Forbidden Territory

Alexina

In just two days, I had recovered enough to be moved to the cabin that had been assigned to me.

Chloe, growing impatient with my slow, limping pace, had hoisted me up and carried me to her car. Surprisingly, she allowed me to walk to the cabin on my own. By the time I reached the door, she was already inside, lounging on the couch with the TV humming in the background.

I took a moment to absorb my new surroundings. The cabin’s interior was as rustic as its exterior, with log walls and a layout that included a cozy living room, a kitchen, and a hallway. The living room was furnished with two brown leather loveseats and a wooden coffee table, while the kitchen boasted butcher block countertops and light maple cabinets.

“Your room is the one on the left,” Chloe called out as I ventured down the hallway.

The room on the left was a small bedroom, complete with a queen-sized bed, a closet, and a dresser. The closet and dresser were already filled with clothes, a task I was sure Chloe had managed to squeeze into her schedule.

It was strange how easily I got along with her. Back in my old pack, I didn’t have any female friends. Most women were too high-strung for my liking; I always preferred the company of men. But Chloe was different—she was like one of the guys.

“Thanks for all the clothes and stuff. Once I figure out what I’m going to do and where I’m going to go, I’ll find a way to pay you back,” I said, settling onto the loveseat next to her.

“Don’t worry about it. I put it on my brother’s credit card,” she replied, grinning as she playfully punched my shoulder.

“Is he going to be mad?” I asked, unsure of who her brother was. Most male wolves were known for their short tempers, and I wasn’t in any condition to face one.

“No, he told me to get you whatever you needed to get settled,” she shrugged, her attention already back on the TV.

“Chloe!” I scolded her. “Getting me settled would have been buying me like three outfits, not twenty!” She had definitely gone overboard with the clothes; I was only going to be here for two months, tops.

“I might have gotten myself some stuff too,” she confessed, her smile widening.

“Chloe, you are so bad! You better not get me into trouble for this too. I’ll tell him he can have them all back and return them,” I teased, although I was serious about giving them back if that’s what he wanted. A few pairs of clothes weren’t worth a fight.

“I doubt he’ll even notice,” Chloe said, rising from the couch and heading to the kitchen. “Want some meat?” she asked, opening the fridge.

“Yes, please, and a drink,” I replied.

I had grown accustomed to the texture of the meat, and it wasn’t bad at all. I could tell it was aiding my healing process. My Alpha blood already gave me a faster healing rate, but the meat seemed to speed it up even more. My face was already healed, with only bright pink lines remaining that would soon fade into unnoticeable scars. The gashes in my leg were still partially open, making it difficult for me to walk.

Dane dropped by to check on us, seeming surprised that Chloe and I were still getting along so well. He didn’t seem too fond of Chloe, which made me wonder why.

I was ordered to stay in the cabin until the Alpha returned at the end of the next week. Chloe and I kept ourselves entertained with board games, card games, and endless chatter, usually ending the nights with a few beers.

Chloe and I had a lot in common, especially when it came to music, sports, and clothes. However, we disagreed on our taste in men. She preferred lighter hair and blue eyes, while I was drawn to darker hair and green eyes. We spent one night arguing over who had better taste, but in the end, we agreed to disagree.

I had yet to meet anyone in the pack other than Dane and Chloe. I had sort of met the Alpha, but I was pretending to sleep at the time, so that didn’t really count.

I had been cooped up in the cabin or infirmary since I arrived. When Dane came to escort me to see the Alpha on Friday night, I was relieved to finally get outside.

I followed Dane out of the cabin, relishing the fresh summer air. It felt so good to be back in nature. My wolf had been restless for the past week, yearning to be let out. I hoped the Alpha would allow me to go for runs now that he was back. I didn’t care if someone had to accompany me—I just wanted to let her out so she would calm the fuck down.

The walk across the lawn to the Alpha house seemed too short. I wanted to stay outside for the rest of the day. As we entered the house and approached two large wooden doors, I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

The room we entered was enormous, with a grand staircase leading upstairs and a spacious living area to the right, filled with couches, chairs, and tables. The hardwood floors and soft, neutral-colored walls gave the room an elegant yet homey feel.

Dane knocked on the wooden door, the sound making me jump. I turned my attention back to the door when a voice from the other side told us to enter.

“Thank you, Dane,” Klaus said, dismissing Dane from the room. He motioned for me to sit in one of the chairs across from his desk.

“Hello, Zena. My name is Niklaus Yurik, Alpha of the Mystic Pack. You may call me Klaus,” he said, extending his hand.

I reached out to shake his hand, my mind racing to figure out why his last name sounded so familiar.

I’d sat through countless meetings with my father, where discussions about other packs were the norm. Perhaps that’s where I’d heard it. I was expected to pay attention, to learn about the inner workings of our pack so that when the time came for me to take over, I’d be prepared. But I never really paid attention. I knew my father would hold onto the Alpha position as long as he could. I figured I had a good ten years before I’d have to start worrying about all that stuff.

“So, would you like to explain to me why you trespassed on my lands?” Klaus’s voice broke through my thoughts.

