Ignoring the girl's pleading for me not to go outside, I limped out of the room. An oh so familiar scent pulled me to it. He was downstairs. Standing at the head of the staircase, I watched the people gathered in the living room.

It was Matt's house, newly built for the beta. But why was I brought here?

Standing in the middle of the room, the psycho Alpha listened to something Matt was whispering to him. In a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his appearance made my heart race, much to my dismay. My blood started to boil soon, recalling the incident last night.

Though my attention soon shifted on uncle Donovan and the former Alpha Christopher, who stood right behind Vin. Lines of worry formed on their foreheads, same went for Matt. The only unconcerned person was the great Vinson Salvatore Rustov.

Right then, two tall men entered the living room followed by a lean yet powerful woman. Blonde hair danced around her shoulders as she stomped inside. At the sight of her, questions started to buzz into my head again.

She was supposed to be the Luna of this pack by now, right? Then why did her pack declare war against us? And the most shocking thing was, I couldn't find any mark on her long slender neck.

"Adeline, we can sit down and talk about this. You don't need to take such a rash decision," said Matt, with a crease on his small forehead.

Adeline's bright blue eyes stayed on Vin, that gaze held hatred and vengeance. "There is nothing to talk about. Your Alpha betrayed me. He insulted me, the Alpha of MoonGlaze pack, before the whole world. He broke the sacred rule of our nature. And now he will face the consequences."

Matt's lips pursed, his eyes met with uncle Donovan for a moment. While Christopher took a step ahead.

"Adeline, I know what Vinson did was wrong. But he must have a valid reason for that. Why don't you calm down and think about it again? A war will cause harm to both packs."

"I don't care about the consequences! He should have thought about it before rejecting me in front of the whole pack!" she snapped.

A gasp left me.

He rejected her? But why? They were mates, right? What happened all of a sudden that he had to reject her right when he was about to mark her and accept her as a mate?

Vin tilted his head to the side. "I don't think it's a betrayal. Didn't I tell you I didn't need a mate when we met for the first time? I made it clear I didn't want you. But you insisted on coming here with me and giving it a chance. You said you would make me want you. But you couldn't. So I rejected you. As simple as that." Voice cold and indifferent.

Each word of his rang into my head like a broken radio. He didn't…want her? Then why bring her here? How was it possible for him not to want his mate? Mates were meant to be soulmates. As far as I knew him, no one could make him do anything against his wish. Then why did he let Adeline have her ways if he really didn't want her?

His words and indifference seemed to set Adeline on fire. She grabbed Vin's shirt in her hands and hissed, "You did betray me! No Alpha rejects their mates! It's forbidden for the leaders of packs to deny their soulmates! But you did! And I very well know why you are doing it! I will kill that bi…"

Before she could finish, Vin's fingers wrapped around her neck, moving her a step away from him. "Finish that line, and I will break another rule by removing your head from your body!"

I flinched at his growl. The men with Adeline came forward to help her out of Vin's death grip, but the heavy dangerous aura he had at that moment stopped them. On the other hand the female Alpha turned a shade paler as she struggled in Vin's hand.

Leaning close to her fearful face, his blazing silver eyes stared into her watery blue ones. "You want war? Be my guest. I'm planning to expand my territory anyway. A new pack land close to ours won't be so bad."

With that, he pushed her away. While I gaped at the scene with my mouth agape.

"Vinson! What the hell are you doing? You can't treat another Alpha that way! Don't forget she is your mate!" My father snapped.

"Did I give you permission to speak, Christopher?" At Vin's low, threatening voice, the former Alpha turned red to his face in humiliation and embarrassment. His hands clenched to his sides.

Taking deep breaths, Adeline took a step back. Though shock and fear still lingered in her eyes, her red lips trembled with rage. "You shouldn't have done that, Vinson. You will regret it."

Then she was out.

Uncle Donovan and Christopher followed her soon. No matter how powerful the RedClaws Pack was, a war didn't do any good to anyone. It took a lot of blood.

Letting out a breath, Matt neared Vin. "What's going on in your head? How are you planning to handle it?"

"Do you really think she will go against me?" A dark brow raised. He was back to his cold self, as if he didn't just choke his mate and turn the matter worse.

Matt was left speechless.

Aware of my presence, the beta's gaze flickered to me for a fleeting moment. "Uh, what about that girl?"

Vin's head tilted towards the staircase, where I stood, in a subtle way as his deep voice reached my ears. "She disobeyed my order. And you know what happens to the one who goes against me."

Then he was gone, leaving my knees trembling.

W-was he talking about me? He would punish me for trying to leave the pack?

