Megan's POV
It seemed almost as if my dream had predicted the sequence of events that were coming to light. The snow under the group of men's feet was gently crushed by their feet. The mood seemed ominous and weighty due to the air's stillness. It seemed as if I could break the tension in the air with only a touch. Our steps brought us to an expansive field that resembled the one I had seen in my dream but wasn't quite the same. Knowing that it wasn't precisely like my dream, whose conclusion I'd never been happy with, was a strangely soothing sensation.
The tall trees that were growing from the light coming from the moon's surface cast shadows on us as we stood at the edge of the clearing. I started to feel nervous, hopping from foot to foot out of fear of what was approaching us from the front. I jumped as an owl hooted, adding an unexpected disturbance to the eerie calm. Alpha From his previous posture, Jason went behind me until his head was over my shoulder.
"Relax." He spoke so softly that I was certain that I was the only one who could hear him. "Nothing will take place to you. I'm here to keep you safe. You have my word that I'll keep you secure.
My skin crawls with goosebumps from his warm breath, and his hand reaches out to stroke my arm all over. He placed his chest into my back, warming me as the sound of his heartbeat filled my ears. My arms continued to get goosebumps as he touched them with one of his hands while he hit my ear with his breath.
I dropped my head in shame as I abruptly withdrew and realized that we were not at all alone. The looks from my other pack members scorched my cheeks and appeared to rip holes in the back of my brain. Alpha Jason found my response funny and threw out a low, discreet giggle to let everyone know. A little grin formed on my lips in response to his laughter, which he was unable to see due to the thickness of hair covering my face. His laughter filled my ears as he moved to stand next to me rather than behind me, sending another wave of warmth across my body. I couldn't help but grin when I heard that warm, silky sound.
As Alpha Jason's stopped, I snapped my head up in response to a snap from across the clearing. Dark shadows started to appear in the pitch-black woodland, their forms illuminated by the moonlight. They stepped out with pairs of legs rather than their wolf form. Only a few, who forced me to look down at their lower bodies, had the courtesy to wear shorts. That wasn't anything I wanted to see anytime soon. Instead, I concentrated on their features, which I regrettably recognized most.
My hands trembled at my sides as I looked over the apparently countless faces as I rediscovered the unmistakable characteristics that had troubled me in the past. When I couldn't see the guy who was responsible for this whole scenario, I appeared to become even more afraid. I cast a wary look in the direction of the guy standing next to me. He quickly caught my attention with his own, and when he saw the evident look on my face, he gave me a little, comforting nod.
I must have missed a place because a voice that ridiculed me and appeared to emerge from the shadows said, "Well, well." Especially after you utterly ignored my previous message to you, Megan, I didn't expect to see you here. He leaned his body against the tree, a smirk forming on his lips. His torso was obscured by the moonlight, which gave his eyes an unsettling, unnatural color. My legs felt like they may give out on me at any minute as I trembled in the presence of his stare.
Gordon: "You have no right to address her."
"Ah." He thought for a while before pushing off the tree and moving closer to us. She at last worked up the confidence to utter my real name. Who could you be, then? His eyes followed the Alpha who was sitting next to me with a critical eye.
"You know, especially when you are on their territory, it is a very disrespectful offense to not address a higher power of authority."
"And you thought I would be interested in that? Please." He chuckled and made a gesture. "Your little title means nothing to me at all. Names give you authority, but it's the person behind the name who gives it strength and can force men to submit. It's quite satisfying to see guys fall to their knees just by mentioning your name.
"Ruling people out of fear will not make you strong." Alpha Jason retaliated.
"You're correct," I was surprised at Master's agreement. "It only turns other men into cowards," The Master's gaze dipped from Alpha Jason to me. The same as you, Megan.
After he spoke that final statement, I just felt shame. I gave him the power to dominate me and made him the object of my years-long terror. I refused to even question him why as he overruled me and gave me orders to follow. The worst part of it all is that he was aware of it as well.
Alpha snarled, "You will not talk about my mate in that way.
I never imagined that I would live to see the day when the bitch really finds her mate, however. My knees began to tremble for the last time before giving way under me as a new voice entered the discourse. Just as my body was about to hit the ground totally, Alpha Jason stopped me. He forcefully pressed me up against himself, protecting me from the glare of my other tormentor.
"What? After all these years, you won't say hello to your dad?"
"You're not my dad," I said. I lost it. Even though my voice trembled, I felt proud of myself for confronting him.
Your mother might disagree, however. He chuckled. Even though I tried to hold it back, one tear trickled from my eye, and I let out a faint moan. Alpha moved in front of me, changing my posture. His other hand was holding one of mine while the other was grabbing my waist, forcing my front to his back.
Wow, that's unexpected. That bitch is genuinely a concern to someone. Alpha Jason snarled again and I felt his back rumble.
"You may leave my land before I make you if you are only here to insult my mate." I buried my face against the back that was shielding me as Master and Alpha White cackled together in a terrible cackle.
Oh, we aren't simply coming to insult her, said Master, "we are here to get her back."
"That won't ever happen,"
"Perhaps not right now, but soon. We merely came here tonight for a quick conversation and a warning. The figures I have with me aren't even close to everything that I have planned. I'm going to massacre your whole pack if you don't hand her over to me right now.
"As I said," Alpha Jason spoke once again, but this time more slowly. It will never happen.
Then, Jason, you've just decided your destiny. I'll be coming for you again at a time that you won't know. He halted, turned to look at a fellow soldier standing behind me in our lines, and grinned. It was enjoyable talking to you. Master grinned at me one more before turning and vanishing once more into the shadows.