Chapter 5

Atlas

“Alpha Atlas I have good news and bad news.” Henry walked into my room with a file in his hands.

“Good news.”

“The debtors have been gathered, and compared to last year they are considerably smaller in number, so I think your plan worked. The pack treasury is back to how it was,” he said.

I nodded in response.

“And what is the bad news?”

“The woman you are supposed to court, Lady Katherine, has been delayed at sea so she will be coming in next week, but her father, Lord Rhett, said you can commence to sign the border agreement between both packs.”

“No,” I cut in. “Rhett wants to force his daughter on me. I will sign those agreements after she stays over, and I like her enough to marry her. I won’t be with a woman I despise because of an agreement.” I buttoned my suit and picked up my regal robe and crown.

“But Alpha, she’s well-read and gives to charity.”

“That doesn’t make her a good person, and you know that. I need someone resilient, someone who can go to war with me and have opinions, someone who can smack me back to my senses. That’s the kind of woman I want.” He walked over and adjusted the buttons on my sleeve.

His face crossed with worry. I had known Henry all my life, and I also know how paranoid he gets when he feels a deal won’t pull through, mostly when it’s a good deal.

The border agreement was important to the pack’s finances and also the import of medicine, but if I accept it now without seeing his daughter or getting to know her, Rhett will hold it over my head that I must marry his daughter.

I knew men like him. They were social climbers and alliance seekers.

“You are all set to go, Alpha.” He stepped back, and I readjusted myself before walking out of the room. The debtors were all in the hall waiting to hear their verdict, and the moment I walked in, everywhere went silent.

“People of Morningfall,” I began as I beheld the crowd of debtors; they were fewer than expected, which was good.

“The majority of you standing in the hall will be sent away tonight because it has come to my knowledge that even though I have been nothing but merciful to everyone, some of you have chosen to play on my intelligence like you did my father.”

“I would not be that merciful, so if you hear your name, you will walk up here, get your banishment mark, and be guided to the other chambers to be stripped and guarded out of the pack.”

“Dacoster Afterfall—”

The list went on and on until I got to one: “Segel Hawkmoon with Davina Hawkmoon.” I said out loud, and no one responded. Instead, I heard hurried mumbling among the debtors.

My mind told me both of them must have snuck out at night and escaped the pack, but I repeated again to confirm.

“Segel Hawkmoon and Davina Hawkmoon.”

“Me, Alpha,” a lady from behind said, her hands poking out as she tried to shuffle through the crowd. The moment she came to the front line, our eyes met, and my wolf sprang to life.

‘Mate. Our mate Atlas!’

My wolf howled within me, suddenly spiraling into a frenzy. I faltered backward as the bond slammed right back into my chest. Her scent hit me, and I couldn’t help but move toward her.

I had never seen that face before. Confused, I stared at her.

“My father is sick. He has been rushed to the hospital, and I came here alone because I need your help.” She continued, which only confused me further. Can’t she feel what I feel?

Why isn’t her wolf responding to me? Why do I only feel the mate bond toward her but not her response to it? Her need to continue talking confirmed my doubt.

She didn’t feel it.

“Silence!” I commanded.

I walked toward her and finally saw her face clearly. Silver-haired, her beauty was delicate. I wanted to touch her, to pull her into my arms and rub my nose against her.

In a room full of people, she was the only one I could see or feel, and even then she couldn’t feel the bond.

Why?

“I do not have the final installment for my debt, not because I didn’t want to pay back, but because I was fired two hours ago. I would have asked for extra time to pay you back, but all I am asking is time for my sick father to heal, and I promise we will leave this pack. But I beg you, don’t make me a lone rogue wolf.”

No. There was no way I was going to let her leave the pack. Not now that she was my mate. I couldn’t possibly let her go. Not now. Not ever.

“Davina Hawkmoon?” I repeated her name under my breath.

“Welcome.”

I turned to the guards and commanded that she be separated and sent to new chambers while I attended to the rest of the debtors. My focus was already divided.

I had to choose between finishing my duty and putting the pack in order, or going back to see her again. Her face appeared in my mind as my wolf rumbled on and on about how he still couldn’t reach her wolf.

My fingers dug into the list. I called out another name, my breath hung in my chest, resulting in a hard cough.

I had to see her.

Her appearance replayed in my mind: silver hair and blue eyes. I flipped the list back to where her name was formerly stated, and I saw her details.

Davina Hawkmoon, 21 years old, no mother, just a father.

“Alpha, we have taken her to the chambers. What next?” one of the guards mind-linked to me.

Henry walked up to me with his phone in his hand.

“Alpha, there’s something you need to see about that young lady.”