Chapter Three

Layton took my suitcase from my old Alpha – Alpha Jones – with a glare in his direction. It seemed that the two didn't get on; but, then, I couldn't imagine Layton getting on with anyone.

"Have you seen Jacob?" I asked Alpha Jones, as Layton carried my bag to his car.

"I sent him back to the pack early" Alpha Jones frowned; giving me a look of obvious annoyance. I knew he blamed me for the commotion between Jacob and Layton – but I blamed myself as well, I was to blame. They were fighting over me.

"Gemini, let's go" Layton snapped, from behind me. I glanced back to see him getting into his expensive sports car. I gave him a small nod, before turning back to Alpha Jones.

"Goodbye, Alpha". I lowered my head in submission, before I turned away.

"Wait" Alpha Jones growled, grabbing my arm before I could walk away. I glanced back at him. He looked angry. At the sight of Alpha Jones touching my arm, Layton jumped out the car. "You're not welcome back" Alpha Jones growled at me.

In seconds of leaving the car, Layton was by my side – grabbing Alpha Jones's arm. Bending it back, he snapped it. I screamed bloody murder, as Alpha Jones cried out in pain. The break of his arm was so grotesque, that his bone poked out through his skin; ripping the skin to pieces. The sound was awful; a loud cracking sound that I almost thought was fake because it was so sickening.

Another screamed escaped my lips as blood splatter over my white dress, and Alpha Jones stumbled backwards in pain. People began rushing over to us, as tears fell from my eyes. "Let's go" Layton said, grabbing my arm and dragging me towards his car.

I was so scared of him – of my mate. Because he had just broken another Alpha's arm without even blinking. Layton opened the car door, and forced me inside. I didn't fight him, I worried too much of what he'd do to me if I disobeyed him. Layton slammed the passenger door forcefully, and I jumped at the loud thud it made.

Once Layton was in the driver's seat, we drove away in silence. The tension between us was thick and suffocating. "Stop crying" he snapped about ten minutes into the drive. I lowered my head and tried to reign my emotions in.

Layton was a dangerous driver; weaving in and out of traffic, and breaking every speed regulation up and down the country. I secretly held onto the car door, trying to not look frightened. But, what surprised me was when Layton saw how terrified I looked, he slowed his driving slightly.

As the drive continued, back to Layton's house, it began to sink in that I would be spending the rest of my life with him. I would be the Blood Alpha's mate, and my life would never be the same again. I realised that, shocked, and wondered how long Layton would allow me before we mated, married and had pups. That thought scared me – that I would have to have children with the killer sat next to me.

"Why me?" The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I blushed at my forwardness, but Layton just glanced at me before looking back at the road.

He sighed heavily. "I never wanted a mate, that is no secret. Yet, every day of every year, She Wolves throw themselves at my feet; begging me to take them as a mate. I was sick of it. Yet, you were different. You didn't even give off a scent of desire when we met. I even made sure to touch you, and force you to stare into my eyes. Yet nothing, you feel no desire towards me – if you had I would have smelt it".

His words shocked and confused me, but I took all his words in – it was the most I had heard him speak. "So, you chose me because I'm not attracted to you?" I asked slowly, thinking the words through carefully.

A flicker of emotion showed on Layton's face; a simple bit of amusement. But, it was gone as quickly as it arrived. Layton shrugged my question off, "I like a challenge".

When we reached Endoro Pack territory, I was very aware of the unfamiliar surroundings. It didn't like new places, it always unnerved me – much more than others Wolves. No Wolf liked leaving their own territory, but I was even worse. I had never been good with new people or places; they always made me extremely nervous.

So, as we eased to the edge of Layton's territory, my heart was hammering and my hands shook. Layton noticed my anxiety and glanced in my direction. "Calm down" he grunted. He words – and presence – did nothing to calm my internal turmoil. Surprising really, what with how accommodating Layton had been that far. I was visibly shaking with fear. "Gemini, stop" he snapped.

I whimpered in fear, lowering my head. Another wave of tears made its way into my eyes, blurring my vision greatly. At seeing my glassy eyes, Layton sighed heavily. "Please, just don't cry". His voice was full of fatigue – as if he was tired of my behaviour. That worried me; it scared me to think he tired of me so soon. I felt my fear rising when I thought about what he'd do to me when he got fully fed up with my behaviour. None of my assumptions were good.

The thoughts scared me enough, to try and contain my tears and shaking body. I hugged myself close; cocooning my body in on itself, in an attempt to become invisible. Layton eyed my movements and frowned. "Don't do that" he snapped, leaning over and grabbing my wrist. He used it to yank my body for its closed position, making my body slump forward into a normal, more open, position.

The car rolled into a large forest, the small sports car fighting against the dirt road. I held onto the side of the chair, my grip hard due to the bumpy journey. I cringed as we dipped over a pot road. Layton did not apologise for the uncomfortable drive.

After about ten minutes of the painful drive, the road widened and smoothed. I let out a mental sigh of relief – the bumpy journey had made my anxiety about ten times worse. I let out a low breath, as the Endoro pack came into view. It was a beautiful place, intimidating, but beautiful.

Hundreds of quaint little cottage style houses lined the secluded streets – a few shops and businesses slotted between the houses. It was neat; no litter around, no shop sign wonky and no sign of vandalism or graffiti. It was picturesque. But, almost too much so.

