A Stubborn Woman

Elijah

S carlett storms off ahead of me and I take a deep breath as I follow, although she's already disappeared inside.

She's angry at me but she's not even giving me a chance to explain myself, but I am not going to back down so easily, not until I have explained to her exactly what happened.

Something about her rejection has upset my wolf too. I can feel him brooding within my mind. I wish I could talk to him. It sure would make things easier. It confuses me a little, too. My wolf never cared for any of my fucks before.

Am I building an emotional connection with her? No, I fucking can't be.

Right?

Entering the house, I notice it isn't as bad as it looks from the outside. Yes, it is in a dilapidated state, but it is clean. Despite it being barely furnished, there are signs of life.

A child's battered shoes stand by the entrance and a cracked frame with a hand-drawn picture hangs crookedly on the wall. A small shelf with hooks holds several pairs of keys and a couple of tattered children's coats are on the floor against the far wall.

The worn-out mahogany wooden floors groan under every step I take, several are completely sunk in. The single bare bulb that hangs from the ceiling is weak, casting a sickly blue light around the dark hall. A rickety flight of steps leads upwards. The stair bannister is broken and in some areas the rails are completely missing.

It is completely dangerous for young wolves.

It seems rather silent, and I wonder how many people actually live here.

I follow Scarlett's scent into a large kitchen.

After what happened, we should try to stick together so we don't fall into any more traps, I say through the mind-link.

Yeah, sure. Traps, she replies sarcastically.

Are you really just going to blow me off and not fucking listen?

I frown when I don't get an answer and shake my head, looking around the kitchen. This room is clearly the newest in the building, with three large stoves, four American-style refrigerator/ freezers and a double door that leads off outside. I realise this is probably where the food for the pack members is prepared.

Scarlett is helping an elderly lady with some 25kg potato sacks, squatting as she lifts another.

My gaze falls to her sexy ass and I throb before looking away. The stupid drug had worn off a short while ago, but looking at Scarlett is just going to make me hard again.

I have never gone without sex for this long, but for her I have, and she doesn't even realise the effect she has on me or how much I fucking want her and only her. I know I don't want anyone else, but fuck, she has no faith in me. But I gave her my word and we'll remain exclusive.

I am brought out of my thoughts when the elderly woman bows and repeatedly tells Scarlett she does not need help.

"Please, my lady," she whispers fearfully, and Scarlett shakes her head.

"Please, don't apologise. The Alpha has given us permission to look around. No one will know if I helped or not," she reassures her. I walk over and take the other two sacks.

"So, where are we taking them?" I ask. The woman looks at me, paling as she senses my Alpha aura. Despite having reined it in, it is still noticeable.

"J-just over there," she stutters, pointing to another door that I hadn't noticed when I came in. I lead the way, pushing the door open and stepping inside, holding the door open for Scarlett as she picks up two bags with ease, frowning at me.

"I can manage," she says coldly.

"I didn't say you couldn't," I reply cockily. She simply ignores me.

The room we enter, which had been humming with quiet conversation and the hustle and bustle of several women slicing and dicing vegetables, now falls silent as all eyes turn on us, the newcomers.

It is a second kitchen and, like the other, is in better condition than the entrance hall.

The women in it look underfed and several have some bruises on them. This is fucked up, but the sad truth is that each pack has its own laws. There is no supreme rule that binds anyone. It is on the alpha, who is the supreme king, to decide what his pack laws are. The way these women cower upon our entry, it's obvious they live in fear for their lives.

"T-they just wanted to help… they won't hurt us," the elderly woman explains, looking at me furtively. I give her a cocky smirk.

"I don't hurt women," I say, trying to ease her concern. But it was the wrong thing to say, feeling a wave of anger radiating off Scarlett.

"Yeah, I noticed," she says bitterly, placing the potato sacks on the worktop.

"Red…" I begin, not missing the many eyes on us.

"Don't fucking talk to me," she growls, her power flaring up again. The women are all pale, fear filling their eyes.

