THE ALPHA'S LURE

CHAPTER 3

As the carriage halts outside the Silvermoon packhouse Soren sarcastically declares “Tenth bride’s the charm.”

“Shut up,” Anders snaps back at him.

“Silence both of you,” I demand with rising irritation. Make sure your words aren't ones that will cause me to regret making this decision.

My wolf side Rune quietly berates me with the thought “You will never learn.”

I signal to the driver to wait as the carriage door swings open. The door shuts behind me after I announce to my men what I need to discuss.

They remain silent but their gaze follows me. They maintain constant vigilance and wait for any chance to confront me.

She stands apart from the rest I say, my voice barely audible. “Don’t speak to her. Don’t look at her. You, Soren, must refrain from touching anyone. Last warning.”

His grin remains in place but he avoids challenging me.

We exit the carriage and start walking towards the old packhouse. This place may be small but it serves as our temporary home. My knowledge about this pack was nonexistent until now. My visit revealed some interesting facts about their Alpha Bjorn who is an arrogant jerk.

I pound my fist against the door. The doorway opens just enough to let me slip through before pushing Beta Kael into a stumble. And there she is. As soon as I enter I notice Sigrid standing back in a corner.

I shout toward her “Are you ready?”

Beta Kael starts to speak but I stop him right away. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Sigrid emerges from her hiding spot at the corner while holding a small carrier bag. With a nervous bite to her lip Sigrid nods her head.

I ask about her remaining items as I notice the little bag she holds. I warned you that you had to pack everything.

Bjorn sneers and delivers his words with full contempt as he asks “That’s all she has?”

How can she only be in her early twenties yet have nothing but that? I ask him while staring at him.

Kael's laugh sounds mocking but his eyes reflect something more sinister. “She’s just a slave.”

The impact of his words hit me like a physical blow to my stomach. Rune’s low growl reverberates inside my mind as I picture him tearing Kael’s throat out.

“Shut your mouth,” I snap. You can no longer talk about her in that disrespectful way.

“She doesn’t belong to you, Kael,” I tell him as I narrow my eyes. “She’s not your slave. Bjorn needs to manage his mate immediately. I won’t tolerate this kind of disrespect.”

How dare you speak to me in this manner within my home? Bjorn’s voice gets louder filled with rage.

The air breaks into a sharp, shrill sound at that moment. “What are you waiting for?”

My gaze shifts toward a blonde-haired woman who is holding a statue of her own likeness. Her green eyes locked onto mine with cold disdain as she stood at the top of the stairs.

Her hips move in a sensual sway while she advances toward Bjorn. As soon as I spot her I recognize that trouble is imminent. The sight of this woman makes Sigrid stiffen as fear takes over her body.

The woman commands Leif to take her while speaking in a high-pitched and patronizing tone. She holds the same value here as she did with us. A worthless slave.”

Between her and Bjorn I can't decide who I despise more at this moment.

I advance toward her with a growl as I say “You have no right to talk to her like that.” “She’s not your property. You will face consequences if you don't shut that mouth of yours.

Bjorn’s mate, Ingrid, laughs. “You think you can scare me?”

I begin to answer when Sigrid suddenly loses her balance and falls to the ground.

“s**t,” I mutter, rushing to her side. “Sigrid!”

“What is this?” Ingrid sneers. “Is she going to pass out now?”

Fear grips my chest as I express the uncertainty about what has happened to her. “But she’s not staying here any longer.”

I turn to Bjorn. “We had a deal, remember? My men have the contract.”

My gesture prompts Eric who retrieves a large stack of documents. He gives me the papers which I then push into Bjorn’s chest.

I tell Bjorn we need to head to the office while dismissing Ingrid’s objections.

Bjorn and Ingrid share silent glances but they avoid conflict. They know they’ve lost.

We finished everything here so now I focus on Sigrid. “Come on, let’s go.”

Sigrid continues to tremble while clinging to consciousness but I understand she must leave this place. She cannot remain here among these people in this house.

I extend my hand to her but she refuses to take it. Her gaze remains fixed on the ground while her hands grip the bag tightly against her chest.

“Sigrid,” I say gently. “It’s time to go.”

Following a lengthy silence she eventually gives a faint nod.

I silently tell her she made a smart decision while reaching to support her balance as she begins to sway. I don’t push her, though. She’s been through enough.

She steps outside to find her eyes widen at the sight of the chariot parked outside. Her gaze locks on the chariot as if she's encountering something completely unfamiliar and out-of-place in this world.

“Come on,” I urge softly. “It’s okay. Let’s get you out of here.”

Every step she takes feels heavy as she slowly walks toward the chariot. Her exhaustion and fragility show how this place has drained her completely.

Eric reaches out to me with a worried tone when he asks: “Is she okay?”.

“I’m not sure,” I reply. “But she’s not staying here another minute.”

I extend my hand toward her yet she refuses to take it. She scrapes her fingers along the doorframe as she takes her final step into the chariot.

The door closes behind us as I take my seat while feeling the fragile weight of Sigrid's body next to me. Her heartbeat is slow, too slow.

My arm wraps around her body while I maintain close contact as the chariot begins its journey.

The ride takes Soren and Anders into silence because they sense the tension between Sigrid and me. But I can’t focus on them. I’m focused on Sigrid. It’s crucial for me to understand what’s happening with her.

It feels like an endless journey before we finally reach the packhold. I make my way out first after the chariot halts and then turn back to assist Sigrid as she exits.

She remains motionless until I extend my hand which she then grasps with trembling fingers.

She whispers "I'm fine" in a voice that's almost inaudible.

But I’m not sure I believe her. Her body trembles against me and I cannot accept her claim to be fine.

I lead her inside while softly saying "Come on."

While we make our way through the halls I make an effort to help her relax. “You’ll be safe here,” I promise her. “No one will hurt you.”

She remains silent yet I sense she's paying attention. Her gaze remains dilated while her thoughts drift to distant places.

I direct her to the dining hall before taking her to the kitchen where I outline the pack's daily routines. But she doesn’t say much. She’s too quiet, too distant.

I stop my steps before the kitchen board. Just write down whatever you need on the board in front of you. “We’ll get it for you.”

She makes eye contact with the board but remains silent. Her brow furrows, but she stays silent.

“I really need you to tell me what you need,” I insist more firmly. This bag doesn’t hold enough supplies for you to survive in this place.

She whispers "I don't need anything" while avoiding eye contact.

I release a frustrated sigh while making an effort to keep my composure. I take a pen and begin to write down my list. I make a list that includes underwear and clothes along with shoes and every other item I can remember.

During the process of writing I pause to look at her. The skeleton structure under her skin becomes apparent along with her overall weakness. She’s far too thin. How is she even still alive?

I move towards her and place my arms around her waist while my thumbs gently touch her lower back. Her body tenses instantly. She’s so stiff, so fragile.

But I don’t stop. My priority is to ensure she receives proper care.

“Are you okay?” I whisper, voice low. The tension from her body feels like it's radiating to me.

She doesn’t respond.