Reborn: Caged No More

Protection

Irene

“Uh… yeah… I mean… no…”

What the hell… why was I stammering?

He chuckled. “I get it. You are stressed. But why is an alpha female running from her wedding?”

He knew I was an alpha female? I raised my eyebrows. Was he able to catch my wolf's ambience? Then why wasn't I able to reach out to her in my head?

“Isn't running away from your problems a sign of weakness?”

What the … did he call me pretty and weak in under two minutes?

“Uh, excuse me, sir? I am not weak. I just… wanted to get away from an abuser.”

My voice sounded more assertive than I thought it would.

“Getting away is the only way to save myself from getting killed, so excuse me,” I said.

He stared at me as though he was trying to read me. I pursed my lips. Why was I telling him anything?

I waved my hand. “That is a bit too much information. Sorry, alpha. This isn't something that concerns you. I need to leave. Excuse me, I have to go.”

“Whoa… wait. You can't just leave after telling me that your life is in danger,” he said, blocking my path with his broad shoulders. The wolves behind him quickly stepped forward, as though they too, were blocking my way.

“Why not? I can go wherever I want,” I said, partly annoyed.

“I'll let you go if you can tell me two things,” he said.

I frowned. I didn't want to answer his questions. He was wasting precious time. I had to find a good hiding spot. Maybe I could sneak into one of those conferences… but wait… I'd have to change my outfit. A wedding dress didn't really help me blend in with the crowd.

“One, do you know where you are going? And two, will this abuser follow wherever you are going?”

His question interrupted my thoughts.

“I am going to hide until my brother and his guards stop this guy.”

“Who's your brother?”

I looked at him, irritated. Why was he asking so many questions? “Alpha Carlo of Black Shadows pack. And to answer your second question, I don't know… all I know is I need to hide.”

He raised his brow. “Hide where?”

My grimace deepened. “That's your fourth question and I don't intend to answer that. Alpha Vlad Theodore, command your guards to step aside!”

A playful smirk curled on his lips. He looked amused. Did he find my distress amusing?

How rude. I gave him an unfriendly glare. Time was precious. My life was in danger.

I was about to push past them… or at least try when a commotion erupted from behind me.

My eyes widened, knowing all too well who that could be. Alpha Vlad, too, appeared to notice the discomfort in the air. His guards moved quickly into protective positions, while someone I assumed was his beta took his gun from his belt.

My heart was a thumping mess when Theon stormed up the stairs, quickly followed by his guards. However, as soon as he saw my being surrounded by Vlad's men, he stopped in his tracks.

“Ah, what a coincidence. I was not expecting to run into you, Alpha Theon,” Vlad addressed him in a mocking tone. It took a while for him to study Theon's attire. He looked at me, as though he was asking if Theon was the guy I was running away from.

With my lips squeezed shut, I averted my gaze. Telling Vlad could stop Theon from forcing me to return to the marriage hall, but at that same time, it could increase the tension in the Moonstone building, which wouldn't be beneficial for any of us.

“Alpha, Vlad,” Theon appeared grim as he spoke. Theon's gaze moved from his archenemy to me. “What are you doing with him? Is this why you ran away from the altar? To meet him? Look at you, looking comfortable with Alpha Vald.”

I scowled. Leon did a lot of things in our past life, but I thought accusing me of such a thing in public was past his character. Or soni thought.

“What?” I said, glaring at him in disbelief.

His upper lip rolled into an ugly grimace. “Vlad. Return my fiancé to me. You have no business with her.”

He reached out to grab my hand, only to be slapped away from Vlad's beta.

“One more wrong move and you lose your hand,” he warned. The guards next to Theon snarled in warning, but quickly subdued their voices.

Anyone who started a fight in the Moonstone Building would be forever banned from the building. That would result in a massive drop in the Pack's rank in the werewolf world. For a pack like Theon's Silver Moon pack, and Vlad's Black Raven pack, that meant the loss of a lot of privileges.

“So, you are the jerk she is running away from,” Vlad said, his tone changing to a rather low and intimidating one.

Carlo and his beta rushed up the stairs, searching for me. As soon as his gaze met mine, he halted. Perhaps he wanted to say something but Vlad spoke before he opened his mouth.

“I hear you are abusive. Now why would I return a lady to an abuser?”

Leon appeared offended. “Abusive? How could I have abused her? We never lived together.”

“So what? I can't trust you anymore. You didn't hesitate to hurt her on the altar right in front of everyone!” Carlo sounded enraged. “I don't want to imagine what he might do to her behind closed doors.”

Vlad's jaw clenched. Without breaking eye contact, he spoke in a low voice. “So are you telling me that you haven't had the chance to cause enough pain to her yet?”