Damn. I didn’t have a choice but to tell him the truth. I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

“My name is Alexina Torelli. My pack was attacked the day I was found on your land. My Alpha ordered me to leave and my wolf brought me onto your lands. I’m sorry that I trespassed. We weren’t in the right state of mind when it happened.” I kept my head down, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape.

I’d just spoken about that day for the first time in two weeks. The memories were still fresh, as if it had happened yesterday. I didn’t mention that I was the future Alpha of our pack. I didn’t think it was necessary. I looked up when I heard him shuffling through a stack of paperwork on his desk.

“Are you from the Shadow Pack, Alexina?” He asked, his eyes dark and full of emotion. My heart dropped. If he knew what pack I was from, then the attack had to be bad.

“Yes,” I said, looking back down at the desk.

“The Alpha of that Pack, Ryne Torelli, what relation is he to you?” Klaus asked softly.

“He is… was… my father,” I choked out, holding back the tears that pooled at the corners of my eyes. Crying in front of an Alpha was a sign of weakness. I wouldn’t allow myself to be seen that way.

“How did you know?” He asked, referring to my father’s death.

“I felt the Alpha ties break from him while I was running. But instead of stopping, my wolf just kept going and I ended up here.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Alexina.”

“Please, just call me Zena. No one ever uses my whole name,” I said, hoping to steer the conversation away from my father.

“Alright. I knew something was different about you when I met you. I could feel the power radiating off of you. The Alpha blood that’s running through your veins, no doubt. You’re lucky that you have that because it’s the only reason I let you live,” Klaus said, leaning back in his seat.

“Thank you for not killing me and letting me stay here while I get back on my feet. Can I ask you something?” I added nervously.

“Yes.”

“Do you know what happened to the rest of my pack?” I wasn’t sure I really wanted to hear the answer, but it was something I needed to know. Either to get closure or to know if I had any hope of seeing my loved ones again.

“The attack on your pack was from a neighboring pack, the Knight Pack. From what I heard, your pack was on good terms with them and the attack was completely unexpected,” he said, his teeth almost clenched. I could feel the energy in the room change as he began to get angry. Something had touched a nerve with him. I hoped it wasn’t me.

“Did anyone survive?” I asked, the question that was really on my mind.

“Once the Alpha… your father… was ki…” He paused, trying to think of a better way to phrase the sentence. But it didn’t matter. It still meant the same thing to me. My father was gone. Nothing was going to change that.

“After your father passed, the Alpha of the Knight Pack gave your pack the option to surrender and join their pack. If they chose not to, they had the option to leave or be killed. I really am sorry to have to tell you all this, Zena,” he said, frowning as he finished breaking the news to me.

The words he spoke confirmed my worst fears. Everyone I loved was gone. My mother and Nico would never have surrendered to another Alpha, and they wouldn’t have left their home either. They were both too proud for that. For the first time, I hated the fact that I came from an Alpha family. A family that would rather die than destroy their pride. Because of pride, I would never see them again.

“It feels better to have closure than to never have known,” I said, gazing out the window at the nearby forest. My wolf stirred inside of me, begging to get out.

“Will I be allowed to go on runs while I am here?” I asked, hoping for a positive answer.

“I will allow you to do as you wish while you are here, if you promise me that you will not cause harm to any of my pack members,” Klaus replied.

“I promise,” I said, maybe a little too quickly in my excitement. I couldn’t wait to let my wolf out.

“I will link the pack to let them know that you will be staying here for the next month and a half. I would recommend that you stay around Chloe or Dane for the first few weeks, especially while you are in wolf form. It will take some time for the pack to get used to your scent.”

“I understand. I’ll stick with Chloe most of the time,” I replied. I was just ready to end the conversation and go for a long overdue run.

“It seems that you and my sister are getting along well. That’s good to hear. She could use someone to help keep her grounded.”

“Your sister?” I asked automatically before really thinking it through. Right after the words escaped my mouth, I realized what I had missed earlier. I knew his last name because it was the same as Chloe’s. How could I have missed that?

“Chloe is your sister!” I exclaimed, surprised, before he got a chance to answer my question.

“I’m surprised she didn’t tell you. Usually, she’s all too eager to flaunt the power she thinks she possesses,” he said, a fond laugh escaping his lips. The love he held for his sister was evident in his gaze as he spoke of her.

“No, she conveniently left that out,” I replied, a blush creeping up my cheeks at my late realization. His desk phone rang, startling me in my seat.

“Klaus,” he answered, his tone shifting to a more formal one. After a brief pause, he added, “I’ll be there in a minute,” before hanging up.

“I have to go, Zena. If you need anything or if anyone gives you trouble, just let me or Dane know. We’ll handle it,” he assured me, guiding me towards the door.

“Thank you,” I murmured, stepping out into the expansive room adjacent to his office.

He escorted me to the door, and I made my way back to the cabin while he headed in the opposite direction. Upon my return, Chloe was waiting, her eyes filled with anticipation for the details of my meeting.

“You bitch!” I exclaimed as soon as I walked through the door. Her smile quickly morphed into a frown.

