Chapter 5

Lea's POV

The drive to Royal Shifts took hours, and with each passing mile and hour, the chains grew heavier, burning my wrists. The smell of burning flesh filled the car, but they all ignored me, talking about how fun it was to kill the rebellious wolves. The spot where the silver bit into my skin was bleeding as well.

The warriors kept talking amongst themselves, ignoring me completely despite my low, whimpering cries from the pain and loss of blood. They discussed the rebellion as if it were entertainment.

"Did you see Marcus try to shift? Man, that was Pathetic. The Alpha tore his throat out before he completed the transformation."

"Margot was worse, see how she begged for her life at the end, like anyone would pity her useless existence."

I closed my eyes and tried not to listen. I tried not to think about Margot's pale face or the way she'd tried to warn me. Eventually, we crossed into Royal Shifts territory and, strangely.

enough I felt it immediately. The air itself felt different in a heavy way; everything about this new territory screams Danger.

The pack grounds were more massive than our pack grounds, and their buildings looked more like fortresses than homes. I couldn't help but notice there were Warriors everywhere, and all of them radiated power that made my skin prickle.

The vehicle stopped in front of the largest building I'd ever seen. ‘The Alpha hall’ was written boldly above it, before I could complete my appraisal, Garrett yanked me out of the vehicle. My legs were numb from sitting so long, and I stumbled. He roughly caught me by the chains and jerked me upright.

"Walk, and try not to fall on your face. You're representing the Eel pack now."

The other two warriors flanked me as Garrett dragged me up the steps and through massive doors. I prayed and hoped my new alpha would be against this new treatment and treat me like the princess that I was.

The hall inside was packed with hundreds of intimidating wolves, and they were all turning to stare as we entered. Their eyes swept over me, and I saw the same expression on every face raging from Disgust to amusement, and not surprising was, a look of contempt.

But I was supposed to be their Luna…

Garrett pulled me down the center aisle, my chains clinked with each step, and my wrists were bleeding even more freely now, leaving drops of blood on the polished floor.

At the far end of the hall, sitting on a raised platform, was AlphaAmreth.

He was younger than I'd expected, in what looks like his late twenties, with black hair and sharp features that would have been handsome if not for the coldness in his dark blue eyes. He sat perfectly still, watching our approach with an expression I couldn't read.

Ten feet from the platform, Garrett forced me to my knees; the rough, unexpected impact sent pain shooting through my legs.

"The peace bride from the Eel pack, Alpha Amreth." Garrett's voice rang through the hall. "Delivered as requested."

Silence, there was total, complete heavy silence.

I kept my eyes on the floor, my heart pounding so hard I thought everyone must be able to hear it.

Then I felt a flutter in my chest, slowly at first, then it increased into a strong lurch that was not the usual ache. This was different and somehow stronger, like a rope suddenly pulling taut between two points.

I looked up without meaning to, and strangely enough, AlphaAmreth had gone completely rigid. His hands gripped the armrests of his chair so hard the wood creaked while his eyes were locked on me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

For a moment, neither of us moved; it was like the noise around us faded away temporarily.

Then his expression suddenly shifted into something awful. It switched from recognition to rage and something else I couldn't name.

"No." The word came out rough, almost pained. "This is not possible."

Garrett shifted beside me. "Alpha?"

Amreth stood abruptly. I could feel every wolf in the hall tense, and the air ceased in the room. I could feel the power rolling off him in waves, making the air itself feel thick and hard to breathe.

He descended from the platform with slow, deliberate steps, all alpha and masculine aura. When he finally reached me, he crouched down so we were eye level.

This close, I could see his eyes weren't just dark blue. They were almost black, with something wild lurking behind them.

"What is your name?" His voice was low, dangerous.

"Lea, Lea Blackthorne."

"And who sent you here, Lea Blackthorne?"

"My brother. Alpha Damian Of Eel."

Something flickered across his face. "Your brother sent you. His own blood. Wolf-less and weak." He reached out and grabbed my chin, tilting my face up. "Do you know what you are to me?"

I couldn't speak. Could barely breathe with him this close, and that strange rope in my chest was pulling tighter and tighter.

"You're my mate." He said it loud enough for the entire hall to hear. "The Moon Goddess chose you for me."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. I heard whispers of shock and confusion; even Garrett's gasp was unmistakable.

Amreth's grip on my chin tightened almost to the point of pain, then he released my face suddenly, like it scorched his hand, before standing upright, facing his people, then looking back at me with barely hidden disgust.

"I, Amreth Dale, Alpha of Royal Shifts Pack, reject you, Lea Blackthorne, as my mate."

The words hit like a physical blow. That rope in my chest snapped, and pain exploded through me. I couldn't control my gasp as I doubled over, clutching at my sternum.

"I reject this bond." His voice was cold now, emotionless. "I reject this mockery the Moon Goddess has given me. You are not worthy to stand beside me and will never be the true Luna of this pack."

The pain was unbearable. Like something vital was being torn out of me, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think past the agony radiating from my chest.

Through the haze, I heard footsteps coming nearer, then a woman's voice, sharp and pleased, rang through the shocked crowd.

"Well. That was dramatic."

I forced my eyes open and saw a beautiful blonde woman step onto the platform beside Damian. She wore elegant clothes and a smile that didn't reach her green eyes.

"This is Mirabeth," Damian announced to the hall. "My chosen Luna. The woman who will stand beside me and lead this pack."

Mirabeth looked down at me with open satisfaction. "You poor thing. All that hope in your eyes just a moment ago, did you really think someone like you could be Luna? That's adorable."

The pain in my chest was starting to fade, leaving behind a hollow ache worse than anything physical.

Damian turned away from me like I didn't exist. "Garrett. Your Alpha sent this girl as a peace offering, and I'm honoring that. She'll work in the pack house doing whatever menial labor is required." He paused. "But make sure everyone understands. She is nothing with no rank and zero status. Just another unlucky servant who happens to be here by political necessity.