Page 34 of A Mysterious Slave for the Lycan Prince

Once more, I can’t help my chuckle at his silly teasing and the glares all five of them throw at him. It seems like Marcel just found the perfect strategy to handle the group. We tone the chatting down the closer we get to the pack borders. I can already feel it in the air… the presence of several strong warriors, their auras emitting their strength and power. The first one to come into my view is a man guarding the main entrance to the pack. I put a polite smile on and walk toward him.

“We are the group from Emerald Moon,” I say politely, pointing at my group. For once, the two pairs of twins shut up and let me handle it. Emerald Moon is Jace’s pack, the twins’ father. He has never come into contact with Blood Snow, which is why he told us to use his pack as a cover.

“Right.” The guard flashes me a smile, which I instantly notice is fake. His whole aura is red, radiating around him and underlining his vile thoughts.

It’s my gift to read other people’s intentions and feelings. It can come in handy, but it can also be a wrong indicator because sometimes it’s just feelings that get in the way of a person’s real intention. Someone can be mad or angry without having a vile persona. Also, Max and I both have to be wide awake and focus on the other person to read them. It drains a lot of energy, and since I’m blessed with my couch potato wolf, he tends to sleep a lot.

Be careful,Max tells me out of the blue.I don’t like this pack.

We haven’t even stepped foot into it yet,I point out.

Still…Max stands up and paces around in my mind.Something here feels off.

He is not wrong. Something indeed feels off, but it was to be expected. After everything I heard about this pack, I knew it wouldn’t be a welcoming place.

The nameless guard accompanies us toward the pack house. On our way, we bump into yet another warrior. This one looks stronger and…weirdly out of place. The few people in Blood Snow we just walked by are mostly pale and white due to the climate and weather, but this guy is not just looking sun-kissed; his skin color is darker, with an olive tone to it. He has black hair and almost black eyes, and his physical build differs from the others.

He is of alpha blood,I link my group.

Are you sure?Marcel asks, clearly uncomfortable.

Absolutely. I can easily tell.I decide to block the others from the next thing I want to say and only tell Marcel for now. He has the best poker face.Don’t tell the others, but he is also a lycan.

WHAT!I have to give it to Marcel; he keeps his facial expression in check, although he sounds shocked.What is a lycan doing here?

I have no idea,I mutter.He is definitely not from this pack originally. Probably why he looks so different.

Looks alone don’t mean much though, do they?Marcel wants to know.

Blood Snow is very reclusive,I explain.They choose mates due to power, and they like to keep their blood…clean.I flinch at the last word, barely able to say it, even in my thoughts.

Goddess,Marcel mutters.

The chances of someone living in this pack who looks so different are very low. There must be a particular reason why he lives here.

The guard and the lycan warrior have been talking, but now that they have shifted their attention back to us, I make sure to stop my mind link too. I don’t want to be distracted.

“I’m Arman,” the man introduces himself. “Welcome to Blood Snow.”

“Thanks for having us,” I say with a smile, bowing a bit.

Damn it,I link my group.You need to bow too. He is of high rank, and officially, we are not!

They all follow me and bow toward Arman too.

Arman makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Please, cut the formalities,” he says. “I might be an elite warrior, but I have no special rank.”

I stare at him in surprise. He is a lycan in a place full of werewolves. He should naturally inherit a high rank. Gamma, at least!

“The guard called you Lord Arman, though,” Marcel asks with a fake shy smile.

Arman sighs. “I’m not royalty. I’m also not of any rank, but my sister has an important gift, which is why the pack calls us so formally.”

It makes sense. He must be very strong, and if his sister is important too, then I’m sure their alpha groomed them accordingly. I don’t say anything, though, keeping my thoughts to myself, but I check his aura while we walk.

It’s calm. Waves of blue surround him. He seems genuine, and I can’t detect anything vile from him, besides a wave of underlying anger that doesn’t seem to be directed at us. I use the time to check our surroundings, and see how the pack members here live. Most of the people working outside are men; I hardly see any women. It all looks pretty rough. Life here is probably quite hard.

It’s only when we step into the pack house that the auras of several people hit me. I wasn’t prepared for it. Normally I don’t have my gift switched on like that for a long time, but here I did it to know what we get ourselves into. Waves of sorrow and pain wash over me, desperation, hatred, hopelessness. I clasp my chest slightly.

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