Irritation ripples through me as I dump my own sacks down and stride over to her. "Fuck, you know what? I'm going to fucking talk and you're going to fucking listen," I growl.

She looks around and grabs a large knife, brandishing it at me. I raise an eyebrow. "Seriously, a knife? Your claws would do more damage," I mock her as I advance towards her.

"Thanks for reminding me," she snaps back. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to see your ugly face."

"Ugly? Oh please, I'm sure we can all agree I'm fucking handsome," I say, smirking arrogantly as every other woman nods in their agreement. Whether it is in agreement or in fear of disobeying an alpha, I am not sure, but I don't really care.

"You're just a twat," Scarlett says in disgust.

"Just hear me out," I order. I can see her struggle as she defies me, frowning bitterly as she looks at me with hurt in her eyes.

"Answer me one thing first, Elijah," she says, not missing the elderly woman motioning for the rest to continue cooking. Not knowing what to do with herself, she turns, tearing open the potato sack and begins peeling one.

"Anything," I answer, my heart racing with nerves.

At least she is beginning to talk to me. I take a step closer, but seeing her tense, I stop, not missing her chest rising and falling or the slight tremble in her fingers. I'm still in hot water and I don't want to push her even further away.

"Did you at least tell them to leave you alone? Did you even try to use your Alpha command on them? From what I could see, you weren't gagged. I mean, you're a fucking alpha. Was it really that hard to push them off you?" she spits, jealousy clear in her tone. I frown.

"I tried, a couple of times… but it didn't seem to work," I say, thinking that sounds lame. An Alpha's command is something that no wolf can disobey unless they are a stronger alpha. "I swear, Red, I did my fucking best."

"You expect me to believe that three she-wolves disobeyed an alpha who is incredibly strong?" she growls in disbelief.

"I'm telling the truth, even the damn drugs that were in the air didn't seem to affect them-" I stop as she spins around, placing the cold blade of the knife to my neck. "Fuck, Red, just hear me out."

I grab her hips, rather than defend myself, and pull her against me. Her heart skips a beat as I enjoy the feel of her body against mine. Our hearts race and I'm certain she can feel these sparks of desire that run between us.

"Then you should have torn their fucking throats out," she growls venomously.

I feel ashamed. Yeah, I should have. My brain wasn't working properly, though. All I was thinking was I needed to get out of there. I feel fucking disappointed in myself. I had fallen into such a stupid trap. As a man, I'm not going to fucking say it out loud, but those women had tried to sexually assault me and it makes me sick.

I can feel the eyes of the women around us watching us, especially the elderly woman.

"You're right, I should have, sweetheart-"

"Don't call me that," Scarlett interrupts, pressing the knife further into my neck, her eyes flashing.

"Ok fine, but at least know that I tried to escape the trio. Even with the drug in the air, I only wanted you. Don't you see what he's trying to do? He's trying to tear us apart. Those women were meant to get to me to hurt you. Don't let him fucking win."

"Forgive me, but are you talking about the Alpha's women?" The older woman asks, her deep blue eyes sharp and curious as she looks at us. Both Scarlett and I turn to her, although Scarlett keeps the knife at my throat while I still hold her firmly against me.

"No idea. There were three of them. A Japanese woman, a black woman, and a Latina," I explain. Scarlett glares at me, the knife biting into my skin, and a thin line of blood trickles down my neck.

"Oh, so you remember what the fuck they were, too?" she hisses. A few women hide their smiles. It is clear my feisty redhead is jealous.

"Come on, baby, they were nowhere near as hot as you," I try, ignoring the blood that is dripping down my neck.

"Not as? But still were, right?" she questions. The elder woman nods.

"Those are indeed the Alpha's women. Your Alpha command won't work on them I'm afraid, no matter how strong you are."

Scarlett's eyes widen as she turns towards the woman, the knife slack in her fingers, her heart hammering at the woman's words. I feel a deep sense of relief, but still grab Scarlett's chin.

"See?" I say, earning a frown from her. But I am curious as well and turn back to the woman. "But why not?" I ask.

"Because they no longer have their wolves."