ALLISON
"This is your new home now." Alpha Lazar said to me as soon as the car came to a stop. I stared out of the window to see a house that dwarfed everything I've ever seen. It was just huge.
Not just tall, but endlessly wide, built from pale stone that looked expensive and impossibly clean. It felt less like a home and more like an entire government building. Enormous and cold. Everything about it whispered, "Wealth and prosperity" if that makes any sense.
The grounds were too perfect.
We drove past giant patches of lawn where huge, dark stone statues stood scattered around, like silent, carved bodyguards. I couldn't tell if they were people or animals, but they were definitely watching.
"My home?"
"Yes, Allie. Welcome to the Pack House. You'll be living here from now on." He answered.
"Wow!" The words left my lips before I could stop them. "This is beautiful." I've always imagined what it'll feel like to live in a new house, so long as it wasn't the dark room that I've been made to stay in all my life. But I never imagined staying in a house like this one.
"Do you like it?"
I stared at him like he had suddenly grown two heads. "Like? Come on, Lazar, I love it." I giggled as I continued to stare at the compound. I've come across big houses in town, but I've never seen anyone as enormous as this. Even the government house didn't stand a chance in any way.
The car stopped near the front door, right by a fountain. It was built from layers of polished rock and the water just poured over the edges, dark and glassy. I was thinking the water would stop there, but it didn't.
Now, instead of going into a drain, it ran off the fountain's base and turned into a small stream that cut across the grass. With my eyes, I followed that stream with my eyes until it got wider and wider, right up until it became a massive swimming pool at the edge of the property.
The pool was so long it felt endless. The whole thing....the fountain, the stream, the pool....was all connected, making the entire compound feel like one carefully designed machine.
This was a place where things were handled.
As the car came to a stop, I tried to get down from it, but Alpha Lazar held my hands. "Hold on." He got down from the car and came to my side to open the door for me.
A faint blush crept its way to my cheeks. I've never had anyone treat me this way. "Thank you." I muttered my thanks as I placed my hands in his. He led me towards the door. The men standing beside the door bowed as soon as they saw Alpha Lazar. They were burly, about six feet tall with a lean build. They were dressed in impeccable black suits and leather shoes, identical to the one the driver wore.
"Welcome back to the Pack, Alpha." They greeted him in unison. And Lazar nodded in acknowledgement. I tried not to stare at the men, but it was impossible. They were literally staring at me, as if they could read me like a book.
"Say hello to your future Luna." Lazar said to them, as he raised our conjoined hands up for them to see. At that moment, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Boy, I wasn't expecting him to introduce me. At least not now.
"Luna?" One of the guards spoke up. "But isn't she human?" he added. "How can a human be our Luna? They're weak and ...."
Before he could finish his words, Marcus stepped forward. He kicked the man at the back of his legs causing him to fall down on his knees with a loud groan. When he cocked his gun and pointed it at the man's head, I held my breath because I thought he was going to pull the trigger.
"Say one more word about your Luna again and I'll make sure you never see the next day." He growled angrily. "Now apologize to your Luna."
The guard's eyes landed on me. "I'm.....I'm sorry, Luna." He muttered under his breath, but I heard him clearly. He did apologize, but not without glaring at me.
"Do you have anything else to say too?" Marcus gestured to the other guard, but he shook his head almost immediately. He got on his knees.
"Welcome to the Pack, Luna. We promise to serve and protect you all the rest of our lives. Our loyalty lies with you." He let out.
I didn't know what to say to that. Therefore I just tugged on Lazar's hands. As if sensing that I have something to say, he leaned closer. "Please tell him to get off the floor. I'm just an ordinary human."
"Rise." Lazar commanded and immediately, the two guards rose up from the ground. He turned his attention to the first guard. "As punishment for speaking ill of my mate, Elias, you'll be made to work the mines for three weeks." He ordered before leading me into the house.
"Working the mines for three weeks. Don't you think that's a little bit harsh?"
A small laughter escaped his lips. "Harsh?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. It's harsh."
