Chapter 7 Setting Boundaries

• Third-Party POV
• “Why did you send a letter revealing her identity?” He barked, appearing from the shadows in a black robe. His tone was laced with anger.
• “Alpha..” I bowed my head, “Now that they know she’s an elemental, their fear will increase, especially because of what the prophecy said.” I responded, grinning from ear to ear.
• “Who told you to act on your own will?” he was getting more angry.
• “Did it ever occur to you that she’s the alpha’s mate and there’s a high probability that he might choose to protect her instead of letting her go?” He seethed, moving closer to me, anger seeping through his eyes.
• “Yes, but…”
• “Do not but me, Morgana…” he barked, “You told me she mustn't be mated to the alpha, or it might be bad for us. What you did is irresponsible, and it won’t benefit us one bit.” He stopped right in front of me, resisting the urge to hit me.
• Yes, I knew. What I did was irresponsible but that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted her to be mated to the alpha and unlock her powers because only then would I be able to fully absorb her powers.
• I planned to cooperate with Victor and help me get the elemental.
• But I saw how rash and irresponsible Victor could be—there’s no way in hell I’d let myself get such power and use it frivolously. My instincts tell me he wouldn’t even spare me after the whole saga.
• I'm not foolish, I have to look out for myself. Only an idiot would completely trust Victor, the self-imposed Alpha.
• “Tamper justice with mercy, Alpha. I won't dare to act on my own will ever again.” I went on my knees and bowed my face at his feet as if waiting to be trampled upon. I smirked knowing he couldn't see my face.
• He grabbed the back of my neck, and I was at his mercy. “Remember, you are supposed to be a dead witch; you owe me your life. The moment you try to take that for granted, I'll throw you out, and you know better than anyone what awaits you out there.” His grip on my neck tightened with every word that he spoke, slowly draining the life out of me. He finally released me, and I gasped for air.
• “Yes, Alpha” I watched as he strode back into the shadows.
• Still kneeling, I rubbed the back of my neck where he had held it and let out an evil smirk.
• I wonder what his reaction would be when he found out I was the one using him and not the other way around.
• ******
• Lila's POV
• The drive back to the pack was quiet, Dominic didn’t say anything—I could see he was lost in thoughts throughout the drive.
• He told the driver to give him the keys, so it was just two of us in the car. I sat right next to me in the front.
• His hands clenched and unclenched on the steering wheel.
• I wondered what was going on in his head.
• He didn't even spare me a single glance and it made me worried.
• Could the elemental have something to do with me??
• That couldn't be possible, right?
• I don't even know what that is; I'm hearing the word for the first time.
• There's probably a mistake somewhere.
• But judging from the series of attacks, the pieces are coming together.
• I hate being so clueless, it makes me feel powerless and hopeless. I hate this feeling.
• I turned to look outside the window, hoping to take my mind off this for a moment.
• It was already dark and I couldn't see much unless it was close.
• The moonlight was dim.
• Since Judith and Jonathan had taken one of the cars, there are now three cars left. One before and another behind us.
• Our SUV was in the middle.
• It didn't take long before my mind wandered back to the issue at hand
• Whatever the elemental is, it must be something bad. The mention of it ruined everyone's mood badly. Why are bad things always acquainted with me? What kind of bad luck is this?
• The cars halted in front of a familiar building. The pack house. I took a deep breath, my heart was racing faster than it should. This building didn't hold good memories, the first impression was nothing to write about.
• I didn't realize Dominic had stepped out until he opened the door for me. I hesitated for a moment before stepping out. It was already very dark, though the building was illuminated and a lot of people were outside.
• “Follow me closely.” He said. I nodded slowly.
• “It's the Alpha.” Someone said, and the rest of them stopped what they were doing and bowed for him.
• He majestically walked past them while I trailed behind. Shortly after we got to the elevator, he punched a few buttons, and it started to ascend. It was just the two of us in such an enclosed space.
• The elevator came to a stop; he led the way, and I followed suit.
• “You can stay in this room for now,” Dominic said, pointing to a room down the hallway on the tenth floor. I wanted to ask about the pack doctor he said I’d see, but I noticed the problem he had at that moment was nothing compared to my wound.
