Claiming His Tempting Mate novel Chapter 20

Savannah's POV

I stopped on my track and turned to look at the source of the voice. As soon as my head snapped to the side, my gaze fell onto the silhouette of three people coming closer to us. It was two women and a man. The two women were quite tall and had dark skin. One of them had brown hair and the other one had black hair. On the side the man has a muscular body with dark brown hair.

"Master you are here?" The woman with brown hair asked. There was a surprise look on her face. But it was strange that they didn't call Hardwick as Alpha but they referred to him as master. Is that some kind of tradition in Dark Forest Pack? Right now I couldn't fathom about it.

"Master, you didn't say anything about your arrival," the woman with black hair said.

"Do I need to inform you whenever I go?" I heard Hardwick's hard voice fall. Both of the women bowed their heads, not meeting his gaze. I was surprised, though Hardwick didn't say it too sternly but I can see that their body tensed.

"Master please don't mind their words" the man beside two women said. "It was surprising that the master is also here this year," he added, quickly changing the topic.

"I am here because my presence is needed here" Hardwick started. I felt my palm start to sweat. I heard from Tanea that he never bothered to visit this hunting event. But this year he is with me and it's creating confusion for his own pack. I guess they have no idea about our mating.

The three people didn't say anything but looked at him quietly. They are waiting for him to continue.

Hardwick cleared his throat "since I haven't made it official to the pack, let me introduce you" he put his hand over my shoulder lightly pushing me forward "meet my mate Savannah and your Luna"

This is an official meeting with his pack members. I felt my body tense a little. Three of them were stunned as their eyes fell on me. Looks like they still couldn't believe their Alpha had a mate now. But why are they so surprised?

"Do I need to remind you of our tradition?" Hardwick questioned. I felt his jaw clenched tightly.

"Forgive us Master" they apologised before turning to me "welcome Mistress" they said in unison.

I don't know what to say to them. They are unfamiliar to me and I don't even know their names so I just gave them a small smile while nodding my head.

"I am Cora Mistress," the woman with brown hair smiled. "She is Daisy and he is Mark" her voice is warm and friendly. It made my heart flutter.

I smiled at her "I am Savannah"

"Welcome to Dark Forest Mistress" Mark said with a smile.

"Thank you" I replied to him.

"Since you know now, you can leave" Hardwick said to them.

"Yes" they nodded before turning around and heading towards their tents. But suddenly Daisy turned her head and looked at me. Like the other two her eyes don't show any warm gesture but it was rather filled with coldness. I frowned at her. Why was she looking at me like that? Like she was bearing some kind of hatred towards me. But I have never encountered her before so how come I offended her all of a sudden?

"What are you looking at?" Hardwick whispered in my ear.

"That was rude of you to tell them to leave like that" I scolded him.

He rolled his eyes "it's all about controlling love. If the Alpha couldn't take any control over his own pack then it would be a shame to hold the title. Besides...." he leaned down a little "I don't like third wheels between us"

"It was my first time to meet your pack members" I glared at him.

"You can meet them later. Now your priority should only be me and us" he replied arrogantly.

I raised my eyebrows "what us'? We both belong to different packs. Since you are here, you should go and cheer your pack members to do well in the game" I gave him a tight smile.

"Darling they don't need my cheer to do anything" he smirked "it is a test of their own skills and it has nothing to do with me"

I couldn't help but feel surprised. Is this man really their Alpha? His own pack is standing out to compete yet the Alpha of their pack didn't even care a least about them.

"Are you really their Alpha?" I asked.

He smirked "do you need evidence darling? I can give you some if you want" his eyes were dancing with an evil grin.

I raised my hands in a surrender position "no need. I am happy with being unknown about that matter" saying this I turned around and walked towards my brother's tent. But I can hear his footsteps behind me. It's clear he is following me. Shaking my head I stepped inside only to gasp loudly.

In the tent there was none but my brother and his mate. Jion and Shiny have not arrived yet. But what made me gasp was I had to witness my brother making out with his mate under the broad daylight. Both of them were so lost in kissing that they didn't hear my gasp.

"I told you, you should-'' Hardwick's voice stopped in the middle behind me. "Oh, I did not know your brother is this active and couldn't wait to take action"

I turned my head and glared at him hard. Can this man be a little rational? Why does he always pick on my brother?

"Can you stop your mocking?"

