The Female Alpha’s Sanctuary novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14
A deep stab of pain poked me in the heart. Lila never talked about her parents. She didn’t have anything to say. How could she when they were taken from her before she could even open her eyes? Still, she knew what having parents meant. What it would’ve meant for her if they’d lived. Bentley tightened his hold on my hand. With pursed, dry lips he gulped,
“I told Alpha Oliver about what happened to you.”
The moment those words left his lips, I felt everything stop. My eyes widened. My heart dropped at what he said. He told him? My face paled almost immediately when his words sunk in. Oh Goddess, what were they going to do? Did they tell Landon? Were they going to kick me out for being unwanted? Will their views of me change? Anxiety crept up from within me when I tried to yank my hand from his hold, but he didn’t let go. His face hardened as he looked over to Lila.
“Sweet pea, this isn’t right. You’re suffering far too much. How many more times will you have these attacks every time they mate? How many more bruises will your body take? How many more times do I have to find you lying unconscious over the floor? How many more times will your pretty little eyes shed tears for that son of a bi tch?”
Bentley’s soft voice sought after my tears. I could feel them threatening to spill. I vowed to myself I wouldn’t cry again. At least, not in front of them. I’ve done that way too many times just from that day alone. I probably cried a years worth of tears by now. Even if my heart was breaking again and again, I didn’t want them to have the same impression of me as my pack did:
Weak.
Useless.
Pitiful.
Not enough.
“I-I can’t do anything about it.”
I whispered. My hands trembled but Bentley’s reassuring hold kept me from completely breaking apart. His warmth sent a small rush of comfort.
He opened his mo uth to say something when we heard a faint knock on the door. Was someone else visiting? I looked to Bentley in confusion who gave me a small, regrettable smile and let go of my hand before getting up to open it.
“Alpha Oliver.”
Bentley dipped his head in respect as the big, burly Alpha at the doorframe nodded at him. His dark eyes sweeping across the room until they met mine.
Alpha Oliver Thompson.
Only pack members or close associates were allowed to call an Alpha by their first name with the title. That’s why I always called him Alpha Thompson. Alpha Harrison, Landon’s father, was Alpha Harrison Walker. But since I was a pack member, I was permitted to call him Alpha Harrison whereas other wolves from different packs were required to call him Alpha Walker. It was a subtle way to show relations between wolves. A pack was like a
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The Female Alpha’s Sanctuary
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Chapter 14
family. Only family was allowed to get away with referring to an Alpha with such intimacy as using their first name. A mate never had to use the title nor the last name.
I was neither a pack member nor was I a close associate, so I resorted to using his last name. Sure I was staying at his pack, but my legal loyalty was still at Nightwake. I only met him a total of three times since my stay here. Once when I first arrived, twice when Bentley asked for permission to give me a job and third when my first attack happened and I fell ill for a day. He’d visited to inquire about my health or if someone had done something. I had managed to say it was just exhaustion and he never questioned it though I knew he didn’t believe me.
He probably decided against asking out of respect for me.
“Bentley, could you give me and Selene a moment? Please take Lila with you.”
Bentley nodded at him, slowly making his way to pick up a sleepy Lila in his arms. Her little eyes fluttered open when he scooped her up and wandered around until they fell on me. Immediately she thrashed in his hold, whining to be let go so that she could come to me. Her little chubby arms reaching out to my direction as small sobs racked her body. The inner turmoil in me nearly dr ove me mad. My heart ached for the child. Her expression cutting deep as my wolf restrained the urge to comfort her in front of the Alpha. I watched as Lila slowly disappeared with her wails echoing in the hallway.
Even when she wasn’t in sight I kept staring at the door longingly.
“That little girl is head over heels for you.”
I snapped my attention to Alpha Thompson who has a slight smile playing on his lips before dropping my gaze to my hands. Chewing on my lip, a smile appeared across my face at his words. Was it wrong to feel a little prideful over that? To feel happy at the fact Lila had gotten so attached to me? I was just as in love with that little girl.
“Bentley told me about your… situation.”
He said softly. I felt his alert eyes observing me like he was expecting me to burst out into tears at any moment. When his glances became too much I peered over to him, catching him rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly with his gaze dropped to the floor. Clearly the Alpha never had something like this happen. He probably didn’t know what to say in fear of saying something wrong. This was why I didn’t want anyone to know. The moment they did, they’d treat me like I was made out of glass. Not that my heart wasn’t as fragile as one. But once something breaks, it can’t be broken again, can it?