob and perfect natural makeup walked in. She was dressed immaculately in a navy pencil dress with nude-colored patent pumps.

“Oh good, you’re awake!” She smiled brightly at Laurel, who only looked back apprehensively at the woman. Her gut already felt something was off with this lady, and she inadvertently scooted back toward the head of the bed as the woman approached, her heels clacking lightly on the old floor.

Either not noticing or not caring about Laurel’s obvious discomfort, she elegantly sat on the edge of the bed and took Laurel’s hand in hers. Her fingers were long and delicate with a massive diamond solitaire on her left ring finger.

“You don’t need to fear me, dear,” The woman stroked the back of her hand as she spoke. This woman gave her goosebumps though, and those words didn’t make her feel any better.

“I’m sure you’re confused right now, but you should be happy! You’ve been selected for a higher purpose!” She beamed at her and gently set her hand back down. Those words were the same that the alpha had said to her when he kidnapped her - a “higher purpose.” Laurel still had no idea what that even meant, and she was still too apprehensive to say anything.

The woman then ran her fingers over Laurel’s cheek, examining her facial structure. She stopped to stare momentarily at her brilliant eyes. Laurel’s eyes were always her favorite feature because they were so unique, a vivid amethyst purple that sparkled like the color's namesake gemstone itself.

“What magnificent eyes!” The woman’s eyes shone bright as she complimented her as if she was a prize animal at a county fair. Laurel felt increasingly uneasy as the woman kept examining her.

“Who are you?” She finally found the strength to speak to the woman, who was still regarding her face with interest.

“I am Luna Grace North,” she said softly as she sat up straight with perfect posture. Like her namesake, this woman definitely carried herself like a Luna.

“Luna Grace? What pack is this? Where are we?” Laurel inquired.

“You’re in High Moon territory, my dear,” she seemed taken aback, as if it should be completely obvious to anyone. "There's no better pack in the world to find yourself in!" she smiled brightly again.

High Moon.

Laurel's eyes went wide as the realization set in. She had heard about this pack, of course, but she had also heard rumors of how ruthless and cunning they were when they wanted something from the smaller packs. It was said that entire packs become a flood of red if you resist them. Not even children would be spared.

Her mind was going dizzy with concerns about the fate of her own pack now.

Luna Grace just continued to smile, seemingly not noticing the palpable panic seeping from Laurel. Lunas were typically described as intuitive and compassionate. But something definitely felt off about her and the creepy smile continually plastered on her perfectly formed face.

*beep beep*

The soft sound of an alarm coming from the luna's watch directed her attention to the time on the clock's face. "Oops, my time has run short, I'm afraid," she said as she began to stand up.

"Wait..." Laurel reached her hand out to the soon-to-be retreating figure. She hesitated briefly but steeled herself to continue. She had to at least know something about what she was doing here. "May I ask you a question, Luna?"

"Of course, dear. What do you want to know?"

“What is this ‘purpose’ I keep hearing about?” She questioned Grace with apprehension.

Luna Grace reached out her hand and just patted Laurel’s arm gently. “You’ll find that all out in due time, dear. But now, I have duties to attend to, so I must be off.” The elegant woman walked out without another word. The woman had come and went without really telling her anything. She wanted to get up and follow her out of the room, but Laurel’s heart sunk when she heard the lock click once more.