Claiming His Tempting Mate
Chapter 37

Savannah's POV

"This is the library Mistress” Luina pushed the door and led me inside. I gasped once I lookedaround. It was huge, with 7 high shelves circling the whole room. And each shelf was filled withbooks.

"Why does it feel like this place has not been in use for long?" I asked, looking around.

"You are right, Mistress. Most of the pack members are interested in practicing in the field. Only afew come here to read" Luina informed.

I nodded and raked my eyes through the books. This library is bigger than I had in the Snow MoonPack. Looks like the ancestors of Dark Forest were interested in collecting. I walk towards the hugeshelves. There was also a ladder and stairs for the upper shelves. Everything about this room feelsgood. After the breakfast Hardwick left again leaving me alone. I had nothing to do. Though he saidhe will be back early, what will I do in the meantime? So I asked Luina to show me around the pack.And after visiting some other room she led me in this room and I am really glad that it's a library."I like this room" I uttered satisfied then turned around "but this room still needs something”

"You can order whatever you want, Mistress,” Luina said.

I nodded “sounds good, arrange a desk, a chair, few writing equipments and yeah a couch please”"Anything else Mistress?"

"No, these are fine" I smiled and walked towards the book shelves to pick a book. Though this placeis huge, there's no sitting arrangement where one can sit to read. Maybe because this is rarely usedso no one cares about it.

Luina left soon to arrange while I stared at the books in front of me. My eyes fell on the greencovered book at the corner. I walked towards it and pulled it out.

"Under The Lone Star" I uttered the title of the book. And my eyes racked down to see the authorname "Kenny Sujan” I mumbled.

I have never read a romantic one. What I was interested in was the historical events so I prefered toread in that category. And this is the first time I took interest in such a romantic book. There was asilhouette of a couple on the cover and the fonts were written in italic style. I flipped the cover andturned the pages. I started to read the first chapter of the novel.

*It seems that life wants to test me until I have drawn all my energy I was left with. My mother wasright, living is hard and death is peaceful. At the end she proved this quote and chose to die. Iwanted to do the same, I want it to end but unfortunately I can't. I wish I could-*

The crack sound of the door opening made me stop reading and I turned around to look at thedoor. I was startled when I saw a familiar face who just walked in. She stopped suddenly and lookedat me with the same expression as mine. Isn't she the girl beside Daisy? Looking at her reminded methat, since I came in the pack, I have not seen them. Not Daisy nor the other two who were with her.And now seeing Cora in the library I was quite surprised.

"Mistress" Cora smiled "I am here to deliver the stuffs you have asked”

"Uh...thank you" I nodded and closed the book.

"It's my duty” she added before instructing the men behind her.

Soon the library was set up as I wanted and now it looks like a study rather than a library. Luinaworked fast. Though I expected her to work fast, I never thought she would do it right away.

"Do you need anything else Mistress?" Cora asked after checking.

"No, these are fine," I smiled.

"Then I will leave now. If you want anything please tell us" her voice was respectful and she lookedsincere. She smiled and was about to go but I stopped her again.

"Cora?"

"Yes?" She turned around.

"Where is Daisy and Mark? I mean I haven't seen you since I came"

She looked at me for sometime then replied "uh..Mark has gone out of the pack to the border forwork"

"And Daisy?" I asked again. She only said about Mark but not Daisy.

Cora sighed "Mistress it's better not to talk about her"

"Why?" I frowned.

"Mistress Daisy committed a mistake and she has gone to take her punishment"

I gasped "what?"

"Yes" she nodded her head.

So this is why I haven't seen her all these time. She has gone for punishment.

"Where is she? I mean she is not in a pack but somewhere else?"

Cora gave a bitter smile "it's rule Mistress. Besides it was master who gave the punishment sowhether she likes it or not she had to take it"

Hardwick did it?

~ Of course he would. After all he is our mate ~ Red said in my mind. ~ how could he forgive thatwoman who tried to kill us?~

"Where did he send her?"

"East Side" Cora replied.

"What's that?"

"I can't say anything more, Mistress. I have work to complete” then before I could ask she left theroom hurriedly. I stood there staring at her, closing the door.

What just happened? She left like a ghost is chasing after her? It's better to ask Hardwick personally.The rules of Dark Forest are much more active than our pack. Shaking my head I walk towards thecouch and lay down before opening the book again and starting to read.

"Wake up sleepy head" I felt something poking my cheeks then it was like a soft feather touchingmy lips.

I groaned and pushed the thing away but I heard a chuckle ringing in my ear. Wait, what's that? Iopened my eyes only to greet the handsome face of my mate.

"You are up" he grinned.

"You...I..." I rubbed my eyes and looked around. Then realisation hit my head. Oh god, I am in thelibrary. The book slipped from my hand and fell on the rug.

"You were reading a romantic novel?" Hardwick glanced at the title of the book then looked at me."When did you come?" I asked, sitting on the couch.

"Half an hour ago”

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were looking so cute when you were sleeping. How could I wake you up?" He asked.

Cute? Hardwick knows how to use words to flatter me. I shook my head before smiling.

"You are done with your work?"

"It's just some normal pack matters,” he replied

I nodded and about to say but I heard him speak again "are you hungry?"

