Laura remained silent throughout their journey back to Drew's pack. Drew had never felt so nervous in his entire life. After laughing she'd stood up and demanded that they returned to his pack.
He was so shocked that he could only nod his head. She led the way, blatantly refusing to accept his help, and only stopped when she was confused or when she panicked because she heard movements in the forest. She had not spared him a glance since then.
Silver whimpered.
Not now, Silver. Drew warned. He was utterly flummoxed.
Who laughs after being told they're worthless? He asked himself, eyeing her warily.
She might have known he was lying or had he misjudged her?
Argh! He groaned internally, fighting the urge to lift her and drown himself in her scent.
He had acted too quickly. He should have tried to know who she was before telling her off.
But he was sure he made the right decision. Even Silver, despite his strong-headedness, understood what he was doing. They had learned to trust their instincts. It never lied.
Why then was he feeling guilty? He hated how he felt. He hated even more Laura's coldness towards him.
"What's your name?" She asked suddenly.
"Huh?" He asked surprised.
She rolled her eyes without giving him a reply.
"Drew, Drew Jericho" He replied peevishly.
"Drew," she said.
He sighed internally, loving the sound of his name on her lips.
"You look too young to be an Alpha, how old are you?" She asked briefly, glancing at him.
"24" He grunted in response.
She harrumphed dismissively, increasing her pace. Then jumped at the sound of leaves shuffling behind them.
What does she mean? Is she dissatisfied with us? Silver asked.
Drew what to think. He had been asked his age by so many other people that he'd become used to two responses. They were either impressed or jealous.
She should be impressed. Or do I not look good enough? He found himself asking and doubting himself for the first time in a long time. The jump had affected her more than had expected, as she clamped her teeth and breathed heavily as she struggled to move forward. He considered offering to help her again.
"Did you become Alpha by brute force alone?" She asked gently, sitting herself down on a log. She shut her eyes and exhaled.
Drew was stunned, he didn't know how to answer her question.
"You didn't, right? Why then, do you throw my weakness in my face."
He couldn't reply. She was in great pain and he could feel it.
"Is it… is it because I'm..?" she stuttered.
“There’s no need to state the obvious,” he replied curtly, needing to distract himself from the anguish she was facing because of her wounds.
“So you think only strength makes Luna? You don’t care what stuff they’re made up of? Like attitude, character, emotions, or any other qualities? So as long as a female isn’t weak or helpless she’s fit to be a Luna? Luna is now defined by her strength?” She burst out in disbelief.
“Yes, and you are lacking all that.”
"Sounds like the description of an Alpha to me." She replied curtly.
He snickered.
"Have you looked at the world around you? Gone are the days when females just tended to the pack and left the fighting for the males. Female Alphas now exist. Luna, my Luna should be physically capable to look after the pack."
"But a Luna is much more than a guard dog."
“Exactly Laura, My Luna should be much more than that, not less or weak or average, more.”
“This isn’t right.” She argued.
He scoffed, folding his arms. “What isn’t right? The fact that a leader should be the strongest in a pack?”
"You're biased." She said finally, struggling to get up.
He dashed towards her, offering to help but she squirmed from his touch and avoided him completely.
Laura limped stiffly, with her shoulders held high. She would not let him see how he'd hurt her.
Stupid Alpha, making me feel all emotional and squishy then breaking my heart. She thought.
But she had never been so certain of anything in her life. Every nerve in her body told her that he was her mate. He made her put down her guards, staying around him made her brain turn into mush, allowing her to forget what she was supposed to be doing.
"Well Mr. Jericho, when will I stop being under your protection?" She asked pointedly.
Drew sighed. He disliked the formality in her tone.
Never. He said to himself.
"When my pack doctor decides you're fit."
Laura snorted. She definitely wouldn't stay that long. She just needed her injured leg to heal. But in the meantime, she was going to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility in his pack.
"Let me help you," Drew tried again. "Your limping isn't helping you."
She scowled at him. "I'm fine." She huffed.
He thought about grabbing her, but the entrance to his pack came into view. He quickly mind-linked the pack doctor…
"I'm weak, remember? Not worth your attention. Stop offering me help." She muttered.
He grunted. Thinking of a smart reply, something that went along the lines of I don't care. But was interrupted by the arrival of Nathan and the Pack doctor alongside others.
"Welcome home buddy," Nathan said, slapping Drew's back.
"Oh, you brought the runaway back. You left in such a .."He continued but was cut short by Drew's growl.
"Take her to the clinic and look after her," Drew instructed the doctor while glaring at Nathan, then turning abruptly he strode away from them.
Nathan followed. "Yeah, who's she?"
“No one is important,” Nathan replied dismissively.
Laura watched him casually walk away as she was hefted up by a pack member. He didn't spare her glance or turn to see if she was doing okay.
Watching him walk in the opposite direction with his beta at his heels was so familiar. It reminded me of the times the people who were supposed to protect her abandoned her.
She shivered involuntarily. The same people who had pledged to keep her safe, now hunted her like she was a criminal. She needed to leave. That was her plan, wasn't it? To experience her freedom. She was going to do just that.
After treating her, the doctor who introduced himself as Vanns instructed her to limit her movements and rest. Laura had no intention of cooperating with him. Firstly, her experience had made her refuse to take instructions from men. She didn't trust them. Then she had no intention of staying in Drew's pack longer than she was supposed to. Immediately after he left, she decided to stand up and test the strength of her leg. Unfortunately, the doctor returned at that particular moment and doused her with sleeping pills.
Voices drifted into her room in the pack hospital from the firmly shut door as she regained consciousness again. She paused and craned her neck, as she tried to listen to what they said.
"He hunted for her and brought her back." Someone whispered.
"Why bother?" Another voice asked.
"You know how he is, always trying to save lost causes."
"Mhmm" the second voice agreed.
"He's like this because he's a new Alpha, he needs more allies to strengthen his pack."
"Yeah I agree, but that doesn't mean his allies should be women, who follow him around and beg for his attention."
"It's always like a Telenovela with the Alpha and his women though." Another voice piped in.
They all snickered.
"This promises more drama, you heard her…"
"Shhhh… we know the story."
"I witnessed it, this one has guts I tell ya."
"But who's she? At least the others were women of class and powerful."
"Exactly, she looks like a rogue."
"Yeah, I heard that she was…"
"Shut up" A new voice commanded "y'all were almost rogues before Alpha saved your hides. Get out before I consider reporting you to Alpha."
Laura groaned silently. She wouldn't let their words get her. She had mastered shutting out mockery a long time ago, if she didn't she would have killed herself then. What they said was nothing compared to what she'd been hearing all her life.