"You are safe with me here"
The files of the income and expense of the pack were opened in front of the alpha as he flipped the pages. He had a whole lot of paperwork left to do. With Evelyn back and now his mate being there too, he always had something or the other on his mind. Either it was something pack related, or he was talking to his siblings, or he was lost in the thoughts of his mate.
He sighed. Xavier, like any other normal person, hated paperwork, Ryan and Roy helped him with it most of the time but then again, he preferred not to make them work more than their share.
Xavier took the pen from the table and was just about to start after five minutes of just staring at the file when the door to his office banged open, making him look up surprised. The very first thing that hit Xavier was the scent of his mate, chocolate and vanilla essence.
Involuntarily, a smile was already on his face when he looked up, but it fell quickly when he saw it was Ileana, Evelyn and Ryan as well. His mate followed the three in the room with an amused smile on her face.
Xavier smiled at them slightly before he looked at Ileana who had banged the door open, "What do you guys want now?"
"Now brother, do we only come to your office when we want something from you?" Evelyn asked with a smirk as she fell on the couch on the other end of the room.
"More often than I'd like to say, yes," Xavier too replied with a smirk.
"How rude," Evelyn muttered, her smirk now turning into a grin.
Xavier too smiled and rolled his eyes, but Ileana spoke up before he could speak, "Oh stop bickering both of you! We have an emergency!" She exclaimed, looking angrily at Xavier.
"Uh..." Xavier muttered. He looked at everyone hoping he'll understand what she is talking about. But Evelyn was still smirking, Ryan stood leaning on the wall with a grumpy look, "Ileana..."
"You," she started, "You are the alpha of our pack and yet you become so dumb sometimes," Ileana said in an exasperated manner.
"What?" Xavier muttered confused, his sister just called him dumb in front of his mate... what? Why?
"Xavier!" she exclaimed again, "Did you really forget that we have only gotten some normal daily clothes for Selena. She needs more clothes, especially for the date, but also otherwise!"
"Shit..." Xavier groaned. How the hell did he forget? He had it in his mind that he was yet to take Selena shopping. She had a few clothes but those were mostly from Ileana and Xavier had bought a few clothes for her, but those were just tops and jeans and sweats.
She definitely didn't have anything to wear that was date material.
"Ryan," he suddenly spoke up, "Accompany them all and get them whatever they need."
Selena's smile fell and Evelyn noticed that. Xavier was still looking at Ryan, he mind linked him, 'Take a couple of warriors with you. The hunters might still be around.'
Ryan nodded. Xavier then looked at Selena. He frowned, even though he didn't see her expression change and Selena was smiling again, he was sure that her smile wasn't completely genuine.
Evelyn smirked, "Hell yes! C'mon, let's go."
She started pulling Selena with her. The girl in the statement herself was pretty confused. She looked at Xavier but he looked equally confused. She then looked at Ryan, standing there with an amused smile on his face.
"Wait wait wait," Xavier stopped them before leaving. He stood up, "You are not even that fond of shopping," he wondered looking at Evelyn, "Why are you so excited?"
Evelyn rolled her eyes, "Well, duh! You wouldn't be here. Ileana will have Ryan though. And I," she smirked pointing at herself, "Will have Selena to accompany me while I check out the hot humans and wolves there."
Selena's eyes widened and Xavier's became dark, "No, she won't."
"Oh don't be like that now Xavier. You know that happens. Unmated wolves do check each other out."
"But she has found her mate," he reasoned, his hands still tightly fisted together.
"That's true," Ryan muttered.
Evelyn still had her smirk on, "But the guys don't know that."
Xavier was looking at Selena all this while and he saw the various expressions. At first, she was surprised, then amused, finally, when she felt Xavier's stare on her, she became a bit shy. It wasn't the things they were saying, it was the way Xavier was looking at her, like if anyone came too close to her, he'd kill them.
"You guys are talking about me like I am not even here," Selena said as she pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You guys didn't mark each other," Xavier turned towards Evelyn, "The guys won't know that she is your mate, even the wolves won't. And the shopping complex on the nearest town is literally the hub for single boys trying to get a girlfriend. I mean, look at her," Evelyn pointed towards Selena, "Do you really think nobody will approach her?"
"Okay, okay, I get your point," Xavier scowled. He knew what his little sister was doing. And it was working. "That won't happen," he announced, "Get ready, we are all going. We leave in half an hour."
Evelyn turned around and winked at her twin. Ileana tried hard to not smile but the corner of her lip curved up a bit. While she walked by Selena, she whispered, "You're welcome."
All of them walked out one by one and Selena was the last one to go. Xavier took a few steps towards her, he stood way closer than normal and stared at her. His whole attention was on her, "You know, You could have just asked me to go with you... Evelyn didn't need to do that."
"I didn't ask her to," she replied instantly. Izzy was giggling in her mind because it was always the other way round, people used to get overwhelmed by Selena. She wasn't the first born but for some reason, she was always way stronger and a lot more dominant than her other siblings, even her older brother. So seeing her blushing and becoming shy, and overwhelmed under her mate's gaze, was pretty amusing to her wolf.
