Chapter 2: Piper

I tightened my hand around the lamp I had found, my knuckles white with tension, as I huddled against the wall, desperate to still the tremors that racked my body.

Fear clawed at my mind, threatening to overwhelm me.

How the hell had I gotten myself in this situation?

Oh that’s right, because of a stupid boy. A stupid treacherous boy.

The memory of his face flashed before my eyes, and my anger and fear entwined.

Cameron was so going to kill me. And Celeste? She was going to help him bury my body. Both my siblings were probably seething right now and thinking about what a stupid little sister they had.

The reality of my situation crashed down on me like a ton of bricks. This unhinged Tempest pack were going to end my life.

And it was all because I had thought I had been so clever sneaking out of my house to meet a boy who I thought had actually liked me.

Who knew he would turn out to be a spy for the freaking Tempest pack only trying to lure me out of my pack’s boundaries so that I could get kidnapped.

And foolish me, I'd allowed myself to be blinded by his charm like an idiot.

The memory of his deceitful lying smile made my blood boil. I forced myself to calm down, taking slow, deliberate breaths as I tried to process the chaos that had become my life in a matter of hours.

Of course Nathan’s betrayal stung and I knew if I ever saw that traitor again, I would smash his pretty face in. But right now, I needed to focus on my survival.

Cameron always warned me to keep my disobedient butt within the confines of the pack territory. Where no one could hurt me. Especially considering we were at war and many packs hated us. I had always thought he was just being overbearing and controlling but now here I was really wishing I had just listened.

If I got out of this alive, I would never disobey him again.

I let out a breath as I thought about all the werewolves outside this room who would die for a chance to see my head on a spike. Claim it as a trophy to shove into my brothers face.

A chill ran down my spine as I thought about what had just happened down in the dungeon.

I had come face to face with the one and only infamous Alpha Thane.

His reputation preceded him, a dark legend.

Everyone talked about his brutal strength. How he could rip apart a wolf with his teeth without even batting an eye. Stories about how blood thirsty and ruthless he was.

I sunk down to the floor, a feeling I couldn’t quite describe filing me as I thought about looking into his eyes in that cell. The feeling of absolute defencelessness that had gripped me and threatened to undo me.

I felt like I had been stripped naked as his dark eyes had captured me. Trapped me.

I'd heard stories of mating, but nothing had prepared me for the intensity of that moment, the feeling of being claimed by someone as powerful as Alpha Thane. I had always been jealous watching from the sidelines as others found their soulmates, hoping one day it could be me. That I would have my own fairytale mating story.

Cameron had always banned me from dating declaring no one was good enough for me.

I think part of him was only ever going to let me be with a guy if it was my mate.

Well fate must have had a wicked sense of humor, because my mate turned out to be none other than Thane Blackstone, Cameron's sworn enemy.

The thought of how Cameron would react to this news was almost too much to contemplate – he'd be furious. He was literally going to lose his mind.

That’s if he even found out. The chances of Alpha ripping me to shreds first was also a huge possibility. Everyone knew about the Tempest pack and their brutality. Their intolerance for weakness. Alpha Thane was in the forefront of those stories.

The ‘beast’, that’s what the people who were lucky enough to survive battle with him called him.

I swallowed hard thinking about how he was surely going to rip my throat. Cut me out like the weakness and inconvenience I knew he believed I was.

My panic only grew within me, I needed to find a way to escape and survive before he had the chance.

I studied my surroundings. I don’t know why they had gotten me out of that dungeon and thrown me into this surprisingly nice bedroom but I knew it couldn’t be good.

The Tempest pack were a bunch of savage animals. They were probably planning the best way to end my life and send parts of me back to my brother as I speak.

I heard footsteps and my heart raced in anticipation and fright as they got closer.

I pressed further into the wall holding the lamp in a death drip ready to smash it into anyone who walked through the door.

When the door finally creaked open I let out a yell and went out swinging with every ounce of strength I possessed.

I felt a strong hand clamp down the lamp rendering me immobile.

My gaze locked onto Alpha Thane's, and my courage faltered.

His dark eyes seemed to bore into my very soul, filling me with fear but something else as well. An annoyingly irresistible attraction.

I cowered, my body shrinking away from his as if instinctively acknowledging the dominance that radiated from him.

He ripped the lamp out of my hand and shoved me.

I landed on my butt with a thump.

He stood over me and I braced myself sure he would smash the lamp into me but he simply stood aside his expression twisting in disgust.

It was then that I noticed he wasn't alone. A mature woman, likely in her fifties or sixties, entered the room, followed by Lyra, the female wolf who had thrown me into the dungeon.

I definitely had no love for her.

Lyra's gaze was venomous, her sneer unmistakable as she positioned herself beside Thane.

Mine. My wolf stirred, growling possessively at the sight of their proximity.

I felt a surge of shock and embarrassment as I realized my wolf – and, by extension, I – was consumed by jealousy.

The absurdity of it wasn't lost on me, and I mentally recoiled, wondering what the hell was wrong with me.

“Reverse it.” Alpha Thane’s deep voice cut through my tumultuous thoughts.

It took me some time to realise he was talking to the elderly lady.

Her gentle face turned toward me, her eyes radiating warmth and kindness.

“Come on, dear, I won't hurt you.” She cooed softly, her tone a stark contrast to the harsh atmosphere that permeated the room.

My eyes widened in surprise, suspicion on my face.

