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Ashen's POV

The smile on his face remained, yet I couldn’t shake the fear stirred by his sharp, cold gaze. He helped me up gently, then pulled me into a firm embrace as he pointed at Alpha Lior and the others, still kneeling in submission.

“He’s mine now. Ashen no longer belongs to you, Alpha Lior!”

Thunder rumbled in the distance as if echoing his declaration.

“Take care of them,” he commanded.

His voice boomed again, and this time he led me away from Alpha Lior and his pack members.

Seven tall, broad-shouldered men appeared behind him, their expressions just as stone-cold. I turned to look at them moving toward Alpha Lior, but he tilted my head away.

“There’s no need for you to see those who’ve made your life a living hell, Ashen. My men will make sure they regret it.”

I stared up at him. He smirked and raised a brow.

“Move.”

A shout came from behind. I reflexively turned and saw Alpha Lior and his group being forced into a large black minibus.

I hesitated, then mustered the courage to speak.

“Who are you? I’m sorry, but I don’t know you at all. And… what are you going to do to Alpha Lior?”

He gripped my hand tightly and caressed my cheek with an intensity that made me flinch. The hunger in his eyes. Yes, I couldn’t be mistaken, was terrifying.

“You don’t know me? I guess I’m not as famous as people say, if even my mate doesn’t recognize me…”

His hand slid to my chin as he leaned in. I immediately pushed him away.

“What are you doing?! I’m sorry, but I don’t understand any of this!”

He tilted his head and gave a crooked smile.

“Haven’t you had enough suffering to want to escape it, Ashen? Why do you keep questioning what fate has already decided? You are my mate. I came to save you from all the pain.”

Thunder echoed again, followed by the soft tap of rain. Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand.

“Enough questions. It’s about to rain.”

He held me close, his warmth overwhelming. My heart pounded.

Then suddenly, we vanished.

In a blink, we reappeared in a large, luxurious bedroom.

He gently released me and sat me down on the edge of the bed, then knelt in front of me and kissed the back of my hand.

“Still unsure about me? Don’t you realize your pain disappeared the moment I touched your forehead?”

I swallowed. He was right—my body no longer ached.

“Look,” he said, pointing to my arm. “Your pack’s mark is gone. The Moon Goddess has blessed our bond. Are you still doubting me?”

“I’m so sorry if I’m coming off as ungrateful after you saved me, but… I still can’t process any of this. I don’t even know your name…”

“You’ve never heard of the Alpha from the West? The one who defeated fifty human enforcers in minutes? The one whose pack runs one of the most profitable agricultural empires?”

My heart skipped. Of course, I had heard of him.

I pulled my hand back. I tried to step away, but he held my leg in place.

“What is it? Are you afraid of me now that you know?”

“You… you’re Alpha Grayson Duskbane?”

He crawled closer, his breath brushing my skin. I nearly cried.

He stopped just inches from my face, giving me a sharp smile.

“Yes. I’m Grayson Duskbane of the Graveshade Pack. I am your Alpha.”

His hand traced my cheek again, and just as he leaned in for a kiss, I turned my face away.

But he tilted my chin back toward him.

“Why shy away? You know I’ll mark you the moment we arrive at the packhouse. Don’t you understand what happens when fated mates finally unite?”

“This must be a mistake. There’s no way I’m your fated mate, Alpha Grayson. I—”

I stopped. I couldn’t meet his eyes.

Grayson Duskbane… I had heard countless stories.

He and his pack were known for rejecting modern human partnerships. They seized land and used humans as slaves. Their traditions were ancient, their methods brutal.

They even educated their young only in survival and war—no modern knowledge, unlike Alpha Lior’s pack.

Some even said they sacrificed weak omegas to a dark ancestral guardian.

So why… why would he want me? Was I just another offering?

“How long will you stay silent? What’s going through that head of yours?”

I paused, then asked quietly,

“Alpha Grayson… are you going to kill me?”

His icy expression melted into a laugh. He tousled my hair and stood.

“Your mind is so twisted. Lior and his dogs deserve the worst my pack can give them. But why would I kill you?”

I swallowed hard.

“I don’t know. But… you did kill your previous mate, didn’t you? She was a woman… and she died because of your anger.”

His expression turned cold again. I bowed deeply, trembling.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just want to understand…”

My hands trembled in my lap. My whole body tensed.

He reached down and held my hand again, locking eyes with me. A small smile formed.

“I wouldn’t kill you. If I wanted to, I could’ve done it already. I came to claim you. What happened with my former mate isn’t your concern. You need to remember that, okay?”

I didn’t answer. I just stared at him, frozen.

“Now, your only task is to pack your things. I’ll be waiting outside. Let everyone see who you belong to.”

He kissed me, this time, I couldn’t dodge it. Then he turned and left, leaving behind a stare that pierced straight through my heart.