“What?” she asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“You didn’t tell me that the Alpha was your brother!” I hissed at her.

“Minor detail, I overlooked it,” she replied nonchalantly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. I’d noticed that was her tell when she was lying. I’d seen her do it to Dane countless times over the past few weeks.

“You don’t just overlook the fact that your brother is an Alpha,” I retorted, settling down on the loveseat next to her, a smile threatening to break free.

“Oh, you’re not mad at me,” she deduced, pulling me into a hug. I wasn’t mad, I just wanted to give her a hard time.

“No, I’m not,” I admitted, returning her embrace.

“So, what’s the news? Are you off house arrest?” she asked, her excitement palpable. I guessed that Klaus had already mind-linked the pack to inform them of my newfound freedom, so she already knew the answer.

“The leash law has been lifted,” I announced, raising my hands in mock praise.

She squealed in delight, vaulting over the back of the couch to grab two glasses and a bottle of wine she’d had waiting on the counter.

“Time to celebrate your freedom,” she declared, handing me a glass filled with the effervescent liquid.

“Cheers,” I responded, clinking my glass against hers before we both took a sip.

Chloe

This is just fucking ridiculous, I thought to myself as I headed towards the infirmary. Why my brother thought assigning me to this rogue was a good idea was beyond me.

However, I couldn’t deny my curiosity about her. Ever since they’d brought her back, the pack had been buzzing with tales of how she’d handed Tristan and Trevor their asses.

I felt a twinge of guilt for Trevor, but the thought of Tristan in pain brought me immense satisfaction. I’d secretly dated Tristan for a few months, naively giving him my virginity.

The problem with secret relationships is that they’re secret. So, it wasn’t a surprise when I overheard one of his friends talking about the girl Tristan had been seeing while we were supposedly together.

That fucker cheated on me, so any opportunity to see him suffer was a welcome one. Maybe I would like this girl after all.

Walking into the room the nurse had directed me to, I was taken aback by her appearance. One side of her face was swathed in bandages, and one of her arms and legs were encased in casts.

The rest of her body was hidden under a blanket, but smears of dried blood still stained her skin. She looked like she’d been through hell.

Once she woke up, I found her surprisingly easy to talk to. I’d brought some fresh raw meat to aid her healing, and her reaction when I pulled it out was priceless.

I was astounded that she’d never eaten raw meat before. I personally loved the taste and often snacked on it.

We quickly got to know each other, and I was surprised to find myself genuinely liking her.

I didn’t usually get along with anyone in the pack, except for my brother and Jayden, especially not other females.

Females always brought drama, and I despised drama—unless I was the one stirring it up, of course.

After two more days, Zena had recovered enough to be moved to the cabin assigned to us.

Zena hobbled down the hallway, trying not to put too much weight on her leg. It was only a fracture and would heal within a week or so, but it was still causing her discomfort.

I didn’t have the patience to walk behind her, so I simply picked her up and carried her to the car. I did let her walk on her own to the cabin, figuring she’d appreciate the time outside since we’d be cooped up in the cabin until my brother returned at the end of the week.

Dane dropped by a few times, surprised to see that we were still getting along so well.

Dane wasn’t too bad. I could tolerate him. He was mostly laid back and quiet, which I appreciated. But beyond that, we didn’t have much in common.

Dane came to fetch Zena on Friday to meet with my brother, who had just returned from his trip. I waited in the cabin while Zena went to her meeting.

I was eager to see if he would finally let us out of the cabin. I was growing tired of being confined to it all the time.

Every day, I had the freedom to attend my pack meetings, but Zena was confined indoors. I could see the strain of isolation beginning to wear on her, and I found myself hoping my brother would relent and allow her to meet the rest of the pack.

“Why, you bitch!” Zena exclaimed as she stormed back into the cabin. My initial excitement instantly deflated.

“What?” I asked, taken aback.

“You didn’t tell me that the Alpha was your brother!” She spat out, her eyes flashing with indignation.

“Minor detail, I overlooked it,” I replied, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair around my finger. The truth was, I hadn’t overlooked it. I just hadn’t felt the need to share that particular piece of information.

Every time it came up that I was the sister of an Alpha, people’s perceptions of me seemed to shift. I didn’t want that to happen with Zena.

“You don’t just overlook the fact that your brother is an Alpha,” she retorted, sinking down onto the loveseat next to me. Despite her words, a smile was threatening to break through.

“Oh, you’re not mad at me,” I said, pulling her into a hug. Her barely concealed smile gave her away.

“No, I’m not,” she admitted, returning the hug.

“So, what’s the news? Are you off house arrest?” I asked, my excitement returning.

“The leash law has been lifted,” she announced, raising her hands in the air in mock praise.

I let out a squeal of happiness, vaulting over the back of the couch to grab two glasses and a bottle of wine I had stashed on the counter.

“Time to celebrate your freedom,” I declared, handing her a filled glass.

“Cheers,” she responded, her smile genuine as she clinked her glass against mine. We both took a sip, savoring the moment of shared triumph.