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Chapter 4

CAESAR

"Have the housekeeper sent up to my office," I tell one of my men.

He takes off while I watch his retreating back, dimly aware that I am doing more than I should. The oil paintings on the corridor walls stare back at me, seeming to judge my every move. I scowl, moving into my office. The wide panaroma glass stretching the entire length of the east wall displays a view of rolling hills and thick clusters of trees. To the silence of the minimalist room, I head in, taking my place behind the large oak desk

I realize a part of me is restless in her absence. My wolf prowls the confines of my mind, warning at the suspicion taking shape in my mind. She cannot be who I think she is.

In no time, the man returns with the housekeeper. He bows, leaving I and Marina alone.

"Alpha," she says, straightening from her bow. "You sent for me."

"Yes." I regard her, reclining against my chair. Seconds tick by. "Where is she?"

"Who, Alpha?"

"The girl. Bella."

"Oh. She's in the left quarter. I put her in with the omegas. She's settling down."

"No."

She blinks at me. "No, what, Alpha?"

"Move her to the right wing. Third floor."

There's a long pause. Marina clears her throat. "Alpha, it's the wing of the Noble men and women of your court."

"I gave you an order, Marina," I say quietly.

Her heart spikes. "Yes, Alpha. Forgive me."

I nod once. "I want her meals to be supervised at all times. Have your omegas ensure everything is cleared before taking her tray away."

I see the wheels in her mind turn. Realization dawns in her gaze. She offers a smile, it's a mixture of hope and excitement. "Have you found her then, Alpha? Is she to be our Luna?"

Silence wedges into the air. "That will be all," I say curtly, ignoring the way my chest tightens.

"Okay, Alpha." She drops into a quick bow, swerving around. Just as she starts to turn the door handle, I stop her. "Wait. Is the dressmaker back yet?"

The old woman had gone to a neighbouring pack to see her daughter who'd just given birth.

"No, Alpha, she's due to return in a week. If you're worried about Bella's clothes, I can have the omegas or some of the Noble women lend her a few c--"

"No." My voice is sharper than I intended. I clear my throat. "Get me a measuring tape."

Her eyes widen. She doesn't question me, bowing before hurrying out, excitement clear on her face.

She soon comes back, bearing a tape and a notebook.

"Bring Bella up to my office," I tell her.

"Okay, Alpha." She leaves.

My fingers drum the table, impatient. I soon hear the loud patter of footsteps. When a more timid one sounds, I straighten.

My door comes open. Bella trails behind the housekeeper. Her eyes are glued to the floor. I motion to Marina to leave us.

When the door closes shut, bella flinches. The pulse on her neck races. A growl pushes into my throat, my wolf wanting badly to console her. I take inventory of the emotion, realizing how odd it is. My wolf doesn't care much for anything besides protecting our pack, and certainly not for timid females who couldn't look me in the eyes for three seconds. Like me, he despised weakness.

So why did we feel the near desperate need to protect her?

"Come," I say.

She hesitates.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I press patiently.

Bella takes careful steps toward me, hands clasped nervously before her.

She's washed now. The sunlight pouring in through the windows fall over her hair, giving it a burnished red gleam. My canines ache with longing when I take in her rosy cheeks and inviting plump lips. Just then her tongue darts out to dab along her lower lip anxiously and I harden. F*ck me.

"How are you taking to our pack so far?" I clear my throat when my voice comes out as a rasp.

She nods faintly. "Everyone's...nice." The hesitant pause to her voice tells me that is a foreign experience for her. My teeth lock with anger. I will rip Dylan to shreds...

I rise and she takes a reflexive step back, eyes darting around. I immediately halt. "Relax," I soothe. "I just want to take your measurements."

At length, she nods, making a visible effort to remain still even though her thin shoulders are tensed. Aiming to relax the mood, I ask quietly as I approach her, "Am I that horrendous?"

I catch a flash of frightened blue eyes before she trains them on the floor once again.

"Am I?" I repeat, lighter this time. A part of me wants her to look at me again.

"N-no, Alpha."

I frown. "Call me Caesar."

"O-okay, Caesar."

I have a swift reaction to the sound of my name falling from her lips. My canines lengthen and my wolf surges to the surface.

It's unmistakable.

She's my mate.

Scrubbing a palm over my mouth, I reign in my wolf. Grabbing the tape, I start to roll it around her upper arm. She's stick thin. "Did you not eat at your former pack?" I find myself asking.

I watch as she swallows. "I-I... Not all the time."

I pause in wounding the tape measure around her waist. "What do you mean?"

She remains silent.

After her silence stretches on for too long, I say, "I asked you a question."

But when I glance at her face, the look there has my heart wrenching. Raw fear. Fighting the burst of anger that flares at Dylan and her entire pack, I crouch low, setting at her legs. But once I lift her skirt, it's to see countless bruises.

"F*ck."

I am unaware that I'd sworn aloud until her cheeks turn hot red with embarrassment. A sheen of tears infiltrates her eyes and I suddenly feel like an ass. "Bella. I didn--"

She snatches her skirt from my grip, attempting to cover ber bruises but I stay her hand, driving up the soft material again. I trace the bruises with my eyes, getting angrier by the second.

One at her knee catches my attention. Slowly, I press a finger into the red swell, looking up when she hisses in pain. "Does it hurt?" I ask.

She shakes her head quickly, afraid.

"Look at me," I say sharply, suddenly overrun with emotions I can't explain.

When she finally brings her gaze to mine, I say silently, "Don't lie to me."

Her throat bobs. I feel around the wound again. "Does it hurt?"

She tears her gaze away from mine. "No," she whispers.

I look at her for a while. "When I mark you," I begin with burning resolution, "I'll be able to tell when you're lying to my face."

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