Chapter 16
The hours felt like an eternity.
Sitting next to Alpha Jeremiah in that car was like being trapped in a room with a ticking bomb. Every second was heavy, dragging on painfully slow. I could feel the tension between us, thick enough to cut with a knife. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, half expecting him to say something, anything, but of course, he didn’t. He just stared straight ahead, driving like I wasn’t even there.
I hated him.
I glared at his profile, wondering for the thousandth time why the gods would curse me with him as my mate. What had I done in a past life to deserve this? Was I some kind of villain, paying for my sins now? It felt like it. There were moments in the ride where I thought I might scream from frustration, but I held it in. Instead, I pressed my forehead against the window and watched the trees blur by. It was the only thing I could do to calm the storm building inside of me.
Finally, after what felt like forever, we arrived.
The car slowed, and I sat up, eyes narrowing as I took in the sight of Alpha Jeremiah’s territory. I was surprised. For a man so cold and emotionless, his territory was... bright. Colorful, even. The car passed through fields of flowers—actual flowers—blooming in every shade of pink, yellow, and purple. Children were playing outside, running around, laughing, and chasing each other like nothing bad could ever happen here. It was nothing like home.
Home.
Back home, everything was dark. The trees were taller, their branches twisted and heavy with leaves. The skies were often grey, and even when the sun did peek through, it seemed like the light struggled to reach the ground. The castle I grew up in had walls made of stone, dark and imposing, with tall windows that let in only the faintest light. It was grand, yes, but it was also shadowed and heavy, almost as if it was constantly weighed down by history and duty. I liked it that way, though. It felt... safe. Secure.
But this place? Alpha Jeremiah’s territory felt like stepping into a different world, one that was alive, buzzing with energy. There were gardens everywhere, splashes of color and life at every corner. And the pack house—it was nothing like home. While our castle back in my father’s territory was massive and ancient, Alpha Jeremiah’s pack house was modern and sleek. It wasn’t as large, but it was classy, with its clean lines and open spaces. From where I sat in the car, I could already see the glass windows reflecting the sunlight, the white walls gleaming under the bright sky. It looked like something out of one of the fancy magazines my mother would flip through.
It didn’t feel like me.
The car came to a stop, and Alpha Jeremiah stepped out without a word, leaving me there like I was nothing. He didn’t even glance back, just walked off as if this was all some routine job he was forced to deal with. My fists clenched at my sides. How could someone be so cold? So uncaring? I thought, just for a second, he might at least say something—maybe a quick instruction, or even a snarky comment—but no. He was gone, disappearing into the house before I could even blink.
I hated him even more.
His men—two of them—stood by the car, waiting for me. They didn’t say much either, just motioned for me to follow them. I got out of the car slowly, trying to take in the house as I walked. The closer I got, the more overwhelming it became. It wasn’t just big—it was blinding. White walls, white doors, white everything. It was like stepping into a world where color had been erased, aside from the flowers outside.
Back home, everything had been deep shades of red, dark wood, and rich textures. My room was filled with heavy velvet curtains, thick rugs, and dark oak furniture. There was always a fire burning in the hearth, the warm glow casting shadows across the room. Here, it was the opposite. The brightness was almost painful. The inside of the pack house was just as stark as the outside. White walls, white countertops, white staircases. It was like someone had scrubbed every bit of personality out of the place.
I followed the men up the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the large, open space. It was quiet—eerily quiet—except for the distant sound of a few people murmuring downstairs. There weren’t many people in the house, which surprised me. Back home, the castle was always busy, full of council members, guards, and pack members coming in and out. It was a place of power, a place where decisions were made. But here, it felt... lonely.
After what felt like a small trek, we finally reached the third floor, and the men stopped in front of a door. “This is your room,” one of them said, his voice flat and emotionless, just like his Alpha.
I nodded, not bothering to say anything. They left without another word, and I was finally alone.
I opened the door and stepped inside, immediately overwhelmed by the same blinding white everywhere. The bed was covered in white sheets, the walls were white, and even the ceiling was—of course—white. The only thing that wasn’t white was the grey rug on the floor and the grey chair by the window. It felt sterile, like a hospital room or some kind of blank slate waiting for something—anything—to give it life.
I groaned, throwing myself onto the bed. The softness of the mattress did nothing to comfort me. I stared up at the white ceiling, feeling like I was going to go insane in this place. How could anyone live like this? Was this Alpha Jeremiah’s way of controlling everything, keeping everything clean and perfect so nothing could go wrong? Or did he just have some kind of obsession with white?
It felt like I was suffocating.
Back home, even though the darkness could feel heavy at times, it was comforting. The shadows and the thick walls of the castle made me feel safe, like I was hidden from the world. Here, it was the opposite. Everything was too exposed, too bright, like there was nowhere to hide.
I sighed, rolling onto my side and pulling the pillow over my face. What was I supposed to do now? Jeremiah hadn’t even bothered to explain anything to me. He just left me here, in this strange, blinding house, without a word.
I thought back to the ride here, to how I had spent the entire time glaring at him, wishing I could hate him more than I already did. But no matter how hard I tried, there was always that pull. That stupid, unavoidable pull of the mate bond. It made me furious. How could I feel anything for someone like him? Someone who treated me like I was just another task on his to-do list?
I sat up, running my hands through my hair in frustration. What was I supposed to do here? Just sit and wait for him to come and tell me what to do next? The idea of it made me feel even more trapped. This place, this bright, empty mansion, was going to drive me insane.
I got up and started pacing the room, my bare feet sinking into the soft, grey rug. I couldn’t stand still. I needed to move, to do something to keep my mind off everything. But every step just reminded me that I wasn’t at home. I wasn’t in my dark, comforting room. I wasn’t surrounded by my family. I was here, in Jeremiah’s world, where everything was too bright, too clean, and too cold.
I stopped in front of the window and looked out, my eyes scanning the perfectly manicured gardens below. The sun was still shining, casting long shadows across the lawn. I could see people walking in the distance, some of them laughing, others chatting quietly as they went about their day. It looked so peaceful. So normal. Like nothing had changed.
But for me, everything had changed.
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. This was my life now. Whether I liked it or not, I was stuck here, with Alpha Jeremiah. And there was nothing I could do about it.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
