The Alpha’s Unwanted Bride

Jasmine nodded and then he turned and went out of the room.

She followed him right behind.

No one said anything about their little disappearance.

Jasmine wanted to leave the room, but Loren stopped her.

"I'll need your help." He stated. "Stay back."

Jasmine did as she was told, but she hoped that it won't delay till dark.

The spy her father had sent had instructed her that he wanted to see me at the ruins.

She knew better than to make him wait or worse if she did not show up at all.

"Hand me that clear glass plate." Loren said.

She brought the glass from the other table and then he extracted some fiber from her skin.

The woman was now laid naked, her body exposed to everyone's view as they examined and worked over her.

Loren dropped the fiber on the plate.

"This is Wurnga." He said. "It's only home to the the western part of this side."

"Western side?" Damian said. "That means places like the fire pack, Hunter's pack and midnight pack."

"Yes." Loren said. "But the moonlight pack is also an inhabitant of Wurnga."

Jasmine's face turned ashen.

They had traced the roots back to her own home pack?

"You see the Wurnga plant tends to deal with certain weathers. Weathers that we here can not cope with." He said. "The hunter's pack is humid and frequently cloudy."

"But the moonlight pack isn't." Erik said crossing his arms. "It's rainy there. Frequently."

"And do you know what this plant does? It tens to hover around people and sometimes interchange with the closest weathers. They can withstand only waterlogged areas outside of their original habitat." Loren further explained.

"So what does that have to do with anything?" Damian asked.

"You're still not getting the picture here." Loren said. "The moonlight pack is best known for camouflaging weathers of its nearest pack. It's the only other place a Wurnga can survive."

There was a a hushed silence.

They were all thinking the same thing. It had been traced back to Alpha Bale.

"But it can also mean it's from its original habitat." Erik said wisely.

"Yes it could. How many enemies does Xaden have there?" Loren asked. "He is in disputes with the hunter's pack. The midnight pack and fire's pack are enemies to each other so Xaden has been playing Devil's advocate."

"Why are we considering other alternatives?" Damian asked. "It's obviously the moonlight pack. It's Alpha Bale and he probably had some help with it."

Damian said it with such a malicious sneer everyone knew it was directed at Jasmine.

"Bale might be wicked." Elena said. "But he isn't stupid. He knows better than to make a direct attack on our pack. He won't jeopardize his only opportunity to save himself."

"Moreover desert wolves are hard to come by. They keep to themselves." Erik said.

"Let's get the fact straight first." Elena said. "We can't point fingers yet."

"She shouldn't be here." Damian said. "She is an enemy. And we all know that. And for all we know she could have planned this herself."

Jasmine felt the involuntary jerk.

It was like a slap to the face.

"I made her stay here for a reason." Loren said. "I won't have you insult my assistant."

"Oh pleaee Loren. You of all People couldn't have grown a soft heart towards her. She has evil blood. She is everything her fatehr is and she should not be here. Stop making it seem like I'm just saying lies."

Jasmine jumped up from the stool she had been perched on.

"I'll just leave." She said hurrying out.

Elena stopped her. "You don't have to go."

"But he isn't wrong." Jasmine said wisely. "No matter what I do, or who I help or my actions, I would always been seen as Bale's daughter. That's never going to change."

And with that she ran out of the room amidst the pleas from Elena.

She ran without stopping and went to the only place she knew that she could be at peace.

Her garden.

Xaden had fulfilled her promise and not destroyed it.

She lay down on the cool grass and curled in a ball.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AURORA'S POV

Aurora sat on her horse as she watched the man come from afar towards her.

Her exile was ending today and she would be able to return to the pack for the halo festival.

At least she was glad that Xaden had given her that opportunity.

She was going to make it up to that stupid royal brat. But not now.

The man finally walked up to her.

"Lady Aurora." He said. "Always fair and beautiful."

Her lips pressed together and mouth seemingly thin she said to him without an smiles. "Do you have what I want?"

"No jokes?" He laughed.

She gave him a glare and then he nodded.

"Alright yes. I have what you want." He told her. "The question is do you have what I want?"

She turned to one of her men on his horse and nodded her head at him.

He threw the pouch at their unappealing guest.

The man caught it and bounced the pouch in his hand. The coins within made sounds like bells and then he looked back up at her.

"This wont do." He said.

She glared at him. "That's pure gold coins enough for you for your entire lifetime. How dare you demand more."

"Because I can." He said arrogantly. "What I gathered for you could have had me killed. I risked my laugh for you."

Aurora's beautiful face was fuming in anger as she tightened her hands around reins of the horse.

"If you feel like my demands are too much for you, then perhaps you should find another." He said and turned around and started leaving.

Aurora was angry.

In as much as she hated his man, she had to admit to herself that she truly needed him.

If he went, she might never get to have someone who would supply her such information.

"Wait!"