LOGINCHAPTER ONE — I REJECT ALPHA DARIUS.
MIRA HALE.
“Mother, please. Just talk to my father for me. I don't want this union. Everyone knows how ruthless the Alpha is. Please, mother.” I pleaded, voice low as I asked for mercy.
“It's been decided, Mira. We can't turn back now and breach the union, you know who exactly we're dealing with.” My mother said, voice low as if agreeing that she also didn't want the union.
A hot breath fanned against my nose. My shoulder dropped.
Mother was right. There was no turning back and even if there was a way, it was way impossible as it was my wedding day already.
“I, Mira Hale, reject you as my mate!“
.
.
.
.
.
The drums beat outside the hall, a reminder that it wasn't just any day. I was going to be claimed. Not by anyone, but Alpha Darius. Ruthless, controlling and powerful.
I strode into the pack hall, shoulders high as I walked through the cheering crowd while eyes scanned and judged me.
“The Luna would gain even more power!“ I heard one of them growl. My blood turned to ice.
“Doesn't that make it even better for us? She has always loved the society for our interest. It's the time to make it worthy, don't you think?“ Another had remarked.
I scoffed. My wolf pushed me further to the altar even though my mind screamed until I stood waiting and watching. My parents' eyes beamed with excitement but mine twitched. I sat down and sucked my breath in while I formed a fist with my sweaty palms.
Dancers performed, sweat covering their faces, full of energy until a questioning silence crept in.
They all scrambled away in a rush, order and quietness reigned. The door had burst open.
An announcement. A presence!
I rose to my feet immediately.
He walked in, cold, eye sharp as steel through the door.
As he strode in like a king, my wolf pulled me, bond snapped against me hot and demanding.
His gaze met mine, my heart thumped just like it had before.
This was bad. My parents had arranged me for the Alpha and since I had no say, I obliged.
My wolf whimpered in recognition of the one who would claim me tonight. A sharp kick from within made me grunt, I pressed my palm instinctively to my stomach. Not the nerves nor anxiety but my secret. A child.
Not the Alpha's.
A child of another.
I played a dangerous game. That's what they knew but not the child that swelled in me.
He stood beside me, his height overshadowing me as he raised me by the hands and roared deep.
“Tonight! The moon goodness witnesses the night, the claim and I, Alpha Darius claim Mira Hale as my Luna as..“ My wolf shrunk at his words, tail tucked, fear rolling off her in reels.
Luna?
Not as a wife? Or partner but some heir breeding machine? Just some title.
No. I declined.
If I did more than I was now, the Alpha would find out about my baby and that meant death.
My pulse pounded to my ears. Hard and rough when I suddenly jerked my hands away from his grip.
He shot me a dangerous glare and grabbed me by the wrist, rougher than earlier. I winded.
“Tonight, I, Alpha Darius claim..“ just when the crowd wondered what was going on as the powerful alpha declared his claim never had to repeat his words.
Fear surged through me. I was daring a do or die affair. My pulse hammered hard against my ears so that the whole hall could hear it.
Until I disrupted, “No!“
“You do not own me!“ I yelled.
My parents' eyes wandered, confusion lacing on them but with Alpha Darius' presence, they dared not move close to him if he didn't instruct.
I pressed my lips in as I matched up his gaze before I turned to the crowd.
My hands trembled but I still flung them to the air, “tonight, I, Mira Hale, reject Alpha Darius as my mate.“ I said as the words left a pounding beat to my ears.
The cheer amongst the crowd subsided, silence taking dominance. Their eyes spread wide, wondering.
I didn't need to wait any longer as another minute here, the Alpha could order me killed or caged.
I raised my flowing gown to my knees and dashed out of the pack hall in a run.
“You stupid guards, go get her!“
“… she's mine” I heard him roar behind me. His claim quickened how my heart raced but defiance burned hotter than fright. I scoffed, and ran even faster.
“I would never be yours.“ I spat.
And I didn't just run from the ruthless Alpha, I ran for the little life inside of me.
