Chapter 3: She's my mate

Hakan's POV 

“Who did this?!” I roared.

My voice thundered through the dungeon, shaking dust from the stone walls.

“I don’t understand.” I snarled, turning toward the guards. “Why is she in this cell? Why is she locked up in here? Open this fucking cell!”

“Hakan, stay calm,” Callum said, stepping closer. “What’s going on? Do you know her?”

I tore my gaze from the bars long enough to look at him. “She’s my mate, Callum.”

“What?” he breathed.

I looked back at her. She was barely conscious, slumped against the cold wall. She looked so frail and underfed. Her breathing was shallow and uneven.

I wanted to hold her. To shield her and tear apart anyone who had laid a hand on her.

“Open this cell before I break it down myself,” I growled.

And I could. I was an Obsidian wolf, one of the most powerful wolves alive. If they refused, I would rip the bars out of the stone and use them to crush their heads.

My mate trembled faintly on the floor.

Then two guards rushed into the corridor.

“What’s going on here?” one demanded.

I shot them a look that made them freeze mid-step.

“Open this cell. Right now.”

They exchanged a nervous glance. “We can’t do that, Alpha Hakan.”

“Why not?” My voice was deadly calm now.

“Because she’s a criminal. She’s supposed to remain in the dungeon forev—”

My fist collided with his face, sending him crashing into the wall.

Callum moved instantly, grabbing my arm. “Hakan, please. Relax,” he whispered urgently. “You came here to ask for help. This is another pack’s territory. We have to be careful.”

I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw hurt.

Careful? I didn’t care whose territory this was.

She was my mate.

“Open this dungeon,” I said again, my aura intimidating , “before I tear you to shreds.”

The guards visibly trembled. They knew who I was. They knew what I was capable of.

“We…we can’t—”

“Open it,” Callum cut in sharply.

The guards hesitated only a second longer before fumbling with the keys.

The lock clicked open and I didn't wait a second before shoving the door aside and rushed in.

Her eyes were barely open when I reached her. Her brown hair looked dry and brittle, like it hadn’t been washed in days. There were scrapes along her knees, fresh wounds that were healing too slowly for a werewolf.

She looked like she had been suffering for a long time. I crouched beside her carefully.

“Hey…” My voice softened despite the storm raging inside me.

As I moved closer, her body swayed and then she collapsed completely. I caught her before she hit the floor. She was too light.

I lifted her into my arms, and that was when I felt the heat. Her skin was burning.

“She has a fever,” I said quietly.

The guards shifted nervously behind me.

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” I asked without turning.

There was silence. That answer was enough to spread rage through me.

Without another word, I rose and stormed out of the dungeon with her in my arms.

The guards rushed after me.

“Alpha Hakan, please! She’s a criminal! We’re going to get punished for this.”

I stepped outside, carrying her gently in my arms. Her head rested against my chest, and I instinctively held her tighter.

Alaric was there. His eyes darkened the moment he saw me.

I froze for a second, instincts screaming at me to protect her. My mate was in my arms, and anyone who even looked at her wrong would regret it.

“Alpha Hakan,” Alaric said cautiously, stepping forward. “What… what is going on?”

I didn’t look away. I let my gaze lock on his. “She’s my mate.”

His eyes widened slowly, then he took a deep breath and forced himself to regain composure.

“But…” His voice tightened. “She’s… she’s a criminal. She belongs to my pack. She’s supposed to be in the dungeons.”

I clenched my jaw. My claws itched and my wolf growled low in my chest.

“I don’t care,” I said, my voice cold. My hands tightened around her fragile body. “I will not let my mate be locked in a dungeon. It’s not possible. Not under my watch.”

Alaric swallowed, trying to maintain control. “I… I understand, Alpha Hakan, but the thing is, your mate is a criminal of this pack, and so—”

I cut him off with a hard glare. “Excuses don’t matter,” I growled. “She is mine. And if anyone dares touch her again, I swear they'll regret it. Do you understand me?”

Alaric flinched, but I didn’t give him time to respond. My gaze was fixed entirely on her, my mate, in my arms. Her breathing was shallow. Her body was fragile. 

Alaric took in a slow breath, his hand clasped behind his back. “So… you’re suggesting I release a criminal, just because she’s your mate?”

I met his gaze evenly. “I’m suggesting that you let my mate be with me. Where she belongs.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you realize what she did? She killed my brother, the Alpha of this pack. She’s a murderer. And you… you expect me or anyone in this pack to let her take you away… so she can what? Live a good life?”

I said nothing. I stared at him, then my gaze dropped to my mate in my arms. She was unconscious, fragile, and my wolf stirred deep inside me. We knew she was innocent.

I tightened my grip around her, holding her closer. “I’m not going to let her go.”

Alaric’s hands twitched, but he held himself still. “Please… don’t make me use force.”

Then his gaze moved toward Callum. “Beta Callum, speak to your Alpha. He’s being irrational.”

Callum shook his head. “There’s nothing I can say that will change his mind.”

I let a slow smile curl over my lips. “Let’s make a deal.”

Alaric’s brow furrowed. “A deal?”

“Yes.” I pressed my mate tighter against my chest. “Let her come live with me… for three months. After that, you can take her back.”

Alaric’s gaze darkened, suspicion flashing in his eyes. “Why would I do that? What would I get in return for letting a criminal go?”

I clenched my teeth, the dark king inside me rising. “I’ll offer you something only we possess—some of our Sapphire diamonds.”