It looked so perfect, so meticulous, that it made me feel intimidated. I gulped as I peeked into a cottage window, as we drove past. Inside was no different – no spec of hair out of place. It looked nice to me – ever since I was a young child I had obsessive behaviour towards cleanliness and locking doors. So, it should have made me feel better for going into someplace clean, but I made me feel like I was dirty – because I wasn't as clean as the Endoro Pack. That was why it was intimidating.

When the end of the small village came into view, I saw a lone house at the top of a small incline. It was grander than the pack cottages; a light brown in colour, with large glass windows that looked onto into the surrounding forests. A perfectly plotted garden in front of the entrance, on either side of a paved driveway.

I swallowed deeply as Layton pulled the car to a stop outside. I knew it was his house – the lavish house could only belong to a Wolf as important as an Alpha. I leaned forward, to grab the handle of the door, when Layton stopped me. "Wait" he ordered me. I instantly obeyed, and withdrew my hand.

Layton got out of the car, on his side, and walked around the car. He opened my door and looked down at me. I gulped deeply, as his green eyes pierced my body. But, I began to climb out the car. "No" he growled, glaring at me to stop getting out. Again, I didn't argue with the order and sat back down. I didn't understand what he was doing, but I wasn't stupid enough to question him.

However, his following actions surprised me. He reached down and picked me up. He was strong and I was small, so it was no shock that he could lift me without effort. But I squeaked more out of surprise than anything else. Layton stayed emotionless, as he swept me into his arms and held me close to his broad chest.

Layton was big – larger than any man I had ever seen. It was as if he spent his entire life weightlifting. He may have been considered too big for some people to find attractive, but it was his size that made him intimidating to people – and with Werewolves, the more intimidating to others the more attractive they were to She Wolves. It was in a She Wolves nature to find bigger, more muscled men attractive – because they could 'protect us'. Or so, that was what it was supposed to be like.

However, I didn't find bigger men attractive, I found them intimidating. Layton was a good looking man, no one could deny that fact, but that didn't mean that I was scared of him; I was, I was terrified.

It felt strange to be in Layton's large arms. It not only made me feel smaller than I was, it made me feel weak. I knew why he wanted to carry me; because he thought I was too weak, he thought I couldn't carry myself. I couldn't help but cuddled closer into his arms, as he carried me. I was tired, emotionally drained and had an awful headache coming on; so I felt myself relax in my arms.

He carried me up the path, towards the front door, before he glanced down at me in his arms. His eyes looked suspiciously at me, as I stifled a yawn. "You're tired" he stated, as we reached the entrance.

"I'm fine" I blurted. I didn't want him to get angry with me again. My plan backfired.

"Don't lie to me" he snapped, "if you're tired, say you're tired". His anger made me whimpered, which in turn made him sigh heavily. "Stop being scared of me" he growled out. His words surprised me.

"I thought you wanted everyone scared of you" I whispered, my voice small and childlike.

"Not you". He carried me into the house, which was just as meticulous and perfect as the outside. It was a modern design, with little to no personal items and trinkets placed around. It was nice and clean, but it also felt very empty and hollow. It was like a show home; no one living there. I made me feel like I was intruding his life, not that he was intruding mine.

I barely don't a look around before I whisked up a large staircase. I yawned once more, but tried hard to hide it. "Gemini, you're tired. I'm putting you to bed" Layton grumbled. His words called up fear to my body – did he want to mate me? I had prepared for such a thing, my mother had insured I'd worn nice underwear and had pruned my body to perfection. I didn't want to mate Layton, but I was also scared to tell him no.

Layton's bedroom stuck with the modern theme, with a black and white colour scheme – and a large square shaped bed in the centre. He walked me over to the bed, before he carefully placed me down. I was surprised at how carefully he held me; it was like I was a china doll he worried would break. Once I was out of his arms, he took a seat next to the bed.

"I don't want to" I blurted out, my voice loud and panicked. I was so scared he wanted to sleep with me, to take my virginity. I wasn't ready for that – he still scared me too much. I blushed deeply as soon as the words escaped.

Layton looked at me a few minutes, before he spoke. "You don't want to do what?"

"I'm scared" I mumbled out, still blushing profoundly. "I know you expect me to, but I just...I don't even know you. And I'm a virgin, and I know--"

"Are you talking about mating?" he cut me off. Again, his face didn't ever change emotion. I nodded at his question, casting my eyes to the floor. Layton growled again, before he gripped my chin; pushing it up so our eyes connected. "Do not submit to me" he snapped.

"But you're an Alpha".

"And you're my mate, now. So do not bow down to me. And I will mate you, whether you want me to or not, but it will not be tonight. You are my mate, it is your duty to please me and carry my pups. That is what She Wolves do".

His words saddened me, before I had wondered if everything I had heard about Alpha Vetteriano – about the Blood Alpha – were true. And as soon as he told me that, I knew they were all truth. He would force me to have sex with me, and to carry his pups. I shouldn't have expected any less, yet, a small part of me had hoped that maybe they were all rumours. That my mate – the man I had to spend my life with – wasn't the complete monster. But, I was wrong.

"Go to sleep, Gemini" Layton said, before walking out the room. Leaving me all alone in a strange bed, in a strange territory with a strange man, whom I had no choice but to spend my life with.