8. Alpha's Mate

Lyra’s POV 

Killian’s muscles tensed beside me immediately as he heard me murmured the words. His jaw clenched, though he didn’t make a comment. Abruptly, he stopped outside of a giant door. I felt a shiver run down my spine as Killian’s gaze locked onto mine.

My mind raced, scrambling for any scraps of information I knew about this pack. I hadn’t heard much, only whispered stories of their fierce, cold-hearted Alpha, a man who would destroy anything in his path without a second thought. If I was to survive, I’d have to be careful. Very careful.

Anxiety washed over me. Keeping my heartbeat steady, trying to calm myself. Fear can be easily smelled by werewolves and that’s the last thing I want to emit right now. My wolf feelings were hard to decipher, one moment she’s excited, the next she’s sad and I just can’t deal with that at the moment.

Killian cast a glance over his shoulder at me. “When you’re in front of the Alpha, keep your head down and your mouth shut,” he warned. “You’re already on thin ice.”

I wanted to snap back at him, but I held my tongue, understanding all too well that any hint of defiance would likely lead to more trouble than I could handle. Instead, I gave him a curt nod, focusing on steadying my breathing.

A sudden wave of scent enveloped me, halting my breath. It was intoxicating, a heady mix of sandalwood and pine. My senses swirled, my wolf dancing in excitement with her anticipation coursing through my veins.

But there was something else. A strange scent, faint, like sulfur lingered beneath the smell. It was a smell that made my nose wrinkle. The sandalwood and pine was much, yet the sulfur smell can’t be ignored. 

My heart quickened, my wolf stirring within me. The conflicting scents created a push-pull effect, drawing me in while also making me wary as my senses wrestled with the dual aromas.

With one last look at me, Killian opened the door and guided me inside. The room was big, with high ceilings and large windows that let in streams of pale light. 

Two men were standing close to a man seated on a chair that looked like an olden days throne chair. It was made of mahogany, with armrests shaped like a wolf’s head. 

“Who still uses this sort of chair?” I scoffed silently to my wolf.

One of the men standing, I recognised as the Beta from last night and the other looking stern at me. The man sitting on the throne chair, I knew was the Alpha with the aura radiating from him. They all raised their heads up to look at me, that’s when I felt it, a spark igniting within me, spreading like wildfire through my veins. 

My wolf screamed ‘mate’ in my head and I whispered in a hush tone as well. “Mate.”

Killian shoved me and I almost tripped over but I quickly regained my balance. I hastened my pace, stopping faraway from the Alpha seated on the throne chair.

“Alpha Cormac,” Killian bowed his head as he greeted.

Alpha Cormac nodded curtly, acknowledging Killian’s greeting. I froze under the weight of his piercing gaze. His presence was overwhelming and the intoxicating smell wasn’t helping as well while my wolf was leaping in my head. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. 

Alpha Cormac rose to his feet. Slowly, he walked towards me, his emerald green eyes not leaving mine. 

The familiar pull, the magnetic sensation that seemed to reach deep into my soul, spiked up in my body.

Alpha Cormac was my mate. 

I stiffened, trying to ignore the pull going through my body. Nyx pressing forward to run into his arms while I tried to shove her to the back of my head.

‘No. This couldn’t be happening. Not him. Of all the wolves in the world, why him? My mate wasn’t supposed to be an enemy of my pack and not even an alpha.’ I thought in my head.

It was all female werewolves dream of being Luna, but it was never mine. I searched his neck for a mate mark, but it was impossible. His navy button-down shirt, collar open, covered most of his neck.

Cormac stopped just a few feet away from me. His face remained the same, devoid of any reaction that might reveal if he felt any pull towards me, and I began to question if I was the only one feeling the pull. 

“Lyra, is it?” He asked with a husky voice that sent a tingling sensation to my stomach. 

I nodded, shifting my gaze from him slightly. “Yes, Alpha.”

“So polite now, are we?” He laughed mockingly. 

“And here I thought you’d be more…spirited.” 

I clenched my fists, swallowing the urge to say something. I couldn’t afford to get my ass beaten at the moment while I planned my escape, so I needed to play cool and the whole mating thing is somewhat getting to me. 

“Hmm,” he growled and began to pace around me slowly like a predator. 

“Tell me, Lyra, what brings you to my territory?” he asked. 

Taking my time to remember the narrative I said last night, I opened my mouth to speak. 

“And don’t think of lying to me. I have a particular…dislike for liars.” 

I took a steady breath, repeating the same story I had narrated before to the patrol guards. “I was separated from my family during a rogue attack. I barely escaped with my life and ended up here by accident.”

I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my head, scrutinizing every word of mine.

“Interesting,” he said slowly. “And you expect me to believe that you just happened to stumble into my lands by accident?”

“I have no reason to lie, Alpha,” I replied, hoping my voice sounded more convincing than I felt.

I’m not someone who lies, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Alpha Cormac smirked, his footsteps drawing closer until I could feel his breath on my neck. “Oh, I think you have plenty of reasons to lie. But I’ll find the truth eventually, one way or another,” he paused, his voice lowering to a near whisper, sending a nervous, excited sensation to my stomach.

“Stupid mate bond,” I said to my wolf in my head.

“And when I do, you’ll regret ever stepping foot in my territory,” he sneered menacingly, walking around, his eyes glinting with malice as he walked around me. 

His fingers slid under my chin, sending shivers down my spine. He tilted my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. His breath whispered against my skin, “You’ll beg for mercy.”

My heart pounded in my chest. I shiver at his touch with a tingling sensation where he touched. I couldn’t tell the truth. He wanted me to be afraid, to crack under the weight of his threats.

After a moment, he stepped back, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“He is our mate,” my wolf whispered with longing and sadness. “He could help us if we tell him the truth.”

“Take her to the torture room,” he commanded with a cold voice facing Killian. “Perhaps a few…persuasive measures will loosen her tongue.”

Killian’s eyes sparkled with a sadistic joy as his hand clamped around my arm, his grip tightening like a vice. A slow, twisted smile spread across his face. 

“With pleasure,” he whispered close to my ears.

“No,” I pleaded desperately.