Savannah’s POV
I held my forehead massaging it lightly. Are they trying to find me or competing for word war?
“Your pack is quite lively” I heard him say again.
“Can you stop your mockery?” I hissed as I glared at him.
He shrugged. I rolled my eyes and walked inside the house with him. The first thing I saw was dad smacking Devak on the back of his neck while scolding.
“You brat, you are not taking me seriously”
“Dad-”
“Sav” it was Tanea who spotted me first. Then everyone’s eyes fell on me.
“Savannah my baby” Mom gasped and quickly walked forward before pulling me into a tight embrace. A warm feeling engulfed me suddenly and I sighed in content.
“Are you fine? I Was so worried” she cried as she checked my body suspecting for any injury.
“I am fine mom” I smiled at her.
“Oh my god, you are finally here” Tanea pulled me for a hug. I giggled at her reaction.
“Savannah where were you-” mom’s words stopped when dad suddenly called out.
“Alpha Hardwick?” Dad said as he looked at him with wide eyes. My head snapped towards the person standing right behind me. He looked confident and there’s no fear nor anxiety on his face. Yet the aura around him is screaming dangerously. I almost forgot he is here too.
“Hello Alpha Micah,” he replied, nodding his head.
Hardwick. I whispered his name and the way it rolled through my tongue it felt good. I was so engrossed in leaving that I didn’t even bother to know his name.
“Micah, you know him?” Mom looked at dad.
Dad slowly nodded “he is the Alpha of Dark Forest”
Mom gasped as she looked at Hardwick. Then she looked at me “Savannah how do you know Alpha Hardwick?”
I bit my lips. I don’t know what will be the reaction of my family when I tell them he was the same person who kidnapped me. I sighed “that-”
“I took her to my pack” Hardwick’s voice fell before me.
My jaw dropped as I turned to look at him. He glanced at me with a smirk. I couldn’t believe he just admitted that.
“What?” It was Devak who roared suddenly “so you are the one who kidnapped my sister? How dare you? I don’t care if you are an Alpha or not but you are going to pay for this” he marched forward only to be held back by dad.
Hardwick just raised an eyebrow as he looked at Devak. That kind of stare is like a come-if-you-can.
“What do you think you are doing?” Dad asked Devak.
“Dad, he kidnapped my sister. How can you be so calm?” Devak argued. Dad didn’t reply but looked at Hardwick.
“Alpha Hardwick, why did you kidnap her?”
“I didn’t kidnap her. I just took her where she belong” Hardwick replied lazily.
My heart jumped in my chest hearing him. Don’t tell me he is going to say that. Everyone in the room looked at him with confusion.
“Because she is my mate and she should be living with me in my pack”
I closed my eyes tightly as I bit my lips. Fuck. He really did say it. I really didn’t put pressure on this matter but this man said it before everyone.
“Mate?” Dad frowned “Savannah is your mate?”
“Yes,” Hardwick replied without any hesitation.
“But….” Mom gasped as she looked at me “is it true Savannah?”
“I…. i don’t know” I looked down.
“Alpha Hardwick, is there any confusion or something? Savannah she can’t-” before dad could complete a loud growl echoed in the room. I jumped slightly when I felt a hand sneaked around my waist and pulled me to a hard chest.
“She is mine. Don’t talk about such nonsense” Hardwick said with his unbearable cold tone.
I heard dad sighed “but she had mate before-”
“I don’t care about that. What I know is she is my mate and can only be mine” he growled. I looked up to see him clenching his jaw. His hold tightened around my waist and I winced lightly. He looked down at me and his dominating eyes softened in an instant. I have never seen such a dominating gaze until today. Someone to claim me as his. I don’t know why but suddenly a warm feeling rushed through my body that I never felt before. Is this what others felt with their mate?
“Since it has already cleared then it’s better to drop this matter” mom interjected smiling warmly at Hardwick. “The trip must be tiring. How about we have something to eat first then talk after that?”
“It sounds good,” Hardwick nodded. I sighed in relief. Mom is always the smart one. And God bless her, she interjected at the right time. From the corner of my eyes I can see Devak still glaring at Hardwick. I shook my head as I followed mom inside the dining room.
==========
“Wow, this looks delicious,” I exclaimed, staring at the food. Mom really cooks well. Spaghetti, Beef Stew and there’s also Mâche, Beet, and Orange Salad placed on the table.
Mom smiled at me. Maids served our food once we settled on our own seats. Hardwick sat beside me while Devak glared at him.
“Alpha Hardwick, I hope our food will be to your taste,” mom said.
“Please call me Hardwick,” Hardwick replied.
Mom smiled more warmly at him.
“Have this” sudden a hand added some salad on my plate. I looked up only to see him. Under the stare of my family I could not help but blush. I am not used to such affections he is giving me.
“What happened that day?” Tanea asked me.
I looked at her “I got lost that day. I couldn’t find my way back home”
“Have you entered the forbidden area?” Mom asked.
I shrugged, “I don’t know. I don’t know that place and -” sudden I felt a hand placed on my thigh. My eyes widened and I could sense his smirk. He was still eating calmly.
“And then?” Tanea waited for my reply.
“Uh….” I tried to calm myself down but his hand was roaming on my thigh making my tingle all over my body. My heartbeat raised and I took a shaky breath.
“Sav?” Tanea raised her eyebrows.
“Then I don’t remember. I fainted” I replied quickly trying to drop the matter. The hand over my skin is already making me crazy.
“Hardwick, why are you eating with your left hand?” Mom asked.
“I am left-handed,” he replied. My head turned towards him with a glare. Left handed? What a joke! I saw him using his right hand during breakfast. This man is totally impossible.
Annoyed, I shoved a spoonful of beef stew in my mouth. How could he stay so calm and torture me like this? I couldn’t help but get angry. But before I could take another bite, his hand sneaked in my inner thigh. I choked on my food and coughed hard suddenly.
“Savannah what happened?” Mom said anxiously and handed me a glass of water. I felt his hand rubbing my back. After drinking water I felt better.
“Are you alright?” I heard him ask. I threw a glare at him. His face was concerned yet a playful smirk was playing on his lips.
Damn. He did it intentionally.