"You are my mate and the Queen of this Pack, Allie. Whoever speaks ill of you or questions your place in this Pack will have to be punished. No disrespect whatsoever will be tolerated from anyone, no matter who they are."
"Im just worried, Lazar." He led me towards the couch in the sitting room and made me sit on it. My eyes darted around the interior decoration of the house. Just like I've guessed, everything screamed wealth. The chandelier, the intricate pattern of the Arabian rug, everything was beautiful. It screamed wealth.
"Worried about what?"
I exhaled sharply. I really hope he'll see things from my own perspective. On my first day in the Pack, I already made an enemy. I wasn't a fool. I didn't need anyone to tell me that that guard, Elias, would despise me for as long as I stayed in this Pack. I was the reason why he'll work in the mines for three weeks. He'll never forgive me for it.
And I don't know how many more enemies I'll make in the long run.
"Your Pack members. We both know that just like Elias, a lot of people would oppose my presence here...."
"And they'll be punished for it. Case closed."
"Come on, Lazar, will you keep punishing everyone for my sake?"
"If I have to, yes" His response was sharp, leaving no room for argument and I could only sigh in resignation. He wasn't making this easy for me at all. And believe me when I say it's frustrating as hell. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to come here with him.
I should have just remained in the states. From what I've gathered, an Alpha needs his Pack to remain stable and powerful. During wars, everyone in the Pack will have to come together and fight with their Alpha, for the peace and security of the Pack. What would happen if he continues punishing them for my sake, if he continues pushing them away?
Surely it won't look good at all.
"I need you to do one thing for me, Allie." His voice dragged me back to reality. "I need you to live. Don't be worried about the Pack members. I am the Alpha and I have everything under control, okay?"
"Maybe I'll always remain indoors. How about that?"
He chuckled. "Staying indoors is not a good idea, but if that's what you want, I'll gladly accept it. What are your hobbies? Maybe it'll help make your stay here enjoyable."
My eyes teared up as I heard his question. I never thought that a day would come when someone would ask what my hobbies are. Eliot and I have been together for two years, but never did he ask me what my hobbies were. In fact, he doesn't know what I love doing.
"Are you fine?" I felt Lazar's hands on my cheeks and I sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." I answered. "I love reading novels. I love drawing. I love writing too. In fact, I love doing a lot of things."
His lips rose up in a smile. "I love doing a lot of things too. And just like you, I love reading. Whenever I'm not handling important matters at the Pack House, I spend my time reading books too. It's good to know that we're on the same page."
I was about to say something, but just then Marcus walked into the sitting room. "Elias has been transferred to the mines now, your Majesty."
I wanted to beg on his behalf again, but knowing that Lazar wouldn't listen, I decided against it.
"Helen?" Lazar called and almost immediately, a young lady stepped forward. She was dressed in a simply dark uniform with a crisp white apron over it.
She was truly beautiful....the kind of beauty that made you look twice. But her eyes weren't soft; they held a hard, stern gaze, like she was always sizing you up.
When she looked at Alpha Lazar, her face changed completely. A slow smile spread across her lips. She leaned in a little, just enough to be noticed, and stared right into his eyes.
At that moment, I knew what she was doing. She was absolutely flirting with him.
When he finally turned to me and introduced us, "Baby, this is Helen, she'll show you to your room," her smile was gone.
She looked right through me, like I was nothing, a piece of trash she had to deal with. "Who is this human, Alpha?" She inquired as she sized me up. "I don't think I've seen her before. Is she a new maid?"
My face burned with embarrassment as I heard her words and I wanted nothing but to hide from her. Do I look like a maid in any way? I had to refrain from staring at my clothes.
"Show some respect, Helen. She's your Luna." Marcus warned
Her brows furrowed into confusion, but she didn't say anything. She just flashed me a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I'll come to you later, baby. I have some work to do, okay?" Lazar pulled me into his arms and hugged me. By the time he pulled away, I noticed the harsh glare on Helen's face.
I didn't say a word to him. I just stayed quiet. He told her to take me to the room, and I let her lead the way.
Together, we walked towards the stairs.
"Do you know that Lazar has a fiance?"
