Shocked

**Alpha Cedric's POV**

My face registered shock the moment she fell in my arms. My body froze for a second as her scent hit me hard. There and then, I knew who she was, but there was something about her that seemed off. Why wasn't she affected by my Alpha aura? What exactly happened? She held me tighter, not wanting to let me go while I scrutinized the crowd with my eyes.

Everyone gasped the moment they saw her rush into his arms. They must be terrified for her, knowing fully well that no one was allowed to go close to me because of the Aura I emanated. The Male werewolves didn't come close to her anymore, but retreated.

The Beta was shocked to see what she had done. He was trembling with fear and rushed to me with the aim of yanking her away from me, but he got affected by my aura too and stepped back.

I pulled her away from myself and lifted her chin, so I could look into her eyes. I wanted to see what she was hiding in those orbs that stopped her from getting affected by my power. She tried to look away, but it was like a spell had been cast on her, and she was frozen. With my keen sense of hearing, I could hear her heart hammering in her chest as I scrutinized her with my gaze. 

She finally lowered her head while I looked around to behold the angry faces of the male werewolves that were troubling her.

“With all due respect, Alpha, you aren't supposed to allow that girl to stay close to you like that. She is evil and cursed.” A man said as he walked out of the crowd of horny looking men.

I furrowed my eyebrows, totally not understanding what they were talking about.

As a result, I wanted to ignore their rants, but I wanted to know what the man meant by that evil and cursed stuff, so I looked up, giving the man to go ahead to continue.

The rest, seeing that they've gotten my attention, stepped forward to say something.

“Alpha, that girl you're seeing is a mute. She is dumb and cursed, disabled and a liability.” One said, and I turned to look at her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Was she really a mute?

I saw her face redden in anger as she bawled her fist in rage. I could swear she was fighting the urge not to slap the man across the face for what he said.

I looked at her confusedly. I wanted answers to what they were saying, but how was I supposed to know when she isn't speaking to me or any of us?

“And the worst part of it all is that she is a stealer wolf.” Another chimed in.

My eyes widened, but I immediately masked the shock up with a frown. I couldn't believe this. How did this happen? My eyes were fixed on her while she shook her head as she looked at me.

What part was she actually against? The part where she was a mute or the one where she was a Stealer wolf?

“You have to stay away from her, Alpha. Stealer wolves are very dangerous and she is no exception. She knows you're the Alpha, and I'm certain that was why she ran into your arms with the sole reason of seducing you.” Another one said.

His words sent needles into my spine. Everyone knew what Stealer wolves were and what they were capable of doing.

Stealer wolves were the kind of wolves that could get mated by anybody. Widowed wolves and wolves that haven't had their mates yet were attracted to Stealer wolves and tend to claim them wherever they see them.

Stealer wives weren't the kind of wolves one could take as mates. They brought about endless troubles and chaos to the kingdom of their mates if they had one. I couldn't believe I would be subjected to such a cruel fate. This wasn't how I wanted my first meeting with my mate to be. This wasn't it at all!

I have always prayed for a mate and waited patiently for the moon goddess to give me one, but I couldn't believe what was actually happening. I had no idea whether the moon goddess was trying to play chess with me or something.

I asked for a mate, and she gave me a mute, and not just any mute but a stealer. When I prayed for a mate, what I wanted was a strong woman, a woman who would be able to fight for herself without letting anyone intimidate her, a fierce woman, but what I'm seeing is something entirely different. This lady standing before me was mute and a stealer, but the most annoying part was that she was weak. I don't want a weak mate.

I want a mate, who I can trust with the defense of this pack. How is she going to rule my people if she can't even talk to them? How will she pass judgements if she can't express her views? 

I shook my head. This was all too much for me and it angers me to the core. I won't reject her and I won't accept her either but she would have to stay away from me or I might just kill her.

And with that concluded in my heart, I pushed her away, shocking her in the process, much to the jubilation of the crowd. She was taken aback and looked at me in shock. I shot her a cold and distant glare and started walking away.

As I walked away, I saw the male werewolves coming towards her again but I couldn't care less. She was a Stealer wolf and so they had the chance to do whatever pleased them to her. I could hear her whimpering and the grunts of the male werewolves but I ignored them.

“Alpha Cedric!” 

I halted when I heard my name and did a robotic turn to see her looking in my direction with pleading eyes.

Did she just call my name?