Northwood

His words played over and over again in her head. He would kill Levaud if she continued to push to see him? Adline didn’t know how serious he was but the look in his eye when he told her what he would do would always send shivers down her spine. She didn’t want to endanger the only people she had left to trust in the world. She didn’t want to think of a world without them and she knew that they would be the same.

She lay on her bed, her pillows soaked with tears. She was conflicted. Could she live a life with an overbearing arsehole as a mate who exuded hatefulness and resentment, who was completely possessive and dominating? Could she live with that? Both her heart and her head screamed no.

Her father had taught her better than that and she knew there must have been some kind of leeway to her restrictions. She was sure that he would have had at least one good bone in his body but she just had to figure out what made him tick.

Sitting in her bed she wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks. She had never let herself be overcome by adversity and she wasn’t going to let it overcome her now. She had to think of a way to get out, to escape.

Looking through the window and out in to the world she had been slowly getting to know Adline heard a knock at the door. The sun was now setting over the horizon which only made her sigh as she realized another day had come to an end.

She sat there lost in her dark thoughts for a moment longer before another knock sounded against the door. This time it seemed a little more impatient.

“What?!” She called in frustration. She didn’t know anyone and although Frosty and Neal everyone else seemed to want nothing to do with her which was really getting her down.

As she sat there staring at the door it opened a crack and a smiling face appeared, “oh hey grumpy face! So ugh.....don’t be mad at me because I am just the messenger but you have to get ready to have dinner with Alpha Kane.”

The words sunk in very slowly but it took a long while for Adline to realize what she said and when she did she was not at all impressed.

“I’m sorry but what?” Asked Adline in disbelief as she stood from her bed and stared at Frosty with such intent she felt like holes were burning through her.

“I told you not to get mad..............but yeah...........” she began awkwardly. “Please don’t make me go back down alone! He won’t take kindly to that.” Pleaded Frosty quickly. She seemed almost scared which surprised Adline but it didn’t make her feel any sympathy.

Folding her arms and turning back towards the window in a huff, she wanted nothing to do with Kane, nothing at all.

“Well I guess I should say farewell now! Because I know I won’t be seeing you again if you don’t come downstairs with me.” All Adline could do was turn towards Frosty and stare at her, she didn’t know if it was seriousness but when it came to Babel Frost she had learned that many things she said were often in jest.

It didn’t take long for Frosty to leave the room and pull the door closed behind her. Adline was having none of it. If Kane wanted anything to do with her she wanted him to make the effort.

Adline went to the window and stood staring out over the darkened landscape. Looking down at the manicured lawns and gardens illuminated by small spotlights she heard a commotion outside her door in the hallway. Pulling her attention away from the most familiar thing in this new territory she expected a bigger uproar and as she waited and waited nothing came.

Her brow creased in confusion, she half expected Kane to barge in to her room and demand why she hadn’t bothered to show up for dinner like he’d asked; there was nothing but silence.

Heading towards the door she stilled herself a moment and just stared at the dark coloured door handle set against the white door, she was sure she’d heard someone outside in the hallway. Had she been imagining it? Dropping her arms at her sides she quickly reached for the door handle and pulled on it quickly.

Kane and his people were strange to say the least.

To her surprise and dismay she spied two figures standing outside her room, neither of them were Frosty.

“Miss Adline we are here to escort you to dinner, we suggest you come peacefully.” Said the larger of the two men who were dressed completely in black. They both had gun holsters around their thighs which seemed a little over the top to Adline but she had already concluded many times that they did things differently here.

“What if I refuse to come?” She asked as innocently as possible.

The man who spoke first smirked while the other spoke up, “we do not fail. Those like Babel Frost who fail are banished.”

Her breath caught in her throat and her head spun, “banished? What do you mean? Where is she banished to?” Guilt immediately filled her along with regret. How could they banish Frosty She didn’t do anything wrong.

“Alpha Kane doesn’t like failure. He frowns upon it and punishes those that fail. You will come willingly or we will drag you down by force.” They almost seemed to take pleasure in her discomfort.

“We’re sure a dignified lady such as yourself would rather make a grand entrance than be dragged in like a mongrel,” smiled the larger of the two but Adline caught the distinct note of sarcasm mixed in with his words.

