CHAPTER 5

Drax POV

The same incident replayed over and over in my head. There was no means to an end.

Instead of fighting fate, I embraced it.

‘Alpha!’ A voice rang in my head.

I opened my eyes to see some elders seated around the council table.

I watched them unbothered, without altering a word.

Their faces were caved with time: grey hair, eyes that carried centuries of expectations.

They argued, their words heavy with the burden of survival, but I saw through it all. Their fear, they were frightened of losing what they had built.

I sat back, my hands crossed before me, feeling the sharp points of my claws press into my palms. The room smelled of parchment, dust, it also had a lavender smell.

“The pack needs an heir,” Elder Varin said sharply, his voice demanding. “Without one, we risk losing everything we’ve built. Not just that, the other packs will mock us, and call us weak.”

I clenched my fists, nails gouging my skin, but I said nothing. The anger inside me roiled quietly, a storm I feared not unleash yet.

My lips pressed into a hardline as I allowed their words to scrape across me.

They care not about the woman they are trying to force on me, but their selfish desire. My internal voice hissed, Ice in every syllable.

The elders leaned in, faces pale, eyes sharp. “We understand the cost, Alpha Drax. But the survival of this pack comes first. Your power keeps us strong—but strength alone will not secure our future. We need to keep trying, until we find someone that can bare your blood.”

I turned away from them, walking to the window, letting the night wind brush against my face.

The moon hung low, half hidden behind storm clouds, casting faint silver streaks across the council room. My gaze followed each pale glow, but my mind remained tangled with centuries of curses, betrayals, and deaths.

I thought of my forefathers, countless brides taken, each one dead before the year was over. How many women will die for my bloodline? For the survival of a legacy tainted by the moon goddess’s curse?

She had punished my ancestors for breaking sacred bonds, for betraying love, and now her wrath had flowed into me. There must be more to that, or it’s just foolishness from a divine being.

Something must be done, one way or the other, I will surly get my flesh, no matter the cost.

Elder Elgar spoke. “I think we should take the offer from Bloodmoon pack, Alpha Drax. A bride who willingly chose this part. It’s a suitable alliance for both packs.”

I stared at the hypocrite in my council, willingly or not, she’s an omega, too fragile to withstand what was to come. She would be nothing more than a brief flicker in the storm that was in my life.

My claws itched to strike the nearest wall, to tear through the hypocrisy of alliances and politics.

“I’m 37, and you are bringing a what? 19 -year old bride?” I muttered.

“She is 20 now,” elder Elgar spoke.

He was about to speak further, but I gave him the dirtiest look ever. “I will not be the leading cause of yet another death.” My voice was low, a growl barely restrained.

I cannot let what happened previous times repeat itself, and yet, I had no choice. One way or the other they will take a bride, and I will endure this charade as I have all the others.”

“If this must happen, it will be on my terms,” I said.

The elders watched me, expressions neutral, though I saw the relief behind their careful faces. Their concern was not for her. Their concern was the strength of the pack, the survival of their order.

Their hearts were blind to fear and fragility, to the life I was about to claim. When we left the council room, my mind was still swirling with calculations.

My wolf throbbed beneath my skin, urging me to mark, to claim he needed someone, but I ignored him. He could never control himself. It wasn’t about desire, it was more like he was engineered to lose control. The aftermath was blood and death.

The journey to the Bloodmoon pack was uneventful, but my mind was anything but calm. Thoughts collided, how weak she would be, how small and ill prepared for a life with me.

How each second she is to be with me, will only draw her closer to her demise.

I didn’t mind the first few times this happened, but eventually it got to me. Seeing all those innocent life’s drain in front of me. Their eyes turning a distant cold beneath me, mouths opened in horror as if they were frightened to death.

When we arrived, the pack house was alive with movements, loud music, laughter, and the scent of different delicacies. Jacob the beta alongside other members, greeted me with a nervous smile, I could sense their fears.

“It’s an honor to have you, Alpha Drax,” he said bowing slightly. I grunted in acknowledgment, letting him lead the way through the main hall. Celebration filled the air, but I ignored it all. Once we stepped in, the hall became deadly quiet.

I was approached by their alpha in pleasantries, but I ignored, walking forward, taking slow and steady steps towards the smallish fragile girl, with golden hair that caught the light despite being neatly packed, golden eyes wide with fear and confusion. She had a delicate frame, threatening to collapse under the weight of the room’s scrutiny.

I felt a flicker of apprehension.

My wolf’s instinct stirred, a protective nudge that I forcibly suppressed. She would be mine in law, in alliance, but not mine in heart. She was nothing but an expandable piece in a game of life and death.

My gaze remained fixed on her, she was indeed beautiful. Her small lips rosy, glittering with invitation, the spark of her eyes, stirring something deep within. Despite the murmurs in the hall, all I could hear was her breathing, and racing heartbeat. Her fear was tangible, wrapped around her like a cloak.

“She is to be your bride Alpha Drax.” A voice spoke. When I stopped, my wolf growled low, resonating deep in my chest.

He wanted out.

The sound alone made her stumble, her small body falling to the floor in terror. I did not move to help her, I did not reach out. My hand itched to assert control, to mark, to claim, yet, I restrained myself. Not yet, I had no intentions of entertaining the charade of care.

A girl stepped forward, hissing venom into her ear. “You should be grateful to me, you would have never seen the break of day. You filthy bastard.”

I walked up to her, and grabbed her by the neck, slowly lifting her up. She held my hand, struggling to break free from my grip.

A woman knelt down crying, begging I release her daughter, followed by the alpha. The shock and fear in their faces tripled. “This should serve as a lesson to all, I would not tolerate any form of disrespect,” I said, bringing her closer to my face, so that my cold gaze could pierce any defiance. “No matter who the person is. Do not test me again.”

The girl weakly nodded. I released her, and she collapsed next to the woman on the floor. Fear radiated from her in waves. It was exactly as it should be—control, dominance, most especially, power.

Their Alpha looked pissed, but could do nothing.

I moved forward, and took her hands into mine, dragging her gently yet firmly out of the hall. The whispers, the shocked faces, the lingering fear of the elders, all of it mattered not.

Outside, the air was cooler, heavier. My wolf pressed at the back of my mind, nudging to claim, to feel the friction of life against mine. But I ignored it. We walked silently, towards the car.

I didn’t bother waiting for my council elders, they could finalize whatever deal they needed to, as for me, I was done.

We stopped in front of the car, she was too frightened to get in.

I got in, ignoring her.

She just stood there, her golden eyes fixed on me.

“Drive.” I instructed the driver.

Once he turned on the engine, she quickly rushed in and closed the door.

A small smile tugged at my lips, but vanished almost immediately.

A message popped into my phone. It was Elgar.

“Not an omega, the Alpha’s daughter.”

I turned my head slowly to the frightened girl sitting beside me.