Page 15 of The Silent Mate

The sun still hadn’t crept over the horizon, but a brightening shade of blue smeared across the sky. Dew coated the grass, and a light breeze ran its fingers across my forearms. I inhaled deep, unknowingly searching for a familiar, intoxicating scent in the morning air.

Disappointment pricked at my chest when I found no trace of Malik.

We followed a path away from the monstrous pack house and toward a tree line, where I could just make out shingle roofs cresting above the evergreens.

“Is Malik nearby?” I questioned, feigning casual curiosity. In truth, I burned to know where I might find him.

Emerson shook her head, and I pretended that the gesture didn’t feel like a knife to the gut. “Alpha ordered him to take the latest training class on a patrol to test their?—”

“Emerson!” A loud male voice barked from behind us.

My red-haired guide came to an immediate halt, and every muscle in her body went rigid. Fear radiated off of her in waves, clogging the air with the scent of her submission.

I spun on my heel to face this newcomer, and momentary relief swept through me when I realized that Roman hadn’t tracked us down. That relief was short-lived, though. I recognized him as one of the males that flanked Roman in the outdated throne room yesterday evening. He had the blonde hair and broad shoulders of a magazine model.

“Anders,” Emerson bowed as she spoke, her voice trembling in the slightest. “Can I help you?”

He sneered at her, as if disgusted by her display of servitude. Of course, if she dared lift her voice or raise her head, he’d undoubtedly strike her down for her insolence. My old pack might not have engaged in the practice of a strict, harsh hierarchy, but I’d heard enough stories about the tragic lives of omegas.

“You can tell me why you’re running off with our newest arrival,” he ordered. Thank the Moon Goddess he turned his attention away from Emerson and now stared solely at me.

His pale blue eyes flickered down my body, and I thought Isaw his nostrils expand. Then, a small, smug smirk distorted his features.

Bile crept up my throat.

“The General—” Emerson began to explain herself, but he interrupted her immediately.

“Does not matter,” Anders drawled. “Alpha Roman has demanded that this female be brought to him. Immediately.”

Anger and fear sparked inside of me. My hands curled into fists as I fought to control my breathing. My instincts told me to run.

“I can’t imagine what he wants with me,” I challenged, although my voice betrayed me with a faint wobble. I took a small step forward to put myself between Anders and Emerson.

Again, Anders’ nostrils flared. “Perhaps not. But heisyour alpha. Best not to get on his bad side on your first day in the pack. Or should I tell him you disobeyed his order?”

I felt Emerson tremble at my back and knew that there was only one way this would end. I had to go to Alpha Roman or risk incurring his wrath on myself or, even worse, Emerson. I wouldn’t do that to her, no matter that we’d only just met.

“Fine, I’ll go with you,” I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. Mustering courage that I didn’t know I possessed, I glanced over my shoulder and offered my new friend a small, encouraging smile. “Emerson, why don’t I just meet you later?”

She immediately opened her mouth to argue, clearly unwilling to leave me to the wolves—literally—but I held her gaze pleadingly.

Go,I wanted to beg.

From what she told me, Roman wouldn’t risk harming me. I was his brother’s mate, after all. Emerson, on the other hand…Shewouldn’t be safe.

Sensing my reasoning, she ducked her head and nodded. “I’ll see you later then, Aria.”

Reluctance dripped from her every word, but I turned my attention back to Anders and forced my chin high. I wouldn’t bend to this male, even though he emitted waves of authority and power. One of Alpha Roman’s betas, perhaps?

I didn’t like the way Anders looked at me. There was a wicked gleam in his pale blue eyes, like I was prey, and a sudden wave of homesickness unraveled in my belly.

I wanted to go home, to my father and my pack. To my quiet, safe life.

Anders led the way back toward the castle, leaving me to trail a few steps behind. I wrapped my arms around my waist and prayed that Emerson had contacted Malik to let him know about the situation.

Maybe he would come back to steal me away from his brother again? Or, maybe he didn’t care. He was doing his job, training the pack, after all.

I released a shaky breath and told myself that it would be fine. I’d survive. No one would hurt me.

---