Chapter 3

“Look at me,” I commanded.

The man growled and huffed, gritting his teeth.

I quickly brought my claws down across his face, bloodying his left eye. And he screamed for I let my anger out and I went deep.

The warriors of clan came and collected the two fools taking them to our dungeons.

My mother and Cea quickly came and ushered me into a bathroom.

“The ignorance and foolishness of those men. How dare they! As if they deserve you. You who so graciously spared him anyways. Your diplomacy is far beyond theirs. I should have them give us the lives of their best warriors for retribution. I should have your father raze their lands. The goddess will deal a famine upon his clan if she knows any justice. The indecency. To accost my daughter. My daughter!” My mother rambled and she cleaned off my hand that was now drenched in blood.

“You gave him hell,” Cea smirked as she wiped the blood from my face. “He won’t see out of that eye again,”

I laughed a little but it was not full. They had come here to hurt me and take my life for themselves. How was I supposed to go back out there?

A knock sounded and my thoughts tempered ever so slightly.

“Eva? People are quite upset you should come out here and help calm things down,” She called from beyond the wood. “I can help Anna,”

My mother looked at me for confirmation and I nodded. She k*ssed my cheek and exited our small space sl*pping past Gia as she entered.

“My Anna, are you okay?” Gia asked continuing to clean my hand.

“I knew something like this would happen. I just hope the others with the same idea will leave,” I look at myself in the mirror.

“You did the right thing, and many of the alphas like that you asked for restraint. It is the sign of a good Luna to calm her partner,” She smiled brightly at me.

“Besides, a good strong man is bound to come for you,” Cea looked at me earnestly searching me for sadness.

“You must go back out there though. To show your strength and resilience,” Gia finished and put my hair back together.

“You got a small streak of blood on your skirt,” Cea went to clean it.

“No.” I stop her and smile. “They’ll look at it,”

Cea nodded one sharp nod and a grin spread across her face. “That’s my girl,”

I looked to make sure that any fear or anger did not reside on my face and my eyes had returned to normal.

“Give me a few moments to myself and then I will join the party and have James come replace me in five minutes,” I tell them and accept their hugs.

I sigh and walk further into my home away from the now rambunctious party all of them gossiping of the event.

I knew something like this would occur. This big of a transgression however I thought would be saved for later in the week.

I looked out the window. Our house resided on a cliff, less attackable sides. The ocean stretched beyond. I would miss the smell of the sea whenever I left.

I had prepared for this for the feeling of unsureness and the unreliable people that have been welcomed onto my land.

Did they not realize these were my last moments here. The last shred of time I had living under my parents roof. My childhood was ending and they saw nothing but the beginning for their sons.

I heard footsteps James was here to escort me through the rest of the people.

Then a different smell came. Not James. Goddess.

“Miss Annette Maloria?” A voice from behind me.

I turned rolling my eyes.

“If you did not just witness the last person disrespect the sanctity of this day I suggest you wait for a member of my family to be present,” I reply starting to walk away from him but I stopped.

He was big. As tall as Charlie at least. Broad shoulders. But what shocked me the most was he was not alpha.

Okay what in gods name did his alpha look like???

“I was told to give this in private,” He opened a brief case and extended to me a small package wrapped in red ribbon. “I am sorry I could not give you a moment of peace but my Alpha needs to know of these scoundrels,”

“Oh?” I couldn’t help my surprise at his tone of anger.

“He intends to vie for you but he is busy at the moment. He asked ahead of what he could get you to apologize for the slight of his delay. He hopes you enjoy it,” The man bowed at his waist.

“Your name?”

“Beta Matthew O’Connell,” He nodded his head.

“And your alpha still expects to compete with the others I choose even though he is not here?” I squinted at him.

“He hopes the gift will show his intent for you and how is indeed genuine. He states that if he wins he will of course give you time to get to know him before you come home,” The beta explained.

There was a scent on the beta that I could not decipher. The scent also was all over my gift. I could not help but want more of it.

“He said home?” I continued to interrogate him.

“He wishes to give one of course,” He smiles again and looked at his watch. “I’m so sorry I must call him soon. The night watch will begin and he is on duty,”

“Of course,” I nod.

I walk back to the window and sit on the ledge of it.

James passes the man and comes up to me.

“Another one?” He looked at my face.

“He was merely a beta. He gave me a gift from his alpha as an apology for being late. He asked what he should get me too,” I laughed. I unwrapped the gift like a kid on their birthday a giddiness rising in my chest.

“Well?” James smirked at my childness.

I unwrapped the brown paper and red velvet ribbon. Inside was a leather bound book.

My breath hitched. That scent became stronger. Like wood and Forrest and ice?

It was a copy of Sense and Sensibilty. Old copy. It did not look cheap. I opened iit and inside were pressed flowers. Lavedner, dasies, and bluebells.

“I do like it. A lot actually,” I blinked rapidly a flush coming to my cheeks at the sweet gesture from a stranger.