A Queen Among Snakes: Chapter Three - Mei

At the same moment the Alpha storms in, a look of fury on his face that has every nerve in my body shaking in fear. I’ve seen that look before he’s broken my bones. I try to move away, but Delta Xander notices and moves between me and the Alpha.

Why is he protecting me? The Alpha will kill him.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?! YOU DARE COME INTO MY PACK AND ATTACK MY SON!” He roars with so much power and authority that the room shakes from the force of it. Everyone whimpers or bows their head under its force. I’m the only one it doesn’t bother. I fear the man, not the energy. I fear what I know has and will hurt me. “Delta Xander! Any last words before I rip off your son’s head?” He growls with that familiar evil smirk.

My stomach drops and tears spill from my eyes. Chris’ fur is covered in blood and his opponents can’t seem to get up. He was able to fight them both, but he’s no match for an Alpha. I don’t know this man, but the thought of the Alpha hurting him, or worse, killing him has me feeling a new level of fear I never thought was possible.

Please, I know you’ve never listened to me, but please, please don’t let them hurt Chris, I beg you.

I still don’t know which God I’m begging to; I just know I won’t survive if he’s hurt. I don’t know how I know it; I just know it.

For the first time in fourteen years I think the Gods have finally answered my prayers because just as the Alpha stalks over to Chris’ wolf, Delta Xander’s phone starts ringing. He quickly answers it and puts it on speaker.

“This is Defne of the Delegation, is this Delta Xander of Invictus?” Sounds a sweet melodious voice. I’ve never heard a voice sound so enchanting. Just hearing it has some of my panic lessening.

I notice the Alpha has frozen in his tracks; his eyes laser-focused on the phone in the Delta’s hand with a look on his face I never thought I’d ever witness – fear.

“Yes, this is Delta Xander. I am currently at the Albus Mons Pack and there is a situation here,” he says calmly though his eyes are looking at the Alpha with defiance. “My son has just found his animai and– ”

“Oh! That’s marvellous! My congratulations to your son!” The enchanting voice interrupts joyously.

“Thank you. But you see, the young woman, she’s covered in blood, she’s littered with injuries old and new and appears severely malnourished. She also claims she is not a member of this pack and based on what I can scent, I believe she is telling the truth. I have reason to believe she has been held prisoner and abused,” he says as he glares at the Alpha.

“You stupid, good for nothing cunt!” Screams the Alpha at me as I hide behind Delta Xander. I can hear Chris’ wolf snarling at him as the Alpha charges toward us – murder clear in his glowing green eyes.

“Alpha Ivan! Keep in mind I have ears and can hear you just fine. Attempt to lay a hand on these people and we can add that to your potential list of charges. I will be arriving momentarily, if they are harmed before I get there or you attempt to flee, the punishment will be death.” The enchanting voice has turned hard, her words a promise more than a threat.

“You can’t be fucking serious! You will not come into my pack and turn it upside down because of some loser Delta and his mangey pup who can’t control his wolf. Who the hell do you think you are?” He spits, his body shaking with rage.

“To any mutolupus within the sound of my voice, if any of you harm Delta Xander, his son or his son’s animai or aid your Alpha in fleeing; the consequence is death for going against a direct order from the Delegation,” she says with calm authority.

I glance up and notice a crowd has gathered, and I’m surprised the Luna isn’t among them. I don’t know who this lady is, but she has everyone scared to the point they each step back at her words. Just hearing her over the phone has them worried.

Who is she?

“Don’t you dare give orders to my pack! They are mine! How do I even know this is really an irshiust? Could just be this old fucks cunt back home,” he says with an evil grin. This time the Delta and his son growl at him menacingly. “Touchy, touchy. Look, you want the bitch so much, take her, she wasn’t fun to play with anymore anyway,” he shrugs arrogantly.

That’s all it took for Chris’ wolf to lunge at the Alpha; its wide-open jaw filled with sharp teeth seeking their target.

“Chris, no!” His father shouts as he runs in a flash, colliding with the wolf to stop his attack on the Alpha.

