The Alpha's Little Slave

Chapter 164: Nitwit

My emotions were in turmoil as I stormed through the corridors. Several Thunderstrike wolves turned to give me a curious look, but most didn’t bother to approach. No one stopped me from going out the door, so I assumed that I must have been given leeway to explore the grounds.

Either that, or they didn’t think I was an actual threat to begin with. I had a feeling Thunderstrike didn’t see anyone as a threat; they were too powerful and wealthy a pack to be taken down by anyone.

In the end, I arrived in one of the gardens on Thunderstrike’s territory.

The iron wrought gate was unlocked, so I walked inside to take a look.

Technically, calling it a garden was an understatement. Not only were there countless flowers in full bloom, decorating the entire place a riot of color, but there were tall hedge sculptures lining the tiled paths. It was an utterly extravagant display of wealth, but its beauty was unparalleled. I found myself transfixed by the various plants as I slowly made my way through the path.

How could such a beautiful garden have no visitors? I wondered to myself. But that was good for me, since I wanted nothing more than to sit on a bench and scream into my hands. I needed time to contemplate everything that had happened.

I sank myself down on one of the wooden benches and closed my eyes. I knew rationally that there was only one way out of this mess― Damon had to marry Dahlia to save Fangborne from starvation, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

I didn’t want Damon to marry Dahlia, not just because he was one of my fated mates, but because Damon himself was unwilling. If he had fallen in love with her and was torn between honoring our bond and his feelings for her, I would have set him free, no matter how much it pained me to do so.

Yet, Damon didn’t want to reject me. He wanted me as his fated mate, and he was ready to fight for me, regardless of the consequences. That thought caused butterflies to flutter in my stomach and my heart to race, before I remembered the trouble we were in.

All the butterflies died instantaneously, leaving behind smoky ashes.

What was our bond in the face of Fangborne’s survival? ƒreewebɳovel.com

I couldn’t help but think that perhaps the Moon Goddess gave me two fated mates because she knew that I wouldn’t be able to keep them both to begin with. There was a foreign feeling jostling in my chest, threatening to swallow me whole when I thought of Damon in Dahlia’s arms.

I tried to convince myself that I had no right to be upset over Damon’s circumstances to begin with. I didn’t even like him half the time! He was rude and insufferable and domineering and snarky and childish―

Who was I kidding? I could list out all of Damon’s bad points over and over again, but it would still not deter my heart from beating in double time. I had no idea when my feelings began to shift from friendship to something deeper, but perhaps I was simply delaying the inevitable. We were fated mates after all.

I sighed into my hands.

"Penny for your thoughts?" An unfamiliar voice interrupted me, and I raised my head to stare at the interloper. It was a man with dark black hair and soft blue eyes framed by a pair of wire-rim glasses.

His eyes widened when he caught sight of my face, and his cheeks suddenly bloomed a bright red. He let out a tiny cough.

"I don’t think we have met before," he said politely, but there was a slight frown on his face, in addition to the redness. "And Thunderstrike hasn’t accepted any new rogues recently. Who are you, and why are you in my garden?"

"Oh!" I exclaimed, hurriedly getting up. "I’m not from Thunderstrike. I’m from Fangborne. And the gate was open, so I entered. I’m sorry if I’m trespassing."

If anything, that man looked at me with more suspicion than before. He leaned in closer and took a long sniff from my neck, causing me to scoot back in surprise at the sudden invasion into my personal bubble.

"You’re from Fangborne, yet you smell nothing like a wolf," he growled out, sounding surprisingly menacing. "How can you prove your identity?"

"I can get Damon or Blaise to vouch for me if you like," I said, but before I could turn away and leave, he gripped me by the arm, refusing to let me go. "Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!"

"You cannot be a part of Fangborne," that man insisted hotly. "They only accept full werewolves in their pack. Damon Valentine would never take in a human woman, let alone bring her to Thunderstrike when he claimed he had matters of grave importance to discuss. You should have come up with a better cover story, or done more research on him."

His eyes darkened. "Now, answer me honestly. Who are you? Are you a hunter?"

"I’m Harper from Fangborne! If you don’t believe me, I can even get Dahlia or Alpha Thorton to vouch for me!" I said bravely, "When they find out you have been treating me, a guest, so poorly, they might just decide to punish you instead. Save yourself the trouble and unhand me this instance!"

I didn’t come so far just to be cowed by this haughty stranger who seemed to strut around the place like he owned it.

Also, if I was a hunter, I wouldn’t stand around to chat with him. I’d twist my hand away, stab him, and be on my merry way. Was this man a fool?

The man scoffed. "Clearly you must not know who I am. Why would my father and sister dare to punish me for capturing an intruder?"

My mouth fell open in shock. This man... he was Darach, Alpha Thorton’s son!

The very same person Damon called a nitwit!

"It’s you? You’re the nitwit?"