Taming the Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 5

"I didn't get your name," I said as we walked back to the packhouse.

"I didn't get yours either," he smirked. "I'm Blake."

"Belle."

He walked by my side up the stairs and through the doors. That earthy, rich scent filled my head, pulling me forward. Blake was watching my face closely as we entered and stopped dead. Every pair of eyes turned our way - including Jacks. I cringed back, but Blake's hand on my elbow kept me steady.

"Guess there's no avoiding the s**t show," he mumbled.

The doors leading to the party had been closed. My family, Jack, Justine and Alpha Ryder waited inside the lobby. With them, to my surprise, were two people I didn't know. The woman was older, but still gorgeous in a silver dress that matched her long hair. The man was leaning against the banister, arms crossed with his face turned to the ground. The delicious scent was the strongest it had been. Blake and I walked forward, and I realized it was his scent, this mystery stranger. It overpowered Blake's scent- it overpowered everything. I wanted to drink it in, to wrap myself in it. It was absolutely intoxicating.

Fear gripped me. I'd only ever been so attracted to someone's scent one other time in my life. . .

We stopped mere feet away. He looked up slowly and straightened. This man dwarfed me more than my brothers or Dad. He was muscular, with broad shoulders and long arms. I craned my neck back, taking in his flat stomach, large chest, finally stopping at his face. His black hair was cropped short around the bottom and left longer on top. It matched his thick, dark eyebrows. His beard was short too, neatly trimmed, standing out against his paler complexion. But it was his eyes, his forest green eyes that captured me and knocked the breath from my lungs like air being forced from a balloon. It couldn't be-

"Mate."

Kida's acknowledgment made the fear turn into panic.

I wasn't ready for this. I'd literally just run from my first mate, and besides, weren't second-chance mates rare? A million thoughts buzzed in my head, yet all I could do was stare at this huge man like an i***t while a bond was forged between us.

"Belle, this is my Alpha, Kit Hale of Fire Lake pack," Blake said. "And this is his mother, our former Luna, Trisha Hale."

"Nice to meet you Belle," the former Luna smiled, though she looked confused at the situation. I was still caught in the Alpha's magnetic gaze. Fire Lake. The wealthiest and most powerful pack in the country. No, no. That couldn't be right. How was this happening to me right now? I should have stayed outside, or gone back to my room. This entire night had been one giant mess.

"Belle?"

My mom's voice was enough to free me. Once I was released from the Alpha's stare, I felt like I could breathe again. My body turned like a robot, automatic and stiff. My family waited, their faces ranging from concerned to wary. I had no idea what to say to any of them. What could I say? Where would I even begin? I chanced a look at Blake-his eyes were unfocused, mindlinking. Alpha Kit was looking away from us, but I could tell he was on the receiving end.

Justine was the one to break the silence. "Can we get on with this?"

"It should have been done privately," Alpha Ryder frowned at both of them. "Was it necessary to do this tonight during the party Jack?"

"My apologies, Alpha." He didn't look sorry at all. "Like I said, I'd heard a rumor that Belle was leaving."

"Liar. He just wanted to humiliate us," Kida growled. From the way Mom, Dad and my brothers rolled their eyes, I could see they agreed with my wolf.

Dad looked between me and Blake. "May I ask why you followed my daughter?"

"I had orders to bring her back." Blake glanced at Alpha Kit, as did everyone else.

Alpha Ryder asked the question everyone was thinking. Everyone but me. "You ordered him to bring her back? Belle isn't a member of your pack."

"She's my mate." His voice was deep and honey smooth. Still, I heard an edge in his words, a hint of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. His statement left everyone wide-eyed with mouths agape. It was his mother who gasped first, her hands flying to her mouth. Blake nodded, probably already in the know. But it was Jack who broke the silence this time.

"Mate?! She can't be your mate!" he exploded.

Alpha Kit turned on him. His expression was nonchalant, but his tone was black. "And why not? She isn't yours anymore."

Jack spluttered incoherently.

Mom came to stand in front of me, taking my hands in hers. "Is it true?"

I nodded. "Yes." My voice was barely above a whisper.

Both Greg and James were suddenly in front of me. "We can't allow this," Greg said. He pointed a finger at Alpha Kit. "My sister obviously doesn't know that you already have a chosen mate."

My heart stuttered painfully at his words. I'd heard tons about the notorious Hale family. But Greg was right, I'd never heard that Alpha Kit had taken a chosen mate. The last time I'd heard any big news was when his father died. It was a shock to everyone because Alpha Joshua Hale was the strongest, most skilled and feared Alpha. It was the only time I'd ever had any sort of contact with the Hale family, and it wasn't even in person, just my name beside the rest of my family's on a letter expressing our condolences.

I looked at my mate and wondered what drove anyone to take a chosen mate instead of waiting for or being with their fated one. He must love her a lot, to take such a drastic action. Could I ask him to reject her for me? I had baggage, while they were happy together. Was I the type of person to take someone from someone else? No.

Gathering my courage, I looked Alpha Kit in the eye. "I think it would be best if we rejected each other."

Trisha stumbled between us. "No! This is a misunderstanding! My son does not have a mate!"

"Everyone knows about her," James said. "Katy or Clara or something."

"Her name is Cassie. And she's not my mate," Kit said.

"But there is someone. Someone you want to be with," I clarified. He didn't answer, which was answer enough for me.

Alpha Ryder ran a hand down his face. "I'm sorry Luna Trisha, but I have to agree with them. I can't allow one of my pack members to go to your pack if I know they are going to be mistreated."

I took a deep breath. "I, Belle Samuels, reject you-"

"Wait!" Luna Trisha practically screamed. "She won't be mistreated!" She turned to her son. Everyone was silent while they mind-linked. When his eyes refocused, he spoke to Alpha Ryder.

"Belle will not be mistreated by me. I give you my word."

"You're accepting her then?" Dad asked.

Alpha Kit nodded.

"Belle?"

"He gave his word," Kida reminded me. That was true. An Alphas word was as good as a contract. And this was my chance to leave everything behind and start new. To leave the pain and betrayal in the past, where it belonged. As long as he kept his word. . .

"I accept him," I said.

Kit walked over to Jack, holding his hand out. "The divorce papers. Hand them over." Jack gave him an icy cold glare, but he complied. He turned to me. "Sign them."

Someone handed me a pen. I took the stack of papers and flipped to the back. My signature was messier than usual thanks to my shaking hands. I handed them back, a small sense of relief flooding in. Jack had no reason to bother me again after today.