Arya
I try to steady my breath as I watch Logan sip the glass of wine in his hands. He then licks his lips and my throat goes dry immediately. These are going to be the longest hours of my life! I am fighting every urge in me to go and join him and the small round table. I could use some wine myself because my nerves can't seem to calm down after my wolf started screaming; mate! Mate!
Alpha Logan can't be my Mate. He is the most ruthless man I have ever known! My pack, my family, and my own conscious loath his being. I can't be his. I can't let myself get entwined into his dark life when I can stop all this. I can reject him!
My wolf twists painfully at the thought of rejecting her mate. I just met my wolf and then my mate. My life is racing on its axis, I am scared things are happening too fast I might lose my mind!
We hear some commotion outside. My heart skips. I close my eyes and try to focus. He is here!
"It seems our dearest brother has come to take you back home," Logan says, placing the glass on the table. "He couldn't afford to waste any time. I think he doesn't trust me to keep you alive for long. He tilts his head and gives me a crooked smile. I get a glimpse of his perfectly white teeth. I ball my fists, begging myself to resolve on only seeing the imperfections because he is just too perfect. His height, his hair, his eyes, his lips, god! It's too much! How can someone be so perfect?
Look on the other side, I tell myself. He is a brute! He is a murderer. His family is the reason why you are an orphan. He works with Vampires; the wolves' mortal enemies. He is equally as evil as they are, or even worse! Who knows what he is capable of? He even threatened to kidnap me and keep me here!
The door opens and a servant leads my brother, Jex, and Beta, Kurt into the huge library. I am more worried than relieved to see them here. Logan is going to make things so difficult for them that it will cost them a lot to get me out of here.
"Alpha Logan," Carl says nodding towards my mate who gets up from his seat.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Alpha. Your sister and I were having a good time. I wouldn't have minded you delaying a bit more. She is quite some company," says Logan, his eyes shifting from Carl's to mine. A devilish smile creeps onto his handsome face. My insides shiver when he looks at me, as if he means what he just said. I am sure I have just been a dead bore this entire time, doing nothing other than shivering with fear. He surely is sarcastic!
"I am surprised that she managed to do so," Carl says and shoots me a reproachful glare. I know I have committed a big crime trespassing into the Blacktooth Guardians pack and forcing this meeting to happen. I am sure my brother is not comfortable dealing with this and neither am I. I know I should have listened to Jex. I know all that now, but it's a waste regretting because I can't turn things around now. What has happened has happened. And I am the one who has received the hardest blow. Alpha Logan of the Blacktooth Guardians pack is my god-damned mate!
"We solemnly apologize for Arya's naivete. I don't know what got into her. She has been raised well aware of the rules that govern this land. She just received her wolf, she must have been too excited she let it get into her head," Carl tries to convince Logan.
"Indeed, Carl, I trust how protective you are of your little sister. She must have rebellious broken loose. Well, as you are well aware, I never let things pass me as easily as they come. I have a deal for you. If you can negotiate my proposal, then you can safely take her back home and promise not to let any pack member, whose life still matters, to get loose again," he says.
"Sure, what's your deal?" inquires Carl.
"I would prefer I took to you in private; Alpha to Alpha," he says and then pockets his hands in his neatly pressed slacks.
"Okay," Carl nods to us in a sign of dismissal. I shot Logan a hateful scowl but it does not affect him at all. I walk out of the room followed by Jex.
"Arya, are you alright? I am sure he did his best to make you as uncomfortable as he could," Jex says, examining me with worried eyes.
"Don't worry about me. I am fine. He isn't as beastly as I pictured him to be. I guess he was at his best manners," I say. Then I wonder if he was actually trying to be nice to me because he knows I am his mate. Does he know? He didn't act like he did. I resolve to reject him before he even gets to know. Yes, that would be a lot better!
"Arya?" Jex's voice awakes me from my reverie.
"Huh?" I murmur in confusion.
"Did you hear what I just said?" he inquires with a frown.
"Um, what were you saying?" I ask. He shakes his head in disbelief.
"Are you sure you are alright? I really doubt he didn't do anything," he says.
"Trust me, Jex. I am fine. He wouldn't have dated to do anything to me. He would otherwise be wedging war against the Blue Blood pack, breaking the peace that has existed all these years," I try to reassure him.
"The peace you refer to might have as well cracked as we talk," he says and raises a brow at me. I try to shake off the pang of guilt. I might have ruined the peace. It sucks being the reason my brother has to face Alpha Logan to negotiate God knows what terms he wants. He said he didn't want to interfere with the gold. As of now, he added. This means that he is interested in the gold but he won't use it as a ransom.
"Don't begin with me, Jex. I know this is all my fault and I am already feeling worse than anyone else here. You were right, I know but what can I do about it now," I tell him. I am starting to think that this is all fate's doing that I had to meet my mate in this kind of way. Meeting your mate is supposed to be the happiest moment of a wolf's life, but saying my meeting was hideous would be an understatement.