I was enraged by the fact that he bit me thrice or maybe…marked me without my permission and brought me here, but I was scared to my core at the same time for the consequences I had to face due to my failed attempt of escaping. And Vin…he was scary.

"You feeling good now?"

Matt's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. I didn't realize when I came down the stairs and he was standing right before me. Only then I realized I wasn't in my last night clothes. Instead, I had a comfortable green sundress on.

W-who changed me?

My heart skipped a beat thinking about the possibility of him changing me by his hands. A shiver ran through me.

He didn't do it, did he?

"Rory?" Matt waved his hand before my face, making me blink. "You okay there?"

I cleared my throat and nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry. It's just…" Then I realized he was our beta now and I needed to show signs of submission before him as an omega. No matter if he was like a friend to me in our childhood. Though Vin never let him talk to me much. The old Vin, point to be noted.

I took a step back and kept my eyes on the floor before greeting him, "G-good Morning, Beta Matt."

From my peripheral vision, I found his eyeballs widening. "Hey, hey! What are you doing? I'm no beta for you. You don't need to do that shit before me."

"But…" I blinked.

"You don't want me dead, do you?" His tone was serious. At my furrowed brows, he sighed and glanced around for a second. "If you want me in one piece, please call me Matt, and treat me like a…brother?"

'Because he won't let me be a friend or anything else to you…' Was his murmur to himself.

I was confused at his behavior. He wanted me to consider him as a brother? Who was he murmuring about? Vin? But…why would he do that?

Enough confusion and questions were consuming my thoughts already, I didn't want to think about anything else. So I accepted his request.

"Umm, w-why did he bring me here? I was…" My cheeks reddened accepting the fact that I was escaping like a thief.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Though I could still see the lines of worry on his forehead. "You don't need to be embarrassed. What you did was pretty stupid I have to say, because escaping Vinson is impossible, but I understand. You had valid reasons. He was…being an ass to you. But trust me, sometimes we have to see beyond a person's actions."

"What do you mean?" At the mention of his behavior to me, my anger was coming back in full force. "I can clearly see it, he has changed. He isn't the same Vin anymore. So why would I still stay here after all his insults and indifference towards me? How could you say it was stupid? You were never in my place nor ever faced the difficulties I faced, Matt. So you can never understand my pain." I didn't know how but words fell from my mouth one by one forgetting his status and power. I sniffled as a drop of tear rolled down my cheek. "He was my…everything. But what did he do after he got back? He treated me like trash. He wanted me to leave him alone. He believed Adeline and was ready to punish me for stealing. How could he…"

I choked with my tears, my throat tightened. A pain shot through my heart.

"He didn't want to even see my face. But when I was finally leaving this pack, he literally mar…dragged me back here. And I don't even know what he wants to do with me!" I let out a sigh. "I-if he wants to punish me then…just tell him to do so and let me go. Because I can't stay here anymore."

I was tired. Tired of being hurt and humiliated, tired of fighting for his attention and fighting with myself. All I wanted was to leave and live with some peace. Though my wolf never supported the idea. And oddly, I could feel her presence in my mind more than ever now.

"I'm sorry for whatever you had gone through, Lu…I mean, Rory." He stopped, a look of guilt etched into his brown eyes. "I wish I could do anything for you now that you are so confused about everything. But the only person who can answer you is Vinson. Talk to him, you will get all your answers. You…have a lot to discover."

Discover? What?

Something trembled inside me thinking about facing him. But I needed my answers. I wanted to know what he wanted from me, why he rejected Adeline and what his bites meant.

What did his words mean that he said last night…

'You are stuck with me for the rest of your life…'

'Mine…'

A tremor ran through my spine.

His?

But…he hated me, right?

"I heard about the war. Adeline…"

"You don't need to worry about that. Vinson and I will handle her." He cut me off. The tension in his shoulders appeared again. "For now, you should go after him. Go and help Mia. He…put her in the dungeon for going against his order and helping you."

A gasp left me. My eyes widened in horror.

"What!"

He nodded. A sadness and…desperation flooded his eyes. "Please go after him. He must have gone to punish her. That poor girl has been there since last night."

Before he could even finish his sentence, I was out of the house.

How dare he! How could he punish Mia for something I had done? She helped me escape but it was me who asked her to do that. No! I wouldn't let him even touch her!

I needed to help her. And I would do anything to protect her from his wrath.

Finally the update is here! This week has been very difficult for me guys, I'm sorry I couldn't update on time. A relative of mine died and I had to go to her funeral. My exam is around the corner and regular tution is killing me!

Anyway, what do you think of this chapter? Do you think Adeline would take any drastic step? And Christopher? He got badly insulted today! That man deserves it!

And what about Mia? How do you think Rory will save her?

With love,

Eva Zahan