Stepping out in to the corridor she pulled the door closed behind her which made both men frown.

“Oh no you won’t be going to dinner dressed like that. The Alpha demands you don the dress placed in your wardrobe.” The frown and concern on his face seemed genuine which only made Adline dig her heels in.

“First he demands I go to dinner then he banishes the only friend I have in this wretched place. You take me down to him as I am or not at all. Know that I can be extremely stubborn and hard headed. You wouldn’t want to be banished would you?” She smiled as sweetly as she could and batted her eyes at both men who just sighed.

“It’s better than nothing Harv.” Shrugged the smaller of the two.

“Yeah, yeah you aren’t the one that has to deal with his wrath later. Let’s go.”

The walk down the stairs and to what they called the Grand Hall seemed long and was very silent. Neither man said a word to her beyond the direction in which they were headed. Adline looked around at everything as they passed, it wasn’t a part of the mansion she had been in before and it made her curious.

Many of the items adorning the walls looked old, outdated and somewhat scary. She realized the mansion was much larger than she expected and wondered how they managed to have it built to such a high standard. They passed through a very long hallway with old portraits hanging against the walls and one in particular caught Adline’s attention.

“Who is that?” She asked looking up at the portrait of two young boys with their parents and a girl.

“Alpha Kane and his parents.” Replied the one who’d been addressed as Harv.

An audible grunt came from the other man that accompanied Adline to Kane, he didn’t seem too happy that someone was revealing information about the Alpha.

“Who is the other boy in the portrait?” Asked Adline without missing a beat.

“No one important.” Replied Harv quickly. The short answer made her think there was something there they didn’t want her to know.

As she glanced back at the portrait she noticed how happy everyone looked. She would have to find out on her own who the fourth person was and why he was no one important.

The trio continued towards Kane and whatever he had planned for Adline when a female turned down the corridor they were walking down. She was beautiful in Adline’s books and wondered quietly if it was the infamous Victoria she had heard about.

Her walk was one of absolute confidence and allure. Her long blond hair hung loosely around her shoulders, one hand sat propped against her hip and the other swung with every step she took. Her fair skin looked blemish free and her eyes were trained on one person. Adline.

“So this is the mutt that’s taken my place is it?” Shouted Victoria from the far end of the corridor as she continued on her way towards them. “The one that’s supposedly Kane’s mate? The mongrel of a thing tainting this pack with her weak presence.” Her tirade of words continued as the distance between them became less and less.

The two guards with Adline remained silent behind her. Would no one say anything to quieten the woman? Adline could not get over how cruel and mean everyone was. It was uncommon for a whole pack to be this way but it seemed like she’d had the complete misfortune of landing herself in the worst pack on Earth.

“And you are the has been that clearly can’t get over the fact that she isn’t wanted.” Adline fired back quickly. Where she could protect herself she would but unfortunately that only meant she could use words. Nothing else. “You also seem to struggle with the fact that you have been replaced. I don’t blame you Victoria that hair colour of yours proves right the stereotype of your kind.” With a slight giggle Adline noted the complete and utter change in Victoria’s demeanour.

“Why you little bitch! Who do you think you are talking to?! I am the future Alpha female of this pack. Make no mistake I will make Kane mine. It will be how I envisaged it from the start. You are just a slight bump in the road.” Smiled Victoria vindictively. She had so much confidence and Adline wished she herself could muster that kind of strength.

A door flew open and flooded the hallway with light. An authoritive figure stood in the thresh hold and it made Adline tremble but it wasn’t Kane, it was a woman.

“Harvey escort Lady Adline to where she needs to be,” she demanded quickly. Adline was in awe of her instantly. She seemed regal and composed but something in her completely and utterly intrigued the young woman completely. “Taylor you will escort Victoria to the borderlands. If I ever see you again you will live to regret the day you crossed me. Do you understand Victoria?”

Though Adline was in awe of the woman it didn’t seem at all the same with Victoria, “oh crawl in to a hole and die already you old wench.” Were the only words she managed before being man handled towards the direction she had come with Harvey and Taylor.

Adline couldn’t help but giggle as she walked away with Harvey but she wanted to meet the woman who had just put Victoria in her place. Unbeknownst to Adline the elderly lady felt exactly the same.