Hope or disappointment?

~Elvira~

I was still reeling from the realization that the man in front of me was my fated mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess.

He was the leader of Silverblade, the country’s deadliest pack, known for its weapons manufacturing, high-tech security, and elite warrior-training system.

It felt surreal to me, i didn't understand what to feel.

A mix of excitement...fear... and desperation tangled inside me.

Maybe coming here wasn’t a bad idea after all, maybe my stepfather would think twice about chasing me into Silverblade territory.

If I could just persuade the Alpha to let me join, I could settle down and build the secure future I had never known.

But he showed no intention of acknowledging the bond between us, it was baffling to me as I thought of it.

Among werewolves, the pull to a fated soulmate is almost impossible to resist.

“If you let me stay, I’ll prove my worth and be loyal to your pack,” I murmured.

“Prove your worth?” Skepticism dripped from his voice.

“Yes, I have nothing to hide. I’m here with a clean slate.”

I looked anywhere but at his face...his gaze felt far too exposing.

“And why should I trust you?” he pressed as his eyes narrowed.

“You appeared out of nowhere with no affiliation to any pack. You have no prior notice or letter from an Alpha. You’re a rogue. You deserve execution for trespassing into my territory.”

Execution?

Execution felt harsh...but I pushed through my rising panic.

I had to convince him.

“Please hear me out, I pleaded.

“I mean no harm. I came to participate in your warrior training program. I want to learn, to fight, and to protect.”

The Alpha’s expression remained cold...but I caught a brief flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

“The training program is for selected individuals who pay to attend,” he said.

“You came here without an application, and you haven't paid, what gave you the nerve to barge into my territory and expect me to accept you?”

I locked my eyes onto his, a spark of defiance replacing my fear.

“I came because I had nowhere else to go, werewolves belong in packs, I can’t live among humans forever! I heard Silverblade values strength and loyalty, so I came here. I want to be part of this pack!!”

The Alpha’s gaze stayed unmoved... I couldn't tell if he was interested or just annoyed.

“Just like that? Because you want to join a pack I built with a tight fist?” because I happened to be your mate? I don’t need a mate, and I will never want one.”He added but his tone...the way he said it... made it sound like it was something disdainful to want a mate.

His words hurt me to be frank, but I refused to back down.

“I’m not asking for pity because of a bond,” I said, gripping the cell bars.

“I’m asking for a chance to prove myself. I came here peacefully... please give me a chance.”

The Alpha studied me for what felt like an eternity, searching my face to gauge my intentions...

“We’ll decide your punishment at dawn. Then you can go back to wherever you came from,” he said turning toward the exit.

“Wait!” I called out.

“What’s your name? Don’t I get to know the name of the Alpha who is deciding my fate?”

He paused at the doorway with shoulders tensed.

“Gabriel. Alpha Gabriel Grayson of Silverblade.”

He left without looking back.

The cell door shut, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach.

I whispered his name in my mind, trying to process the emotional mess inside me, then started pacing the small cell space.

How could he reject the bond so easily? Didn’t he feel how strong the connection was?

I slumped on the wall, exhausted... but his presence seemed to linger in the room even long after he left.

Gabriel. Alpha of Silverblade. My mate.

The memory of his indifferent look still stung like a fresh wound. Yet, I couldn't forget that brief spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Why did he hate the idea of a mate so much?

What had happened to him?

The hours dragged on, each minute reminded me of my uncertain future. Would Gabriel let me stay, or would he banish me?

I thought of Carson and Lisa, hoping they were safe, tears pulled on my eyes as I remembered their kindness, Lisa’s goodbye hug...and Carson’s warm smile...I had promised them I’d be okay and find a way to move forward....I had found Silverblade, but the cost was turning out to be too high.

Gabriel’s words repeated in my head: “I don’t need a mate, and I will never want one.”

My wolf, Val, whimpered in my mind.

She was worn out too from our long journey, and my distress was making her weaker.

What hurt the most was the way he looked at me, as if I were just an uninvited problem to solve.... that indifference made me question my own worth...I had never been wanted by anyone before.

As the night deepened, darkness took over the room. I curled up on the floor, hunger gnawed at my stomach, exhaustion finally won...and I fell into a restless sleep.

Hours later, the cold from the floor seemed to settle deep into my bones. I woke up feeling weak, dizzy and sick from hunger.

I tried to sit up, but the room spun.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, getting louder until they stopped outside. The cell door opened, and a guard stood in the entryway.

“Alpha Gabriel is calling for you,” he announced.

My stomach twisted as I struggled to my feet, my legs were shaking from lack of food and exhaustion.

What did Gabriel want now?

Had he finally decided what to do with me?

As I followed the guard out of the cells, my mind drifted back to how I had gotten into this mess.

It had taken two weeks of careful planning to escape my stepfather’s abuse. Now, I was locked in the Silverblade cells... at the mercy of a man who didn’t want me...