Chapter Four
1170 Words
I said we are the Silvermere Pack. Something kept me from trembling at his presence. I gave him the invitation card.
The guard outside looked it over and then made a sign to another guard, and we were admitted.
"Who does he think he is!" When we were out of hearing distance, Alpha Leo hissed to himself. I'll take the Lycan's head once we become friends! His lips twisted with pride.
Before I could prevent it, I gave a little laugh. There was something too good in seeing Leo humbled by a mere guard.
"Are you laughing at me?" His brows pulled together.
No, of course not. I coughed into my hand. "My throat is itchy."
I could not hear what he muttered, and I troubled myself no more.
We arrived at the Packhouse and were marched down to the big hall where the party was to be.
"Wait here. I will lead," ordered Leo through the link. Do not come close to me unless necessary. I am not going to be caught standing next to a plain-looking person like you.
I nodded, obeying. He entered first. After three minutes I entered.
There was a silence in the room and almost simultaneous whispers.
"Who is she?" One of the women who stood by Leo spoke sharply and with mockery in her voice.
Leo replied with a shrug that he does not know me. My chest tightened. He had been like I was neither his wife nor his Luna.
"Does she have a death wish? She does not fit this party."
Hearst says the Lycan King hates the color red. She will regret this."
"This is a mistake," I said to Lisa, my wolf, who had said nothing since we went through the gate.
"There is too much hate in the air," Lisa replied in a low voice. "Why not step outside? The party has not even begun."
Maybe she was right. I could not remain under all those eyes. Had the Lycan King really despised the color of my clothing, he would have been better off being out of sight.
I sneaked out of the hall without daring to go too far. It would be stupid to leave the Packhouse and walk around in the territory of the Lycan. I was strolling the corridors, rather. There was not much to see on the walls, but fortunately no guards crossed my path.
Some turns after that I found a garden. For a moment I wanted to leave. It seemed like trouble. But there was something about it that drew me near like fire draws a moth. I suppose it brought to my mind my garden at Silvermere Park.
I stepped inside. There was a sickly sweet smell of flowers in the air. Peace came over me like it had not come in a long time.
I walked deeper. The garden seemed endless. The further I moved, the more I felt my heart calm.
A tear slipped down my cheek. So long had it been since I had known what peace was like. It had been no peaceful life with Leo.
"What are you doing here?" a voice thundered behind me. I flinched.
"I... I had to breathe air," it thought to me. "I did not mean to intrude. I will leave right away."
"Do you have a death wish?" The voice was sharp and ringing.
"No, I... I went astray; I turned and said it.
It was a huge man with a face hewn out in anger. In his opinion, I was a little frozen.
"You—"
"Far gone," said another voice, smooth and commanding.
I turned, curious.
A man stepped into view. He was huge, powerful, and surrounded by calm authority. I looked first at his eyes: gray, deep, full of wisdom, and, at the same time, an inappropriate softness. His eyes were staring at me, and I felt bare and stripped of all my defenses.
His massive shoulders filled the opening, holding me even now. "I will deal with the intruder."
"Go," said the man with the gray eyes, without dropping his eyes. "I will handle this."
The Beta left us alone, and my heart was beating.
The man came nearer, and the features of his face became finer. His dark brown hair was a little disheveled and hung against his strong jaw. His features were not cruel. The smile had stolen across his face, kind but strong. That serenity that had fallen on me in the garden was reflected in them.
"Forgive my Beta," said his voice, melancholy. "Are you alright?"
I nodded and shook my head, bringing my attention into focus. "Yes... yes, I am fine. Thank you."
It was lust that shook in me at the word, not fear.
Good to know," he said, and came up to me so close that I felt his breath rustling my skin.
I dropped my eyes, fearing that I would be drowned once more in his gaze.
His fingers touched my cheek, and he raised my chin. I felt the sparks fly through me when he touched me.
"Mate!" "Sure and loud," Lisa shouted in my mind. My breath caught.
His gray eyes flickered and turned red. "Mine," he growled softly.
I stood there with them, but my handkerchief fell to the floor. I did not know which of the things I needed.
My hand acted independently and went up to touch his face.
"Where are you, woman!" It shook me, and I heard the voice of Leo thundering in my head.
With a jerk I rose and looked at the door. This was wrong. I was married to Leo. He was my fated mate. Was he not?
"I... I have to go," I said and turned and ran out of the garden. I was standing with them, but my handkerchief came down to the ground.
"Lisa, what was that?!" I sprang to my feet and gazed at the door. "You said Leo was our mate. Why did you call him mate?"
"I do not know, Olivia," said Lisa, and she sounded unsure. "Maybe—"
"Olivia!" Again Leo raised his voice, and my head ached.
I mentally stabilized myself and walked out of the hall.
"There you are," Leo thought and smiled as he greeted guests in a polite manner, but the anger oozed through his words. Do not look again; make me look. The Lycan King is coming toward us.
His Majesty, the Lycan King, Rowan Alvaro, has entered! a guard shouted. Every head turned to the door.
I was standing up with them, and my handkerchief fell down.
I bent to grab it.
"Olivia, stand up!" Leo hissed, nudging me. "The king is here."
I started up with a start and stared at the door.
And there he was.
He had the same gray eyes.
My breath caught. My heart stumbled.
The man from the garden was present.
Rowan Alvaro. He is the very embodiment of the Lycan King.
Could this truly be my mate?
- Writer
