CHAPTER 3 The Alpha's intervention

Leila POV*

I could feel all their stares but I didn't raise my head.

It was foolish I know, almost too daring but that was the only way out of this mating ceremony I could think of.

"Raise your head," Alpha Xander said. His voice firm and uncompromising I raised my head and met his eyes. They were dark and unfathomable. I could not see any emotions in them.

"Repeat yourself" he ordered.

"I caught my fiance cheating on me. I made my father aware of it and yet, my father wants me to go along with the mating ceremony."

The hair at the back of my neck stood at the instant change in the room's atmosphere. I looked around noticing that I wasn't the only one that was tensed up.

"Carlson, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Alpha, I'm looking out for my daughter. She has been friends with her fiance for a long time, I do not want her to end a friendship based on a misunderstanding."

"Are you trying to say that cheating is a misunderstanding?" Alpha Xander asked, he didn't look pleased.

"No Alpha…"

"Then what exactly are you saying?"

"I'm trying to say that she may not be right. Won't it be better for her to talk to her fiance and know what's actually going on than for her to assume and destroy her relationship?"

Seriously?! I'm assuming?

The two generals present looked uncomfortable. Their eyes bounced from Alpha Xander to my father to me.

Their gaze reminded me that I forgot to cover my neck. I glanced at my father, his hands were clenched but there were beads of sweat on his forehead.

He was angry but the fear of Alpha Xander overruled it.

"Carlson, there are marks on your daughter's neck."

Father swallowed, his gaze darting from left to right, trying to avoid Alpha Xander's penetrating gaze. I've never seen him like this…I don't know how to feel about it.

Fortunately for him, Alpha Xander focused on me.

"Who did that to you?"

Fuck!! I didn't think about this. I glanced at father, he didn't meet my gaze. I couldn't ignore the question.

"They look recent, is the person close by?" Regan, one of Alpha Xander's generals asked.

My gaze briefly went to my father's direction. I couldn't help it.

"Um…I…"

"What did you do Carlson?" Alpha Xander asked, his eyes narrowed.

Fuck, he had followed my gaze. There goes my peaceful night…I resisted a shiver at the fear of what might happen to me at home.

Father lowered his head to the ground, shocking the generals.

"I'm sorry Alpha, I took her punishment too far. I accept any punishment you give me."

Alpha Xander had killed the last alpha so he could take over. The last alpha was a tyrant and a self centered bastard. Alpha Xander's ruthlessness in battle and he's shrewd mind made the pack to both fear him and respect him.

"There are laws Carlson. No one is forced into a mating they don't want, you will be punished accordingly. As for the marks…" he leaned forward "...I will let it slide this time. There will be no next time."

It wasn't a question.

*Yes Alpha."

My wolf finally settled, she had sensed the relief in my heart. I was no longer going to mate with Damien, the plan had worked.

"Take her to the healer Regan."

"Thank you Alpha. Thank you." I bowed.

For a moment, his gaze softened as I raised my head.

Regan and I walked in silence. I noticed his frequent questioning look. We weren't close but he always kept an eye on me when he was around. Not even my stepmother could try anything funny when he was around.

"Leila…" he started. A small smile appeared on my face, he was also a little bit impatient.

"...did…did your father really do that? To your neck?"

I nodded, my talk with the Alpha had taken a toll on my throat.

"I may have said some things…" my voice sounded like a croak.

"Stop. Stop talking, let your throat rest."

I raised a brow and he smiled.

"I know I'm the one that asked. Sorry, I forgot…But, no matter what you said, he shouldn't have done that. It looks like he was planning to kill you."

I looked down, the ground suddenly became more interesting.

Regan stopped, "What was he thinking?!!"

Huh?... that's true, Damien and Alessia were my only friends but I have people that at least cared that I was alive.

"Some people beg the goddess for children during moon and after moon…" he grabbed my wrist, gently, and dragged me all the way to the healer's place. I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face.

Someone cared and he was angry on my behalf.

"...and some idiot tries to kill the one that he was given…what's even his problem?...did Sonia ban him from her bed?..."

I gasped flustered.

"... that's not even a good reason to do this…Babe?!"

The healer of our pack was Regan's mate. I am her most regular patient because of my poor link with my wolf. I don't have fast regeneration like the others do, my sensory perception was lacking compared to the others and I didn't have their strength. These factors led me to the healer's doorstep every other day.

"Honey? Did your meeting go well?" Marenza asked as she entered the room, drying her hands with a towel.

"It was something" Regan grumbled.

She raised a brow, "what does that mean?"

I moved from behind Regan, stepping into her line of sight.

"Leila? I thought you have finished this week quota?"

Marenza had given me two days a week and a free day for emergency to come to her place. It was her way of ensuring I wasn't too reckless with my body.

"You've used your three days for the week and you know the rule."

Yeah…if I came back for a fourth day, I have to endure the pain over night.

"This is a big emergency babe…" he gave her a little peck, "...look at her neck."

"What the fuck?!" She lifted my head to get a good look.

"I can see the fucking fingerprint of the fucker that did this…who is the bastard?"

Marenza never minced her words. She would tell you how bad it was even if your guts were falling out.

"It's Carlson" Regan said.

Marenza looked at her mate in disbelief, he sighed.

"I'm going to cut his hand off!!"