"I don't want to blame you because I think it was my fault that I let you convince me to cross the Misty river. Carl was so furious with me, you know. He trusted me to protect you and I failed," he says.
"I am so sorry, Jex. I promise I will make it up to you when we get back home," I tell him. I put on a huge smile, hoping to smooth off his gloom. He sighs heavily and folds his hands in front of his chest.
We are led downstairs to a room furnished with old fancy charm. I am captivated by the beauty of the room and the parts of the mansion I have been to. Well, except for the stone-walled room that I woke up in.
"You will wait in here while Alpha proceeds with his meeting," the man that brought us in tells us and then exits, closing the door behind him.
I walk around the room, looking around in wonder, amazed by what I am seeing. Alpha Logan is the richest alpha amongst the five packs in the land. I had heard of his fancy mansion but this is my first time in it. All this will also be mine if I become his. It's too much!
Would be happy to know that I am his mate? Would he love me unconditionally? Would he even try to be romantic at all? I try to picture a romantic love strike Alpha Logan but I can't. It's a total loss! This is not the kind of mate I had hoped to have. I wanted someone sweet, and romantic, even though not that wealthy but at least kind, and understanding, which Logan is not! Manly? Woah, hell yeah he is manly but he is none of the other things. I wonder how Jex or Carl would react to the information. Wondering how they would react gives me goosebumps.
"Do you want to talk about what happened when I was away? You look too thoughtful and I can guess it's too unpleasant to think about," Jex says. I don't want to talk to anyone about it. It's already egregious enough that I know it.
I take my time admiring the large window and the curtains. I reach for it and look through it. The moon is going down into the woods. It's almost morning. The view from here is wow! I can the surrounding mountains, mostly covered with wood.
"I woke up in one of the rooms downstairs. I was told the Alpha wanted to meet me so I was given this dress. I was in my wolf form so I shifted and put it on," I tell him, unnecessarily adding the details so that I don't leave him a gap to doubt.
"I was led into his library, which you have also been to. Then he told me you had gone back home to inform Carl to come and save me. I insisted that he didn't need to involve my brother and that I can negotiate my way through this but he said I wouldn't manage the terms he would want to set with me so he would prefer dragging my brother all the way from home," I add.
"Is it about the gold?" he inquires.
"That's what I thought, but he said it's not. I completely have no idea what he wants," I respond.
"I hope he makes a sensible proposal. He is making too big a deal out of such a small issue," Jex shakes his head.
After about an hour of impatient waiting, Carl comes into the room.
"We can go home now," he announces, but his face remains grim.
"What does he want?" I ask dashing towards him.
"Let's talk at home," he responds coldly. He must be really mad at me. I nod silently and we are led out of the room. As we descend the stairs, I keep looking back up unconsciously, hoping to look at Logan one last time before I go. Each step out of the house is like a piercing to my wolf. I fight the urge to break loose and run back up to his library and surrender myself into his arms and let him mark me, own me.
As we head to the door, I resolve to look straight in front of me. I pray that I never come back here and hope never to see Logan ever again. My wolf wimps and curls in pain. I feel sick to the core having to hurt my wolf when I have just met her. It's not my fault that our mate is the worst person on earth! If he cared, he would have at least let me go without worsening the issue. If he cared he wouldn't have been greedy to ask for ransom. He is a heartless greedy monster and I don't want him to be my Mate! He would have at least come to say goodbye to me like a mate who gives a damn, but he obviously doesn't! One part of me says that maybe he doesn't know that I am his mate but another part of me tells me that he is proud enough to not give a damn even if he knew!
LoganI am escorted into the hall where the party is being hall. Alpha Kay has always held the best parties amongst the five packs of the land and he always organized his decor to the best standards. Things got even better when his Luna, Lacey joined the family. On my arrival, Alphas and other Lunas start coming my way, doing introductions and claiming how much they are delighted to see me. I respond with a similar demeanor though I am more reserved and I give nothing away. That's what makes me who I am. That's what differentiates me from all the other alphas and everyone else. "Alpha Logan, meet my son Luca. The one I told you has been abroad for studies," Alpha Jack tells me with a proud fatherly grin and steps aside for us to shake hands. The young man is jovial. I get to know that he has been back only two days ago and he is more detached from his pack because of being away for too long. Lucky for Jack, his elder son is always around and is very involved in the issues of the pac
Arya All my conscience tells me that I shouldn't do this but hell I want to know how he will react. I haven't been able to rest for the last week. My wolf keeps demanding her mate and it has been taking everything in me not to cross that god-damned misty river and intentionally get myself in trouble so that Logan will give me attention. "Excuse me," Logan calmly says though his jaw tightens, I am sure he is trying to hide his fury. Luca looks up at the tall Logan who is looming over us like an angry dad. He cocks his head when he sees Luca's face. Running his hand through his neatly combed hair, Logan purses his lips grimly and then glares at me. "Is there a problem?" Luca inquires, definitely not happy about being interrupted. "Yes, there is a problem here, boy. Get your tiny hands off my mate before I cut them off!" his voice is commanding, almost like a growl. A shiver runs down my spine and I am not sure whether it is fear or excitement that Logan has called me his mate. "
