SURRENDER

AIDEN’S POV

I did the right thing. I was sure of it. Nora was no good. She couldn’t even bear me a pup, not even a female. Her body was frail, and clearly cannot carry my seed.

I tightened my grip around my pen, as I scribbled some words onto the document, my heart in a completely different place.

There were a thousand reasons to hold onto. She was wolfless. Too ugly to be presented to anyone as my Luna. I was so embarrassed each time she accompanied me out, which rarely happened by the way.

In the heat of the situation, I noticed Celeste.

With Celeste the attraction was stronger. I noticed the way my eyes lingered over her hips as they swayed like a pendulum. Her lips glazed with the perfect shade of red lipstick.

Celeste was everything an Alpha wanted. Confident. Outspoken. Celeste commanded respect in any room she walked in. And she knew how to press the right buttons to get what she wanted.

Me.

It was almost like the moon goddess was playing a trick on me. I used to like…maybe love Nora. That was before the disaster struck, that plummeted her into an ogre.

I couldn’t bear to look at her face a minute longer. So, I opted to spend more time with Celeste, using pack’s duties as an excuse. Celeste somehow knew what to say, and the exact time to say it.

In the heat of the moment, right on my office desk I took her for the first time. Every inch of her body yearned for me, and I enjoyed the sin.

The memory etched in my mind like a second skin. Instead of feeling remorse, carnal lust burned inside me. I wanted more and more.

My wolf had rebuked me, sometimes proving stubborn. Albeit, each time I was deep inside Celeste, he buried himself in my heart, like he didn’t want to take part.

He never did.

My wolf didn’t see, and had never seen Nora as imperfect. I didn’t care. Now that she is gone, I should be happy.

Hell! Probably throw a feast that’ll last days. The leech was gone from my life. I knew without a flicker of doubt that she wouldn’t survive life outside the Riverstone pack. She was too weak, and would come back crawling, and begging to be taken back.

The calligraphic pen snapped under the weight of my grip, at the nasty thought of what I’ll do to her.

Riverstone was the only pack she knew all her life. I was her first. I saw it in her eyes each time she succumbed to me. The way she responded to my wolf even though I was rough with her.

Silly girl!

Nora couldn’t see past the mate bond. She was so clumsy, and couldn't see past her emotions. Unlike Celeste, Nora was selfless. The kind that could pass for foolishness.

She never stood up for herself, not for one second. My Beta had given me reports of insubordination against her by the pack members. They taunted her without remorse. Most of which should be punished.

Yet, she always wore her signature smile that was dented by the scar. Pups at the infirmary, and orphanage where the only one who didn’t squirm when she came closer. They hugged her, and strangely found her fascinating.

I hated her guts. How she didn’t even try, but somehow found a way to stand out. I straightened in my seat when a knock sounded on the door, followed by a creak.

Beta Austin bowed the minute he stepped into my office. “You sent for me Alpha.”

A long pause. Then, I cleared my throat. “I want you to send your men out, and search the pack borders,” my voice was unsteady. “If you’d see her.”

Beta Austin lifted his head. “See who?”

I curled my hands into a fist. “You know who the hell I’m talking about.”

A frown coloured his face. “Nora?”

No response.

Beta Austin cleared his throat, and began. “I don’t think she made it. There was no sign of her—”

I cut in. “Check again.”

“But—”

I stomped my hands against the table. That was enough message. “She cannot just walk away like that,” I seethed. “Nora needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Being a rogue is enough of a lesson,” Beta Austin said after a beat. “No pack would take in a wolfless astray.”

“I don’t care. Find her for me.”

Beta Austin let out a sigh. “Celeste would…”

I cut in before he had a chance to finish his statement. “Be more than pleased to be served by Nora. Trust me, I know your sister very well.”

“Very well then. I’ll do that and get back to you, Alpha.”

I waved my hand, dismissing him. My office descended in a round of silence. I pushed myself up, and headed towards the door. I needed to sprint in my wolf’s form to brush off the tension that hung heavy on my shoulders.

I was a few feet away from the door, when a strong vanilla scent hit my nose, and rested around my groin. Celeste walked in, wearing a red silky robe that swept across the marble tiles as she strutted.

“Hey baby,” she chirped. Her hands were occupied with a bottle of red wine, and two wine glasses.

I was dazzled by her beauty. “I brought this,” she said in that exotic voice that got to me. Celeste sidestepped me, and walked further into the room. Her eyes surveying the space.

Celeste inhaled sharply. “Feels brand new. Now that bitch is gone, I can have you all to myself.” She placed the wine bottle, and the glass cup on the table. And slipped out of her robe. “I can’t wait to officially become your Luna.”

My wolf snarled. I didn’t care. This was my choice, Celeste was my choice. “You’ve always been my Luna. The moon goddess made a mistake.”

She pouted, holding eye contact. “I totally agree.” She poured into each glass, and gestured for me to come. I did. I couldn’t resist Celeste even if I tried.

I brought the wine glass to my lips, and downed the content in one gulp. Celeste giggled. “Ah. Easy now darling,” she said, caressing her nipples beneath the lingerie. “I was thinking… why don’t we spend the night in your office, like we used to when that fool was still in our lives.” It wasn’t a question.

I did whatever she wanted. I raised my hands in surrender. “Anything you want, my Luna.”