#Chapter 3
I was dumbstruck for more than a minute after hearing Dimitri's words. Tears dropped down my chin as the pain ate deep into me.
Slowly, I walked towards the balcony, trying to see what was wrong with Vanessa.
I wasn't a person to wish evil on another, but right now, I had this nagging desire that Vanessa would lose her baby. It was wrong, but I just couldn't help it.
I saw Dimitri holding Vanessa close to his arms while healers worked around her, finding the best aid to keep her alive until they got to the hospital.
At one point, Dimitri couldn't take it anymore. “Out of my way, all of you!” he thundered and scooped Vanessa up on his arms.
My wolf screamed inside me and I let out a loud cry as I saw my Mate getting so entangled with another woman.
My scream attracted the hall as they saw me running down the stairs, trying to hold my long gown from getting between my legs.
I was crying and begging. My wolf was in shambles, jealousy tearing her apart. I was so close to rejecting Dimitri as my mate, for the pain was too much to bear.
Then I slipped on my dress.
The world flashed before my eyes as I came tumbling down the stairs.
“Mate!” I cried subconsciously, calling him to my rescue.
But none was forthcoming. I crashed to the floor and into one of the tables. Glasses of wine and plates of meals fell on me, giving me so many cuts.
I lay there in pain, my face covered in tears and my body in bruises.
There was a tense moment in the crowd as no one dared come to my aid when the Alpha was still in the vicinity. No one was allowed to touch me when Dimitri was around.
I saw him still standing at the door, Vanessa draped in his strong arms.
Three guards and healers ran up to him, asking to take Vanessa to the hospital themselves.
To my greatest surprise, Dimitri refused to let her go.
“Kaida is strong,” he said dismissively, “and can take care of herself. Vanessa isn't. Don't forget that dinner, Kaida!”
With that, he carried Vanessa out, leaving me lying in the mess of food, wine and bruises. I sobbed harder, unable to believe this was real.
After years of fighting to get pregnant for the Alpha, years of drinking thousands of herbal tablets from various healers, getting injected with bitter drugs— and this was how Dimitri chose to repay me. By going after another woman only because she was a few months pregnant for him.
My sobs filled the hall, rising among the murmurs around. No one was still willing to help me up. And it wasn't because of Dimitri. I remembered his words earlier, how the entire pack hated me for being barren.
I forced myself up but staggered backwards. I was caught by a pair of strong arms. A strange but intoxicating scent filled my nose.
I turned to see a masked man, his hair long and silky. He got me to a chair and began to silently pluck out the shards of glass and food on me.
His movements were quick and caring. But his eyes were wounded. He was furious at my Pack.
The hall stood back, watching this scenario, wondering who he was and how he'd entered into the hall. It was very clear from his scent and build that he wasn't part of the Pack.
Dimitri's guards approached him. “And who the hell do you think you are to—”
When they saw his eyes, their words instantly ceased.
They bowed their heads immediately, about to mention his identity. He tried to stop them but it was too late.
“You're most welcome, Alpha Axel Steele of Redhill Pack.”
The rival pack! My security senses heightened. Even though there'd been a peace treaty among our pack and theirs, I still felt uneasy whenever Axel was mentioned. I hadn't seen his face for the first time, either.
Shrouded in mystery, he was considered untouchable. And fearless.
I knew Dimitri would have somehow sensed Axel's presence, but because he was with Vanessa, he wouldn't turn back and see to the safety of his pack.
“Why did no one help her up?” he asked about me, his masked face darting around.
Russ walked back to the hall and froze when he saw Axel.
“How did you get in here, Axel?” he asked, taking slow steps towards us.
The clash of these formidable men was quite dangerous. If the Alpha was here, it'd have been softer, for he knew the importance of peace amongst Packs.
But Russ just didn't care.
It turned out, however, that Axel hadn't come to make trouble.
He turned to me and I was bothered that I couldn't see his eyes. “She called me,” he said, answering Russ’s question.
The murmurs from the crowd reached a crescendo.
“Silence!” Russ barked, his fangs shooting out for a second.
He faced Axel. “She called you? Do you even hear yourself? The Luna to Alpha Dimitri called you?” he snarled, then frowned. “Return whence you came, sire, before Dimitri hears this nonsense ever happened.”
After a full waiting minute, Axel decided to let it slide. It wasn't his territory, after all. He took one last glance at me and told the chief healer to make sure I was safe.
He left the packhouse.
All of this was so unreal to be true. How had he come? And what did he mean by I'd called him?
The only call I'd made was when I shouted “Mate!”
