Chapter 4

Alpha Dax.

Dax had only arrived at Wendy's parents' quarters to reject her.

Most of the omegas stayed indoors. It was late at night, around 3 a.m.

Dax had first gone home after he finished mating with Emma. He met his mother, Stella, in the living room of their magnificent white mansion. She asked him, "Dax, what kept you so long outside in the woods? I almost sent Beta Jeff to search for you."

Dax gritted his teeth. Jeff Parker was Emma's older brother. Of course, Dax knew that Jeff was aware he was in the woods with his younger sister. Jeff knew they were mating, so he did not come to search for them.

"Mom, it's late. You should get some rest," Dax told her as he strode over to meet her.

"What's that mating smell, Dax? Did you find your goddess-gifted mate? You smell so different," Stella asked, stepping closer to her son. She tried to scent him out. His familiar coffee scent mixed with a new scent.

Dax stepped backward, avoiding his mother's nose.

"Mom, I find that disrespectful. I haven't found my goddess-gifted mate," he lied, avoiding her eyes as he strode over to the stairs.

"Dax, if you didn't find your mate, why do you reek of sex?" Stella asked, her tone sharp. Of course, Dax was her only child. She worried about him. She stood in a red dress, looking at him.

Dax paused at the top of the stairs. His eyes darkened. He needed to go and reject that mute mate before she revealed to the pack that she was his mate, or that he was mated to her.

His fist clenched around the stair rail. "Mom, I was out in the woods with Emma. Isn't she back yet?" Dax asked calmly.

Just then, Emma stepped into the Alpha's mansion. Her lips curled into a smile. She felt like the new Luna.

"Yes, Luna. Dax and I were together," Emma said. She reeked of the same scent as Dax.

Luna Stella felt a wave of relief crash over her. She looked over at Dax and Emma.

"Alright. You both reek the same. Go and have your baths," she dismissed them with a knowing smile.

Emma purred and looked over at Dax. He had never allowed her into his bedroom.

"Why are you here, Emma? You should go home. It's late," Dax said, striding downstairs to meet her.

"I want to stay with you. Please, it's the full moon. Maybe we can become fated mates," Emma said, her tone hopeful.

Dax's gaze softened. He wished the same. But wishes were horses.

"Emma…" Dax drawled.

"Please. Let me spend the night with you. I want to lie next to you on your bed," Emma said, stepping forward. She hugged Dax as he stood before her.

Luna Stella smiled at them. She knew that Dax and Emma were not true mates. But she certainly hoped that Dax would make Emma his Luna. She was a picture-perfect Luna.

"Dax, I will head back to my room to join your father. Goodnight to you both," Luna Stella said, her lips curled in a smile. Her eyes winked at Dax.

Dax sighed and looked at Emma hugging him. He loved her, but he could not bring her to his suite yet. They were not yet married or mated.

"You have to wait until the mating ceremony. It's a taboo to live with a man who isn't married to you yet," Dax reminded Emma of the rules governing the Boston Pack.

"But it's no taboo to mate with a person you aren't yet married to? Aren't you the new Alpha, babe? You should abolish such ridiculous taboos," Emma said, her voice coated with anger.

Dax's throat tightened. "I cannot break the rules. The twelve elders set the rules. I cannot do anything against them. They know wolves love to cuddle and mate, so they allow mating. But not coexisting together until the mating ceremony is completely done."

"Why? I don't mind living with you. I want us together. To bear your pups."

"You will," Dax replied calmly. "But you know without the mating ritual, it's difficult to bear a child. You know these rules affect our pack. It's important that we follow them. If not, our efforts will be in vain, and our love will not be enough to sustain it."

Emma moved away from hugging Dax's chest. "I hate those rules. I want us together. Then let's get married. Why are you delaying the mating ritual? Are you hoping to find your goddess-gifted mate?" Emma asked, her large brown eyes meeting Dax's gaze.

Dax's expression darkened. "It's not that. I want to graduate first before we get married. I'm still a student, and I don't want to mix my studies with marriage. Don't worry. I promise to marry you."

Dax's hands reached to comfort Emma. She looked up at his face. "Are you sure?" Her voice was thick with disbelief.

"Trust me," he declared and kissed her lips. "You should head home and have your bath."

"Alright. I will. Goodnight, babe. My Alpha," Emma purred as she smiled and walked away. She knew Dax's wolf did not like her. She bounced away in her red dress and went back home.

Dax stood watching Emma leave his father's house. He breathed out heavily and knew he had to break the bond between him and that mute omega. He knew the elders would refuse to allow him to choose a chosen mate other than his goddess-gifted mate. He moved out of the Alpha's mansion. His Gamma, Ares Jackson, stepped forward.

"Alpha Dax, are you heading somewhere?" Ares asked.

Ares's job was to patrol the pack at night. He was tall, dark-skinned, and a 22-year-old man.

"No. You should keep up with your job. I want to check something in the Omega's quarters," Dax replied briefly.

"The omegas? Did they do something wrong or steal?" Ares asked, his voice thick with concern.

"No. Get back to your work and stay out of it. It's important that I handle this alone," Dax said, his voice firm.

"Got it, Alpha," Ares replied, walking away.

Dax paused and warned him. "Ares, don't mention this to anyone."

Ares looked at Dax confusedly. A wave of uneasiness washed over his features.

"Got it, Alpha," Ares replied and walked away, while Dax went to the Omega's quarters. He shifted into his black wolf, Daniel, who was annoyed with him.

"Why do you need me now? What the hell are you planning to do to our mate?" Daniel asked, refusing to move. He feared Dax was going to strangle Wendy to death.

"I'm not hurting Wendy," Dax replied to his wolf, as he did not want any omega to spot him. He knew if anyone caught him sneaking into the Omega's quarters, he would be reported to his father. So shifting into Daniel was the only solution.

"But you're going to see Wendy. If you don't tell me what you want to do to her, I will not move," Daniel replied firmly.

Dax's mood darkened. "I'm your human. You cannot support that mute over me."

"She is mine. I will not hurt her or reject her wolf, Poppy," Daniel retorted.

"Fine. Let's go and claim her," Dax replied, trying to pacify his wolf.

"Are you sure? I will not accept you rejecting her," Daniel told him, still refusing to move.

"Fine. I will not reject Wendy," Dax replied, and his wolf started to move to the Omega's quarters.

When Dax reached Wendy's father's house, her peony scent thickened in the air. It hit him hard, surrounding him like a blanket.

Dax moved toward Wendy's window. Her peony scent flowed out of the window. His heart throbbed. He sensed she was in pain. He jumped into the room and shut the window.

His wolf growled at him, "Mate!"

Dax watched Wendy spring up on the bed and turn to face him. Her orange eyes locked with his blue eyes. He could hear her increased heart rate.

He moved slowly to the bed to meet her. She mindlinked him, "Why are you here?"

Dax shut the mindlink. He could hear her voice through his mind, but he could not hear her speak to him aloud.

"Shut up! Who said you could mindlink me?" he snarled at her and shut the mindlink. He was not going to accept her, but seeing her beautiful face, he felt conflicted.