can't read my, can't read my

no he can't read my poker face

His voice was alluringly deep and hypnotic, and I almost swooned right there. That one word alone sent my body into overdrive of ecstasy, shivers running down my spine.

Was this ... an orgasm?

I heard someone snort from somewhere around me.

"Her?" sneered Valerie, as she bit back a laugh. "Are you sure?" A few other people started chuckling along with her.

"Are you questioning me?" The threat in his icy voice was clear as day, causing everyone to snap their mouths shut.

"I apologize on behalf of my pack, Alpha," Alpha James quickly intervened, a slight tremor in his voice. "What she meant was, surely it couldn't have been Ms. Willows that escaped you. She's hardly trained!"

Alpha Rowan ignored him.

"Look at me."'

My mind was a mess, muddled with his presence, and I fell victim to his command. I lifted my gaze up to meet his and the instant I did, I was frozen. His honey orbs pierced into mine for a moment, before running down my body. Something in his eyes clicked, a confirmation of some sort.

"As I said before, it's her," he spoke in a harsh calm. His irises flicked up to meet mine once more, before he turned to face Alpha James.

"She will be coming with me," Alpha Rowan stated with firm finality.

"There is no need for that, I assure you Alpha Eastwood," Alpha James spoke in a rush. "If it is indeed Reya, as you said so, then I will see to it myself that she is punished for her actions. She always has been quite the troublemaker," he finished, eyeing me with a smug look on his face.

Alpha Rowan focused on Alpha James, staring at him with such intensity that I was sure he would disintegrate.

"She trespassed on my land and is therefore my prisoner, and will consequently suffer my punishments."

I was saddened by his words. He spoke so easily about hurting me and still hadn't given any indication about me being his mate.

Alpha James shifted uncomfortably. "Very well, uh, Alpha Eastwood. I think that sounds very agreeable."

They were talking about me as if I was some item they were exchanging! The blinding effects of the mate bond were forgotten as I switched from my entranced state to a very angry one. My wolf was livid at the disrespect coming from the two males in front of her.

"And what about what I think?" I interjected, having finally found my voice. Alpha James and Alpha Rowan snapped their heads towards me, as if realizing for the first time that I was truly there.

"If you would take a minute to think, Alpha Eastwood," I spat his name out venomously, "you would see that I am not a threat to you or your pack. As everyone has so kindly mentioned, I barely have any training, meaning I wouldn't be capable of harming anyone, let alone someone from your well-trained pack.

"Honestly, this whole ordeal is quite ridiculous really," I rambled on in an attempt to get out of my current situation, "and punishing me is completely unnecessary. It would just be a waste of your time and resources. So letting me go would actually benefit you -"

"Will you shut up?" Alpha Rowan gritted out.

I gasped. "Manners!" Maybe I could annoy him into letting me go. "That is no way to ask someone to stop speaking. Now, let's try again shall we? And this time with a little more politeness, if that's even something you're capab -"

In a flash, Alpha Rowan was standing in front me, gripping my chin. Tingles ignited at every point that his hand made contact with my skin, and I tried my best to suppress a shiver, but it still made its way to the surface. His expression had darkened by tenfold and his jaw clenched as he stared into my eyes, anger evident in his own.

"I do not tolerate such disrespect," he said between clenched teeth, nostrils flaring. "And I will not hesitate to put you in your place."

I unconsciously flinched back, my gaze flickering to Alpha James for a brief moment. His words reminded me of those spoken by Alpha James on many occasions.

Alpha Rowan studied me, tilting his head slightly as he watched me.

His warm breath fanned across my face, and I grew annoyed when it didn't smell horrible.

Well, we can cross bad breath off the list. Hopefully he has a foot fungus.

I lifted my chin up . "Respect is earned, and you have yet to deserve mine."

Gasps chorused across the field as people took in what I had just said to the Shadow Alpha.

Something unreadable flitted across his eyes, disappearing as quickly as it had come. I held his stoney stare, challenging him as the atmosphere between us intensified.

Alpha James, quickly jumped in. "I apologize for her actions, Alpha Eastwood, but I can't say I'm surprised," he said in a hurry. "We really have tried our best to discipline her, but as you can see, she's completely out of control."

Suddenly, hands grabbed me and Alpha Rowan let go of his hold on me. Two men appeared, one on either side, gripping my arms. I let out a hiss of pain as one of them clamped down on one of my lashes that had yet to fully heal.

Alpha Rowan briefly looked down at where the man was holding me, before nodding at one of the men.

"Handcuff her."

"What?" I reeled back. "No! Get off me!" I protested, thrashing in their hold, but they didn't let go.

I knew I likely could've broken free, but there were too many eyes watching and people were bound to question where I had gotten the newfound strength as a wolfless werewolf. I wasn't going to jeapordize all of Uncle Eddie's hard work to keep me hidden. Not now.

