Nora's pov
"Did you just throw a slipper at me?" Ronan asked, his voice dangerously calm.
"You weren't listening to me" I shrugged.
"Why were you banished from your pack?" He questioned as he walked calmly towards me.
"I'd rather not talk about it" I replied soberly.
"You are under my protection and in my pack. I have the right to know what I'm getting myself into by keeping you here" Ronan looked down at me stoically.
"I was framed for something I didn't do" I simply said, unwilling to divulge any more.
"Why didn't you stay and prove your innocence?" He probed.
"Because I would never be able to win. It was a clear set up by some people who wanted me gone" I bit my lip as I tried to tape down the emotions surging through me.
Ronan's eyes darken as they zero in on my bottom lip which is caught in-between my teeth. I instinctively released it as I watched him with bated breath.
He lowered his head till his lips were dangerously close to mine. My heart slammed loudly against my rib cage as I waited for what would happen next.
"What other secrets do you have Nora?" He whispered against my lips and his hot breath caressed my skin.
"I don't have any secrets" I whispered back, my gaze transfixed on his.
"You are in my pack for now and for the duration of your stay I expect discipline and respect from you. That means no throwing of items at my person. If it were any other person in this pack they would have already been dead by now" he told me heatedly, his eyes glistening with an emotion I couldn't identify.
"Then don't ignore me" I retorted much to my surprise.
He opens his mouth to speak but before he is able to say a word the door swung open. I immediately jerked away from Ronan, placing a respectable distance between us as a tall, well built man stepped inside the gym.
He stopped in his tracks, looking from I to Ronan for a moment and I wondered if he could also feel the tension simmering in the room.
"Alpha" he bowed respectfully to Ronan.
"Jason. Is training already over?" Ronan asked.
"Not even close. I heard we had a new wolf in our midst, it's all anyone can talk about and so I came to confirm the rumours" the man, Jason, said as a blush stained my cheeks.
"Nora this is Jason my beta, Jason this is Nora" Ronan introduced.
"Hi" I smiled politely at the man who in return stared at me wearily.
"Nora is not a pack member" Ronan simply said.
"She doesn't smell like she belongs to a pack" Jason pointed out.
"She doesn't and in the mean time she is under the protection of our pack" Ronan replied.
"What does she need protection from?" Curiosity shimmers in his eyes.
"Why are you concerned about her presence?" Ronan asked instead.
"Is it a thing with you to talk about people like they aren't present?" I asked, breaking into their little bubble.
"Since you want to be part of the conversation you might as well tell Jason what you need protection from" he said darkly and I faltered.
"I thought not" he murmured.
"What does her presence mean to the pack?" Jason asked.
"Does it have to mean anything?" I asked but Jason ignored me.
"Speculation has it that you'll make her your Luna" he continued and I almost choked on my spit.
"What?" I stared incredulously at him, ignoring the ripple of pleasure that shot through me at the thought.
"Have you all gone mad in this pack?" Ronan asked eerily.
"She could never pass as my mate, who would make up such a ridiculous notion" he continued, looking pass me to Jason.
I carefully kept my face blank, ignoring the pang of pain I felt. It was ridiculous, I didn't like Ronan nor his arrogance so it was ridiculous for me to feel hurt by his words and rejection.
"Just checking" Jason shrugged giving me a long hard stare.
"You can return to the training grounds if that is all" Ronan commanded. Tearing his gaze away from me, Jason bowed before he left the gym, leaving Ronan and I in awkward silence.
"We are going for a run tomorrow morning. Meet me at the front door, we leave by five" Ronan gruffly informed me before turning his back on me once more but this time I don't try to stop him, instead I make my way out of the gym.
The voice of little children giggling accosts me as I make my way out of the pack house and I turn to them, smiling at the sight of the young pups enjoying life without inhibition.
One of the children looks up at me and a big smile breaks out on her face, seconds before she bounds towards me in full speed.
I caught her in my arms and twirled her around as she giggled.
"Well hello there" I pinched her fat cheeks as I set her back on the ground. The other children came bounding towards me in like manner.
"Are you really going to be the Luna of our pack?" The little girl asked me.
"No, I'm not the Luna of your pack" I shook my head.
"That's sad cause you're pretty" a little boy commented, drawing a smile from me.
"Do you like our Alpha?" The little girl questioned.
"He is a...he is very protective over his pack" I stuttered, unsure how to reply.
"Mummy says Alpha Ronan is really kind. He just needs a loving mate to complete him" she told me.
"I'm sure he will get a Luna sooner or later" I replied.
"If you aren't his mate then why are you here?" Another child asked.
"I needed protecting and your Alpha is really good at that" I said.
"Come on, into the pack house all of you" Emma shooed the children before they had the chance to ask anymore questions.
"They are little bundles of curiosity" she said in their defense.
"They are cute" I retorted.
"Alpha Ronan told me you'll be around for a while so I might as well show you around" she said to which I agreed before we proceeded to tour the rogue pack grounds.