• “Where is your room?” I asked him.
• “I stay on the twentieth floor.” His tone calm yet void of emotions. His palms were hidden in his pockets.
• I was hoping his room would be close to mine, then I’d at least have a sense of safety. But seeing that he was putting so many boundaries between us, I guess I only came to the pack because my life was in danger, not because he had feelings for me or anything; after all, I’d been rejected.
• I nodded simply as I made my way to the room he showed me. I didn’t look back because I didn’t want him to see the painful expression I couldn't hide. The pain of parting ways with him.
• Thirty minutes after I had settled, I heard a knock on the door.
• I wondered who it was, I was too lazy to go to the door.
• “Who is it?” I yelled, hoping whoever it was would get the cue that I had no interest in getting up.
• “I brought you food, the Alpha ordered it.” My stomach tingled at the mention of the Alpha. He cared about me after all. I giggled ridiculously.
• But I wasn't hungry, just drained. I didn't even have the strength to shower.
• I just wanted to sleep. Sufficient sleep.
• “I appreciate the effort, but I'm not hungry”
• I said just loud enough for her to hear, I didn't have the strength to yell anymore.
• My phone was left at the hospital. Judith said she’d bring my stuff for me the next day. I gently layed my head on the bed as I reminisced about everything that happened.
• I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but I woke up from the same dream I had the previous night—I was playing with fire, talking to water, and coercing the earth. Then I remembered when I used to have that dream when I was still a child. I’d told my mom after I woke up that I could control fire, but she eventually talked me out of it and told me it was impossible, so gradually, I stopped dreaming of it and locked the memory away.
• I decided to push the thought about my dream away, took my bath, got dressed, and looked for Dominic. I can’t stay at the pack forever, so we need to discuss what’s next.
• I went to the twentieth floor—the room where he rejected me the last time I was there, but he wasn’t there.
• I headed for the first floor, which was filled with people or werewolves, I slowly stepped out of the elevator. Everyone was busy with one thing or the other, but their eyes were fixed on me the moment I stepped away from the elevator.
• “Good morning everyone.” I greeted nervously, casting a smile since I had always been complimented for having a nice smile.
• The hall fell silent after my greeting—nobody responded. I started walking towards the door, hoping the ground would open up and swallow me due to the embarrassment I was feeling.
• “And who do we have here again?” A familiar birdy voice said from my back. I already knew who it was, could this get any more embarrassing?
• I turned, it was really her.
• “Hi, we meet again,” I said, stretching forth my right hand for a handshake, forcing a smile and trying to sound as polite as I could. After all, she was the Alpha's arranged mate; she deserves at least that much respect from me.
• “I didn’t get your name the last time you were here.” She said, ignoring my hand and giggling. I wondered if what I did was funny.
• “The name is Lila.” I retrieved my hand and maintained the fake smile to hide my embarrassment.
• “Oh, Lila…”
• I raised my eyebrows, wondering why she had to roll my name off her tongue in a weird manner.
• “Why are you still lurking around Dominic?” She asked. All heads in the hall turned in our direction as if they'd been eavesdropping on us all along.
• “I’m not! I was just caught up in a situation so I had to be here.” I tried to explain myself. I didn't like the attention I was getting. I didn't like where this conversation was heading.
• “Oh really?” She asked, her tone evidently mocking me.
• “Yeah, really!” Now, I was starting to get pissed
• “Lila Rowan, an adopted daughter of Juliet Rowan. Picked from the roadside on a rainy day, had a very poor upbringing, currently in debt, has records of visiting various psychiatrists, and had an abandonment issue. That’s you right?” She smirked victoriously.
• I formed my palm into a fist, trying hard to stop myself from doing anything that I'd regret. She was testing my patience.
• How did she know about all that? And numerous psychiatrists? There were only three of them!
• “That’s quite rude, you know.” I held my breath in, allowing my voice to sound as
• natural as possible.
• She clapped her hands twice in the air, “Everyone gather around, it’s the Alpha’s rejected mate!” she announced.