Tame or Tamer

Sigweuf's POV

I took a final, scrutinizing glance at the contract Lex had left on the table before storming out, my mind set on the south, toward Ashton-Lakenheath.

With urgency coursing through me, I had instructed Lex—my gamma—to relay a crucial message to Alpha Loeka: "The marriage contract cannot be broken under any circumstances, and if it is broken, the defaulter will face severe consequences."

The girl was stubborn, like a wildfire that couldn't be contained. I needed something to solidify my grip over this marriage.

"The car is ready, Alpha," Beta Roxan linked me through our pack's connection, his tone steady.

"Tell Lex and two others to follow in the second car," I commanded, my voice firm.

"Understood, Alpha," he replied before the connection severed.

A sickening unease churned violently in the pit of my stomach, a feeling that had taken root the night we decided to use marriage as bait to form an alliance with the White Moon pack.

Khona, my wolf, was in a frenzy, insisting it was a dire sign to stay away from the girl.

"Is this the only way to achieve our goal?" Khona growled, frustration bubbling beneath his surface.

"What way?" I pressed, feigning ignorance, though I knew exactly what was troubling him.

"The girl, of course!" he snarled, his tone clipped. "She's trouble. I can feel it. She has…" I swiftly cut him off, unwilling to allow his doubts to overcome me once more.

If she were a mystery, then I craved the thrill of unraveling her. What better way to occupy my mind while the plan unfolded? I just needed what was mine, and if marrying her was the key, so be it. My decision was final.

I gathered the last document with a measured urgency into a black pouch and strode toward the car, determination pumping through my veins.

The drive to Ashton-Lakenheath stretched into two long hours—ample time to gather my thoughts and steel myself before confronting the mysterious girl.

"Shall we?" Beta Roxan asked, his voice breaking through my contemplation as she settled into the front passenger seat.

"Yes," I affirmed, my gaze fixed on the landscape rolling past.

So much for claiming what belonged to me. I shut my eyes tight as the car pulled out of the driveway, leaving the imposing Rhaul mansion behind.

A pair of blue eyes ruptured from the shadows, their form overwhelming. Yet, it did not strike; it simply watched, akin to a predator savoring the moment before the kill.

I yanked violently at the cuffs binding my wrists, frustration surging through me when they wouldn't yield. I tried to shift, but my wolf refused to respond.

Slowly, the creature advanced, moving its paws deliberately, each step bringing it closer, its fierce gaze locked onto me.

It lunged with breathtaking speed, its fangs plunging deep into my neck. No…

I gasped awake, eyes flung open, my pulse racing widely. I sucked in air greedily. It was the same nightmare, grim flashes of an impending disaster.

I wiped sweat from my brow, heart racing, and swallowed two shots of the praxosin Beta Roxan had provided, desperate to help me find relief.

The intoxicating scent of wild carnelian flowers invaded my senses. We had arrived.

Beta Roxan whipped the car left, expertly maneuvering around a corner and rolling into a driveway. A formidable walled fortress loomed before us.

Pack warriors stood vigilant throughout the grounds—some engaged in rigorous training, others performing tasks that defied understanding.

The car halted sharply at a far corner around the mansion, away from the pack house of the White Moon pack. Its century-old bricks stood as an unwavering testament to strength, as formidable as the warriors inside. Intricate carvings of wolves from different generations adorned the walls, each accompanied by names beneath in proud declaration.

Ashton-Lakenheath sprawled across immense lands in the south.

Stepping out of the car, the dense air pinched at my skin, igniting goosebumps.

"I told you she was trouble," Khona piped up, pacing like a caged beast.

I clamped my eyes shut, unwilling to be swayed, banishing him to the darkest corner of my mind until he faded from my thoughts. I opened my eyes and stepped out, adrenaline surging.

It was time.

The walk to Alpha Loeka's study was brisk, led purposefully by one of the pack's servants. I instructed Beta Roxanne and the others to wait in the car, my voice sharp and commanding.

