Alec’s

I get out of the car the moment the driver parks it in front of the pack house. I stop and just stare at the huge mansion. I don't know why, but I expected things to have changed, but it's still the same. I feel Alec's presence behind me, but I ignore him. I just focus on the house as memories upon memories invade my head.

This had once been my dream. To be Alec's Luna. To rule by his side. I always imagined our children running around inside, playing, while I baked and tried to avoid crashing into them.

I imagined the pack house filled with their love, laughter and joy. Yes, we would have had our own house, but most of our days would be spent here because this is where the Alpha and Luna offices are.

It had been hard to let go of those dreams. It had been sad to watch them die in that room underground. It had crashed me, realizing that I'd built fairy tales around Alec, not realizing what a monster he was. Now here I was, I had his child, and we were mates, but our life was nothing like I'd imagined it would be. Instead, I hated him, and I was only here because we both wanted something from each other. "Are you okay?"

If he asks me that one more time, I swear I'm going to punch him. I wasn't okay, and I doubt I'll ever be.

"Let's just get this over and done with," I reply and start walking.

I knew this place like the back of my hands. Piper and I spent countless hours exploring the inside of the pack house and outside. I didn't really need him to guide me or anything.

I feel his heat behind. I quicken my steps so that I can put some distance between us. I didn't like him near me. His presence affects me and not in any good way.

When we get inside, it's the same. The décor, the furniture, everything is still the same. Maybe, had he mated Lola, she would have done a touch up and changed a few things. He didn't get to mark and mate her, so the pack house remained the same.

"Could you please assign a room for Aspen?" I ask once I'm done surveying the place. "She needs to be put down."

We had left early, so it was around eleven in the morning. Usually, there wouldn't be a lot of pack members around, given there is school and work, but today it was emptier than I remember. Maybe it's because many of them were wounded, and the rest were probably resting after the attack.

He calls one of the passing omegas. Her eyes round into two huge saucers when she sees me. She's shocked, and her mouth keeps opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"Are the guestrooms ready?" Alec's voice makes her turn.

I would have taken it as disrespect for the way she stared directly into my eyes, but I wasn't in the mood to scold her or put her in her place.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

"Yes, Alpha. Elder Martin had us prepare them," she answers looking at her feet.

"Will you be sharing a bedroom with Aspen? I had them prepare a bedroom for her, but she can sleep with you if that's what you want." Alec turns and addresses me, just as the rest come in.

"I'd prefer she sleeps with me" I answer, before turning to Martha. "Please take her. Once I'm done, I'll come find you."

Martha gently takes Aspen from me. That kid can sleep like a log. With a nod, she follows the Omega. I watch them as they climb the stairs before they disappear.

"First thing is first, we need to fill the Elders in. I've already called a meeting, and they'll be here in a couple of minutes," Alec announces. "This way."

"Don't touch me," I grind through my teeth when he goes to place his hand on my lower back.

Like I said, I didn't want him anywhere near me. I didn't want his heat, or his touch. It wasn't because I was avoiding the mate bond, but it was because his touch left a lasting memory. I always wanted him to touch me, but the many times he did, he brought me nothing but pain.