All hail the Alpha.

Winter's POV:

Fuck.

Fucking fuck.

The man that forcefully marked me yesterday is not a rogue but the most feared wolf on the continent, Alpha Keon.

None of the rumors whispered about him were accurate enough. He's so tall I would have to turn my neck to catch all of him. His eyes are dark green, so dark it's like the forest floor. My neck won't stop burning. He's built like a Greek god. A beautiful, fatal one. His muscles are on display, the rain pouring outside outlining his torso and V line. I gulp. Luckily, it seems only me catches his words. The wolves are chanting to their Alpha, their King. The hall resonates with their voices.

“Alpha Keon! Alpha Keon! Wise and noble to his people,

Ever wise, ever valiant!

Long may he reign!

By canine and by blood,

Stonefield stands—”

“Silence.”

Shit. Is he going to expose me? He knows, he has to. No wolf would stand and watch his mate marry another wolf.

The entire room goes dead silent.

“This mating will not stand.”

I almost collapse on the spot. Out of the corner of my eye I spot mother's eyes bulge, Ari holding her arm stiffly.

Chaos breaks out. Small whispers turn into loud shouts.

Some are lost, others are angry.

“What? Did he already kill the wizard already?”

“It's the girl, she's marked isn't she? Our people can't be with someone already tainted with another wolf.”

“We should just kill all the witches already, haven't they done enough?”

“What the hell is happening?”

“Let the fury of Stonefield rain on all the witches! War on the witches!”

The entire hall is screaming, chanting for our heads.

My heart is beating so violently it might fall out.

Oh well, I heard wolves eat the hearts of their enemies, might as well get a move on.

“Enough.” The Alpha speaks once more, forcing everyone, every thought to pause.

His steps toward the altar are delibrate and slow, and my insight is telling me to sprint in the opposite direction. He reaches us, me, Derrick and the priest.

“Do I need to repeat myself? This mating isn't happening.” His attention is on the priest.

Derrick hisses beside me. “You can't decide that–”

The Alpha's stare forces him into silence. He smiles, and it's official, the Blackbird Brothers were not built for smiling. It's like he's trying out the movement for the first time, and goosebumps erupt on my spine at the move.

“You were saying?” Derrick's fists tighten.

“Come with me.” He turns away, and like a good shadow he follows, out of the halls and away from a confused crowd.

Everyone is staring at me. The feeling makes my skin crawl. I pray to anything and everything no one somehow spots the mark. My Mother is in tears, the Triplets, Paul, Pauline and Paulina are whispering loudly, arguing amoung themselves in the old tongue. The wolves look on with curiosity and disgust. I recognise the blood lust swirling in their eyes. They can't wait to kill me on their King's command. I blink back the tears.

I stand for what feels like forever, but is probably 30 minutes max. A lot of time for a lot of wolves to lose their patience. When they return, I can tell a word from the wolves and we'll be torn to shreds. I gulp.

If Keon ratted me out, then it's over, it's truly all over. I scan their faces. Keon's face is unreadable, but his brother's is calm. Happy even?

What the fuck is happening?

In Derrick's arm is some staff, and I hear Paul and Pauline whisper: “It can't be…” “It is” Paulina completes for them.

Mother's eyes widen even further.

I take a step back, even though my insight isn't telling me to. It's obvious whatever is in Derrick's hand has a lot of power, everyone can tell. He reaches the altar, a small grin on his face. He bellows to the crowd:

“Fear not great people of Stonefield. The mating shall go on.” The tension dies down immediately, people sitting back down unsure of what to do next. “My brother here just wants to make sure the witches have no form of escape, an issue noted with the natural marking. Today, the relic of the Blood-Fang known to force bonds permanently between two creatures will be used! What you are about to witness is a once in a lifetime experience!”

The hall erupts in gasps. My jaw loosens. The Blood-Fang is the name for the first witch wolf war that took place centuries ago. Legend says this weapon was used to cause hundreds of deaths on both sides of the war. It was rumored to be lost in the forest. And it's here. It's actually here.

And it's going to be used on me.

Fuck.

Ariana curses under her breath. Mother is on the verge of tears again. Surprisingly, I'm not in the least bit worried. My insight has gone quiet, like there's absolutely nothing wrong about to happen and I'm not about to become a walking puppet for the wolves.

The priest begins the mating, chanting ancient words to deities no one is sure exists anymore. Outside, the rain pours down on us. When the priest lifts the staff to finalise the bond, the staff glows brightly. The people look on, amazed. It flickers like a candle, once, then twice. I'm about to blink when lightning strikes.

Inside the chapel.

Screams erupt in the room. I spot Ariana darting up. Mother's hands are glowing. The Triplets cannot believe their eyes.

I realise half sprint I'm not going to make it. It hit the center of the chapel, right beneath where I stand, and I'm not moving fast enough to not get struck.

Well, this is it. This is how I die. Death by lightning. One of the most unfortunate ways to die. How fitting.

I blink and open my eyes, warmth spreading through me. Above me, Alpha Keon is holding me in his arms, his eyes glowing.

Holy shit.