While Delta Xander is holding Chris back the Alpha turns his eyes on me, and I know this is the end. His eyes tell me exactly what he plans to do. I’m surprised I survived this long, but I knew my death would come eventually.

The Alpha runs at me when suddenly a breeze brushes past me and I catch something sparkling, carrying with it a sweet, yet floral scent. It’s so unique I can’t compare it to anything.

I look up and to my shock, there is a very slender woman – only a little taller than me – who has the Alpha by the throat. Her hair is just passed her shoulders, cascading in warm chestnut waves, her skin is the colour of chai latte but glittering and twinkling gold in the light. She looks so calm while she’s holding the Alpha like he weighs nothing even though he’s five times her size, maybe more.

That’s when the Luna decides to make an appearance. I don’t know where she came from or where she has been all this time, but she runs in screaming; her murderous eyes glaring at the sparkly woman.

“Luna Enriqueta, I do not advise you to take another step, I can snap his neck faster than you can get to him,” says the woman.

But… that’s the same voice from the phone call. How did she get here so fast?

The woman turns to look at the Luna who has now dropped to her knees, her face contorted in fear. What is happening right now? This is all too much. I just want to disappear. I want this to all go away.

“Alpha Ivan, I gave clear warning to you not to harm these people and yet I arrive just in time to see you about to attack a defenceless and badly beaten young woman. Either you’re an idiot or you thought my words were said in jest. I assure you they were not.”

Not once has she loosened her grip or looked away from the Alpha. His face is turning red as he struggles against her hold. How can someone so tiny be so powerful? More shocking is I’m not scared of her. Her presence feels calming, like a sedative – or what I imagine a sedative to feel like.

“Chris Melgren, please shift back. I think it best you dress and get your animai out of here, I will not be needing her statement, I have all I need right here. Delta Xander, you may stay a little longer, I have a couple of questions for you,” she instructs.

“Of course,” he nods respectfully to the woman. He shares a nod with his son’s wolf who quickly sprints away, and I feel an ache of sadness in my heart watching him run away.

To my joy, he returns just as quickly, this time he’s shifted back to his human form and is wearing basketball shorts. His hair is hanging loosely around his face and there are blood stains and cuts marring his beautiful olive skin. I feel they are my fault.

Carefully he walks over to me and squats down, a pained expression on his face that I can’t understand. Is it from the wounds?

“I don’t want to scare or hurt you. I’m sorry you saw me like that. I promise Axel and I will be on our best behaviour,” he says taking a nervous breath. I blink through tired eyes, all the morning’s events and emotions catching up to me. “May I carry you and take you to my pack so a doctor can tend to you?” He carefully asks.

Part of me wants to crawl away and hide, but… something is telling me to trust him, that I’ll be safe with him, and to be honest, nothing is worse than what I’ve been through already, so I give him a gentle nod.

He gives me the brightest smile I have ever seen; brighter than the moon itself on a moonlit night. He carefully moves closer and picks me up in his arms and begins carrying me. I gasp as I feel strong zappy tingles spread throughout my body when he touches me. They calm me and soothe the aching all over my body. For a moment I fight away the fear and give in to the calmness as I find myself curling into the handsome man.

He holds me close to his chest, his warmth all around me and moving into my bones pushing away the cold that has been trapped there for years. His hold on me is soft and delicate – it makes me feel cared for. I feel him lean in and take a deep breath through his nose and he too seems to relax.

I realise in that moment I haven’t said a single word to him this entire time. I don’t know what to say. I’ve spent so long not being allowed to speak most of the time that just having the option is scary, but he’s saving me. Freeing me from these monsters; my prayers finally answered.

I finally find the strength to speak, but my voice comes out quiet. “Mei,” I whisper.

His head whips to mine with a shocked look on his face, it’s almost funny. “What did you say?” He asks softly.

“My name is Mei,” I breathe as tiredness begins to take over.

“Mei…” he says my name as if he heard it from the Gods themselves, then gives me his beautiful smile again. “That is the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard. My name is Chris, and I promise you’re safe now. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again,” he vows, and I believe him. I believe this stranger. I feel safe with him, I feel like I have found my home.