Don't hurt him!

Our trip back home was nothing fun. Aaron seemed to have plans to take a look around the town, but Alpha Erik was not in the mood. He said he wanted to head back to the packhouse. When Aaron said he could go with me and Alpha Erik should use the car to return home, I saw he use his aura on his Beta. And it hurt Aaron. I saw in his eyes.

“You’re not staying behind with her.” Alpha Erik said. I have no idea why he got so angry. Aaron’s idea was quite reasonable. I would love to stay behind and see everything that town had to offer. And without the Alpha, maybe I could enjoy it. Being reminded of my status in the pack did no good to me.

“Yes, Alpha.” Aaron said with his head down and we headed to the car. For their looks, I know that Alpha Erik was talking to Aaron through mind-link. That was a very useful thing. We, rogues, didn’t have that.

I entered the car and Alpha Erik didn’t enter and sat on the passenger’s seat. Instead, he entered right after me in the backseat. A chill ran down my spine. What was he doing?

“I’d just make sure you’re not up to anything.” he said, as if he could read my mind. I only nodded and got closer to the door. He was a big male and it was hard to stay there with him. Not only was he taking too much of the space, but also, I had to hold myself back not to take a good sniff on him. Why did he have to smell so good?

I didn’t realize I was watching him, his perfect features -at least, they were, to me - until he turned his head to me and our eyes locked again, just like before. But now, he raised his eyebrows and looked down at the rest of me. It was so weird. It was like he was watching me naked. I felt completely vulnerable. He, then, looked ahead and nobody said anything during the whole trip back to the packhouse.

As soon as the car pulled over, I unbuckled my seatbelt, just like Aaron taught me, opened the door and left the car. Such a relief. I could breath! I waited for Aaron to get out and made a reverence to him, saying thank you.

“You’re welcome, Rae.” He said.

“She said nothing.” Alpha Erik said. I looked at him, startled. He seemed strange. Not angry, but also… not neutral. One step in our direction, and another. “Say it.”

I looked from him to Aaron, and we can say that was my mistake. He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. Not too strongly, for if he wanted, he could have dismantled me right there.

“Alpha…!” Aaron tried, but Alpha Erik had his aura again.

“You will speak! Damn it!” Then, I saw something sparkle in his eyes. He looked at Aaron and then, back at me. “Say something or this werewolf will have his neck snapped!”

I shook my head from one side to the other. No! But… he wouldn’t do it, right? Aaron was his beta. And friend, as it seemed.

Alpha Erik raised his hand at Aaron and I could take no more.

“No!” I pleaded. “Please!”

Erik’s forehead did not relax. On the contrary. I could feel the tears running down my face and then, he finally let go of me, with a confused expression.

He said nothing more, he just entered the packhouse. I couldn’t move. But Aaron came to me.

“I’m sorry, Rae!” He said. “Sometimes Erik is just… He would not hurt me. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done it quickly.” He said, but I didn’t believe him. Why didn’t he say something? I thought he would die!

He hugged me. And I let myself cry.

“Shhh…” He did and I felt something wet on my forehead. Then, again. I looked up and Aaron was doing the same. "Let 's get in. It 's raining.”

I had the rest of the night to myself and after I entered my room, Cassandra just got in to give me some fruits and I went to sleep.

When I woke up, I took a shower and changed my clothes. When I greeted Cassandra with a nod, she got up from her chair and came to talk to me.

“Good Morning, dear! No, today you’re going upstairs.” She told me and I think I had a silly face on, because she laughed and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll start to help clean the rooms upstairs. Alpha Erik’s orders.”

I was… going to clean the rooms upstairs? It meant they were trusting me. They were trusting me! That was amazing! I held Cassandra’s hand and jumped up and down and she started to laugh.

“I think there is enough work, isn’t it?” Alpha Erik appeared out of nowhere. How did he get there so fast? Cassandra and I stopped playing right away and I looked down, just like her.

“I’ll show her the way, sir.” She said.

“No need. I’ll do it myself.”

Oh, no… was he going to punish me for yesterday? Was he punish me for not talking, again? He didn’t hit me, but he made me believe he could hurt someone I am very fond of.

Cassandra gave me a little push and I followed after the Alpha. But then, I looked at the broomstick room. I had to gather stuff to be able to clean properly.

“Don’t worry about it. Just follow me.” he said and I would not argue or question him. He was the Alpha, the owner of that pack and I was nothing.

I saw that same big room, full of furniture and the stairs that lead upstairs. He turned right, before the stairs and that hallway had some portraits. People like him. At the end of it, a double wooden door. It was so beautifully carved that I wanted to look at it more, but he opened it and motioned for me to enter.

A big desk with a big chair behind it. Shelves full of books and papers. Two sofas, made of leather, I guess. Both brown. And a chair in front of the desk, where he motioned for me to sit.

“Very well, you and I are going to have a little chat, rogue.”