The servant carved a swift path behind the building, leading to his master's study, with urgency threading his movements. Alpha Loeka wanted no one to know about the contract—a prudent maneuver.

I sat across from Alpha Loeka as he signed the final document, the pen scrawling decisively on the parchment. "You see, I've got this," I nudged at my wolf, only to face silence in return.

Where was she? Alpha Loeka had stated earlier that he had sent for her.

My eyes darted across the faces of the pack warriors depicted in the prominent frame on the wall, scanning for any clues

Suddenly, the door of the study creaked open, and even though I couldn't see her, Khona's silence was monumental, thickening the air around me.

Speak of the devil. She strode in, commanding the space with an energy that electrified the room.

She spoke, her voice rich and confident, while Alpha Loeka listened intently.

He reached out, his arm glistening with traces of gray hairs above the silver wristwatch he wore, gesturing for her to approach as they conversed.

Following her father's precise gesture, she stood directly in front of me. Her limbs were feminine yet strong—a true hunter poised and ready.

Then she spoke my name, alongside something about Lakenheath, her voice explosive—powerful yet delicate.

She cast a piercing glance my way, charged with raw intensity, as though daring me to challenge her.

Alpha Loeka continued his dialogue with her, but she seemed to float in and out of the moment, lost in a mesmerizing trance.

She exhaled forcefully, releasing pent-up tension with palpable energy. "What…?" she snapped, her eyes darting from mine to Alpha Loeka, fury radiating from her.

I had anticipated this fire, or something worse. She had just been clued in about the marriage.

"There are consequences if the contract is broken. That was explicitly stated in the final part of the agreement," I whispered hoarsely, and I could see the annoyance flare in her eyes again.

Alpha Loeka needed to grasp the gravity of the situation—what was hanging in the balance if he didn't resolve this promptly.

He cleared his throat as he shot her a stern look, but I caught it before he turned back to me.

He would have to manage her attitude.

I stood and began my strides toward the grand hall while Alpha Loeka handled her, our eyes locking once more—those striking light violet-blue eyes.

She couldn't be the one now, could she? Nah, I shrugged off that thought. Most wolves in the south had blue eyes; it was an ancestral trait.

Yet her expression remained deadpan—audacious, with no flicker of emotion betraying her as if daring me to make a false move.

A challenger. A tiny smile tugged at my lips at the thought. I liked her energy.

I turned and made my way to the hall—a rebellious little princess waiting to be tamed. From tonight onward, she would be mine to tame.

The hallway showcased portraits of past alphas who had led the pack, their names embossed below them. My father had mentioned many of them in stories.

And then I saw her—the only female alpha to have ever ruled the pack. They shared an uncanny resemblance. Camille had her hair and something else—a distinct quality evident that they were cut from the same cloth.

Abruptly, the door to the study cracked open, pulling a frown from my lips.I would have to continue this later. I adjusted my shirt, striding purposefully toward the grand hall.

Alpha Loeka emerged, his expression inscrutable. "She will be down shortly with her belongings," he announced, his voice carrying a weight.

I extended my hand for him to shake firmly. "Welcome to the Dark Star pack, Alpha Loeka."

He clutched my hand with strength. "Shall we head toward the lobby to celebrate?" he offered, his grin warm but laced with an underlying tension.

"Thank you, Alpha. However, the journey back to the North requires a clear head—just in case we encounter any unwanted situations along the way," I replied with cool resolve.

"Ah, a man of careful actions, are you?" he chimed, a glint of admiration in his eyes.

"I'll be waiting in the car," I stated, shaking his hand once more before pivoting back to the Bentley.

The mansion's door swung open, and she stepped out, trailing a middle-aged woman carrying her box. Her hair was elegantly wrapped in a bun, every bit the picture of grace.

A smile crept onto my lips, anticipating the intrigue and challenges ahead. Welcome home, Lady Sigewuf.