"Sir, Marcus is a dangerous man." The young man with blonde hair stated.
"He sells drugs, owns shady places, and even murders people." The lads shuffled.
"He's rounding up all the rogue wolves. Most of them go willingly because they pay well, but we don't want to deal with bad people. As a result, he threatened us. He offered us a large sum of money for attacking your forest. When we refused, he threatened Kylie. She agreed to work for him to keep us safe. She didn't tell us she was going to your forest. I would have intervened. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to her."
"Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" Max inquired. The youngster appeared suspicious.
"Why do you want to know? Leave her alone because she is a human."
"She is my mate, and I will never harm her," Max assured the boys. "I rescued her from the thugs. Could you please tell me where she is? I guarantee she will be safe."
The boys were taken aback. They understood what it meant to have a mate bond, and if Max's claim was true, he would go to any length to protect Kylie.
"She could have gone to hide in our secret camp in the woods."
"Do you have a camp?" Cayden inquired. He was horrified to think that rogues were camped out near the pack boundary, right under his nose.
"Yes, sir, we camped out in the woods every full moon to let our wolves run free. We can't change in the city."
"Right! So, where exactly is that camp?" Max inquired impatiently. The boys informed them of the location.
"Please direct me to go look for her." Max shifted his gaze to Cayden. "Of course, investigate."
"I believe this Marcus was hired by Hawk."
"All right," Max said as he left with the warriors.
"What will become of us, sir?" Hesitantly, the boy inquired.
"I claim you as mine. You will be a member of my pack."
"Member of your pack?" The boys appeared surprised.
"You need a place to live. Can you tell me your name?" Cayden inquired.
"I'm Bradley, sir, and these are my brothers." Bryce, Wallace, Trent, and Sam."
"Welcome to the Spirit Walker Pack, everyone. Let's go get you some clothes." Cayden walked out of the office with them.
*************
Selena wasn't ready to sleep yet. She grabbed the comforter and pulled it up over her shoulder. She felt so warm and safe in the comfy bed. She stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Her mind was racing with all the events of the day, and she couldn't seem to quiet it down. Cayden wanted to mark her. Why? He hated her. She grabbed a pillow and burrowed her face into it. Her treacherous body always betrayed her. But she had to think of her mother too. All these years, she had been lying in a coma. What was she supposed to do? Save her mother or betray Cayden?
A piercing headache overtook her, and she took her hands up to her ears.
"Dear, are you awake?" A female voice asked, "Are you in pain?"
Selena listened intently. It was Millie.
"I have some water and some medicine for you," she said.
Millie sat down on the bed next to her, and Selena felt her weight shift. A thin arm dropped two pills on the pillow next to her and put a glass of water in her hand. Selena reached out and took them.
"It is just some aspirin," she said.
"How do you know I needed aspirin?" Selena asked.
"The Alpha said you might have a headache when you wake up."
How did Cayden know I was having a headache? She thought.
Selena propped herself up on an elbow and took the pills. She felt the woman brush her hair off her shoulders.
"Did you try to run away?" Millie asked.
No, that's not what I was doing." Selena said. "I was just afraid, and I panicked, but I can understand why it might have looked that way."
"I understand," Millie said. "I know you were not trying to run away. You have been through so much."
"Thank you," Selena said.
Millie gave her a warm smile. The two started moving around the room.
"Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something?" Millie asked.
"I can make us some sandwiches," she added with a smile. You can go down to the dining hall. Today, my mom is making spaghetti with meatballs."
Selena recalled Cayden's command.
"I don't think I will be allowed."
"Come on, do you think Alpha can be mad at you for long?" Millie giggled.
"Will Maya and Annie be there?"
"I think so."
Good. I need to apologise to them." Selena muttered.
******************
Selena knew some people were giving her strange and hostile looks. She was used to the attention she got in the pack and wasn't surprised. Selena followed Millie to one of the isolated tables and sat down. Her attention was drawn to a sudden commotion.
Betas and a few teenage boys entered the room after Cayden. She'd never seen them before. Millie's sharp intake of breath made Selena wonder who they were. She threw herself at the young girl. Millie fixed her gaze on the group. Selena smiled. Millie had probably gotten a crush on one boy.
"I'm sure you will find something you like at our breakfast table," Cayden told the boys as they made their way back down the hall.
They gathered their food and sat down at a table further away. Cayden had not even glanced at Selena all this while. Selena felt a pang of disappointment as she saw Cayden's indifference toward her.
"Who are they?" Millie muttered to Selena.
"I do not know," Selena answered back.
Selena sipped her coffee when someone appeared at her elbow.
"Hello," the new boy stuttered.
Selena was a little shocked that he had come over to talk. She could also sense Cayden's murderous glare.
His big brown eyes were fixed on the girl sitting to her right when he looked up. Millie had become completely silent and was staring at him.
"I saw you from over there; you are so beautiful. What is your name?"
"Hi," she said, focusing on the lanky kid, "my name is Millie."
"I'm Sam," he told her with a goofy grin. "You're really pretty."
"Dude, shut up!" The other boys had followed and were looking annoyed.
"No, she's mine," he glared at his companions, "she is my mate."
Selena watched in shock at this odd display, suddenly feeling like a third wheel.
"What's going on?" Cayden arrived and said in anger.
"My Alpha," Millie said as she approached the boy, "he is my mate. Can I have him?"
Cayden looked shocked at first, but then he understood why the boy had been staring at his mate. He had been looking at Millie, not Selena. That was a relief; otherwise, Cayden was prepared to rip him apart.
"My Alpha, please let me have him," Millie repeated.
Cayden ran a hand through his hair, contemplating his answer.
"They're mates. You must allow them to be together." Selena communicated with him via a mental bond.
"They are rogues who have been taken in by me. They could be dangerous." He responded.
"They're just scared boys, and Millie is his mate. He'll never harm her." She stated.
Cayden laughed, and Selena frowned. "What?"
"Nothing; it's the first time you've spoken to me via our bond."
Selena did not respond and averted her gaze.
"OK, you can keep him," Cayden stated. "Why don't you take him and his brothers on a tour of the grounds?" Millie jumped up with joy, and she walked out holding Sam's hands.