I'm the Alpha's Mate

Chapter 5

The stranger stands behind the desk, intimidating me so easily. My body slightly shakes under her harsh glaze, 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 her any longer without realizing the truth.

"Very well, you can leave." Her voice sends a shiver down my spine and my hair stands up. On the inside, I can't help but hope the order was for me, but it was not. Yeonjun's footsteps flee the room, and the sound of the doors closing rings in my ears. My gaze stays strictly glued to the floor.

"Look up." This time her voice sounds smoother, like a melody in my ears. "Look at me."

My breath hitches in my throat as she steps closer to me. I can't look at her, I can't admit to the inevitable effect she has on me.

"I said look up," she repeats, sounding more serious like I am a child and she 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 h-happening," I rambled. Where was my wolf when I needed her?

Suddenly, her hand grips my jaw and brings my eyes to connect with hers. My heart jumps from the electric feeling of her skin on mine, as I am obedient in her arms.

"Mate, mate!" Lucy yells at me.

Her hand slowly slides from my jaw to the back of my neck. I study her emerald green eyes, the eyes of my mate. I have found her, the person that grandma 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 her. She is a stranger, yet I have a need to please her.

"What's your name?" She asks quietly, not moving her hand while the other continues to rest on my back. I cannot focus, her touch is terribly distracting.

"Yeji," 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 her handsome face, landing my eyes on the wall. Maybe if I do not look at her, I will gain back the ability to speak properly. My mind is torn, part of me never wants to leave her arms, and the other knows I have to return home quickly.

"Who put you in the cell?" She asks, not fazed by my words.

"I don't know," I answered

"You do," she corrects me.

"I don't know his name." I retorted

The Alpha glides my eyes in the right direction again. "Tell me, Yeji."

Again, I refuse to answer. Yeonjun 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," she assures me, though I have my doubts.

"If I tell you, can I go?" The Alpha, my mate, nods. "Okay, it was Yeonjun."

"Lia," she 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 shoes, ones that short women tend to wear, which is understandable. Her skin is tan and glowing.

"Yes, Alpha?" She asks, quick.

"Take Yeji and get her cleaned up," she says to Lia. Hearing her say my name makes my 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, Lia. When I climb out of the trance my mate placed me in, my eyes grow wide. "Wait. I have to go," I tell Lia.

She turns around with a soft, welcoming smile. "Come on honey, let's get you cleaned up."

"But-"

"Come," she links my arm with hers and leads me down a hall, then unexpectedly, to a room upstairs. The room is at the end of the long hallway, guarded by two large doors. She pushes one open and pulls me gently in, as I do not plan on fighting back.

My head spins when I enter the darkroom, as her scent is everywhere, everything seems to hold it. In the center of it all was a bed, a bed with silky sheets peeking out from the side. My face flushes all possible shades of red.

I tear my eyes away and they land on a doorway that connects a bathroom. Lia is inside, folding fluffy, white towels and resting them on the edge of the substantial tub. Beside the bathtub is a modern, dark brown tiled shower. Everything is dark.

"I'll leave you to shower, and I'll grab some clothes from Mina Unnie. They will be on the bed when you are done." Before leaving, she smiles almost excitedly. I nervously smile back.

I hear the door shut and I now know I am alone. Surely she cannot expect me to shower in a bathroom that does not belong to me, or anyone I know. This is all so bizarre, but knowing my mate is down the steps, so close, makes me feel less uncomfortable. She said I could go home, she said it to my face, but the bond between us has blinded me.

Maybe she meant after I got cleaned up? Oh gosh, I just want to be at home in my own bed, wrapped up like an infant. This has been the most insane, most unbelievable day of my life. Why did the creek possess me, as if it grabbed onto my feet and used me like a puppet? That is why I felt so attached to the idea of crossing, I know that now, but look where the action has gotten me? I have found my mate.

Hesitantly, I take off my filthy clothes after checking to make sure the door is locked. Never have I felt so bare.

Under the water's current, my mind continues to question and conjure. The Alpha, the stranger, my mate, she can play me like a violin, and part of me would not see the bad in it. Something about her has me addicted, hooked by her every word, move, breath-like she has cast a spell over me. Never have I been so undecided. Of course, I cannot help but think about abandoning my old life, leaving it all behind to be with someone made for me. A mate, oh, how sweet the possibilities sound. Then there is the other half, the half that worries for my grandmother.

What if she has gone out looking for me, what if she accidentally crosses the land as I did? They cannot put a fragile, old lady in a grimy, nasty cage as they did to me.

The warmth from the water leaves me. Stepping out, I grab one of the towels and cover myself. Lia told me the clothes would be on the bed, so I looked out into the bedroom and was thankful to find the pile there. The bedroom door is closed, so I go out and swiftly change.

The clothing is more revealing than I usually wear, so I slip on the robe I spotted in the bathroom.

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