Lyell's Point Of View

"Don't tell me she's your mate," mum said as soon as I entered my room.

"Oh, you noticed?"

She tuts, "I'm not joking here, Akira. If she is your mate, you know that it's a bad idea, right?"

I took off my shirt and faced her. "Why?"

She looks around cautiously, "she's wolfless. A wolfless wolf can't do any good to you or the pack. She'll only be a burden."

"Her? Burden?" I chuckled, "you don't know her. Even if she was, I'm ready to carry it."

"But is the pack ready to?"

"They'll have to be ready one way or the other. I am not leaving her."

"But-"

She tried arguing but I waved my palm in dismissal. "I don't have time for this."

She sighed tiredly. "Fine, but you have to go see the elders."

"Alright, alright," I replied tiredly as I proceeded to wear a new shirt.

"Um... Akira?"

"Yeah?" I replied without facing her.

"Why are you obsessed with Raven pack? Does it have anything to do with your childhood?" She asked hesitantly.

"You promised not to ask me such questions."

"I... I know but I... I know I'm not your real mother but it still hurts being in the dark. I see you as a son but you don't feel the same way."

I looked over my shoulder at her. "I'm not keeping you in the dark. I'm protecting you," I said and her face fell. "My childhood is filled with a lot of shitty memories, you see."

The only beautiful memory I had back then was her.

Alexa.

The girl I always sneaked out to see.

She had the most beautiful smile.

She mostly glares at me now.

I'd pay anything for her to smile at me.

"I'm sorry, I wouldn't ask again." She said as she stood up. "I'll... I'll go now." She smiled lightly at me before exiting.

I don't push her away on purpose. I'm doing so so she wouldn't be too heartbroken when I leave.

I buttoned up my shirt and exited the room to see the elders. Two guards were waiting at the front of the elders' council.

"Alpha," they chorused as they bowed in respect. I nodded at them and the door was opened for me. With my chin held high, I walked into the room and cake face-to-face with the three pack elders - Avril, Wolfram, and Dune. They were all seated by a gold table on a high platform.

"Alpha Akira." Avril acknowledged my presence.

"Welcome back, Alpha."

"Thank you, Wolfram."

"This is the fifth time you're visiting Raven Pack without permission." Dune snapped.

"I don't remember why it's a must for me to report all of my moves to you."

"Because you're the alpha! You can't leave your pack unattended to and chase personal quests!" Avril berated.

"Unattended? I left my beta in charge."

"William can't protect the pack! He's just a beta." Wolfram said.

"At least tell us why you've been visiting the place. You know we don't want to provoke the vampires. We've been hidden from their reach for a long time. Do you want them to find us and invade?" Dune nagged.

"They can't-"

"Enough of the talks! You have to be punished for this. We've let you off the hook a lot of times." Avril said.

"What are you going to do? Dethrone me?"

"If you do this one last time, we'll have to result to that," Wolfram said and I couldn't help but laugh.

"What is funny, Akira?" Dune thundered.

"Oh, Wolfram, you know you can't do that," I said as a matter of fact. "Dethrone me?" I smirked. I jumped high and landed on the table. They all flinched in fear as I landed in front of them.

"We both know this pack is doomed for the moment I leave," I said to Wolfram, staring at him dead in the eyes.

"Or am I wrong, Avril?" I turned to Avril who had horror in her eyes.

"N... no," she replied and I grinned.

"I'll accept whatever punishment you give me. Fifty whips? A hundred?"

Wolfram shook his head. "Just fifty."

I shrugged, "Fine by me." I adjusted his collar and patted his shoulder. I jumped down and landed stealthily.

"I believe I can go now."

Without waiting for their response, I walked out of the room. I proceeded to the torture room to receive my punishment.

"Alpha," the punisher bowed in respect as I got inside.

"Let's make this quick," I told him as I took off my shirt. I laid my chest down on the plank and my hands were chained. He raised his whip and it met my back with full force.

If anything, it tickles.

Within twenty minutes, fifty whips were over with.

"I'm sorry, Alpha,"

"You were just doing your job. No need to be sorry," I told him. I wore my shirt and proceeded back to my room. On my way, I sighted a sneaky figure. I sniffed the air and realized it was Alexa. What is she doing?

I approached her quietly. She had a back to me as she peeked at something by the tree. I got behind her and peeked at what she was peeking at.

"Where is he?" She suddenly said.

"Who?" I asked and she turned to me in fear.

"What the... what are you doing here?" She shrieked, pushing me away from her.

"I should be asking you that question. You're the one acting suspicious." I told her. She cleared her throat and scooted back.

"Nothing. I'll be going now." She said and turned to leave but I pulled her back.

"Don't touch me." She said furiously, snapping her hands off mine.

"Does my touch irritate you that much?"

"It does more than you think."

I hummed amusingly and gazed upon her body. "you've changed your dress." I noticed.

"Should I thank you for noticing?"

"Have you eaten? If you haven't, let me take you to eat."

"No, thank you, I'm fine. I'm not hungry at all."

Right on cue, her stomach rumbled. Her face grew red and I tried so much to keep a straight face.

"Th.. that... that was thunder."

"Ah," I let out a laugh. "I see."

"Seriously!" She yelled.

"Okay okay, you don't need to get so embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed. Why would I be embarrassed? I'm not at all."

"Alright, alright."

She eyed me angrily and stumped off. I followed behind her with my hands behind my back.

"Wait up!" I yelled after her.

She is such a handful.