3- Find Out?

Fear took over me. Every instinct screamed at me to run yet my body refused to move a muscle.

Those golden eyes remained fixed on me.

Studying every inch of my face as though comparing reality to a dream he had imagined a thousand times.

“Is it truly you?” He tilted his head. “My mate?”

Every soul in the village heard it.

“Have I conquered half of Moon Whispers for you, little one?”

Before I realized what was happening, someone stepped in front of me just as he once promised.

Robbie.

His gaze was stern. Prepared to engage in a battle as I remained motionless, looking at Robbie with hopes.

“You won't come any closer,” he declared, holding his head up. “Not yet.” 

Alpha Zarius finally looked away from me and it settled on Robbie.

Calm.

Unreadable.

The corner of his mouth lifted, “Oh? You? The one who sent the message.” 

Message…? 

My eyes fell on Robbie who stood emptily, holding his head up but his eyes, they were dead. 

Just like they were last night and I was too blind to notice.

“Yes. I did.” He breathed out, lowering his gaze and staring at his hand emptily. “Someone had to stop you, no?”

Alpha Zarius let out a hum of approval.

“You wanted my hunt to end.” 

Robbie glanced over his shoulder, towards me with compassion for five seconds. Slowly, tears filled his eyes and rolled down his cheek. 

“As promised, Alpha Zarius.” He swallowed, giving him a broken smile. “Here is your mate.”

The words struck me harder than any blade. 

They took the faintest hope I had left.

“...Robbie?”

He didn't turn around. Not daring to meet my eyes anymore as he roughly wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

“You gave me your word, Alpha Zarius. I brought you your mate. Now spare my people.”

“No…”

My heart cracked. I stumbled backward. My mind refused to believe such an absurd announcement. 

He promised me, he said he would protect me. 

He won’t do this to me—

“She is your mate, Alpha Zarius.”

His voice remained steady, looking directly at the Soulless Alpha. As if he was already prepared. A hundred times.

Whispers erupted behind us.

“Our Evelise? His mate? How did he know?”

“The Beta… He told him?”

“Is it true?”

I stared at Robbie's back.

Unable to believe what I'd heard.

My hands trembled as I reached for him, pulling his shirt harder, silently begging him to turn around... to look at me... to deny what I had just heard. 

“You…” My voice barely existed. “...you brought him here, Robbie?”

He closed his eyes.

Only for a second.

Then opened them again without answering me. 

Before anyone else could speak—

“Enough.”

Father stepped forward.

His aura surged across the area.

“I am Alpha Harold of Silver Pine and she is my daughter. She is under my protection.”

His voice boomed, stepping forward to appear before me protectively.

“No one touches her.”

Dozens of our members immediately surrounded us.

Wolves drawn.

Ready.

Alpha Zarius couldn't care less about it. He didn't even bother to glance at my father or Robbie.

Those deadly eyes had pinned me in place only. Alpha Zarius slowly began walking towards me.

One step.

Another.

The warriors instinctively retreated. 

None dared to attack, not even dared to breathe, including me.

“Evelise Winters, hmmm?” 

He stopped a few feet away, close enough for me to see his features clearly. 

His face was unscarred, his features almost unfairly handsome. Yet there was nothing warm in his expression.

Only an abysmal darkness

And cold skepticism.

“How do you know you are my mate?” He questioned. Unable to feel a single emotion I did. 

I remained silent too.

Only gulped from fear.

Having no idea what storm my soul was going through due to the mate-bond.

He narrowed his eyes at me as a warning, still I refused to open my mouth.

When I refused to speak, he exhaled yet refused to remove those frightening eyes from me. Watching my lips shake, my eyes darting everywhere but him.

He was indulging in the fear I was emitting. 

“You think this little one is my mate?”

His words were directed at Robbie.

“Trust me.”

“I've trusted certainty before.”

He glanced toward the people behind him, around everyone.

“Thirty-five women were buried. Alive.” 

His deadly announcement made people cower in terror but if anything, he was proud of the menace he caused. 

“Thirty-five disappointments.”

He looked at me again with a frown, sending a shiver down my spine.

“And now you expect me to believe fate has suddenly decided to reward me?”

“I know she's your mate.” Robbie replied, his voice breaking. “I trust her…” 

Zarius smiled faintly, “So did the others, boy.”

He stopped directly before me. Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him, forcing my wolf to react.

But how could he know? He couldn't. His curse wouldn't let him feel the bond. 

I couldn't lift my head, couldn't meet his eyes.

“...Look at me.”

I didn't.

“I said.” His voice went deeper, darker, holding my chin in a firm grip. “Look at me.”

Against my will… I obeyed only to find his haunting golden eyes searching mine. And every second of it made my heart thump abnormally. 

“Are you afraid, little one?” His thumb brushed beneath my chin.

My lips parted, but sound came out, only a whimpering.

"Good.” His smirk deepened, bringing my face dangerously closer till our breaths mingled. “You should be.”

I gathered what little courage I had left, forcing myself to stare back. 

“...Please, Alpha.”

“Hmmm?”

“D-Don't hurt m-my family… please.”

He blinked once before he let out a vicious chuckle. “I haven't decided whether they're worth sparing.”

“I've done nothing to you. You don't even know me.” I attempted to pull back which only made him grip me tighter.

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Please.”

“I won’t leave without an answer, little one.” 

My heart nearly stopped. 

He raised one hand. 

Claws slowly extending.

Every warrior tensed up, every wolf growled. Not in defiance, but out of fear, we were aware of what he was capable of.

My anxiety reached its peak. “He is lying, I–I am not, I–I swear—” 

“I don't trust promises. I trust proof.”

A terrible realization washed over me, “...No. Don’t. Please….”

Father came forward, holding his hand up, “You'll do no such—”

A single glance from Zarius silenced him. “If she's my mate, my search ends today."

His claws gleamed beneath the morning sun.

“But, If she isn't…” His gaze hardened, “I'll kill her myself.”

The entire village froze.

“So—” 

His claw dug deeper into my skin, drawing a single trail of blood.

“—Shall we find out?”