Chapter 3: A New Home, A New Life
1120 Words
Reina’s POV
The drive to the Royal Pack is long, but silence fills most of it.
I sit in the passenger seat of the Alpha King’s jet-black SUV, my body stiff and my mind tangled in emotions I can’t quite understand. The flames of Silverclaw Pack still dance behind my eyes. My so-called home is gone. The people who tormented me? Scattered. And the mate who threw me away? Probably choking on the ashes of his arrogance.
I should feel something grief, regret, loss. But I don’t.
All I feel is… emptiness.
The only warmth comes from the man sitting beside me.
Kyle Carter. My second chance mate.
Every inch of him radiates dominance and power. He grips the steering wheel with one strong hand, the other resting casually against his thigh. His black shirt stretches over his broad chest, and the faint scent of smoky cedarwood and something uniquely him fills the space between us.
It’s overwhelming. He’s overwhelming.
And yet, I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at him. The sharp cut of his jaw, the intensity in his blue eyes, the raw strength in his every movement he is nothing like Luke. Nothing like any werewolf I have ever known.
"You keep looking at me," Kyle says suddenly, his voice smooth yet commanding.
I stiffen, my cheeks burning. "I no, I wasn’t."
A slow smirk tugs at his lips. "You were."
I huff, turning toward the window to hide my embarrassment. "You’re imagining things, Alpha."
At that, his smirk vanishes. "Alpha?"
A strange tension fills the car, thick and undeniable. He grips the steering wheel a little tighter.
"You are my mate," he says after a pause. "You will not call me ‘Alpha.’ You will call me Kyle."
I blink at him. "What?"
His eyes flick toward me, intense and unwavering. "Say it."
I hesitate, my fingers twisting together in my lap. It feels… strange. No Alpha has ever asked me to call them by name. No Alpha has ever even spoken to me as an equal.
I take a shaky breath. "Kyle."
His name tastes foreign on my tongue, but the moment I say it, something shifts in the air. A flicker of satisfaction crosses his face, his lips curving slightly.
"Good," he murmurs. "Now say it like you mean it next time."
I roll my eyes, but for the first time in a long while, a small smile tugs at my lips.
The Arrival at the Royal Pack
The moment we cross into the Royal Pack’s territory, I feel the shift.
The land is different stronger, and more alive. Towering mountains stretch across the horizon, and thick forests weave through the landscape. This place is nothing like Silverclaw.
Kyle’s pack is the strongest, wealthiest, and most powerful pack in existence. It is a kingdom, not just a territory.
And now… I’m going to be a part of it?
Nerves coil in my stomach as we pass through the massive gates leading to the Alpha King’s estate. The structure itself is breathtaking a towering fortress of black stone and glass, surrounded by lush greenery and waterfalls that glisten under the moonlight.
The moment Kyle parks the car, warriors and pack members gather outside. All of them are staring at me.
I grip the car door tightly, my pulse racing.
They’re judging me. I can feel it. I am an omega a weak, unwanted outcast. What will they think of me being their Alpha’s mate?
Kyle must sense my hesitation because suddenly, his large, warm hand covers mine.
"Do not lower your gaze," he says firmly. "You are my mate. You belong here."
I swallow hard. "But they"
"I do not care what they think," he cuts in. "I chose you."
The weight of those words settles over me. He chose me.
I take a breath and force my shaking fingers to push open the door.
The moment I step out, whispers ripple through the crowd.
"That’s her?"
"She’s… small."
"An omega? No way."
Kyle moves to my side in an instant. His presence alone silences the murmurs. He places a hand on my lower back, guiding me forward with undeniable possessiveness.
"This is Reina," he announces, his voice strong and unwavering. "My mate. Your future Luna."
Silence.
Dead silence.
The shock on their faces is almost comical. Some look confused. Others are angry.
And then, one voice breaks the silence.
"You must be joking."
A beautiful woman steps forward, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She is tall, confident, and furious.
"An omega?" she scoffs, her emerald eyes locking onto me with barely hidden disdain. "Kyle, this is a disgrace. How could you"
"Watch your tongue, Vanessa," Kyle warns, his tone dangerously low.
I stiffen. Who is she?
Vanessa narrows her eyes but doesn’t back down. "She doesn’t belong here. You know that."
Kyle moves so fast, that I barely register it. In a blink, he’s in front of her, his energy crackling in the air. "Say another word, and I’ll personally throw you out of my pack."
Vanessa pales but quickly masks it with a glare. She mutters something under her breath before storming off.
Kyle exhales, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
I finally found my voice. "Who was that?"
He hesitates. "Vanessa. My… former Beta."
Former?
I glance in the direction she left, unease curling in my stomach. She hates me.
But before I can dwell on it, Kyle takes my hand. "Ignore her. She is no one."
I nod, but something tells me Vanessa isn’t going to accept this easily.
A Night of Firsts
That night, Kyle leads me to a massive suite in the Alpha’s estate. The room is luxurious beyond anything I have ever seen a massive bed with silk sheets, a marble fireplace, and a balcony overlooking the kingdom.
I stand awkwardly in the center of the room.
"This is your room," Kyle says, watching me closely.
I blink. "Mine?"
"Until you’re comfortable enough to sleep in mine," he murmurs.
My stomach flips. Sleep in his?
I don’t have time to dwell on it before he steps closer, his warmth enveloping me. "Reina," he says softly, his fingers tilting my chin up. "Are you afraid of me?"
I swallow. "No."
His lips twitch. "Good."
The tension between us is undeniable. I can feel his strength, his protectiveness, his desire pressing into my very soul.
"Rest," he finally says, his voice lower. "You belong here now."
And as he walks away, leaving me in the safety of my new home, I realize something.
For the first time in my life… I believe him.
- Writer
