Born For The Alpha novel Chapter 16

Arda had not bothered to look at the road because she had spent most of the past thirty minutes crying.

Her cries ceased for a moment, her eyes cast down with grief. Through it all, Karina held her close and kept giving her words of encouragement.

Karina kept telling her that everything would be okay. She kept telling her not to be afraid. This helped to calm her down a little but it did not take her fears away.

Many questions were in her head and she looked at Karina. “They are so big.” She whispered, her eyes on the men dominating the front seat of the car. “I’m really scared. Is the Alpha like them?” The only person she had seen with their kind of stature was that overconfident hunter she had crossed path with but had first seen on her date with Luke. The very stranger she had felt a powerful connection to so strong it scared her. And he was even taller than these men.

Karina pulled her closer to herself and hesitated, refusing to respond quickly to Arda’s question. How could she tell her the truth in her current state of fright and confusion? It would not be fair to her. But then, she was bound to meet the Alpha anytime soon, so she guessed there was no need to keep her in the dark. She had already done enough of keeping her in the dark.

“Actually, the Alpha is…taller and more...hunky.” She whispered and Arda broke into soft whimpers, remembering his note and dreading the thought of being mated by him according to his note. Now she knew that she had made a huge mistake. She should have run away the moment she received that note. It was too late now.

“Arda, don’t be afraid.” Karina consoled her. “You’re safe. Everything will be all right, I promise. Your safety is most important right now. Everything will fall into place. Don’t cry.”

Arda sniffled and lifted her head, her eyes taking in her surroundings from her side view of the window. She saw cars whipping by on high speed. The streetlights kept the city illuminated.

She could see that they were on an expressway with city structures standing at a distance from the interconnected roads. They were heading towards a bridge with a sign post that announced the words Greenville.

Greenville was a smaller city settlement just like where she lived with her parents. They passed underneath the bridge, emerged at the other end of it and the car reached a roundabout where they waited for the traffic light to turn green and allow them move on.

“You’ll be fine.” Karina told her but she did not respond even though Karina was presently her only source of strength and sanity. The light turned green and the driver continued forward for a while and turned left where a signpost read Edens.

The road housed huge residential homes, fenced and secured behind imposing gates. A place for the elites or wealthy, she thought. She was not surprised. With that gift he had sent her, she knew the Alpha could not be poor.

The houses were separated by yards of natural vegetation. Some of the houses were almost hidden by the tall trees and interwoven vines that surrounded them.

The driver continued down the road and slowed down before nosing the car onto a narrow road that brought into view, their destination, obviously.

Without being told, Arda knew that it was their destination because it was the only structure that stood before them.

The house was a castle vision. It was large, fenced and gated. The gate allowed you some view of the castle’s front, which revealed flowers and a fountain that tempered the castle’s intimidating structure.

On each side of the road that led them to the castle, were tall trees, vines and foliage. It was easy to see the backdrop of surrounding forests and mountains around the building.

Arda was awed by the magnificence of the castle. Her heart was also beating fast with fear of the unknown and she found herself clinging tightly to Karina as the car came to a stop at the gate.

Karina held her close. “I’m with you, Arda. Don’t be afraid. You’re safe, I promise.”

“I’m scared, Karina.”

“I know. I’m here. You’ll be fine.”

A man appeared at the gate and pressed a button that allowed them entry into the compound.

Arda spotted several cars and bikes inside. The place looked serene and the lights around the castle gave it a peaceful ambience. Arda was not feeling peaceful. She was scared out of her mind. The driver killed the engine and let himself out.

“Let’s get down.” Karina said to her but she remained where she was, too afraid to move.

The other guard alighted and swung her side door open. Arda scooted away from him but he reached out for her and she started kicking her legs out at him.

He grabbed her flailing legs and pulled her towards him. Then he restrained her, carried her out of the car and lifted her onto his shoulder again.

“Put me down, you brute.” She cursed, “Put me down.”

Karina got off the car and immediately, the driver grabbed her and forced her down on her knees. Then he slapped a black cuff around her wrists. When Arda saw that, her fear increased.

“Let her go.” She cried. “What are you doing? Let her go.”

The driver pulled Karina up to her feet and started leading her towards a smaller building inside the gates, while the other guard carried her towards the main entrance of the castle.

“Karina.” She cried as the gap increased between them.

“You’ll be fine.” Karina told her and the driver shoved her forward. Arda saw that and started crying as she also rained blows on the guard’s back but he went on as if she was not even hitting him.

A man opened the brawny door of the castle from the inside. He was as big as the driver and guard carrying her. He stepped aside and the guard carried her inside before putting her down. She hastily began to straighten her clothes when her eyes caught sight of someone familiar.

Arda was dumbstruck at the sight of him. He dominated the stairwell, standing at the middle of it and staring down at her. He was the hunter she had met at the forest. He was the stranger she had been drawn to at the restaurant. His long hair was held in a neat ponytail.

The men bowed before him and straightened up. Arda could already tell that he was their leader judging by what she had read online when she was researching what exactly he was, the Alpha.

Gillow stared at his mate with pride. This was not how he had envisioned their official meeting to be but it would do. There was a time he had planned to entice her with flowers and whatever it took to naturally make her fall in love with him but life had other plans and here they were.

“Stalker.” She cursed at him.

“Welcome home.” He responded in a drawl and immediately, his voice fell into place for her. At the forest, she had thought his voice was familiar. It was deep, rough and cultured. It was a voice obviously used to being in control.

“This is not my home.” She said defiantly. “Stalker.”

Quietly, he walked down the stairs and came to stand a foot from her. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly with fear and she felt his finger lifting her jaw so she could meet his gray eyes.

“I empathize with the situation and what you’re going through but I am not a gentleman. I do not tolerate several things. You need time to rest and I will see to it before anything else.” His head lowered to the side of her neck and she heard his whispered words in her ear. “Your destiny is right beside me, your Alpha.”

Arda was frozen in the few seconds it took him to straighten up and take his finger off her jaw. Yes, she did feel a connection towards him but he was not her type. He was too big for her and not completely human. And he was too rough. She deserved a gentle man, not a brute like him, damn his handsomeness.

“Never.” She said between gritted teeth and he gave her an amused look. “Never, you stalker.” She spat and Gillow ignored her outburst. He addressed the guard beside her. “Take her to my room.” He said dismissively.

“No!” she protested as the guard reached for her again while Gillow just stood and watched her ordeal. “Leave me alone!” she cried, backing away from the guard but his movement was swift and she found herself on his shoulder again.

Arda struggled to escape from his shoulder as he headed towards another stairwell at the end of the living space, but he was holding her firmly.

There was nothing she could do except beat at him with clenched fists that didn’t even affect him. She gave up and resulted to body wracking sobs in fear of what would become of her life in the Alpha’s home.