Chapter 4 A Glimmer Of Hope

• VINCENT
• Her honey colored eyes were wide with fear even as I approached her. She seemed to be terrified of me, not that I cared. I just needed to understand why her flowery scent was bothering me so much. The first time I'd perceived it, was the night I had ended up at her house. I had been too out of it to investigate the reason why my wolf became restless each time we perceived the scent.
• The slave squeezed her eyes shut, once I was close enough. Her flowery scent hit my nostrils and I nearly groaned. My wolf had just been alerted. His excitement caused him to take over. When my fangs protruded, I knew that my eye color had changed. It was at this point that I realized why my wolf was reacting that way. The small creature cowering in front of me, with her back to the wall, was my mate.
• With a growl of annoyance, I pulled away and turned away from her. I didn't want a mate. Infact, I'd been doing just fine without a mate. Even if I was going to have a mate, why on Earth would it be a weak, exiled Omega?!
• "Get out!" I roared. She scurried out of my quarters like a frightened mouse.
• 'She's our mate whether you like it or not. Don't make a scene. We need her' Aries, my wolf said.
• It was the first time in a long time since he was speaking to me.
• "We don't need her. She's weak. She will only become a burden" I retorted, still annoyed.
• I stared at the tray of food on the table, my appetite suddenly vanishing. Frustrated, I stormed out of my quarters and went to the gym. The thought of the slave becoming my Luna sickened me.
• ....
• I was sitting in my office when I heard the knock on the door. Jared, my beta walked in.
• "Where is the slave now?" I asked.
• "In the dark room. Ava brought her dinner" he responded.
• I slammed my palm on the desk, annoyed.
• "I thought I asked her to stay away from the slave. Why on Earth didn't she listen to me?!"
• "She has never listened to you, Vincent. I mean... she's the only one who has the guts to face you" he said, a visible smile on his face.
• I glowered at him and he lowered his gaze, a muffled apology leaving his lips.
• "Why haven't you asked?" I said and he looked up, his gaze meeting mine.
• "I didn't want to pry. I just thought you might have a good reason for bringing the exiled omega to the pack. You never do things without giving it a lot of thought. We trust in your decisions"
• "She's the one who nursed my injuries" I said to him. His eyes widened as he processed my statement.
• "For someone who had tried to get a fresh start, she was a little careless" he commented and I rubbed my jaw.
• "She was also compassionate enough to take me in. She wouldn't have taken me in if she knew that I was a werewolf, though."
• "Oh... your scent. She couldn't smell it"
• "That's right"
• "Does she recognize you as the person she treated?"
• "I think she does"
• "How sad. She must think that you're an ungrateful person"
• I let out a dark chuckle as I ran my fingers through my hair.
• "I did her a favor by making her my slave. They were going to kill her. It was the least I could have done"
• Jared grinned.
• "For someone who is ruthless and has a temper as hot as molten lava, you are kind" he said.
• "You know, I'm starting to regret taking her in" I said, my countenance darkening.
• Jared cleared his throat, a nervous look on his face.
• "She's just a slave. I don't think saving her life is a bad thing. As it is, the pack members are already bullying her."
• "I don't care. I saved her life. I've played my part" I said and Jared snorted in amusement.
• "I know how you are and how you've always been. I just hope that for your sake, someone will become the reason you can smile and be kind"
• I looked away, an uneasy feeling making my stomach churn. I hated it when he became all emotional like that.
• "You should get yourself a Luna, soon"
• I glared at him and he shrugged.
• "Just saying"
• "You know, the only reason I'm letting all of this slide, is because you're my beta" I said and he nodded.
• "Of course, I know that. I get afraid of you, sometimes. I mean, it's hard not to. You always look scary. I don't even remember what your smile looks like."
• "Jared, that's enough" I said.
• His expression faltered when he saw the look on my face.
• "I apologise, Alpha. I'll take my leave now" he said and walked away.
• ...
• Five days had passed since I brought the exiled omega to the pack. Ever since the day she came to my quarters, I hadn't set my eyes on her. I would rather not see her again. I could solve the problem of her being my mate, by rejecting her. But, I was just bidding my time. Besides, I had more important things to take care of as the Alpha of my pack.
• Jared walked in after knocking on the door. I looked up from the documents I'd been working on, my gaze meeting his.
• "Did you find out what I asked you to look into?" I asked.
• "I did"
• "And?"
• He let out an exasperated sigh.
• "It's a pitiful story"
• "Pitiful? The slave does look pitiful. I guess her story would be pitiful as well" I said, leaning back on my seat.
• "Tell me. What grave offense did she commit? Did she steal? Commit murder?"
• "She was accused of murdering her mate on the night of the mating ceremony"
• "What are you saying? It doesn't make sense. She seems to be someone who can't hurt a fly" I said, my brows furrowed.
• "That's exactly what I thought. So, I inquired more about the situation and I found something interesting" Jared said.
• "What is it?"
• "They said she cooked up a false story. They told me that she had lied about werewolves from the Crescent Creek Pack murdering her mate because he knew their secret"
• I blinked, surprised by the information I had just heard. I had a feeling that there was something fishy about the story.
• "What secret did she claim was discovered?" I asked.
• "The plan of the Crescent Creek Pack to destroy other werewolves"
• This so-called secret was no news to me. As a matter of fact, I was probably the only Alpha in the town's werewolf council who was aware of the rumours rising discreetly. But, if the slave had become mateless as a result of her pack members denial, it was quite unfortunate. I know I can be ruthless and unforgiving, but what her pack members had done was terrible. Now, I didn't think that werewolves had actually murdered her mate. I also didn't think that she had murdered her mate. She must have heard something that made her believe that her mate had been murdered by werewolves. She was merely a victim of ignorance. Nevertheless, there was something fishy about the death of her mate. If he hadn't been killed by werewolves, how did he end up dying?
• Now that I knew that the slave had been a victim of circumstances, I didn't know what to do with her. I couldn't keep her as a slave after discovering the truth of the matter. I couldn't send her away, either.
• "What are you going to do now, Alpha?"
• "She will remain an unofficial slave. But, officially, she is going to be a mere addition to the pack. She will no longer stay in the dark room"
• "Go and make arrangements. Bring her here as well." I said and he left.
• Few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
• "Come in" I said, my gaze resting on the door.
• The door creaked open and the slave walked in with her gaze lowered. She approached my desk with small, unconfident strides.
• "You called for me" she said with a small voice.
• "What is your name?" I asked and she flinched visibly.
• I was starting to get impatient already.
• "M-my name is-"
• "Speak up, will you?!" I snapped.
• "Rylee. Rylee Shaw" she croaked.
• "Why were you exiled?" I asked and she stiffened.
• "I-I was accused of killing my mate"
• "Did you?"
• She frantically shook her head, her gaze still trained on the floor.
• "I would never. He was my best friend" she said with a shaky voice.
• "Who killed him, then?" I questioned.
• She went quiet, her small frame had gone rigid.
• "Have you become dumb?" I demanded, tapping my foot on the floor.
• She shook her head slowly.
• "You wouldn't believe me if I told you" she rasped.
• "I didn't ask you to tell me a story I can believe. I only asked you to tell me who killed your mate"
• "Members of Crescent Creek Pack. They killed him because he found out about their plan to take over other werewolf packs" she said, her voice reflecting her pain.
• "I believe you" I said and she looked up, her teary eyed gaze meeting mine.
• "You do?"