MEIRA POV
I sat quietly on the bed, after the omega left and let me organize my things into the closet. Now, all I could think about was my next life, after living in this pack. And perhaps, I will not have enough opportunities to be able to leave and detach myself from this pack. And again, I don't have enough strength to be able to do all those things on my own. Moreover, I was quite self-conscious, that I wasn't a good enough werewolf to put up a fight. Especially against an Alpha tyrant like that man, Zade Emerson.
Almost everyone knew who Zade Emerson was, but it was rare for them to meet the Alpha tyrant in person. I, myself, met him for the first time. And, I'm really sorry for that. Because that first meeting ended up in this Moon Gold Pack of his right now. Can I turn back the time? So that neither I nor that man could ever meet like now. I guess, that will never be possible.
Right now, I was in the room that Zade had prepared for me. I don't know what is the basis of my being in his pack right now. And I myself, also don't know what Zade is planning to do to me now. Then my existence in this pack, for what? I couldn't even stop to think about the same thing, for quite a long time. I sighed slowly, and began to cast my gaze in all directions in this room right now.
There wasn't much to see. There was only a bed, complete with pillow, bolster, and blanket, then the other thing was a sizable wardrobe, a small table beside the bed, complete with a small sleeping lamp. A pretty comfortable room actually. I could even say that the room Zade gave me was much more comfortable, and also much better, compared to the room I had before in my own pack. Thinking back to what happened in my pack before, I still really felt hurt by what my father had said to me. I shouldn't have to ask why you hated me, because deep down inside, I knew that the things you would say would only hurt my feelings more. And it did.
I raised my right hand and gently rubbed my forehead as I sighed. It was exhausting to feel and think about right now. "Do you like the room?" That voice instantly made me tiptoe off the bed, and look right at the open door of the room there. It revealed the arrival of Zade who was standing quietly, with his palms stuffed into his pants pockets. He looked at me flatly. I could barely read his expression.
"You're here? Since when?" I muttered. Because I didn't even realize when Zade came into this room before. And for some reason, I was standing very nervously right now. Supposedly, I should dare to look at him again.
"Hmm..." For a moment, he chuckled faintly, with the corners of his lips raised there. Until, Zade started to walk further into this room, and made me even more nervous, so I immediately tried to take my eyes off him now. So that I don't have to look at Zade.
"Looks like I was right. That you really like this room." He muttered once again.
Zade stopped walking and stood right in front of me. Only one step away. I still averted my eyes, and unconsciously clenched my palms together, to try to reduce the nervousness I could still feel.
"Don't mince words with me." I started to work up the courage to say something, even if it was mumbled.
"Why? What if I want to have a quick chat with you?"
Hearing the casual answer given by Zade, really made me feel out of my mind. How could he be that casual? I raised my head, and started looking at Zade who no longer raised the corners of his lips like before. He just looked at me with his curious eyes. And I felt a little annoyed.
"Why? Are you still asking me why?" I really couldn't figure it out. And Zade responded to my words with his head nodding slowly.
"In any case, you shouldn't be making small talk with me. You're an Alpha of a very powerful pack. And I'm just a girl, a daughter of a weak pack." I unconsciously pointed at myself in front of him.
"You asked me from my father before, didn't you? That I'm just a guarantee of cooperation that you and my father have, right? So, you should treat me like a collateral for the cooperation you have."
"Treat you as my collateral?"
Why does he keep asking? I nodded my head quickly. "Yes! Isn't that what you want? I'm here, as a guarantee. So treat me as whatever you want."
Unexpectedly, Zade's movement towards me became much faster. Zade moved closer to me, then grabbed my waist very tightly with his left hand, and threw my body onto the bed. The same thing happened with him on top of me. My breathing was very labored now. I didn't expect Zade to move suddenly like that. Both my hands held his chest, so that he wouldn't get too close to me now.
"Is this what you mean by treating you as my guarantee?"
Both my eyes were moving very restlessly. This feels quite scary. Or I should say, very scary actually. I've never been this close to any man. Not even once. And Zade, he was even still asking after throwing my body abruptly onto the mattress, and was in a very uncomfortable and unsafe position for myself right now.
