The Alpha's Little Slave

Chapter 31: Truth Exposed II

Everyone paused at Damon’s words.

I couldn’t help but cast a worried look in Blaise’s direction; was he going to be alright if we all left him and Damon alone? Surely Damon wouldn’t hurt his own brother too badly. Even if Damon didn’t care about familial ties, Blaise was also his pack’s beta. Hurting Blaise would be tantamount to cutting off his nose to spite his face.

That didn’t stop me from being worried for Blaise anyway. Damon wasn’t high on my list of rational individuals.

Blaise, however, seemed remarkably blase about this turn of events. He simply sighed and moved away in disappointment. "As you say, Damon. I’ll see you around, Harper."

"Alpha, where am I supposed to lead her?" Elijah asked, his tone of extreme reluctance as his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "Do I bring her back to her room or yours? Or do I bring her to Regulus House instead?"

I noticed how his gaze darted between the brothers anxiously, as though he was a child caught between arguing parents and he didn’t know who to support. Not that I was any surprised by Elijah’s predicament. Damon hadn’t exactly provided clear instructions.

With how Damon had reacted when Blaise suggested taking me, it didn’t seem like he was too keen on sharing the mate that he didn’t want. In that case, Regulus House — which was where Blaise mainly resided — would be out of the question.

"My room." To everyone’s surprise, those words came out of both Blaise and Damon’s mouths at the same time.

I thought I might be hallucinating, but a quick glance at Elijah and Kaine’s equally shocked faces showed that they heard the exact same thing.

If Elijah looked anxious before, he was downright frantic now, his eyes wider than the moon. I would laugh if the situation wasn’t so tense. As it was, all sound died in my throat. Elijah shot Kaine a wordless plea for help, but Kaine’s face regained its previous expressiveness, which was to say, not much.

The tension grew as Damon met eyes with his brother.

Then, just as suddenly, the tension was broken by Blaise’s bark of laughter. "The Alpha’s room, then," he said. "It seems like my brother has a punishment awaiting Harper later."

Damon didn’t exactly return a laugh of his own but there was at least a smile on his face now, albeit a little wicked. To my dismay, it made him look more handsome than he had every right to be. Against my better instincts, my heart began to beat faster.

No. I will not be suckered by a handsome face. Not again.

"Bring her to Regulus House," Damon commanded, his voice resolute. "On second thought, I don’t want her in my sight."

I winced; Damon’s words had caused pain to radiate down my spine, courtesy of the cursed mate bond.

"Are you... sure?" Elijah asked, his gaze still shifting back and forth between both brothers. "You’re not pulling my leg, are you?"

Damon rolled his eyes and waved a careless hand at Elijah. "Just take her out of here, Elijah. Seeing her disgusts me."

Rankled, I could only follow Elijah as he led me out of the room.

When we were a safe distance away from the room, Elijah asked. "Is it true? That you’re their fated mate? That’s incredible... To think Blaise and Damon will have to share you."

Elijah wiped a bead of sweat from his temple. He coldly laughed and shook his head in disbelief.

He said with a sigh, "I don’t know whether to cheer or cry for our pack’s future."

"I suppose ’incredible’ is one word for it," I sighed. The starry-eyed look in Elijah’s eyes from before had now faded to worry. "After what happened earlier, you’d better start crying."

After all, I insulted Damon and he strangled me before he insulted me like I wasn’t there. Blaise came to my rescue but it also landed him in a talk with his brother. I didn’t wish to flatter myself but that talk was no doubt about me as well.

"And yet you’re still alive," Elijah pointed out. "I’ve seen people killed for less, and you’ve basically called our Alpha an unlovable loser."

I sputtered. "He is! I mean― why does he need so many chosen mates?" I complained. "There must be something seriously wrong with him, and for these women that willingly want to spend time with him."

"Most women would choose to be with him," Elijah said, his tone matter-of-fact. "He is a young alpha and the leader of a powerful pack. That makes him the most eligible bachelor out in the market. It’s more surprising that you don’t want him."

I scoffed. "I would’ve rejected him if he hadn’t stopped me before I could. If I tried again, maybe I will end up dead for real this time." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"You wanted to... why?" Elijah asked, his voice full of hurt. "The pain from a rejection is unbearable, Harper. I know you do not like Damon, but I would not wish such tragedy on my worst enemy."

"After losing everything in just one night, I fail to see how this would be any worse," I retorted dryly, and Elijah stared down at the floor, a little ashamed. "As far as first impressions go, Damon could not have done worse."

Elijah opened his mouth, presumably to defend Damon, but I stopped him with more questions.

"And why does it sound like you are speaking from personal experience? Did someone reject you?"

Elijah kept quiet, his eyes morose. He pursed his lips, looking away from my eyes. That was more than enough of an answer.

"That’s ridiculous! How could someone find you lacking? Do they have brain damage?"

That to me, was utterly inconceivable. Elijah was a kind enough man, good-looking too. His status as a charlie in a pack as prestigious as Fangborne meant that he had skills and abilities. Which woman was so insane that they would not want him?

"Of course you would think that," An unwelcome voice interrupted us. "If someone rejected him, it simply means that they were aiming for something better. Isn’t that right, Elijah?"

From the shadows, a familiar face appeared.

"Not everyone is content with being the mate of a mere charlie."

"Susie, what are you doing here?" Elijah asked in a careful, measured voice.

"Why can’t I be here?" She scoffed, mockery coloring her eyes. "I heard there was a dumb bitch barking in the corridors, so I came to set things straight."