"So you didn't want me to go?" Xavier asked teasingly as he took a step back.
"No, I do," she blurted out as she held his hand before he could step further away. Xavier smirked making the girl blush. Selena instantly let his hands go and walked out of the room.
____|~.~|____
The shopping trip wasn't that long. Xavier once again, bought a whole lot of clothes for everyone there, Selena because she needed it, Ileana because she wanted it. They took three warriors with them since they didn't know anything about the hunter's whereabouts.
Xavier and Ryan were just accompanying the ladies, walking behind them, while two of the warriors walked ahead, and one of them walked behind with them. Ileana had enough excitement to drag the other ladies with her.
"Alpha?" one of the warriors behind them spoke up.
"Yes, Seth?" Xavier asked as he glanced at him.
"Uh, I just wanted to ask that the hunters have not attacked us for years now. So is there a reason why we were being so cautious?" Seth asked.
"We should always be cautious, Seth," Ryan spoke up before Xavier could answer, "Hunters can go down to any level from what we have seen till now, we never know what they are planning."
"Seth," Xavier said, "You see that girl there?"
"Yes alpha, I have heard rumours and a lot of people have questions about who she is," Seth answered confidently, his alpha was now looking at him in the eye and he made sure to answer confidently.
"You are one of the bravest and most loyal warriors of my pack. You have risked your life for the pack before. So what I am telling you right now, it should not be disclosed to anyone until I reveal it myself to everyone."
"Of course Alpha," Seth replied. Ryan had already walked ahead with the other warrior.
"That girl there, she is your Luna, my mate," Seth's eyes widened and Xavier nodded, "I will explain things to everyone when she is accepted into the pack. Right now, just know that she belonged to the Lunar Eclipse Pack."
"Is... is that why..."
"Yes."
Seth nodded solemnly, but then he looked back at his alpha confidently, "I don't know what happened to her, but I promise you, alpha. If it comes down to me, I will protect her with my life."
Xavier smiled at Seth gratefully but his smile fell when he felt Zion getting agitated in his mind, 'Mate. Get to mate. Fast!'
Xavier instantly looked around, and a chill went down his spine when he realised that Ryan or the rest of the group was nowhere near them. He started speed-walking and started following the scent of his mate with Seth right behind him.
Xavier followed her scent and walked into the parking lot where their cars were parked.
The sight he was greeted with felt like a stab wound to his heart. Selena was down on the floor, curled up against the car. The whole group looked scared and concerned but whenever they tried to go near her, she'd scream for them to get away.
Seth gasped on seeing the sight too and Xavier took confident steps towards her. He didn't stop until he was right in front of her. Xavier knelt down right in front of her and whispered, "Sel?"
Selena looked up on hearing that voice. Her face was drenched in tears and she looked so broken, so vulnerable, "I... I saw them," she whispered.
"Whom, baby?" Xavier whispered back, he slowly wiped the tears from her face and kept his hand on her cheek.
"O-one of the hunters, he drove out of the parking lot. He was here, he was here all along."
Xavier stayed quiet, his anger spiked on hearing this and he instantly pulled her close to him. She held on to his jacket, she was still shivering, "Shh, they won't be getting anywhere close to you ever again. You are safe with me here."
It was only after they stayed like that for a while, that Selena calmed down, the scent of her mate did wonders to soothe her troubled mind.
____|~.~|____
Later that night, Selena was in her room, she didn't even go to the dining room for dinner. She felt shamed for behaving like a scared little girl in front of them. She was supposed to be an alpha.... After seeing her act like this, will they ever respect her?
A knock sounded on the door and she looked at the door expectantly, however, when she saw Ryan walk in with a plate of food, her smile fell a little before she smiled again.
Ryan noticed it, "Expecting someone else I see?" he smiled teasingly.
Selena rolled her eyes but still smiled, "Yes, the food."
Ryan sat on the bed, "Xavier was here until a while ago."
"I know." Selena had felt the scent of her mate as soon as she had woken up.
"He scheduled another meeting with the Blood Moon pack."
"That's the one closest to the Ferocious Shadows."
"Yes. That pack has an alliance with us. So..." Ryan hesitated.
Selena nodded her head understandingly, "He is telling them what happened today."
Ryan nodded, "He thought the meeting will end sooner. But since it's taking long, he sent me to bring food to you."
Selena smiled and took the food, "Thanks, Ryan."
The beta was going to speak again but the room to the door opened and in came the twins. They had their plates of food too, Ileana held another one for Ryan in her hand, and all of them hurdled together in her room, talking and laughing about things. Selena's panic attack flew right out of her mind and after what seemed like a really long time, she was enjoying herself again.
______________________________________
Things are certainly getting more interesting now. ðð
I hope you guys liked this chapter. If you did, please remember to click on the orange star to vote. It really means a lot to me. Also, do comment â¤ï¸â¤ï¸