Chapter 8

I couldn’t have been in the bathroom for more than sixty seconds when two women I had seen go into the bar came in.

One was shorter, her brunette hair in a pixie cut, her makeup flawless and her dress showed all her curves with half her skin showing. The other couldn’t be more opposite, her long blonde hair pulled carelessly into a ponytail. She had on pants that were clearly too big, a white t shirt and a flannel unbuttoned over top.

The one with the pixie cut spoke first. “Listen don’t take it so hard, Blanes a piece of no-good trash. You’re better off without him.” She exclaimed.

“Why does it feel like I’m dying.” I grabbed my chest still writhing in pain.

“A rogue rifling through the garbage is a better mate than that scum.” The blonde told me.

The door to the bathroom swung open and a man appeared in the doorway. “Alpha Colton wants her!” He declared.

Both girls stiffened before each one grabbed one of my arms and started dragging me to the door.

As we walked through the restaurant Tommy ran to my side. The man looked at Tommy and growled.

“What’s going on here?” Tommy demanded.

“Colton has requested her presence.” The man walked up to Tommy, chest out ready for a fight.

From the bar a dozen other men and women surrounded Tommy. With an apologetic look on his face Tommy backed down and walked back into the kitchen.

I couldn’t wrap my head around anything that was going on. Laila wailed in my head, the pain I felt was immeasurable and I didn’t care where they were taking me.

The two women sat on either side of me in the back of the fancy four door car. The man with sandy hair and another dark-haired man sat up front.

Driving down the road I felt an absolute despair unlike anything before. Even the hopelessness of the orphanage couldn’t compare.

After a few minutes the woman with the pixie cut reached forward tapping the driver on the shoulder. “What does Alpha Colton want with her?” She asked.

“That’s between her and him. He just told me to bring her to him.” The man answered sharply.

“Well, I don’t see what he wants with Blanes rejected she wolf. She’s a waitress at Tommy’s for fucks sake.” She crossed her arms in disapproval.

Had I been able to focus on anything they were say I would have been even more confused.

“You were all ready to make friends with her until Alpha Colton summoned her.” The blonde said. Clearly poking fun at the other women.

“She’s just rogue trash.” The pixie cut women huffed.

Finally, the passenger spoke up. “And that’s exactly why the Alpha would never have anything to do with you Vanessa. A bitch in heat has more class.” He laughed.

The blonde burst out laughing. “She’s had her eyes on him since they first opened.”

“Shut up Willow, no one asked you.” Vanessa said in a high-pitched voice.

Their voices all muffled in the background of Laila’s sobbing. My brain started to focus as we pulled up to a ten-foot brick wall with two huge metal gates blocking the road.

A man came out from a building on the left side of the gate and walked up to the driver side of the car.

“Beta Lucas, back so soon. It’s not even dark yet.” The man asked.

“Alpha Colton had other plans for tonight.” He responded. Signaling with his hand back towards me.

I recognized the man; he was the younger guy who came in with Willy every day.

“Hey Amanda.” He said warmly.

I hated to admit I had never learned his name. “Hey.” I said back simply.

“Good luck.” He told me as he walked back to the building and the gates groaned open.

Even Laila’s sorrow couldn’t drown out the beauty of this place. Tall perfectly manicured trees lined the road. To the left a modest sized school where a few dozen children were playing in the sunshine. As we drove further rows of Victorian style houses sat each with their own large yard.

Through the front window a huge light grey stone mansion appeared. We pulled through a large archway. All the paving stones on the ground a flat white. A large fountain in the center of the courtyard deprecated two wolves holding up a sphere with their noses. Water trickling from the top of the sphere down the wolves' bodies to a small pool down below.

We got out of the car and the man I can only assume was Beta Lucas stood between me and the two women. “You girls are dismissed.” He said sternly.

“But Beta.” Vanessa pleaded in a childish voice.

“I said you can go.” He told her before turn to me.

“Fine.” Vanessa said stomping her foot before storming back through the archway.

“I feel sorry for her mate.” The dark hair man said.

“Don’t we all.” Beta Lucas said jokingly. “Maybe we will get lucky, and he will be head of another pack and he can take her home with him.” Both men laughed at this as Beta Lucas moved a panel by the door exposing a pad shaped like a hand. He placed his hand on it and with a green light and a beep the front door clicked open.

I stood between the two men hugging myself. Just now taking in everything that had happened and been said since we left the restaurant.

“Come on, the Alpha doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Beta Lucas urged walking through the doorway.

The other man's hard chest coming in contact with my back as he nudged me through the door. “Go on.” He nudged again.

What was I supposed to do now? Laila had always been my strength, my protector and now she’s crumbling in my head as I’m being pushed down a dark hallway into the unknown.