"No... I didn't..." Gosh, why can't I speak properly.
Zade was still looking at me with a very cold gaze. It was as if that cold, flat look that he was currently giving me, penetrated into my body. And made my whole body feel tingly right now. I froze, and tried to gather courage. But Zade's next action towards me really instantly made my heart beat faster now. Zade's left hand that was still tightly wrapped around my waist, but his right hand started to move closer to my neck, then rubbed it, and stayed in that position.
Zade's face was getting closer, with the rush of his breathing that I could even begin to feel clearly. My breathing felt very labored, and I struggled to breathe easily. I could feel my face starting to turn pale now.
"Please... just, let me go." I had no other choice, but to lower my ego and frustration.
"But you asked for this, didn't you?" Zade muttered again. I thought, he must be challenging the ego that I had shown to him earlier.
I shook my head slowly. "No... please, let me go."
I mumbled again, and hoped that Zade would really let go of me and walk away. But Zade just fell silent, and looked straight at me. I was in alert mode. I wondered what he would do to me later, if I let my guard down. I didn't. I wasn't going to let him do anything to me.
"Are you scared?" He suddenly asked. And I could feel that his face was getting closer to mine now.
"I... I-I..." I stuttered again, and couldn't speak clearly once more.
Zade brought his face even closer to mine. "Are you scared of me?"
"Yeah... y-yes... I... I'm scared... you're a bit creepy up close." I mumbled in the end, and closed my eyelids very tightly now. I really hoped that the tightness I was feeling now would stop. But, in the next second, I began to feel that Zade was slowly removing his hands from my body. Then Zade slowly moved away from my body now. I paused for a moment, and took a deep breath.
I opened my eyelids in a hasty motion, and immediately turned my head and looked at Zade who was sitting on this bed, with his back to me. Quickly, I sat down on the bed, but stayed behind him.
"I think I need to set something straight with you." Zade muttered and started to reverse his sitting position, so that we were facing each other.
"You, are not a guarantee of cooperation between my pack, and your father's pack."
"What do you mean?" I furrowed my forehead quite deeply.
"Didn't you say it yourself earlier, that... you asked for me as collateral for the cooperation that your pack and my father's pack have. That's why you brought me to your pack. Because... I was collateral. Then why did you say I wasn't collateral?"
"That's something I need to explain to you, Meira." Zade started looking at me with a serious look now.
"What? You're making me unable to understand anything." I muttered.
"I didn't mean to make you collateral for the cooperation I have. It's just that, it was the only way I could think of in the short time before. If not, then you will never be able to escape your father."
"But what do all the things I experienced inside my pack, together with my father, and my step sister, have to do with you?" I shook my head slowly. Still not fully understanding Zade's intentions and direction.
"What do I have to do with your interests? And why me?"
"There is." Zade deepened his gaze on me. And I could see the seriousness in his eyes right there.
"And even so, you yourself might not easily believe let alone understand the things I tell you. But yes, you are very important to me, Meira."
"Then, if I ask, will you be willing to give me the answer?" I challenged him. I thought, I really need that answer now.
"That depends." Zade softened his gaze, and began to lift the corners of his lips there slightly. "It depends on what you want to ask me."
I paused for a moment and swallowed my saliva slowly. It felt very strange to be face-to-face with the Alpha tyrant who was always told to be the most dangerous figure, for lower-level packs, like my pack. Especially with the position where I was in his pack now. Things that absolutely cannot be considered favorable at all. But, at the very least, I should try, and make a little effort to find out what he really wants from me now.
"If, I'm not the guarantee of cooperation that you and my father have... then why should I be in your pack? And what do you really want from me?"
"You. I want you." Zade's answer I never expected at all. What did he mean by that now? That sentence could have a different meaning.
"Tell me clearly. Make me understand this situation. Don't confuse me. Please." I looked at Zade pleadingly.
"You are my cure, Meira Hill. You are the cure for this pack."
Wait. Is that possible? The meaning of Zade's words could only mean one thing.
"Cure? Do you think I am your mate, Zade Emerson?"
"Yes. You are my mate, Meira Hill. Don't you feel the same way I do?"