Chapter 2

Chapter 2

~~~Ryker~~

I had forced myself to come to the Obsidian Pack, though my reason for being here was simple: revenge. I wanted to make them pay for what had happened during the last war, when my parents and everyone dear to me were killed.

I didn't have a proper plan yet. I had come to observe them, discover their weaknesses, and figure out how to bring their pack to its knees.

I was only twelve when my parents were murdered. That night, I would have lost my own life if it hadn't been for my father's trusted friend, the former Beta of the Blood Moon Pack. He had saved me from being killed, giving me the chance to survive and eventually become the Alpha I was today.

My name is Ryker Kingsley, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.

Years had passed, yet the Obsidian Pack's Alpha was still alive and ruling as though nothing had happened. Meanwhile, I had been left to live with the consequences of that terrible night.

I wanted them to experience the pain they had caused me.

But I hadn't expected fate to complicate my plans.

My wolf, Reid, suddenly stirred inside me.

Mate!

His voice rang through my head.

She's our mate, Ryker! She's our mate!

I turned towards the woman who had just entered the ballroom. She was the daughter of the Obsidian Pack's Alpha, and her gaze was fixed on me.

My mate?

Of all the women in the world, why did it have to be her? Why the daughter of the very man whose pack I intended to destroy?

For a moment, I wondered whether fate was playing a cruel joke on me. I had spent years wanting to erase the Obsidian Pack from existence, and now their Alpha's daughter was the woman fate had chosen for me.

How convenient.

I could reject her right there, in front of everyone, but that would be too easy. I wanted her family to suffer, and sending her away would accomplish nothing.

A cold smile touched my lips.

If her parents had taken everything from me, why should I spare the daughter they cherished?

I rose from my seat and walked towards her. Conversations faded as the guests turned to watch me cross the ballroom. Curiosity filled their faces, but I paid them no attention.

I stopped directly in front of her.

She looked up at me, her posture tense, as though she wanted to question my intentions. I didn't give her the opportunity.

Without warning, I seized her by the neck. Her eyes widened, and she struggled against my grip, but I had already made my decision.

I sank my teeth into her neck, marking her as my mate.

She pushed against me with all her strength, desperately trying to free herself. It was too late. I had already marked her.

"Are you damn crazy?" she demanded, staring at me in disbelief. "Why would you mark me without my consent?"

Fury burned in her eyes as she fought to keep her wolf under control.

I offered no explanation. I released her and returned to my seat as though nothing had happened.

Once she arrived at my pack, she would learn exactly what kind of man I was. I would make her understand the meaning of hell.

After all, making her pay for her parents' and pack's sins could be satisfying.

She looked ready to charge at me. When she raised her hand as though intending to slap me, I wondered whether she would actually dare.

Before she could reach me, a voice stopped her.

"Layla, control yourself!"

Her father rose from his seat and approached us. Layla halted immediately.

I noticed how quickly she obeyed him. Moments earlier, she had been ready to strike me, but one command from her father was enough to stop her.

Her father wore a carefully arranged smile as he faced her.

"I know this happened suddenly and that you weren't expecting it, but I'm happy that you now have a mate who has accepted you. You should go and start preparing to follow him."

Layla stared at him.

"Dad? I..."

Her voice faltered, and she seemed unable to finish what she wanted to say. Perhaps she was afraid of him.

Her father then turned towards me, his expression shifting into one of apparent surprise.

"Oh, my! You're Alpha Ryker? I never knew you were my daughter's fated mate."

I stared at him coldly. He was pretending to be friendly, as though we were nothing more than two Alphas whose children had unexpectedly become connected through fate.

My eyes burned red as memories of my parents' deaths returned. I remembered what I believed he had done to my family and how his people had helped ruin our pack.

Now he stood before me, pretending to be pleased about the bond between his daughter and me.

I said nothing.

"It is wonderful to have you as my daughter's mate," he announced, clapping his hands to signal the maids to distribute drinks. "Let us celebrate, everyone!"

He was determined to make the occasion appear joyful, despite knowing how much I hated him.

I almost found his performance amusing.

He had no idea what awaited his precious daughter. She would have no choice but to follow me to the Blood Moon Pack, where I intended to make her pay for the sins of the people she loved. Taking away the daughter they cherished would give them a taste of the suffering my family had endured.

I turned away from her father and mind-linked my Beta.

Eric appeared almost immediately.

"Eric, prepare the carriage. We're leaving now," I ordered.

As my Beta, he knew better than to question my decisions without a reason.

I then instructed a nearby maid to fetch my so-called mate.

I could have left Layla to find her own way to the carriage, but where would the fun be in that? I wanted her to watch me leave comfortably while she had to walk.

A small smile crossed my face.

Let her begin learning what awaited her.

I settled back into my seat to wait. The minutes seemed to drag on, and I began to wonder what was taking her so long.

Finally, she appeared.

My gaze settled on her, and I paused.

She was dressed in a man's robe.

For a moment, I simply stared at her. My so-called mate had finally decided to come out, and she had chosen to appear before me dressed like a man.