The tension in the air was heavy as two of the strongest alphas faced each other.

“Why are you concerned about what I might do to her if you aren't at least mentally involved?” Theon remarked, looking at me. “Now I understand why you ran away. You found out your lover is here.”

My jaw dropped. He couldn't be serious, could he?

“Wait… is he your mate? Did your wolf tell you your mate is in the building?”

I shot a glance at Vlad, just in time to see him narrow his eyes at Theon. Was he pissed?

Well, I was. I was just too angry to deny Theon's accusations. Holding my chin up, I looked right into Theon’s eyes. “I bet he will be a million times better than you.”

So he wanted to accuse me, huh? Why not own it? I stole a look at Vlad. He was staring daggers at Theon.

Maybe Vlad disliked where the conversation was headed. Well, I could apologise later.

“So what if I am involved with her? It's none of your business,” he said.

That surprised me. I didn't expect Vlad to play along.

Theon growled, causing small vibrations rumbling through the building.

“Watch out, you don't want to be banned from the Moonstone building,” Vlad warned, a sly smirk curling his lips.

He ignored Vlad's remark and looked into my face. “Then why did you agree to this marriage?”

I inhaled a deep breath. “Because… I thought it was the right thing to do. But now, I realise it isn't. We aren't meant to be together.”

Theon’s face wrinkled. “What?”

“We really should wait for our mates,” I said, hoping he'd agree.

I was wrong.

“Mate? I stopped believing in them a long time ago. Eternal love between two soulmates is a lie.”

His response shocked me. A lie? Then why did he react the way he did when he met Jillian? He spent every second of his free time with her. She was the center of his world and I was just… nothing.

I shook my head, not wanting to stretch it any further. I didn't want him anywhere near me. I just wanted it to end and for us to return to our normal lives.

“Just leave me alone, Theon. I don't want to marry you. The pact isn't signed yet so our relationship isn't legally binding. We can still live in peace.”

“Peace?” Theon seemed to mock me. “Peace is the last thing the Black Shadows will have from now on. I will not leave a single inch of your land. You and your brother are lucky that we are currently at the Moonstone building. Or I would have ended this right here.” A sinister grin curled on his lips. “Who is going to save you now? Huh? Your pack doesn't have the resources to face my army. You and your pack members are going to be my slaves.”

My heart dropped. He was right. Theon's army was stronger and bigger than ours. Although we were able to guard our turf from rogue attacks, a full on war from the Silver Moon pack would be too much for us to handle. I gave a quick glance at Carlo. His face was contorted in a deep grimace. I could tell that he was trying not to show how tense he was, but having grown up with him, I could read him like an open book.

He was worried for our Pack's safety. I started to reconsider my decision. Perhaps it wasn't worth it? Maybe, I should find a way to save myself after the marriage…

“I will protect them.” Vlad exclaimed, taking us all by surprise. Relief washed over me. I didn't care if he meant it or not. His saying that he would was crucial that moment. Carlo's face melted as he snapped his head at the Eastern Alpha. Vlad's response was the solution to our problems. “The Black Shadows pack is now under my protection,” he declared.

Carlo heaved an audible sigh, grinning from ear to ear. He wasn't even trying to hide his emotions. Theon scoffed.

“And why would you care enough to do that?” He said.

“A few reasons,” Vlad remarked. “You just declared you will harm an innocent group of wolves. You can't enslave an entire pack just because she said no and expect no one to react.” A mischievous smirk curled on his lips. “And why wouldn't I seize the opportunity to assist a pack against you? You're being unreasonable as usual.”

“Just say that you have a thing for my fiancé,” Theon remarked.

I rolled my eyes, removed the ring he had given me on our engagement day from my finger and threw it at him. “Ex-fiancé, Theon. Take that and leave.”

Vlad's smirk widened. “And what if I do have a thing for her? What are you going to do about that?”

Vlad was trying to get on Theon's last nerve, but it was a little weird that he was using me to do that. I stepped out of the circle Vlad's guards formed and went to stand beside Carlo.

“Good bye, Theon. I hope this settles it. Just leave me and my pack alone.”

A few guards followed me when I made my way towards the stairs.

“If you go after her, I promise, you will wish you didn't.” I heard Vlad warn Theon as we walked away. “Alpha Carlo, I extend my hand in help. Would you accept it?”

I looked over my shoulder to see my brother profusely shaking Alpha Vlad's hand while Vlad's guards stared down at Theon. I sighed. What had to be done for the Pack's protection would be done. Perhaps once Theon met his beloved mate, he'd leave us alone.

As I walked towards where my mom and rest of my family members were, I caught a whiff of a familiar smell… a smell that I learnt to hate…

Powdery Jasmine… Jillian.