THE FORBIDDEN BOND

Chapter 5

Valerie’s POV

We had been driving for hours; at some point, I had slept and woken up, but we still hadn’t reached. The two warriors sitting at opposite sides of me haven’t so much as glanced at me; they look as though they would rather be somewhere else. Well, we do share the same feeling in that aspect.

Suddenly aware of where I was, my mind drifted back to my parents, making a deep ache in my heart, I couldn’t help but wonder how they were feeling or if they were still alive. The funny thing is I wasn’t worried if he went back on his words because, for some reason unknown to me, I happened to trust him. I was just worried about their injuries, especially my dad, and if help came on time.

The road thinned out as we drove through a barely visible path into the forest. We went for a while. The trees in this part of the forest were unlike anything I had ever seen. They seemed bigger and taller than usual. Their leaves fan out in a canopy-like form. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting patches of light on the ground, where fallen leaves fill the earth. The further we drove, the trees rustled, moving side to side as though happy for our return.

On either side of the road, modern houses stand in contrast to the wild beauty of the forest. As we drove further, the forest seemed to open up, revealing a Victorian-style house ahead. The house sits at the end of a cobblestone driveway, a garden on one part of the house brimming with roses, lavender, and climbing ivy on the walls. One entire side of the house is made of glass. In front of the house stood a stone fountain, water flowing from a statue in the middle; its stonework weathered with time.

Coming down from the car, my mouth hung open as I glanced around in awe, This was the kind of house you only see in the movies. I was brought back to the present when I heard whispers rippling through the crowd that had begun to form all around us like a gust of wind through a grass field. I couldn't help but notice how his pack members regarded me, their eyes filled with curiosity, disgust, and judgment. I felt like a specimen under a microscope.

The pack watched me with wariness and suspicion. Some of them exchanged hushed words, their expressions guarded. I could sense the unspoken question in their eyes: What was a human doing here, in our midst?

My heart hammered in my chest as I instinctively drew closer to the alpha. As I walked beside him, I could feel the weight of their stares drilling holes into my body, making me shiver in fear.

As we approached the stairs, my eyes fell upon a tall and imposing figure standing there, but he wasn’t as tall as the alpha, making me feel he was the beta. He raised his eyebrow in a questioning manner towards the male walking beside me.

They stood in front of each other, their eyes glazed over, indicating they were communicating via the pack link. After a short while, he walked away, leaving me with his beta. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness at that.

Alexander's gaze met mine, his expression unreadable. Without a comment, he gestured for me to follow him.

As we reached the door to my room, Alexander turned to me, his expression still severe but not unkind. "This will be your room for now," he stated, his deep voice resonating in the quiet corridor. "You'll find everything you need here. If you need anything else, feel free to let me know I don't bite". he said, winking.

I nodded. "Thank you, uhmm..." I dragged, blushing slightly, as I didn’t know what to call him.

His piercing gaze softened ever so slightly, and a small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "My name is Alexander. Nathan beta and second in command You can call me Alex. It's less formal," he offered.

Oh, so the Alpha name is Nathan, I thought. What a beautiful name. A throat clearing broke me from my thoughts, making me turn pink in embarrassment.

"Alright, beta Alex. Sorry Alex” I corrected, blushing slightly. “I'm Barakat".

He nodded, smirking at my obvious discomfort. "Welcome to our pack, Barakat," he said, bowing his head in mock salute.

"Thank you, Alex," I said, smiling, feeling a surge of relief and surprise at his jovial nature. Maybe they aren't all so bad, I thought.

I took a deep breath as I watched him leave, allowing the reality of the situation to sink in. I walked into the room, which felt old and new all at once. The walls were painted a dark gray, giving it a cozy but modern feel. It was a bitter reminder that I was no longer in the comfort of my parent's home.

One side had exposed brick, rough and full of character, while the other walls had smooth, clean shelves holding both old books and modern art.

The lights were soft, hanging from a chandelier on the ceiling that gave off just enough glow. In the corner, a big leather armchair looked inviting, worn in all the right places, like it had been used for years. Next to it, a simple table held a Vintage Glass Kerosene Lamp that flickered warmly.

The floor creaked a little under my feet, made of dark wood that looked shiny but had just enough scratches to show its age. Across the room, there was a steel desk that felt both vintage and modern. It had notebooks, an old rotary phone, and a sleek laptop on it—a mix of past and present right there.

Against one wall stood a large, sturdy wooden bed with a simple but plush-looking mattress. It appeared both comfortable and inviting. A neatly folded blanket rested at the foot of the bed.

I lay back on the bed, feeling the cool sheets as I sank into the mattress. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the day's event. My mind was full of scattered thoughts, but they soon blurred together. Before I realized it, I drifted off into sleep.