"No, I ate fully in the morning"

"It has been hours since you had breakfast. You are still not hungry?" He frowned.

"I have less appetite” I mimicked his words.

Hardwick laughed “are you copying me darling?" Then raised his eyebrows in a teasing manner.

I shrugged "I really can't help it"

Suddenly he hovered over me keeping his arms on the couch "you know copying is a bad habitdon't you. It's an act of a naughty girls and naughty girls are meant to be punished”

My heart raced instantly at the proximity. I looked into his eyes and gave a small smile. Batting myeyelashes seductively I circled my arms around his neck and pulled him towards me.

"Do you think I am naughty?" I asked.

Hardwick was shocked at first then suddenly he revealed his evil smirk. He leaned more andstopped only when our faces were inches apart.

"Aren't you?" He asked huskily.

"I beg to differ, Master..." I said seductively.

Instantly Hardwick's eyes darkened and he looked at me with his dominating orbs.

"Fuck" he cursed and pulled me for a kiss. He bit my lower lip and sucked it hard.

"Do you know how seductive you look right now? Like a sex goddess trying to put her seduction toseduce me" he said huskily and bit my lips again.

"Ummm..." I tried to pull away but he didn't let me.

"You are fucking seductive baby" he whispered then again claimed my lips for a hot passionate kiss.I don't know how long we have been kissing but after sometime I couldn't breath. Hardwick didn'tseem to plan on letting me go so I used my hand and slapped his back. After a few seconds hefinally let me go from his brushing kiss.

"You taste fucking good" he licked his lips as he gazed me with lust shimmering in his eyes. I pantedtrying to catch my breath. I almost thought I was choked to death. Tilting my head I glared at theman in front of me.

"What do you think you were doing?" I barked angrily.

He smirked "what? You are the one who seduced me baby"

I glared at him but stayed silent. Hell, I never thought he would be this aggressive. I just wanted totease him but he flipped my plan and bruised my lips in return. I am definitely not going to use thisact again. It's better to stay safe than cry later.

"Come on, let's go. You need food" he chuckled.

"I am not hungry” I hissed.

"Are you angry sweetheart?” He smirked.

"How would I dare to do that?" I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled again "I am sorry. I was a little carried away. Now comes one you need to have somefood. You ate breakfast hours ago" he grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me up.

"Wait" I stopped him.

"What?" should ask or not but I wanted to know and he is the only

"I wanted to ask something," I said nervously. I don't know if I one who can tell me about it.

"What is it?" He asked, frowning at me.

"What is the East Side?"

Hardwick's playful expression vanished in a second as his expression turned serious now. I wasnervous inside but didn't let it show on my face. He is my mate and as his mate I have the right toknow about it.

"What did you say?" He asked but this time his tone is quite hard.

"I heard you sent Daisy to the East Side. I want to know what kind of punishment you have givenher?" I tried to explain.

"Who told you that?"

"Does that matter?"

"Savannah I asked you who told you that?" He used his Alpha tone. My heart skipped a beat. Henever used such a harsh tone before. And looks like this matter is more serious than I thought. But Iwon't let it go.

"Cora. I asked her about Daisy so she hesitantly told me"

"What did she say more?"

"She didn't said anything else”

"Good," he mumbled.

"Hardwick, why are you hiding it from me?"

"Hiding what?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Is he treating me like a kid or playing an innocent game again?"Daisy tried to harm me in the hunting event and now she is sent to the East Side for punishment.Why is that?" I asked.

"Because she deserves it. Since he tried to hurt you, she needs to go through the punishment aswell" he replied.

"Okay I get that, but I still can't understand why you don't want to talk about this matter?”

"Why don't you calm yourself down first then we can talk about it later?”

I frowned "you are doing it again?" I gasped.

"Doing what darling?" He asked.

"You are trying to avoid this matter again. Why? Why can't you just tell me about it?" I shook myhead. What's the problem with this Daisy girl? Why is Hardwick not telling me about her? What is hetrying to hide?

"There's nothing to talk about it" he said and pulled me towards him. "She is just a mere wolf whodid bad deeds and is now taking her punishment. It was her choice to end up like this. It's the ruleof our pack darling, and no one can change it"

"Fine, since you don’t want to talk about her then tell me something else. What kind of place is theEast Side?" I looked at him.

"This place is built for or for those who commit sin. Those who went there are to take punishmentfor their guilt” he replied.

"That's it?" I frowned.

"Why? You wanted to hear something else?" He raised his eyebrows.

"No" why do I feel like there's something missing. Like a piece of part that Hardwick did not want toreveal. Besides, the look on Cora's face was somewhat strange. It felt like she felt pain when she wastalking about the East Side. I couldn't help but frown.

"Why are you frowning?" Hardwick asked.

I shook my head "you are not hiding anything?"

"No," he smiled. "Now come one. It's already past lunch time" he pulled me up.

"I am still not hungry"

He chuckled "then I am hungry and you are going to accompany me"

This time 1 didn't protest and let him lead me out of the room. I am still not familiar with the way soit's better if he is here. But I couldn't rest my heart because I still felt there's something missingabout Daisy and the East Side.

But what?