Three

Scarlett pov

He wanted me to get soothed and I did.

Bryton walked to stand before me with a frown on his face. His nose crinkled and I knew he had detected something.

"Why do you smell different?" He asked, straight to the point.

"And why are you with Alpha Axel? Do you not know your place? He thundered. His voice echoed through the hall but surprisingly, I did not cower.

Axel served as my source of strength and it was the first time I looked directly into Bryton's eyes.

He had no reaction toward me.

He could not feel the mate pull and I realized that Axel's mark on me worked.

I was about to reply to his question when Bryton pointed at my neck.

I could see surprise on his face as he asked, "What's that?"

"My mark!" I replied, confidently.

"What! You got marked when you have not found your mate?" Bryton thundered and I shivered.

"You are a disgrace to the pack. You are a slut like other she-wolves." He added, through gritted teeth.

I knew he was angry that I was marked by his rival.

"You…" He was about to continue his shaming but Axel interjected him.

"Enough!" Axel thundered. His deep and powerful tone reverberated through the hall. From his voice, one would know he was more powerful than Bryton.

Their tones alone were miles apart.

"I will not have you talk to my mate that way." Axel said, through gritted teeth. His hand found its way to my waist and he held onto me tight.

His eyes shot daggers at Bryton, daring him to say something else.

"Scarlett is mine now!" Axel declared.

Axel's declaration made everyone gasp in shock. They turned to look at me and Axel. They could not believe that the monster of the pack would be able to tame the strongest Alpha.

With their eyes on me, I could not breathe. I felt like I was going to collapse at any moment. I did not like the spotlight and for a moment, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to take me away.

However, I knew that was not going to happen. I had to face what was before me.

"Axel…make it stop." I said, in a low tone. I was sure that he was not going to hear me due to the noises around but he did.

In the next second, Axel eyed Bryton with a look of disgust on his face. He then pushed past Bryton and led me to the stage.

"What are you doing?" I asked, in wonder. I did not know why he was leading me toward the stage for fuck's sake.

"Relax, Scarlett." He called me fondly and I smiled. His hand was still on my waist and he led me, gently, up the stairs.

I could still feel eyes on me, watching every of my steps. Axel led me toward the microphone and for a moment, I had stage fright.

As he took hold of the microphone, his voice boomed out.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He said and the hall turned completely silent. Everyone was anticipating what he was about to say.

I could see Bryton throwing me a murderous look. If he could tear me apart at that moment, he would.

And then I heard Axel continue to say, "I want to announce to you all, before your Alpha…" He started and I saw Axel look straight at Bryton, with a provocative look.

"I have marked Scarlett as my mate." He declared and he did not even let his words sink in.

He continued to say, "She will be leaving this pack and will join the strongest Pack."

He finished his words.

I could see Bryton frown greatly. His hands were clenched into fists. The others were discussing amongst themselves.

My wolf senses picked a few of their words.

They all were questioning why a strong Alpha would mark a weak omega werewolf.

"She isn't good enough for you, Alpha!" I heard a voice boom throughout the hall. Someone was brave enough to say something against Axel's decision.

Axel's head snapped to look at the brave werewolf.

"I get to decide what is good enough for me, or not." He said, with so much resoluteness and I smiled.

At his words, I could see Alpha Bryton's face darken.

"You cannot just take her away." Bryton said out loud and there was a series of murmurings. So many others agreed to his words.

However, Axel snorted and then said,

"No one decides that for me. She wants to go with me and that is all that matters."

At these words, I nodded my head. Axel took my opinion seriously.

On the other hand,I knew Alpha Bryton wanted to speak against our union, again, but he kept quiet.

He wouldn't dare go against the strongest Alpha, continuously.

At first, I was starting to feel low. I started to think that I really was not good enough for Axel. But every decision was in Axel's hands. He did not consider me below standards and that was all that mattered.

I could feel his hand, tightening around my waist in assurance. All my life, I had never felt so loved and protected.

The warmth I felt was coming from someone I met about an hour ago.

In the next second, Axel led me down the stage. His words had sunk into everyone's mind and the gaze at which they looked at me changed.

However, I did not know if it was for better or for worse. I was not used to being in the spotlight. But then I knew I had to get used to it, since I was Axel's mate now.

"Do you want to leave?" Axel suddenly asked and my head turned to look at me.

"Huh?" I asked, not sure of what to say. However, Axel had a patient look in his eyes.

"Do you want to leave for my pack? You should go pack your bags now." He said again and I finally registered his words.

"Yes!" I said, in a happy tone, without thinking twice.

I was ready to go to the ends of the earth with Axel.

Swiftly, Axel led me outside the hall. I did not care if people still had their eyes on me though.

We traveled to my house by car and I could not wait to pack my bags and say goodbye to my father.

He never cared about me anyways. All this while, Axel never let me go but as I was about to go into the house, he let me lead the way and he was way behind.

As soon as we got to the house, I rushed to open the door and immediately, I was met with my father's angry face.

"Where have you been, Scarlett?" He thundered with a big frown on his face. He was angry. For a moment, I wished he was drunk.

If he was, he wouldn't be able to shout at me, before Axel.

"I have been at the royal hall, father." I said and immediately I finished my words, I got a hot slap on the cheek.

My head whipped to the side and blood sputtered out of my mouth.

"What?" I asked, with a bewildered look on my face. My father had never laid his hands on me, why would he do so now?

He only put me down, verbally. What changed?

"What did I do, father?" I asked and I heard him snort.

"You let our Alpha lose face. You should be ashamed of yourself. You have proved yourself to be slut by going with the Alpha's rival." He thundered and shook.

I was surprised at the speed at which words went around. My father was not at the assembly, how did he hear of the matter?

In the next second, he raised his hand to land another slap on my face.

But then a huge wolf jumped on him and tackled him to the ground

I was startled when a huge wolf from nowhere sprang on my father and pinned him down.

I almost lost balance but stood my ground. At first, I thought it was Alpha Axel but when the wolf transformed back to his human form, it turned out to be someone else, an unfamiliar face.

I was puzzled while trying to figure out who he was but it happens that I have never set my eyes on him before.

Who is he and how did he gain entry?

I kept staring at him expecting answers and explanations from him.

"Hey!, I am Lucas, Beta of Wales pack." He introduced me and I sighed in relief.

He was Axel's beta, he must have been sent to guide me in while I go pack my things.

My father was still groaning on the floor and I had the urge to help him out but I was just scared he might push me away or slap me like he tried to the second time before Lucas intervened.

"Go pack your things so we can leave, Alpha Axel is waiting outside." Lucas said and I rushed upstairs immediately.

"Slut! Where do you think you are going?" I could hear my father scream out loudly but I ignored him and went into my room.