Could this be some kind of strategy to trick me into a false sense of security? Never trust a Tempest pack wolf. And she was definitely Tempest pack. I could smell it on her.

My gaze darted to Alpha Thane and Lyra, who watched silently, their faces inscrutable.

The elderly lady's voice drew me back, her words a gentle persuasion.

“Come on, dear."

With a sense of resignation, I let her take my hand.

The lady’s warm fingers wrapped around mine gently. She pulled me to my feet, her other hand enveloping mine, holding it in a soft, comforting grasp.

Her eyes shut and I furrowed my brows in confusion wondering what she was doing?

She then opened them and let me go turning to Alpha Thane.

“Yep. You’re definitely bonded.” She spoke.

Alpha Thane's eyes rolled in exasperation. "We already know that, Mary. I want to know how to reverse it.” he growled, angrily.

But Mary seemed unfazed by his tone.

"It can't be reversed, Thane.” She spoke calmly. "This young lady is your mate."

My wolf felt like it was fighting to reveal itself and pounce onto Alpha Thane, the attraction magnetic. It took all I had in me to restrain myself and I watched him wondering if he felt it too but his face remained emotionless.

"Mary, you're not helping," Lyra snapped, her voice laced with frustration.

“Neither are you two.” She spoke. “When was the last time this young lady ate. She looks as frail as a bird. And oh dear, is she still bleeding?”

Mary took a step forward, her hands reaching out as if to touch me, but I instinctively took a step back, hiding the cut on my arm.

Mary's eyes lingered on me, concern etched on her face.

“Mary, can you stay focused?" Lyra's voice was tight with impatience. "This is important. We are not going to treat the Eclipse pack prisoner like this is a freaking five star hotel."

But Mary seemed lost in thought, her eyes still fixed on me. "Hmm... maybe we can draw her a bath.” She murmured, her voice trailing off.

Lyra's patience snapped, and she barked out a sharp "Mary!"

Mary turned to them dropping her arms to her sides. “Well I don’t know what you two want me to tell you. She is Thane’s mate. No magic is involved. No foul play, they are mates. And the only way you’ll get rid of that is if you kill her.”

A chill ran down my spine as Alpha Thane's dark eyes locked onto me, his gaze piercing. He began advancing on me, his long strides eating up the distance between us. I stumbled backward, my legs shaking beneath me. No, this was it. I could see it in his eyes, the cold calculation, the ruthless intent.

He was going to end me. Snap my neck like a twig.

I felt my back hit the wall, and a scream seemed to get stuck in my throat.

But all Alpha Thane did was forcefully lift my hand looking at the gash on it.

“The little bird has a broken wing.” He murmured, his voice low. “Why aren’t you healing?” He asked curiously, some concern actually bubbling underneath.

He hadn’t killed me. I thought to myself in surprise.

My wolf was going crazy in my head at the contact he had made which was lighting me on fire.

I gulped trying to make myself see logic here. Alpha Thane wanted me dead. Finding any form of attraction was borderline insanity.

And yet... I couldn't deny the spark of attraction that flared to life

It’s only now that I studied the sharpness of his jawline scattered with dark stubble.

His eyes weren’t black like I had initially thought.

They were a warm brown that you could drown in.

They lingered on me with an intensity that made my stomach twist.

What did he see when he looked at me?

Was there a war raging in his mind as well?

He dropped my arm carelessly as if it were nothing and looked away from me.

I guess not. His sudden dismissal left me feeling a kind of emptiness that I felt could never be filled again.

“When can I kill her?” He asked, his voice casual and emotionless.

Mary actually gave me a sympathetic look.

“I would advise after the mating bond has faded enough.” She spoke clasping her arms in front of herself.

“And how long will that take?” He asked gruffly.

My breathing quickened.

“About two weeks.” Mary responded.

“What happens if he kills her now?” Lyra asked, her eyes studying me in a predatory way.

“Then he risks killing himself.” Mary spoke.

My head snapped to her.

“The first two weeks of the bond are especially crucial. That’s when our wolves’ souls were most intertwined.” Mary explained giving me a sympathetic look. “She’s a young wolf, breaking the bond by rejecting her will definitely kill her. You might survive, my Alpha but you might not. There’s also a chance that breaking the bond now could leave you crippled. Mentally, at least.”

I looked at Alpha Thane wondering if he detested me that much that he was willing to risk it. I could see the consideration in his eyes.

Eventually he let out a huff and turned to leave.

“Fine. But no one finds out about this.” He instructed.

Relief washed over me. So I wouldn’t be dying today.

Lyra looked at me, hatred in her eyes and I had no doubt she would have offed me the second Alpha Thane gave her the go ahead if she could.

“I need to figure out what to tell my council.” Alpha Thane spoke gruffly. He turned to me studying me like I was some pesky thing that had gotten stuck to the bottom of his shoe and he couldn’t get rid of me.

“What’s you name?” He asked. No, demanded.

I didn’t want to answer but his authority was difficult to disobey no matter how much I tried. It’s not like my wolf would have let me say no to him at this moment anyway.

“Piper.” I spoke shakily.

His eyes drifted to my bleeding arm.

“Mary. Bind up the little bird. And make sure she doesn’t die.” He instructed.

Mary looked at me, a smile on her face despite the direness of this situation.

“Will do, Alpha.”

He gave me one last look.

My wolf whimpered begging for attention but he simply turned around without another look at me and left.

Lyra was close behind him.

The door slammed shut and I heard the sound of locks.

Lyra turned to me and smiled.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, deary.”