The Unmarked Mate

Chapter 28

Elestren

We all left the cars. Fourteen people walking as one counting Liam. Matthew was leading, Otto on his left and me on his right. I knew where to go. For once I was glad Otto was there, maybe he didn't like me, but he was a loyal Delta and a good fighter, though I'd never admit that to anyone. I walked them toward the packhouse where I knew Lucius would be waiting. On the way people were watching, they were watching me. I heard whispers rising.

"It's Elestren!"

"She's alive!"

"What is she doing here?"

"She thinks she still owns this place, Alpha will deal with her!"

"I knew it! She looks so much like her father".

Dozens of voices all around. It was time to stop shying away from what people had to say about me. Then my eyes crossed his gaze. I would wipe that smirk off his face soon enough. Liam was right, he looked weaker, smaller than I remembered. It wasn't him I was afraid about. Not anymore, my one fear was to let him do what he wanted, to allow him to, and that was the one fear I had to get over with. Matthew saw me staring at Lucius who was staring right back at me.

"Are you okay?" he whispered to me.

"As I said before Alpha, don't worry about me!" I simply answered in a low and determined voice, holding my head high. He wanted fear, he wanted afraid and weak, he would not get it. I wasn't this person anymore, I never was, he would find out soon enough.

Just as we entered the courtyard of the packhouse, Alfred walked out of it, Orithya by his side. She wasn't crying, she wasn't hysterical. She was noble, proud, stoic. A strong Luna, a strong woman. Everything he despised, everything he couldn't control.

"Welcome to my pack!" he shouted, emphasizing the possessive.

"Little mate, you have found your way back home. And we all believed you were dead, I'm so happy to find you safe and sound. You grew even more fat, I'll have to do something about that!" On my right, I felt Lucia coming forward, I stopped her with my arm.

"Hello mate! I'd love to return the favour and say I have found you safe and sound, but you look tired. I'd even say you grew weak! I'm glad I came and I'm sorry you couldn't." I grinned widely, sarcastically. He looked at me concerned, yes, I knew! He looked me down, his eyes stopping on my breasts. His gaze on me disgusted me, I felt the bond, but all the attraction that once came with it was gone for me. But his lingering gaze informed me it wasn't the case for him.

"Alpha Lucius Bate, I demand you release my Luna. You have no right to hold her. You will free her at once." Matthew ordered in a commanding tone. If Lucius didn't feel the threatening tone in his voice, he was even more stupid that I thought.

"Alpha Matthew, you have no demands no make here! This is my territory! And might I remind you, you've been holding my Luna for several years." Lucius sneered.

"I didn't hold anyone; she joined us of her own volition! Will you pretend Orithya did too? But again, you're not big on consent, are you?" Matthew snapped back, irritating Lucius with these words.

"Do you trust me?" I asked Matthew in mindlink.

"Always!" he answered.

"Now boys, let's play nice." I said stepping forward, time to take the stage.

Arthur

"Now boys, let's play nice." I heard Dahlia say. She came forward and approached him. Some of his warriors hesitated to stop her, they were all looking at each other, wondering what to do. They clearly didn't know how to act around her: she wasn't menacing to them, but she came with the enemy, but again she was their Luna, their Alpha's mate. She slowly walked toward that vicious man, she was moving her hips suggestively while going up to him, she was in front of him now, she stopped and stroked his face. What game was she playing? She was flirting with him. I didn't like where this was going.