It seemed that going to Shadow Pack was my only option at this point, no matter how much I didn't want to.

One man pulled out silver handcuffs and placed them on me, securing my arms behind my back. Alpha Rowan, who was watching the entire thing like a hawk, cocked his head to the side as he threw Alpha James a questioning look. I immediately knew what he was wondering, and apparently, so did Alpha James.

"She's wolfless, Alpha Eastwood," he said, answering the unspoken question. "Silver doesn't affect her like the rest of us."

Alpha Rowan drew his eyes back to me, his stoic expression having become unreadable once again. "Is that so?"

"Truly unfortunate, I know," Alpha James nodded his head with fake sympathy. "I blame it on bad genetics - her father is also wolfless and quite erratic, I might add."

My wolf almost took over, but I managed to put her down at the last moment. She loved Uncle Eddie with her whole heart, having formed a strong attachment to him over the years and as a result, was extremely protective over him.

Screw this. If I was going to be held captive by the Shadow Pack then I might as well do some damage before I left the Lunar pack.

"My father is the best damn man on this planet and I'll be damned if you speak about him that way ever again," I seethed, lunging at Alpha James, causing the men holding me to restrain me even harder. "You're nothing but a pathetic excuse of an Alpha who's only ever been capable of exerting his power over those weaker than him. But everyone knows you'd be the first to submit in a real challenge," I snarled. "You can't even speak to Alpha Eastwood over here without pissing in your panties."

Alpha James' face was as red as a tomato. "I don't know what's gotten into her, Alpha Eastwood," he breathed out, anger laced in his voice. "She's never spoken out like this before. Are you sure you still want to take her?"

I knew the purpose behind his question. My words had ticked him off and he was itching to punish me for it, but he wouldn't be able to if I was no longer part of this pack.

Alpha Rowan, who had been silently observing our exchange, fixed his attention on me with a calculated stare.

"She comes with me."

There was no room for debate in his voice, and in that moment, I was so glad to know I would never have to live with the people in this place ever again. Alpha Rowan was my ticket out and I'd find a way to escape from him later.

He turned and began walking back in the direction of the platform. The two men pushed me forward, forcing me to follow him.

"Halt!" screamed a familiar voice.

We stopped and I turned to see Uncle Eddie running down the hill to the meeting grounds, his robe flapping in the wind while his wooden spoon poked out of his jeans.

"Halt this madness immediately!"

He shoved his way to the front of the crowd, coming to a stop in front of me.

"Reya? Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" he questioned, scanning me head to toe for any injuries.

I guess he seemed satisfied in his check because he turned away from me before I could even begin to form an answer. Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at Alpha James.

"You." Uncle Eddie was practically in the Alpha's face. "You're the reason the Goddess created the middle finger!" he yelled, pulling out the spoon. "I'm going to beat the living stupid out of you and all of your future descendants!"

Alpha James was slightly taken aback, but he managed to compose himself. "Mr. Willows, Reya is now a prisoner of the Shadow Pack," said Alpha James, with a little smirk on his ugly face.

"A prisoner?" Uncle Eddie whirled around, finally noticing Alpha Rowan and his little crew, before looking at me with burning curiosity.

Pleading with my eyes, I silently tried to tell him to stop protesting. There was no way we would be able to get out of this predicament without exposing ourselves and Shadow Pack would just be a temporary stop in our plan to leave Lunar pack. In a way, it gave us a valid reason to go. After a few moments, it seemed he understood what I was trying to convey.

"Well then, you'll just have to take me as well."

One of the men holding me let out a sigh of exasperation. "Alpha Rowan, with all due respect, this has got to be the most dramatic arrest we've done, and there isn't even any fighting," he grunted out in annoyance.

"Nonsense! If you take her then you have to bring m-"

"Dad," I spoke softly. "It's okay. You stay here." I gave Uncle Eddie a tight-lipped smile as I met his worried eyes. "I'll be fine, trust me."

He stared at me for a long moment. "I trust you, Skittle. And I'll come get you," he finally spoke, to which Alpha Rowan narrowed his eyes.

"We're done here," Alpha Rowan barked out, turning on his heel as he walked away.

I let myself get pulled along with the men, watching the muscles flex on my mate's back as we followed him. It wasn't until two black vehicles came into view that I felt a stinging sensation on my wrist.

Biting back a smile, I stepped into the van, fully aware of the fact that Uncle Eddie had just cast a tracker spell on me.

------------------------

A/N 

Soooooo, there you have it! Freya and Rowan are definitely off to a rocky start, BUT that's exactly where I want them hehehe

What did you guys think?

Also, I feel like I should ask this since I'm always talking about sweets and junk food in this book, but what's your favourite candy/chocolate/junk food item??

Vote and comment!

Xo