Alora's POV
I was famished and exhausted, and I needed a good bath, but I needed to eat. The meal in front of me was very delicious, and I could not remember the last time I had a nice meal. At least something good came out of this whole debacle.
I tuned out everybody in the room and concentrated on eating my meal until my eyes locked with the man across the room watching me intently. I gulped as his intense blue eyes watched me with interest. I choked on my food and Harry, sitting beside me, watching me like a hug, apologized and rubbed my back in a circular motion after he had handed me water to gulp.
"Thank you" I replied shyly and pushed the plate away.
Immediately I did, he stalked into the room.
"That's enough, you can leave now, Harry," he said in a deep voice that sounded more like a growl. I could see the veins in his neck popping out. I frowned. He was so intense, all I could do was just watch him.
Harry nodded and began to pack the plates while he pushed a chair forward and sat down opposite me, staring at me like I stole something from him.
"Now the moment of truth! You will start with your name and tell me everything I need to know and why you were at a sacred mating ceremony uninvited.
I groaned inwardly. "Not again" I muttered.
He pushed closer, his scent filling my nostrils. They were like no perfume I've ever smelt. Musky, dark and alluring.
It was so strong I swayed a bit from the scent.
"Okay, let's try this again. Who are you, and which pack do you come from?
"Why did you kidnap me"? I fired back, looking him straight in the eyes.
He looked like he was beginning to get agitated at my questions. He looked at me as if I was and also angry enough to break me and have fun while at it but I didn't care because my hazel eyes were blazing with anger as I stared down at him.
He stepped closer and yanked me by the hair, the action forcing me to my knees.
"Now, this is the last time I am going to ask you this, and I expect a straightforward response. Do you understand"? He growled.
I gritted my teeth and eyed him.
"Answer the question…do you understand" ? He bellowed again, and I nodded.
"Good. "Which pack are you from and why did you disrespect the mating ceremony when you were not invited?" he repeated, already beginning to lose patience.
I gulped, "My name is Alora Lance. I grew up in an orphanage. I lived alone in that rundown apartment until you had me abducted. To be honest, I was just looking for a job when…"
"You were looking for a job at a mating ceremony"? He growled again, his body gaining volume. How he did that, I don't know.
I furrowed my brows as I felt the hairs on my back standing. "I haven't gotten to the part yet" I said, feigning bravery.
"I don't have all day Chula. "Get talking" he replied impatiently, gritting his teeth.
I ignored his outburst and rolled my eyes. "As I was saying, I was looking for a job until I stumbled into the park. Actually, the smell of food drew me to the park, and I was hoping to get a plate of food from whoever was having a wedding ceremony before heading home, but I didn't know I had walked into a show and I didn't know it was called the mating ceremony. I swear I didn't plan on crashing your ceremony. I thought, since the park was a public place, I could get some food and head home".
"Liar" he spat, his eyes roaming over me.
"I swear I am not lying" I replied, a little bit shaken by the way he was gaining volume.
"Now, tell me, "Are you a spy? Or just plain old bounty hunters"? Did Xavier send you? What is he planning? He asked in a heightened voice that sounded more like a growl, making me wonder how he was able to undulate his voice that way.
I furrowed my brows. "What is this? The 18th century"? I was beginning to get really furious. Was I a joke to these people? Was this a prank or a twisted joke to them? Does humiliating another human being make them feel better about their pathetic self? I felt anger boiling inside me.
"Look, I don't know what twisted game is going on here, but I refuse to be a part of it. If you think I have done something wrong, you could call the authorities on me.
Please quit accusing me of what I know nothing about. What in God's name is a bounty hunter?
"She is lying," a voice spoke from the door.
I turned to see the woman that had pushed me to the floor staring at us with keen eyes. I could feel and see the hatred radiating from every pore in her body. I was still trying to figure out why she would hate me when I had done nothing to her when she walked in and stood beside the huge man.
"It doesn't work that way, Chula". My wolf was right, you are half blood, and I was mistaken. You cannot be my Luna, and you cannot unsee what you've seen, and I'm sorry I cannot let you go."
"No, I am not half-blood, my name is Alora Lance, and I'm just a girl who, out of hunger, made a huge mistake. I didn't know your play or costume party was such a big deal and I apologize sincerely for that. I was hungry, and I swear I did not come to the park to spy on or harm or do any of those things you're accusing me of. "Please you have to believe me "I pleaded, looking from one face to another, but they just stared back at me like they did not believe me.
I was beginning to be very afraid. Tears pulled in my eyes and I continued begging "I am just a helpless human being with flesh and blood. Despite the fact that I look like this, I have feelings and I know my rights. You cannot hold me against my will. By this time, tears were rolling down my cheeks because I was scared. I was so scared of what these people would do to me and if they did, I had no one to come to my rescue.
"Sounds like something a guilty person would say and do", the long-legged blonde retorted, rolling her eyes in disgust.
"It doesn't work that way," little one. You are half blood, and you cannot unsee what you've seen, and I'm sorry I cannot let you go"
As soon as he finished speaking, Harry stepped into the room. "The elders are here to see you", he replied in a blank tone, trying to mask his emotions. Somehow, I could read on his face that he was a bit concerned.
"Huh"? The big man turned to the door and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Is everything okay"? He asked him.
"I'm afraid not," Harry replied.
He turned to the blonde. "Do not let her out of your sight until I get back," he instructed.
"Yes Alpha" she replied and turned to me with a wicked glint in her eyes as they left the room in hurried steps.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the blonde stepped in front of me, her eyes flashing with anger. She tilted my chin up.
"Morgan would never want you. You know why? "Because you're a nobody, and you do not belong here, and I will make sure I do everything in my power to take you out," she said before pushing me to the floor.
"If you were that important to him you wouldn't be worried or so threatened by a nobody like me," I spat.
She growled just like the so-called alpha did, and I felt pins pricking the skin on my neck. My eyes widened in surprise.