"I shouldn't be feeling this way," I kept muttering to myself.
I felt some of the guests present in the motel whose gaze still remained on me and him.
The way he acted just now, could it be that he also felt that bond? No, that would be the last thing I wanted.
I was stuck; my feet refused to take any steps further. I wanted to leave, to avoid his presence from now on. Just why did I have to cross paths with him in the first place?
I could have left the town by now, far away from Rendell's reach, but now I was stuck in the town.
"Elara!" I heard my name being called, only to turn and notice Rhea making her way. She had arrived back. I sighed in relief at her mere presence, thinking she wasn't coming to work today.
But she paused when she noticed the soldiers and Alpha Kieran with me.
"What's happening, Elara?" she asked.
"They are the ones assigned to keep the town in lockdown..." I replied. She gave a nod, her gaze still scanning them. "I heard some orders from the Lycan King came in..." Rhea said, her gaze turning back to me.
I was sure these orders would have also affected her. Her mate was to return just a week from now after leaving that day. That was why she wanted to get home early that day when I wanted her assistance. But with this, I doubted the two would be able to see each other until the lockdown was lifted.
"I was assigned to take them to their room, Rhea, but was hoping if you could take my place. I'm sure you know how much work I have to attend to today..." I said, hoping she would agree. She had to. My very hope lingered on that.
"Alright, Elara. I owe you one," she said. A smile painted on my lips only for me to lay a hug on her. "Thank you so much, Rhea. I will get going now..." I said, hoping to make a leave.
"Wait..." Those words caused me to pause in my footsteps. "I never gave the order for you to leave just yet..." Alpha Kieran said.
But what was his deal with me in the first place?
I watched him approaching my side. "Remember, you are to be our guide this evening, so I expect your presence then..." he said, returning to the other soldiers. As Rhea guided them to their room, I remained standing in the same spot.
So he was still adamant that I show them around the town? I wasn't the only one who resided here; he could have just asked anyone else to do that, possibly those who were born in this town.
But a side of me thought that this must be about the feeling—a guess that he also felt it—the strange bond, one that I hoped he wouldn't see in another way.
Even I didn't understand why these strange feelings had to occur now. Ever since he stepped into this place, my wolf seal, and everything—they were all things that should never have happened.
"Elara, what are you doing over there?" I heard Mam ask, her words snapping me back to reality. "Sorry, Mam. I'll get back to work now..." I replied. I had no idea she had been there all this while. I guess since I wasn't in charge of taking the visitors to their room, I should get back to my work now, since it seemed I would be busy this evening as well.
Maybe after this, I will be truly free from his sight, I thought, if only that would work out. I saw no reason for him to request my presence again.
I grabbed some cleaning supplies from the storeroom and made my way into one of the recently vacated rooms.
The whole bed was tattered, and there were used cigarettes and empty bottles on the ground. This was a sight I was used to seeing here. Even though this town was lovely, the visitors weren't so much.
But I guess the motel had to still run, and I had to do my job. I packed the cigarettes and bottles, emptying them into the trash can, and laid the bedspread properly, tidying the whole place.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead, letting out a breath. "Done with one. Eight more to go..." I muttered. But seriously, that would take me a lot of time, yet complaining and staying here wouldn't help in moving forward.
I had to get them all done. I turned, hoping to leave, but a slam on the door brought a halt in my steps, as I witnessed who had just barged in. It was him, the same man. Not the thieves.
From what I had heard, his name was Kael. He had come here also one day for a day's stay, saying he would be heading out tomorrow.
I was told to clean his room that very night, but what happened after... His actions—I would have possibly been a victim of his vile actions if Rhea hadn't shown up.
The incident was reported, and he was banned from entering the town, or so I had heard. To speak of him entering this very same motel again, so what was he doing here?
"So, it's you. It's been a long time, you dirty wolf..." he sneered. Before I could blink, he grabbed me by the hair, dragging me outside the room, only to push me outside, my hands grazing the floor.
"I will make you pay for raising your hands to me the other time. Don't think I'll be sparing you so easily..." He tightened his grip around my neck as he forced me to stand. "Dirty wolves like you should be put in their place. You dared to insult me the other time; now watch me do the same..." he yelled. And right there, I watched him yell those words: "Thief!" But what did he mean? I hadn't stolen anything.
I tried uttering some words, but his hands clutched my neck, only silencing me, my voice cracking.
The whole place was crowded in that very second. "I caught her stealing my diamonds in my room. She is a thief, I tell you..." he lied, and I questioned what his gain would have been. I had orders to have the room cleaned, and he was known to be banished.
"Those lowlife..." I heard a whisper from the crowd. Wait, they couldn't have possibly believed his words!
"What's going on here?" A voice echoed from the side, bringing a pause to the crowd mocking my very existence.
It was the same soldier that came with Alpha Kieran.
"Oh, it was high time you arrived. She stole my diamonds and hid it; she is a thief. I need you to make her spill out the truth of where she has my diamonds hidden..." the man said, but I was stunned when the guards themselves bought the whole incident. But what was I saying? They were visitors. They just came to this town last night, and to them currently, everybody was a suspect.
"Withdraw yourself now. We will handle it from here." They said, as he released his grasp on my neck. I crumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Now watch, your hell has just begun..." Kael bent down, whispering in my ear before the soldiers grabbed me by the hand, forcing me to stand as they led the way.
Many guests gazed at me, wondering what had happened and why I was being taken away by the soldiers who brought the town on lockdown.
Even Rhea caught a glimpse of me. "What's going on, Elara? Let her go!" she had protested, but I left no response to her either.
As I was taken into one of the rooms, my gaze met Alpha Kieran's.
"What happened?" he questioned. "She is accused of stealing one of the men's diamonds, Alpha..." they reported.
"Release her..." I heard him order, as the men loosened their grasp on me.
I tried managing a stance, wondering what he was going to do.
"Leave us," he commanded, as the soldiers present left the room, only to shut the door after.
I watched, Alpha Kieran took some steps forward, approaching my side as i retreated backward until my very spine hit against the wall.
I was trapped.
His scent—dark and potent—felt as though it had wrapped around me, as I found it hard to even let out a proper breath.
"Who are you?" Those were the words I heard him utter as he stepped close.
"I didn't do it, I promise I didn't. He framed me..." I whispered, only for my words to get caught in my throat when my downcast gaze rose to meet him standing close. Way too close. His breath almost mingled with mine.
"I don't mean that," he murmured, making me wonder what he was then talking about. "The bond, you felt it, didn't you? So tell me, who are you, and where did you come from?" He questioned again.
My lips hesitated for a while before they could part. I hoped to leave a lie, but those eyes told me that he knew, as they darkened.
His gaze dropped to my lips as he took another step closer. So close that I could feel is body heat, the weight of his hunger.
"And your mate," he asked, his voice rough. "Do you have one?"
My pulse skittered wildly as I hesitated, and it only seemed that gave me away.
His lips brushed the shell of my ear as I heard him murmur, almost lazily, "If you won't tell me..." His fingers grazed my jaw, tilting my chin up. "I'll mark you myself..."
Wait, he couldn't be serious, right? I wondered, but those eyes told he was really going for it. I can't... no, I can't possibly be his mate.
"I have a mate!" I found myself blurting out as his brows furrowed.