MATED TO A STRAY

HALIL’S POV 

I clenched my hand around the edge of the Ebony table, as surges of electric current splintered through my chest. 

Fucking hell! 

A devilish smirk lined the corner of my lips. “This might just be our chance at easing the grief.” I spat. 

Kai grunted, and didn’t say a word. My Gamma Chief warrior who patrolled the borders, had given me a notice that a stray was caught breaking rules. 

Kai cleared his throat. “It’s time for a little show.” Kai’s words carried no streak of remorse. Everyone, even surrounding packs, knew what happened to strays that trespassed into the Blackcrest pack. 

Kai Virelli, my twin brother and second Alpha of Blackcrest pack shared the same sentiments with me in almost everything. Little surprise why it was easy for us to rule Blackcrest pack like it was a walk in the park. 

The vein at the side of my neck throbbed with indignation. I took heavy steps up and down the length of the room. Anger sliced through my chest, a weird hunger dripped through my bloodstream. 

In that instant, the door pushed open and two of my gamma soldiers walked in holding a woman. Vuk my Lycan wolf peeked his head, and let out a whimper. 

Strange. 

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Kai’s unreadable expression. I sifted my gaze back to the prisoner. The flesh around her wrists and ankles were bloodshot, courtesy of the chain that was used to clamp them in place. 

Rage slashed through me like silver blades. Oh I hated it when people flaunted my rules. 

People never flaunted my rules. Until today, and by a…broken, wounded, disheveled woman who made catching her easy peasy. 

Todd, my chief warrior bowed, and began. “Alphas, give me the go ahead to execute her immediately.” His words were filled with indifference. 

Todd had done this more than he could count. His lips thinned, as his eyes rested on her a minute longer. 

I inched closer to her, and Vuk ears perked, growling under his breath. ‘There’s something about her,’ he gritted through his fangs. 

Vuk never reacted to any female, not after the tradegey that happened. Our wolves became numb to women. They didn’t want to have anything to do with them, thanks to the moon goddess. 

Kai and I agreed. 

However, there was something off about this woman. The way her head bowed; defeated. Her shoulders were stiff, and she didn’t do as much as shudder in fear like our victims. 

I took another step, and Vuk let out a groan. She was reeking of a foreign scent. One that was only peculiar to…my heart crushed against my ribcage. 

“Look at me.” My words brooked no opposition. 

She hesitated, far too long the ropes holding my patience was snapping thin. She didn’t look at me. 

My rage intensified. The veins on my hands throbbed with adrenaline. “Fine. Prepare the execution ground.” 

Kai grunted in approval. A devilish glint touched Todd’s eyes. “It’ll be ready in ten minutes.” Todd gestured with a nod. The warriors rounded her, and was about to whisk her away when the door flung open. 

The sound of a walking stick thudding against the marble tiles reached my ears. Emrys walked in. “Is this the stray?” 

“Yes, we’re about to execute her.” Todd’s voice seethed with delight. 

Emrys, our grandmother and the pack’s eldest wolf snapped her neck sideways. She stared Todd down. “I want to have a word with the Alphas.” 

Todd's eyes drifted to him, and I gave him a nod of approval. “I’ll be at her execution.” I said. The atmosphere in the room shifted— we never watched the warriors execute any stray. 

He bowed, and walked away with her. “You won’t execute her.” Emrys said matter of factly. 

A grunt rumbled Kai’s chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me Emrys.” 

Emrys slanted, resting half her weight on the shiny oak walking stick. “This is your chance at redeeming yourselves,” her gaze bounced between us. “What happened was a tragedy. But your wolves can go wild if the curse stands.” 

My lips thinned. “She still reeks of rejection.”

Emrys chortled. “Even better. Her wolf yearns for the warmth of a mate.” 

“That’s not going to happen,” 

“Never.” Kai and I said in unison. 

Emery’s rolled her eyes, she sidestepped me and walked over to a couch at the far end of my grand office. “And who said anything about you giving her your warmth?” Her question hung in the air like a boulder. “You risk the curse if you don’t have a mate before midnight.” 

Kai and I were cursed to go rogue on our thirtieth birthday if we don’t have a mate. It was the curse of the Virelli dynasty. The only shortcomings were our wealth, and the strength of our Lycan wolves couldn’t break through. 

Kai let out a dry laugh. “First, the moon goddess took our fated mate in a fatal accident that didn’t give her wolf a chance to survive,” My hands trembled violently. “And the only way we can maneuver some stupid curse is to mate with a rejected stray?” 

“She owes you her life. That counts for something.” 

I turned to face Emrys. “Why are you protecting a stranger who flaunted our rules?” 

“I’m only protecting the legacy of my grandsons,” she paused, and pushed herself. “We’ll commence the mating ritual before midnight.” Her voice was wrapped in a tone of finality. 

****

Kai and I stood side by side in front of the banquet. Pack members were at every inch of the grand hall. Their faces contorted in anger. They wanted to finish her off. I could see it in the way shadows rested on their face like a second skin. 

The woman stood beside us, her facial expression lost. Her face was covered in makeup I didn’t think she needed. I pinched myself to push back the weird emotion, and allowed my rage blossom. 

Emrys cleared her throat. “Let us begin. We don’t have much time left.” 

A scowl rested on Kai’s face. Emrys took out the golden scroll that had centuries old wolves' languages inscripted on them. She began to chant them. 

This was supposed to be a survival from the moon goddess’s curse, nothing more. “I, Emrys, pronounce you three, second chance mates…” her voice trailed off under the intensity of the chants. 

My heart crushed against my heart. Her eyes widened with equal parts shock, and rage? I didn’t have time to think of it through the weird emotions going through my mind. 

Kai and I turned to face her, our fangs slicing out. I inched closer to her, and she flinched. “I-I-“ 

“Shut the fuck up!” Kai gritted through clenched teeth. Then, he inched closer to her. The entire hall was ice cold with silence, waiting for the mate bond to kick in. Kai’s eyes were lazy, almost like he was ready to fight the curse, if the moon goddess doesn’t approve of the union. 

Hell! She was just rejected by some motherfucker! One or maybe two. 

“Look!” Emery's eyes widened in surprise when the mark of the mate bond appeared on the sides of our necks. 

The moon goddess approved of the bond. 

Her face turned pale, as if she was rebelling. Little rebel huh? 

This was supposed to be a survival from the moon goddess’s curse, nothing more. “I, Emrys, pronounce you three, second chance mates…” her voice trailed off under the intensity of the chants. 

A devilish smirk tilted the corner of my lips. I dipped my head down, and lifted her chin. Her eyes wore a tinge of hatred? 

I stared down at her, allowing Vuk to come forward enough to scare her. “I swear by the moon goddess, I’ll break you shred by shred, till there’s nothing left…”