I adjust my tie, looking straight at myself in the mirror. I am ready to conquer this negotiation with Slade. Jordan, my Beta walks into the room looking too handsome for business negotiation."Are you going on a date or something?" I ask him with a smirk."Why ask that?" he inquires, his eyebrows furrowing together."I mean, look at you. So dressed up to meet people who prefer cloaks to any modern clothing," I tease. He rolls his eyes at me and sighs."It was Kate who insisted on the appearance. Sometimes she wakes up in a mood of dressing me up like a kid. I both love and hate those moments," he says. His eyes glitter whenever he talks about his mate. For all I know, she is the only person he has ever loved like this."Laugh while you can, Logan. You are still single. When you meet that female that will make you get out of the clothes you have already put on to put on what she insists will look best on you, you will stop giving a damn. That is the power of a mate," he assures me."F
Arya "What's up with the alpha?" Penny asks me when Logan has left. "Did he ask you to go on a date with him?""Maybe. Something like that," I mumble responding without turning my eyes from the direction where Logan disappeared to. I am still trying to digest what just happened. He stopped me from rejecting him and I was really going to do it. Why on earth would anyone want a mate who despises them?"Dung! You don't look like you are even interested. Tell me what's going on. I am dying to know." Penny pleads."He's just so annoying!" I murmur and turn to look at her. She gives me a puzzled look."He dropped by to request you to be with him for a date, and that makes him so annoying? Am I missing the point here?" Penny throws her arms dramatically in the air. I don't think I can keep this secret from my best friend anymore. I give out a resigned sigh."Let's go home. I will tell you everything," I tell her.In my room, Penny walks around while thinking out loud. I am sitting on my bed
LoganArya receives the glass of wine with unexpected eagerness and takes a huge sip, which surprises me. She then licks her lips in a slow torturous manner. My cock twitches in response. Fuck! "I've ordered already. I hope you don't mind," I tell her while taking a sit."No, that's fine," she says with a gracious nod."It's good to know that you can be amenable," I smirk. "I am not entirely stubborn as you think of me," she leans back in her chair."You called me to prove something to me," she says, focused on the task at hand, but then she takes a large gulp of wine, and her cheeks color. She must be looking for courage. I'll have to watch how much she's drinking because she's driving."I would prefer that we talk about that later after we have something to eat," I respond. She sips again from her glass and then places it on the table. She looks exquisite: her hair falls in soft waves to her breast on one side, and on the other, it's pinned back so it's easier to see her delicate
On my drive back home, I keep cursing myself for leaving, but deep down, I know I am doing the right thing. His scent still lingers on my body and I can still feel his lips on mine. After all that kissing, my lips feel kinda swollen. Damn! That man can kiss!I shake my head to clear the thoughts off. I keep my eyes straight on the route toward home. I wouldn't want to ruin this lovely car my brother gifted me upon my initiation."Why the hell are you back here?" Penny questions me with her hands on her hips. She looks totally disappointed. "What happened?" "What a warm welcome," I murmur, throwing my purse on my bed. "What are you still doing here?" "I wanted to sleep over so that I will be here when you come back tomorrow with a juicy story for me," she responds. I roll my eyes at her."For all I know, it is not yet tomorrow. What happened?" she is really impatient. "We had dinner together, like any other normal date. Then I said goodbye to him and left," I respond, removing my he
LoganI throw the phone on the bed and take my hands through my hair. Christ! What's happening to me? I don't understand myself. I don't even know what I am doing anymore. Having such a mate, I think, is some punishment from the moon goddess. I can't plead guilty because I know I am a sinner. I know that I have options, that I can reject her, and like Arya said, maybe I could get another chance at a new mate. Someone who will want me and is willing to adjust to who I am. I know that very well, but I can't risk losing Arya. I have waited for too long a time to lose her when I have just got her. She may scream about how much she hates me but she doesn't protest when I touch her, and she doesn't stop me when I claim her mouth, because she wants me even though she denies it. I know it when her body gives her away when her breathing becomes erratic and when all the smell I can capture is her arousal screaming that I claim her.I decide not to take her attitude seriously and walk into the
LoganTHE BAR IS CROWDED, full of youngsters determined to have a good time. There's some indie crap thumping over the sound system and the dance floor is crowded with heaving bodies.It makes me feel old.She's here somewhere.Jade has followed me in through the front door. "Do you see her?" he shouts over the noise. Scanning the room, I spot her friend. She's with a group of friends, all of them men, sitting in a booth. There's no sign of Arya, but the table is littered with shot glasses and tumblers of beer."Penelope," I say by way of greeting, and she interrupts me before I can ask her Arya's whereabouts."Logan," she shouts above the noise. The three guys at the table regard Jade and me with hostile wariness."Where is Arya?""Oh, she woke up and went outside for some fresh air. And who's this?" She smiles rather too brightly at jade, interrupting me again. What an exasperating woman. She is definitely drunk beyond her senses."This is my driver, Jade. Where's Arya?"Her smile b