Chapter 37. WILL YOU STILL STAY?MIRA'S POV. I was not sure why I reacted too fast or even to that extent but the words, I mean, Kael's response spiked something very noisy in me. Me? As just someone? Like I really meant nothing to him. Like he saw me just as a person, rather someone he saved from some wild rogues. Just someone? Just as the villagers see me? As an intruder? He didn't see me more than that? My chest tightened. “I blame myself.” I muttered to myself.When I suddenly smelt smoke. Very choking, it burnt as though something was on fire. And so I treaded the path I walked. One would think I was being controlled with how small every step I took was. I needed to see. “Don't go.” My inner wolf coiled, whispering softly but I ignored it. If can't be dangerous. One has to be sure, I wouldn't risk getting burnt in this village. I had my child to save. At the thought of saving my child, my eyes darted to my stomach unconsciously and I had even started to rub my palm aga
Chapter 36. JEALOUS?KAEL'S POV. “Alpha Kael, my lady is here.”Aria? No.. I should rush back to bed and pretend I was never here but my hand chose not to work with my brain. My hands had pressed down the door knob and it now opened, revealing Aria in a very tight skirt and transparent blouse that revealed her cleavages, making me look away very sharply. “Aria.” My throat tightened as I called her, surprise still clinging onto me. “Kael, it's been sooo long. What– been ages, dude!” She squealed and jumped right into my hands. You're right, I still had my hands on the door and since it was slightly ajar and she jumped into me, it opened wide. Reluctantly, I wrapped my hands around her waist and I swear, I wish this was Mira. The strong smell of her cologne hit me so deeply that I inhaled it in reflex. She sensed it though, “yeah, it's the one you gifted me three years ago.” She beamed happily and smuggled herself against my body while she tried to close the door. My grip on the
Chapter 35. A BRIDE?KAEL'S POV. The morning ray penetrated my eyes, making me curse out loud and fly my legs in the air like a frustrated child until a sharp pain hit me hard from the waist before I sat still. Shit. I cursed again. It is really frustrating these days that I always wake up with body pains not because I have started going from countless meetings to another since the villagers want me to rule them or because I still go hunting every morning and farm for most hours on the field but because I lack sleep. Not even the shortest. Every night, my eyelids fluttered open and I stared at the white ceilings with bulbs and lights on them but once I stared too much, they started to blur just because I was out of the space. Enough of thinking about her! I exhaled. It was never easy. Not at all. If I wasn't thinking of her, I was seeing her in my sleep. Unconsciously. But it wasn't my fault. She triggered it. She made me yell at her. But that was less my intention so I was
Chapter 34. HURTING DOESN'T HELP. MIRA'S POV. I seated close to the windows and stared blankly into the sky when Kael's words suddenly replayed in my head, “Mira, since my concern now feels like a cage, I'm letting you go. You don't need to beat yourself up.”Cold, too sudden. And the way he had stared back at me then, like he was not the one who was worried earlier. Now, his lips did not even twitch. He was back to the person I knew. Rigid, jaw always clenched and shoulders broadened while he worked. Since then, I've been beating myself up. I realized I've been too selfish. For someone who took me in even when he didn't know me from Adams and didn't think twice before saving me, I have been nothing more than an ingrate. But no one should blame me. Not even you that knows my ordeal, I definitely can not trust anyone. Kael has friends or enemies everywhere and none sounded better. The thought of letting him know who I was always scared me to hell. As built as Kael was, from the
Chapter 33. DARIUS' POV. THE MASTER'S DOG. A smirk slowly tugged at the edge of my lips, and as creepy as it may look, I felt so happy once I heard the news from a guard. “We found one.”An ordinary man would want to inquire what one was. But I got the message already. A spy? A tip? Just something relevant to the matter on hand and that is why I didn't ask just anyone to report to Selene's quarters but Kai. Capable and trustworthy. At least for now, cause whoever trusts one loses. Immediately the news reached me, I clapped, very loud that its sound echoed through my chambers. Then I turned to the guard, voice rigid and strict, my arms spread over my throne with a kind of confidence that matched the energy plastered over my face. “Get the court lady and palace attendant to summon all members of the council. We met at the investigation bureau. I would be present in case anything might go south.”“Right away, your majesty!” The guard responded with urgency and once I nodded, he scu
CHAPTER 32. KAI'S POV.FED FROM HER CRUMBS. Selene. Her name pressed onto my mind as I ran so fast that I felt the heels of my feet touch the back of my thighs while I panted so rough. Selene. Her name was all that lingered in my head since the guard spoke and now that I found myself running, even as the cold hit me twice as harsh as they normally would, I cared less until I halted just right in front of her quarters. “You're here.” A feminine voice sliced through the air as I peeped into her chambers. I held my breath for a second and tilted my head gently towards the voice. It was Lila. “Yes.” I responded too quickly. “A guard was asked to stay put at her highness’ quarter but was found dead minutes ago. So..”Normally, I would wait for her to announce but as soon as the guard's voice replayed in my head, I found myself taking off my shoes, jerking the door open and bursting into her chambers panting heavily. “Your highness, I'm sorry. He didn't even let me announce his pres







