Alec's eyes narrowed as he glanced over the strange female. Her golden eyes had hardened in disbelief of his words. "Home of the canines." She mumbled under her breath as she glanced over in the direction of the town again. She was confused, afraid, and nervous. He could smell it. He could smell the thick stench of it, but what he could also smell was Justin's scent. Instinctively, his eyes had glanced along the deer skin coat that she was wrapped in. It was Justin's, which annoyed him. He did not like it. It made him look for her marks, yet he found none. There were no spouse or clan markings.
Most females at the age of sixteen had a spouse, a mate to be exact of some kind. This stranger seemed to in her 20's at least, yet what worried him even more were the lack of clan markings. Those markings told what clan she belonged to. They were given at birth or in early childhood. Different clans placed it differently, but the markings were almost always exposed. His clan did it through items such as a necklace, bracelet, or along the foot. They were the few that did not place it on the body, which narrowed it down. Perhaps, she was just a feral or an exile. Even if she was, the lack of scent bothered the beta. One could usually tell what animal someone was based on smell or at least what clan they belonged to, but there was nothing. She was not with the Cathilon clan either considering the serval had attacked her in such a way. Despite the feline clan being aggressive, they enjoyed a public trial and execution of their own people. Thus, it left Alec with the same question. What about her marks?
He had Mouse check while she was under, but after seeing her injuries he had not checked under her pants. Alec's lips pulled back in arousal at the idea of such things, and it was the snarl that broke him from his thoughts. It certainly caught the female's attention as she drew herself into a defensive position. Her arm moved to place herself in front of her, while the other laid at her side to fight back. She was a fighter. He liked that.
Alec's lip twitched as he glanced to Justin to speak while deciding to ignore her. She frowned at that. "Take her to my home."
"Wai-"
The strange women begun to interrupt, but Alec ignored her as he spoke. "Place her in the guest room. She is not to leave until I order it."
"Wait a moment, you bastard!" The women screeched. Alec's eyes turned back to her and narrowed. His lip pulled back to display his fangs as he stood straighter. The male felt a twitch in wish to put her in her place. He was not used to being spoken to in such a manner by anyone, mainly females. Canines knew their place. Stronger canines tended to be at the top, while others bowed to their demands. Alec was no such canine. He was dominate just as his father was, and he had the strength to prove as such. By his authority alone, the women could be killed with no ifs or buts. Yet, she dared to speak to him in such a manner. Although, despite the many misconception canines tended to follow those they trusted more than those that dominated them. Thus, Alec forced himself to reel in the anger that burned through his throat, and the urge to make her kiss his feet. Instead, he allowed his growl to slightly grow in volume. Even with the low warning growl leaving him, she kept her tone. "You cannot keep me here! I-"
The women stopped speaking as he stepped closer. The male straightened his back and raised his head higher. His movements became purposeful, slow, and silent. Both eyes fell onto hers while refusing to blink, look away, or lower them. They blazed into those cursed golden eyes that made him want to throw her onto her knees and take her from behind. He could practically hear her screams while his nails bite into her hips and smell the sweat on her skin. Such imagines had his cock twitching, and his tongue brushing against his lower lip in want. Alec's arms remained placed onto his side though. His hand even tucked against the waistband of his cat fur pants. To many, the gesture was lazy, even harmless if not for the way he parted his lips. The side of his tongue brushing against the pointed canines that could easily rip through flesh. That simple act transformed him from the harmless man to a pressure that had Justin instinctively lowering his eyes while the two behind him whimpered. The air around them had seemed to become thicker, darken, and stilled. He could feel the buzzing against his flesh, and the power made his ears pound. Alec was dizzy from it.
The golden retriever had lowered herself onto the ground with her tail behind her legs. Hope always did hate when he got aggressive. She did not have a violent bone in her body, and she was much more submissive than most. Despite this, she had always been a wonderful asset on hunting, loyal to a fault, and an excellent judge of character. The fact she did not get defensive or nervous around the stranger told him she was safe. That would not stop him though. The women had pressed further into Justin's arms as if realizing the mistake of her actions or perhaps she realized her condition. Either way, he smirked slowly as he leaned to place his lips against her ear. She tensed at the cold contact while her hand gripped against Justin tighter. "Silly women. Do you believe he will protect you?"
She parted her lips to speak, yet one glance at the still cold green eyes shut her up. "I could just as easily left you to die by the hands of the serval." Alec chuckled lightly as his lips brushed down against her cheek. Her skin was soft and flawless. She tasted divine, and for a moment he could not help his tongue from dipping to taste her flesh. The women gasped and shivered at his touch. But still, she did not move away. She was a brave one. He would give her that. "You will remember your place or next time..." A hand shot out to brush along her throat as he breathed in the scent of the forest... smoke.. and freedom on her skin. The male could smell her arousal, but even then he could not identify who she was or even where she came from. She was a mystery he would solve. "I will kill you." Finally, the beta stepped away and turned. "Hope, Drole. Lets go." With that, Alec reached down and huffed the boar back onto his shoulder. Whipping away, he walked away before he decided to show her just how much of a... bastard he could be.
