Leah's pov

Chapter 3: Leah's POV

The pain on my cheek pulsed with every step, my sight fading as the soldier pulled me along.

Blood started coming out from the corner of my mouth where his hand had struck, the metallic taste sharp against my taste buds.

I clinched my jaw, refusing to show him how much it hurt.

“You’re going to wish you hadn’t done that,” I spat, my voice quiet yet firm, even as his grip on my arm grew stronger.

The soldier smirked, wrenching me harder. “We’ll see who regrets it when the Alpha’s done with you.”

I glared at him. “Do you enjoy showcasing your power on someone? Or does causing pain to someone weaker make you feel stronger?”

“Keep talking back, human,” he growled. “It’ll only add to your punishment.”

“Amusing,” I retorted. “I thought cowards didn’t have the right to speak so boldly.”

His grip tightened further, and he moved in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re lucky I haven’t broken your neck yet.”

"Lucky?” I laughed mockingly. “You think dragging me to your Alpha shows your strength?

Each step nearer felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. My satchel was sliding from my shoulder, but I clutched it tightly, refusing to let it drop.

When we got to the entrance, the massive wooden doors cracked open, exposing a grand hall illuminated by flickering torches.

The space was vast, with lofty ceilings and walls decorated with elaborate carvings of wolves.

At the far end of the hall rested a throne shaped from black stone, occupied by a man whose presence seemed to dominate the entire area.

The Alpha.

My heart raced when our eyes met. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze, and I felt a spark, an electric thrill surged through me.

It was a feeling I had never felt before, a pull, a bond that shattered everything. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and I could almost sence a sprk of recognition within them. He shifted in his seat, his body tensing as if he felt it too.

“What’s happening here?” The Alpha’s voice was deep and commanding, slicing through the air like a knife.

The soldier pulling me hesitated, his grip loosening a bit. “Alpha, this is the herbalist. She disobeyed my command, so I thought I’d teach her a small lesson.”

I glared at the soldier, my tone laced with sarcasm.

“Disobedient? For asking questions? Why are lie. ”

“Silence!” the soldier shouted, pulling me forward.The Alpha’s expression darkened, his jaw clenched.

“Did you hit her?”

“She was rude,” the soldier justified himself, though his voice trembled under the Alpha’s fierce gaze.

“Rude?” I interrupted, my tone biting. “If that's what it means to you, then I refused to back down,  yes, I admit my guilt.”

The Alpha’s eyes returned to me, his expression unreadable. “And you thought it wise to keep your temper?”

“Maybe if your men weren’t so eager to resort to violence, I wouldn’t need to,” I fired back, lifting my chin defiantly.

Before the soldier could respond further, a woman’s voice rang out from the side. “How dare you touch a her? Have you forgotten the Alpha’s commands?”

I glanced to see a tall woman with sharp features and an air of authority stepping forward. She had the same piercing eyes as the Alpha, her voice filled with anger.

“Alpha keal,” she continued, addressing the man on the throne. “This behavior has to be stopped. We agreed no human should be harmed to the point of drawing blood.”

“She was out of line,” the soldier muttered, but his confidence was clearly diminishing under the combined gaze of the Alpha and the woman.

“Out of line?” the woman echoed, her voice louder. “And you thought beating her to the point of drawing blood was the best solution? Is this how you represent the pack?”

Keal stood, his imposing figure exuding power as he walked down the steps toward us. His siblings followed closely a younger man with a playfull gleam in his eye and a composed manner, and the woman who had spoken, her glare now fixed on the soldier.

The soldier released me abruptly, and I stumbled but quickly steadied myself, refusing to show weakness. Blood dripped onto the stone floor, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand, glaring at him.

“You're lucky," keal stated coldly, his words directed at the soldier. "If I discover you've disregarded my orders again, you won't survive to witness the next full moon."

The soldier bowed his head with fear,  "Yes, Alpha. I'm sorry. He said, his voice shaking."

"Leave," keal ordered, and the soldier hurried away.

Keal now focused entirely on me, his gaze piercing, examining every feature of my face as if he was solving a puzzle.

"You're the herbalist," he stated, his voice softer yet still commanding.

I steadied myself, meeting his eyes directly. "Yes. And I'm here because you asked for my help, not the other way round."

"Good," he said, a faint  smile playing on his lips. His eyes darkened, and the air around us grew heavier. “Then he turned to two of his siblings: Reah and Galen and to his guards that stood beside him. Leave us. Now.”

His siblings and the guards hesitated, exchanging glances. Rea who had defended me earlier spoke cautiously. “Alpha, are you sure?”

Keal’s gaze snapped to her, sharp and unyielding. Without another word, he issued a silent command through the mind link. The guards stiffened, their eyes distant for a split second before they turned and left without protest. His siblings lingered, clearly uneasy.

“Keal,” the Reah began again, her voice laced with hesitation. “I don’t think—”

“Leave,” he repeated through the mind link, his expression darkening further. This time, she bit back whatever protest lingered on her lips, glancing at me warily before she and Galen filed out. The heavy doors slammed shut behind them, their echo reverberating through the hall.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Keal descended from his throne slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. The weight of his gaze pinned me in place, but I straightened my spine, refusing to look away. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and deliberate. “Who are you?”

I raised an eyebrow, letting my irritation seep into my tone. “Are you serious right now? You dragged me here, forced me into your pack with your soldier's, claimed I’m the only one that can heal you of your wounds, and now you’re asking me who I am? Shouldn’t you already know?”

His eyes flashed gold, his wolf simmering just beneath the surface. “Watch your tone,” he growled, his voice dipping into something deeper, darker. “Speak to me like that again, and what I’ll do to you will make what my soldier did look merciful.”

My heart slammed against my ribcage, but I refused to back down. “Understood,” I said tightly, biting back the sharp retort on the tip of my tongue.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension in the room was suffocating, pressing down on me like a tangible force. Keal’s jaw worked as he studied me, his expression unreadable, though something flickered in his eyes—something I couldn’t quite place. Finally, he took another step closer, the sheer force of his presence making it hard to breathe.

“What was that spark?” he asked suddenly, his voice quieter, but no less intense.

I blinked. “Spark?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Don’t pretend you didn’t feel it. The moment I saw you, I felt something—something strange. Something I’ve never felt before.” His tone hardened. “What does it mean?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, keeping my voice even though my pulse betrayed me. “I’m here to attend to your wounds.”

His eyes narrowed, his frustration evident. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not,” I shot back, my irritation returning. “What do you expect me to say? That I bewitched you? That I cast some spell? You’re the one who dragged me here. Maybe you’re the one who’s cursed.”

His wolf flickered again. “Careful,” he warned, his voice deadly soft.