CHAPTER 4 A visit to the Alpha's Office

Leila

"Alpha Xander is already giving him a punishment," Regan said from their kitchen.

"I don't even understand how he can do that to his own kid!! There's a difference between abuse and punishment, this is abuse. That's what I see it as!"

"Yeah…I wish I got my hands on him…too bad the Alpha got to him first" Regan had a scary glint in his eyes.

"That doesn't mean that more can't be added…" she led me to her work room, "...was it Damien that reported to Alpha Xander?"

"No…I did."

Marenza looked at me in shock. I know, confrontations are not my thing.

"Yeah. We were in the middle of discussing how the pack was doing when we heard someone running…" Regan began as he entered the room with a plate of chicken, "...I thought it was a child that was playing too close, Beta Carlson wanted to turn him back but Alpha Xander asked him to leave the kid."

Marenza snorted, she started mixing her ingredients. "I'm pretty sure that he knew it was Leila. That's why he was quick to suggest chasing the 'kid'."

"I don't know what came over him. While we were waiting for Alpha Xander, he looked so sick. I thought he had eaten something that didn't agree with his stomach."

"I bet it was fear of what Alpha Xander would do.'

"Nah, it looked more like guilt mixed with fear to me."

I smiled. They were the ones that made me agree to Damien's proposal. I wanted what they had, a relationship that was filled with love and camaraderie.

Damien had burnt that bridge.

"Anyways…" Regan stressed, ending their dragging"... Leila burst into the room, huffing and puffing..."

"I don't remember it that way…" I murmured with my croak voice and red face.

Marenza patted my head, "don't talk sweetie your throat needs to rest and Regan is tell me about it."

Totally ignored!

"She screamed, telling Alpha Xander that her father was forcing her to marry Damien."

"Oh?" Marenza looked at me, "I thought you wanted Damien as a mate? Isn't he your best friend?"

"Bastard cheated on the poor girl…" Regan said with a mouth full of chicken. He acted so differently in doors, no one would believe he was a blood thirsty general standing by Alpha Xander.

"Ha!" Marenza snorted, "I'm sorry sweetie but I never trusted his looks." She looked at Regan, "you owe me right?"

Regan sighed "later."

What's going on? I appreciate the fact that Marenza didn't make a case out of the situation but I was confused. Did she expect this? They knew?

Marenza noticed my confused expression. "Sorry honey, but I noticed how Alessia looks at your man. Damien looks at her too, almost the same way he looks at you…"

What…?

"... Regan said he'll do the right thing and talk to you about it but I knew he won't. I just didn't expect it to reach this level."

She gently strained the hot drink into a cup and handed it to me.

"Thank you." The smell of lemon and ginger calmed me. Marenza's work room had a stove in a corner with shelves of ingredients, there was also a bed and some chairs. It was really a nice space.

"This should reduce the ache a lot but the marks will have to heal by itself sweetie. There's no injury so I can't apply anything on it."

"No…you've already done a lot…" I said after a long sip.

"You can have the bed for the night." said Marenza as she cleared her working station.

I could hear what she was actually saying, if you can't go home, you can stay here.

"Thank you…but…"

She nodded.

"Now, let's go see the alpha."

---

"Thank you," Regan said on our way back. Marenza gave my hand a little squeeze and continued swinging my hand.

"...you went directly to Alpha Xander, avoiding alerting the pack about it and becoming a subject in their gossip." Regan said with a look over his shoulder at me. I'm

"Yeah…you also hid your stunted link from them."

I blushed, I wasn't comfortable with talking about my link.

"The Alpha already knows…"

"Of course he should…he's the first one your dad went to meet after you discovered it right?"

"Yes…"

We walked in silence, the pack members had started lightening up their houses as the sun slowly left.

"What are you going to do now Leila?" asked Marenza.

I sighed, "I don't know. I figured that I'll become your apprentice after the mating ceremony ,now, I don't know. What if I start working for you and Damien or my family start spreading the news of my link out of spite…I don't think people will want to be treated by a deformed wolf."

Marenza squeezed my hand.

"Don't worry. If that happens, we'll know how to deal with it."

My eyes watered. This couple who for some reason doesn't have a child, has never even been pregnant treated me better than my father did. It was sad but I was very grateful to them.

I don't know why the goddess didn't bless them with a child but I hope she sees their kindness towards me and do so.

As we continued moving, I saw Damien and Alessia leaving.

"Leila…" Damien started once he saw me. Alessia met my gaze for a second before looking down.

Guilt does do things to people. This was the first time that Alessia looked away from my stare.

"... how is your throat?...has the pain reduced?" Damien asked, he looked worried.

I stared at him. Soon, he's worry for me will disappear too.

"Damien, I took care of Leila…" said Marenza coming to my rescue.

"But…"

"She isn't able to talk right now. I asked her to remain silent for a bit. You can ask your questions later."

"Why aren't you letting us talk to her?" Alessia asked, finally joining the conversation.

Marenza frowned "why did you open your legs for your best friend fiance?"

Alessia flinched like she was slapped.

"Exactly. Now if you may excuse us."

Regan entered and Marenza dragged me with her.

I didn't look at them as I passed.