"Are you stupid or something?!" Justin snapped as soon as Alec was out of eyesight. Freya snapped her head up, still red from the encounter. That man... she could still feel the brush of his breath on her skin. Her skin burned where he had touched her, and her heart pounded in her chest. She felt as if she was choking on the air. She felt as if she was burning up, and her lips parted to gasp at the cold air in hopes of calming herself. Her whole being tingled. She was used to men. It was not as if she was innocent, but... never before had she felt such a reaction. Freya could barely hear Justin, even though his lips were moving. To think in just a few minutes, he had stripped her of her defenses and silenced her. Not to mention his words. This was the land of the canines? Bellaroos? What kind of world had she found herself in? That did not answer her question though regarding the ears and tails. Could they be shifters? That would make sense to her, crazy as it sounded. This also somewhat explain her situation, but not the why or how.
Freya turned and buried her face against Justin's shoulder as she closed her eyes. Before she knew it, the female begun to tremble. "Hey..." Justin begun, but the feel of the tears stopped him. His blue eyes softened as he lowered his head slightly. She must be scared, confused, and she was defenseless. His beta had been rather harsh. She had no protection here. Sighing, Justin lowered his head and nuzzled against her neck. Freya only cried harder as her hand tightened on his shirt, yanking it. Her hot tears brushing along her cheek and chin... her lip trembling. She never cries. She could not remember the last time she had cried since her parents passed. She had not cried sense.. not when she was left alone. Not when her brother died, not when she lost her dog, and not when she broke her arm. She did not cry when she watched her home burn, or when she spent months in the rain as she rebuilt it. Freya had always, always endured, but she finally hit her limit. She had enough. She just wanted to go home. Why did this happen to her? Why soon as she settled she found herself here?
"Shhh." Freya clenched her jaw at Justin's soothing as he nuzzled against her neck, her cheek, and brushed his gentle lips along her shoulder. The gesture was soft, calming, and strangely brought her comfort. This man she had just meant was trying to tell her it was okay. To think he would even care, but in just a day she had come to trust him. She had come to know he was no liar. "I will be okay girly." He mumbled while he begun to walk. Justin continued to nuzzle her and rub away her tears as he moved. Her eyes had closed while she pulled the deer coat closer. She was so tired.
"My name is Freya." She whispered making his nuzzling stale. The male pulled his head up to look down at her as his eyes slightly closed. Soft and gentle blue watched her as he smiled a bit.
"Freya. A lovely name girly." Justin mumbled while he nuzzled against her temple. "Now rest." He did not have to tell her because she was already on the edge of sleep.
"Thank you Justin." She responded before finally darkness took her.
---
Alec was waiting when Justin entered the man's working chamber. As commanded, he had placed Freya in the guest room. It pained him to chain her through, but he knew it was for the best. If she escaped, his beta might actually make good on his threat. Although, with two guards on her door it would be difficult for her to simply slip away. He hated this, and the memory of her curled in his arms, trembling, and crying reminded him to much of... her. Swallowing thickly at the thought, his eyes turned to his beta. The room was small, but it did good for the male to work in peace. It had been made with a simple wooden bench and wooden desk towards the back of the room. The middle was furnished with a dark oak wooden couch and a table. The couch had been covered in bear fur while the table had nothing on it. The stone floor had a simple red stained fur rug while the walls were lined with wooden shelves. They were covered in books from reports to simple stories. Most contained maps, history, files of pack members, and more. Alec had become obsessed about keeping everything including some childhood books his mother had read to him.
She had long been killed though in the war. Now his father was sick, on his death bed, and even then the male seemed unshaken. Justin knew differently though. After all, he had been raised next to Alec after his own mother was killed. The Dragon War had raged on for far to long. However, he had not come to speak about such things. The delta turned his eyes to the beta before him. Alec was flipping through a book as he used a feather to write notes. He was clean from a shower and now wore a simple pair of brown furred pants. The man's hair was still wet and pulled into a burn. It did well to make his green eyes stand out along with the ever lingering scars.
"What is it Justin?" Alec was the first to break the silence as he flipped to another page. His voice was even, but still annoyed from the female. To think someone had caused the beta to become so angry made Justin smirk a bit.
"Someone is cheery." Justin chuckled as he made his way over. He stopped in front of the desk and leaned down to place his palms against it. His eyes looking down at the paper. It was different names of ferals.
"Don't bother, brother. She isn't a feral." Alec's frown deepened as he moved to place the book down. His eyes narrowing at the statement, yet he did not interrupt. "Freya. Her name is Freya, and there are no known ferals by that name. She did not shift when attacked, and she had no idea what Bellaroos was. Tell me, brother. Don't you find that a bit strange?"
Alec smiled and leaned back as he closed his book. He sat it down and looked up at the ceiling. "I agree, which leaves the question where the hell is she from?" Justin moved to sit on the edge of the desk.
"Get your ass down, you mutt." The voice was amused as he pushed against the delta, yet Justin refused to move. He slapped at his hand instead.
"So, what are we going to do with her?" Justin finally curiously asked.
"Simple, figure out what the hell she is, why she is here, and-
"Alec, we can't kill her." The delta whispered as he turned his eyes to the door. He breathed in the air slowly. "There is... something about her. I cannot put my finger on it, but she reminded me-"
"I don't plan to kill her." Alec corrected him with a sigh. His arms folding against his chest. "I saw the attack, and when she was laying there in the snow with fire covering her. The snow melted around her, and it took over an hour before she could be touched. This.. Freya.. whoever she is, I think she is the key to ending the Dragon War."