03

I trail behind him as we walk from the brick building and towards the houses in the distance. The closer we get, the more I study them. There are about three houses in a row with more farther in the distance. The three homes are vast, but the one in the middle is mesmerizing. It is white on the outside with accents of gray stone. We hurry to the front steps, and I feel a little on edge when the man knocks on the two grand, white doors.

It does not take long before a young, handsome guy opens one of them.

« What ya got, Andrew ? » He asks the man excited, just from this small encounter I can tell he is an overall happy person.

All of the sudden, a dog of some breed comes running out the door and straight towards me. I have never seen a dog in person before.

« Bruiser ! Get back here ! »

I immediately crouch down and start to pet the sweet thing. I have always wanted a dog, but grandma said if I can barely take care of myself, I cannot take care of an animal, though I was a child when she told me that. « Hey there, aren’t you just a big sweetheart, » I coo at the slobbering dog, his stubby tail wagging like crazy. He jumps up at me, placing his paws on my shoulders and starts to lick my face. I let out a giggle, returning to some other version of myself who still wishes for pets. « You’re silly, aren’t you ? »

I peer up at the two people, and their expressions are full of surprise. I pat the dog on his head and stand up, remembering my position.

« Um, okay, come on in, he’s in his office, » the guy at the door welcomes us and the man, whose name is Andrew, leads me into the house.

Andrew grabs my arm and pulls me down a long hallway. Portraits hang in between the windows that have silky curtains framing them, like white waterfalls, they pool on the wooden floor. As we venture further into the lovely looking house, my heart starts to beat faster, as if something is calling me to come closer.

All I want is to get back home to grandmother so I can get on my knees and beg for forgiveness. I miss her terribly, and I bet she is panicking like a child that cannot find their mother.

We near two large, gray doors, and I can tell that whatever is behind them is the thing calling me, whispering for me to burst through. An irresistible aroma floods the air ; it is woodsy, fresh, and very masculine. I never want not to smell it as the particular scent has my knees wobbling. I start to breathe heavy as the temperature in this house begins to rise. What’s happening ? I ask my wolf, in need of an explanation.

I-I don’t know. She sounds different ; she is being affected by this hypnotic trance also.

We reach the doors, and my wolf is utterly restless, not being able to calm down. Andrew chooses one of the two, knocks on it, and seconds later I hear a low « come in. »

My heart thumps hard.

Andrew slowly pushes the door open, and it takes a second but feels like an hour-long ordeal. My eyes dart into the room. Bookshelves line two opposite walls, and they are filled with hundreds of books. The walls are a dark gray, and the floor is a dark, clean wood. There are two comfortable looking seats placed in front of a grand, wood desk.

Sitting behind the desk is a man.

He has deep brown hair neatly on his head, and it suits him well. Even though he is sitting down, I can tell he is well built. The strangers fierce, dark green eyes glide up from the papers scattered about the desk as soon as I step in. I suck in a breath and stare at his addictive, handsome face. It is unreal, inconceivable—this creature set before me is something I could not fathom even in my limitless imagination. The scent took over my brain the second the door opened, and now I feel the intense need it to breathe. His gaze burns through me, and unlike any time before, I worry about how I look, dust and dirt from the cell cover my face, and I must look monstrous. His eyes roam my body, making me feel naked. He must be the Alpha. Does he have this effect on everyone ?

« I brought the rogue, » Andrew says, reminding me of where I am.

I do not realize I am holding my breath until the man behind the desk stands up, making me release it all. The stranger is like a mighty statue of a warrior from long ago—like the man beside me—intimidating me so easily. My body slightly shakes under his harsh gaze, my knees growing weak and my palms clammy. I force myself to look away, averting my eyes to my feet as I cannot look at him any longer without realizing the truth.

« Very well, you can leave. » His voice sends a shiver down my spine, and the hairs stand up on my arms. On the inside, I cannot help but hope the order was for me, but it was not. Andrew’s footsteps flee the room, and the sound of the door closing taunts me, but my gaze stays strictly glued to the floor.

« Look up. »

This time his voice sounds smoother, like a melody in my ears.

« Look at me. »

My breath hitches in my throat as he steps closer to me. I cannot bear to look at him. I cannot admit to the inevitable effect he has on me.

« I said look up, » he repeats, sounding more serious like I am a child and he is scolding me. I start to panic.

« Please, I didn’t k-know that I crossed on your…territory, I don’t even know what’s happening, » I ramble. Where is my wolf when I need her ?

Suddenly, his hand grips my jaw and brings my eyes to connect with his. My heart jumps from the electric feeling of his skin on mine, as I am obedient in his arms. Mate… Mate ! His hand slowly slides from my jaw to the back of my neck, and I study his emerald green eyes, the eyes of my mate. I have found him, the person that grandmother has told me so much about, the person that is supposed to matter so much. I cannot control it, the sudden need to be with him. He is a stranger, yet I have an abrupt need to please him.

« What is your name ? » He asks quietly, not moving his hand while the other continues to rest on my back. I cannot focus, his touch is distracting.

« Evangeline, » I breathe out, unsure of my answer. « I’m so sorry for what I did, but I have to go, » I say and glance away from his handsome face, landing my eyes on the wall. Maybe if I do not look at him, I will gain back the ability to speak properly. My mind is torn, part of me never wants to leave his arms, and the other knows I have to return home swiftly.

« Who put you in the cell ? » He asks, not fazed by my words.

« I don’t know. »

« You do, » he corrects me.

« I don’t know his name. »

The Alpha moves my eyes in the right direction again. « Tell me, Evangeline. »

Again, I refuse to answer. Andrew did indeed lock me in a cell, forcing me to lay in the dirt, but I will not turn him in. Something tells me he would be punished. « Why do you need to know who ? They couldn’t have known. »

« Nothing will happen to them, » he assures me, though I have my doubts.

« If I tell you, I can go ? » The Alpha, my mate, nods. « Okay, it was Andrew but—«

« Marina, » he calls out. It only takes a few seconds for the doors to open, revealing a short woman with caramel colored hair. She has an apron wrapped around her body and white tennis shoes, ones that older women tend to wear, which is understandable. Her skin is tan and glowing.

« Yes, Alpha ? » She asks, quick.

« Take Evangeline and get her cleaned up, » he says to her. Hearing him say my name makes lips part, never has it sounded so beautiful, so desirable. Before I know it I am being led out of the room by the woman, Marina. When I climb out of the trance, my mate placed me in. My eyes grow wide. « Wait. I have to go, » I tell her.

She turns around with a soft, welcoming smile. « Come on honey, let’s get you cleaned up. »

« But—«