Mated to a ruthless alpha

Mira's POV

The men standing before me were pack house guards with grim, forbidding eyes and heavy-looking armour. I knew that scary look on their faces; I had seen it before. The look in their eyes made my skin crawl with discomfort.

Today, however, things were slightly different. The joy within me could not be bridled. Untamed it burst through my veins like tongues of flames, setting my nerve ends on fire with excitement.

I bounced on the balls of my feet as I faced them, and I could not stop the grin from spreading on my lips. "Where is Luca.... Alpha Luca?" I asked, quickly correcting myself.

"The alpha is busy. He asked not to be disturbed." One of the guards answered me.

"Yes, Miss Mira." The other guard replied. "Kindly wait, or go back home."

The guards paused for a while before answering, as though picking their words around me. I could sense their reluctance, and a sliver of impatience moved through me. I peered through the metal gates of the pack house, balanced on the ends of my toes, trying to catch a glimpse of my future mate.

Future mate....even the sound of that sent sparks of giddiness through me. I could feel my Wolf, just at the tips of my fingers, aching to come out.

"Oh, to hell with it!" I snapped. Pushing past the guards, I stumbled through the half-open gate and into the compound. A part of me was expecting the guards to chase after me, but they didn't.

Filled with a giddy happiness, I moved through the front door of the pack house, weaving through the familiar corridors to where I knew I would find Luca. On late afternoons like this one, he was either to be found in his bedroom, or in the library, blonde head buried in a large book.

I decided to try his room first—he could be having a siesta. I ran through the corridors, almost tripping against my own feet with my impatience and excitement.

And the sight of his door made me reel back in surprise.

I felt my brow furrow in a frown, as I stopped before Luca's room door. It was slightly ajar, and I could see what looked like a shoe, edged between the door and its frame.

The shoe was so sudden, so out of place, that I blanched at the sight. Luca was nothing if not neat; my mate loved everything to always be in its place.

A part of my mind urged me to pick up the shoe, but another part of me forced me to stop and wonder. Luca never ever left his door ajar; amongst other things, he loved a closed door.

Had he stepped out for a moment? Or had he left the door open out of forgetfulness?

Several questions and possibilities raced through my head. Strange sounds began to filter from the room and into my head as I stood there. 

Was that....groaning? Was Lucas in pain?

Finally, pushing my riotous thoughts aside, I decided to walk in and find out.

I picked up the stray shoe from where it was wedged. My other fingers closed around the warm wooden doorknob, and I pushed inside. The door swung open with barely a creak as I walked in.

"Luca?" I called out. "Are you in here?"

The wider I opened the door, the wider my eyes and mouth went. 

Luca was lying on the bed, wrapped in the embrace of another woman.