Crossing Boundaries

Chapter 4 - Custody

I looked at Matt, who was calmly making himself a sandwich.

"So, where is this girl?" the alpha asked, looking up from the bread.

"In the spare room next to mine," I answered.

"And why didn't you just kill her?" Matt asked, turning towards me.

"She's unique — a human. You know how strong she's going to be when she finally turns?" I responded.

"Won't she go against us once she eventually turns?"

I shook my head. "Not if she values her mate's life."

"Did you capture her mate?" Matt asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "No, sir, but he'll be easy to get."

Matt nodded. "Well, let's go meet her, shall we?"

We headed up the stairs, casually talking about the pack and pack lands. I walked into the room and went straight to the bathroom. But when I opened the door, it was empty.

"Where the hell..." I muttered, my eyes landing on the open window.

"She escaped, didn't she?" the alpha asked.

I grimaced, guilt flooding over me.

"She's pretty small, then... and stupid," Matt said, looking through the window.

"I'm sorry, Matthew."

"You didn't know. But I'll gather some of the warriors. I want her in my pack," Matt said, making me smile slightly. We headed outside, and he quickly shifted into his wolf form. After the bone cracking and fur sprouting, Matt let out a howl, alerting the rest of our pack that we needed assistance.

It took only a few seconds before inky black wolves appeared and positioned themselves in a semicircle around our alpha.

There’s a human girl who escaped in our territory. Catch her before she reaches the Moonlight pack.

Howls erupted through the trees; the pack acknowledged the hunt.

XXX

Howls echoed through the sky, making me flinch. My whole body ached, and I registered all the bumps I’d gotten over the past day. I glanced back, wishing I could safely get down to the ground.

I jumped to the next branch, and then I heard it: a soft growl.

Looking down, I saw them. Three midnight-black wolves stood at the base of the tree, staring up at me. I gulped, knowing I needed to move faster. I jumped to the next branch and heard a howl rise from below. I glanced down and saw the wolves beginning to shift.

Aw, damn... I looked up and started scampering higher through the trees. I heard movement beneath me and saw one of the men climbing up. He was fast and much taller, which meant he could navigate the trees more easily.

Though he’s untrained in the art of being a squirrel.

I was just about to jump to the next branch when I spotted another person climbing the tree opposite mine — this one a girl.

Really? Really!? This wasn’t fair. It really wasn’t fair. I started to turn, but another girl was already climbing up that tree. I groaned, realizing I was kind of stuck. I could move to the tree beside me, though that would send me the wrong way. But I had no choice.

I jumped to the tree on my left, my legs throbbing.

Before I could leap to the next branch, a howl stopped me dead in my tracks. Alpha... the... the alpha.

Alphas were those rare, terrifying beings who could make anyone obey their orders. Whether you were outside their pack, a non-shifter, or even an animal.

I stared down, trying not to gulp at the large black wolf below me. Yeah. I’m dead. Definitely dead. Another howl forced my limbs to start climbing down the tree. Even though I wasn’t a wolf, my brain understood the command. Once I reached the ground, roughly six people surrounded me. A woman with a cut on her lip grabbed my left arm while a heavily tattooed man seized my other. I watched the alpha start to shift and turned my head halfway away. Shifting wasn’t pretty. Definitely not pretty.

"Look at me," the alpha ordered. My eyes locked onto the biggest man I’d ever seen. He looked like he lived in a gym. When he wasn’t there, he was probably eating meat and chugging protein shakes. He had brown hair cut in a military buzz and a clean-shaven face.

"My, you really are small, aren’t you?" he smirked, walking toward me. His hand brushed lightly against my chin before he pulled it away. "Bring her to the house."

The alpha turned and started walking back. I was dragged behind him, the group moving far too fast for me to get my bearings. At one point, they simply lifted me so my feet dangled off the ground. I was taken back to the house I’d escaped from and brought into what looked like a sitting room. Large, cozy sofas dotted the space, and a crackling fireplace made it feel deceptively welcoming.

The alpha sat in the center of the room, and I was dragged to stand before him. He studied me for a few moments, then glanced away. I followed his gaze and saw Chase walk into the room.

Ah, fudge...

"Chase, I’m putting her in your custody," the Alpha said simply. Chase nodded and smiled at me.

"Make sure she’s punished for running away."

With that, my introduction to the alpha was over. He left the room, and his pack followed him. I stood alone in the center, staring at Chase with his arms folded. That grin was still plastered across his face; he was clearly thinking of the most painful punishment he could dream up.

He walked over and grabbed my wrist.

"Don’t resist," he ordered. I nodded and let him lead me back up the stairs. We entered the room I’d been held in before, and he locked the door once I was inside. He still held my wrist, and fear turned my legs to jelly. His gaze met mine, and his smile faded.

"Don’t ever run away again," he said, his voice hard and bitter.

I only nodded, fighting back tears. He pulled me toward the bed, wrapped his hands around my waist, and lifted me onto it.

"And no more silent treatment," he said, the same blank, grim expression on his face.

"Y-yes," I managed to breathe out. My heart hurt, pounding far too hard.

"Good," he said, still without a smile. He leaned back. "Stay."

"What — what are you... are you going... to... to do to me?" I stammered. Tears slipped out before I could hold them back. His expression softened, and he slowly lifted one finger to brush a tear from my cheek.

"Take a deep breath," he said softly.

I did as he told me, drawing in the air. I caught that familiar peppermint scent again, and it helped me calm down. After three more peppermint-scented breaths, my heart slowed enough that my hands stopped shaking.

"Now, ask me again."

"What are you going to do to me?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Why would I do anything to you?" he asked, frowning.

"Because... because you’re from the Hellwood pack," I said, hoping I hadn’t offended him too badly.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means... it means you guys are... are..."

"Evil? Murderers? Ruthless?" he smirked. "Is that what you wanted to say?"

I nodded slowly, half-convinced I was about to die. Chase lifted his fingers to my cheek and stroked it gently.

"Do you really think that of me?" he asked, staring into my eyes.

I opened my mouth, unsure how to answer. Did I think that about him?

He hadn’t hurt me on purpose, but he had captured me. He’d forced me to stay here. He’d kissed me without permission. But those kisses... they’d been amazing. I was torn.

Make sure she gets punished...

The words made me blink. The alpha seemed ruthless, evil, a murderer... and an alpha’s law was the pack’s law. Chase was part of this pack. I was going to be punished. Chase had ripped me away from my home, the life I knew. Just for fun.

"What’s my punishment?" I mumbled, staring at my feet. They were caked in dirt and blood. Stupid trees...

"What punishment?" Chase asked, tilting my chin up. He frowned, trying to meet my eyes again.

"The alpha said you have to punish me."

Chase blinked, and the frown faded from his face.

"So you really do think that of me," he said quietly, absentmindedly.

His hands fell from my face, and he stood up. Without another glance my way, he walked out of the room, leaving me alone once more.