He sneaked his arm around my waist "it's not me but your brother who is doing that" he whispered "we can do it better"

My eyes widened immediately before I slapped his arm angrily "behave yourself"

He shrugged before looking towards the couple again with a smirk. I turned my attention towards Devak and Tanea before clearing my not so affected throat. Tanea, who's eyes were closed suddenly opened and immediately went wide when she saw us. She pushed Devak from herself, making him groan.

"What the fuck?" Devak groaned loudly.

"If you two need privacy then it would be better to let us know. So that we can delay our time to reach here" I commented before he could say more. His head snapped towards us and rolled his eyes.

"Fuck it" he cursed under his breath while Tanea shot a hard glare towards him.

Hardwick and I walked towards the table where breakfast was already served. I sighed when I saw the dishes. I really don't like this food. Though the taste is somehow adjustable but eating it every now and then is something not tolerable.

"What?" Hardwick asked, frowning at me.

"Nothing" I shrugged and put my chin on my palm gazing at the dishes spread on the table. His eyes followed mine then swept back to me.

"You don't like it?"

"It's too plain," I replied.

"Today they will start the game. After Breakfast we need to go to the ground area for a little meeting with the elders" Devak said.

"Elders?" I frowned.

He nodded "they are like judges"

"I haven't seen anyone other than that old Lian"

"He is the keeper of this forest area and also the one who arranges everything here" Devak replied.

"Impressive, so the elders only show up during the game?" I asked again curiously.

"Like every year, this year we have arranged a few games which will test your strength and also your sharpness. I hope everyone who will attend will enjoy it" the elder who spoke earlier said again. His appearance was quite old and looked like monks who just come from long years of meditation. I really wonder if they are really saints or love to dress like one.

Not finding any interest in their speech I roamed my eyes around the ground. Suddenly I felt a sharp gaze piercing me. I turned to that direction only to see a woman clothed in red looking at me with her sharp gaze. I frowned, I don't know why she is giving me this look. Like I have committed some sin which is unforgivable. She is the same one who glared at me when Hardwick introduced me as his mate. Does this woman have any enmity with me?

Daisy looked away instantly as I felt an arm sneaking around my waist "what are you looking at?" Hardwick's hot breath brushed the skin of my ear.

"Do your pack members always wear a cold look? Or is it just to scare others?" I mumbled.

"What happened?" He turned me around and made me face him. His dominating brown orbs looked at me seriously "did anyone misbehave with you?"

His voice is rough and his face bece hard. It's like he is ready to explode the moment I say yes. I shook my head. I don't know about Daisy and why she glares at me. But it's not the time to ask this.

"No, it's just they always look serious so I thought they do it to scare others" I shrugged.

He frowned but didn't inquire further which is glad from my side. Hardwick is hard to handle when he is angry and this is something I got to know perfectly. This man does not know any rules nor does he accept any so it's better to make him stay away from this minor matter. And about Daisy, I will find it myself in future.

"The event will start tomorrow, and please who will be joining the first game be prepared" the elder's voice fell and the crowd cheered loudly. So finally the game is starting.

"Today's meeting is dismissed" saying that those elders walked down from the stage.

"Let's go" Hardwick pulled me with him.

"Where?"

"Are you not tired from all this standing under the son?"

I rolled my eyes "no"

"Then I am tired and you are accompanying me"

I face palmed inwardly. Is this man really serious? Why does he always use his domination with every action?

"You are the Alpha but you are tired already?" I smirked.

He turned and gave me an evil smile "oh, I am not darling. If you just want to see how strong an Alpha can be, I can surely help you in this matter" he learned to match my level "do you wanna try it out love?"

"What are you talking about? I have no intention of fighting with you" I frowned.

He smirked "who's talking about fighting here, I can saw you exactly on bed too"

My face burnt with embarrassment as the hotness started to crawl on my cheeks. Does this man always think of 'that' thing? I glared at him trying to hide my blush before pushing his face away from me.

"You shameless"

"Let me show you how shameless I can be darling" before I know he scooped me up in his arms making me squeal. Few of the people turned to look at our direction, making me blush even harder.

God, this is embarrassing. I wanted to hide my face so hard now. But Hardwick didn't care about those teasing gazes as he started to walk towards our tent which is now turned into 'ours'.

But before I went inside the tent I saw Avan glaring in my direction. His face was hard and his jaw was clenched tightly. I rolled my eyes as the curtain of the tent fell blocking the view from outside leaving me only with my mate.