2

His Possession

Alpha Rowan's POV (Domezo Pack)

The cart jerked to a halt.

I stepped out, disgust curling in my gut as I stared down the rotting gates of Thornegrave's home.

This was where they kept her?

For a wealthy wolf, the place looked like it begged to be torn down.

Then the gate opened for us and I saw the house. It stood crooked, like it hadn’t seen repairs in years. There was no servant to greet me, no sign of honor in the air, just quietness.

A voice rang out.

"Alpha Rowan is here. The Alpha is here." 

That was the call the courtyard needed to burst into lively activities.

Maids ran out and lined up, servants rushed out and took their spot and finally Thornegrave himself ran out with a deep bow, sweat gleaming on his balding head.

“My Alpha, pardon us, we did not expect your grace so early…”

“You should have,” I cut in, with my commanding voice smooth and cold. “You were given a day. If this is early, you aren't ready."

Behind me, my Beta, Cole stepped closer, glancing sideways at the house with his nose wrinkled before whispering to me.

“You’d think they were delivering a goat, not a breeder,” He whispered just loud enough for me to hear. “She better not be diseased.”

I narrowed my eyes at his comment.

“Bring her out,” I didn't have time to waste.

Thornegrave paled.

It was obvious he wasn't ready for my visit. I just hope his cursed daughter was strong enough to carry my child.

"Yes, yes, Alpha. She’s just...she’s not...” He stumbled over his words, then ran inside, shouting for his daughter.

Minutes passed and I waited.

Two young boys emerged, dragging a pale faced girl between them like some bound animal. They were obviously the two notorious brothers I had heard about.

Her feet scraped the ground, arms limp. A stained grey dress clung to her thin body like second skin. Tangled hair, hollow cheeks, cracked lips...then her eyes met mine.

They were dark. Deep. Alive. Fierce in the way. And had that pull that made me drawn to her.

My wolf stirred...then growled.

Mate.

No.

No, this couldn't be.

I inhaled and took a step back, pulse pounding, cold anger rising in my throat.

She is my mate. This was a trap.

This wasn't a desire. This was madness.

Seven mates died. And yet here I was, already stepping into the grave.

"Alpha Rowan." Cole managed to mutter in my ear, bringing me back to reality.

I blinked and rubbed my temples. 

“She looks starved," I snapped. "This is what you expect me to breed with?"

If it was because my mate looked like she had gone through a lot, or I felt insulted that her father would sell such a haggard looking creature to me, I wasn't sure why I was boiling.

“She’s the eldest,” her father stammered from behind them. “She’s of age. A virgin. Her womb is not touched by magic or man—”

“She looks more like a starved servant, are you sure she's your daughter?” Cole scoffed. “You sure this one’s not cursed?”

"Cole." I called my Beta in warning as that was a sarcastic question.

Everyone knew Lilith was cursed. Rumors had it that at nineteen she had seven dead mates. Who had that number of mates in three years I didn't know, but when I felt the need for a surrogate when my beautiful Luna Rachael could not conceive, I felt a strong urge to come for her.

Thankfully, Rachel had accepted as she knew there was no chance of cheating on her with our surrogate given the death of all those that tried it.

Now I knew why the pull had been so strong. She was my mate.

“I asked for a strong woman. Not a breathing corpse." I growled at her father while Cole touched my arm to calm me down.

The look in her eyes changed immediately Cole asked if she was cursed. Like she was mocking me, daring me to take her after all I had heard.

"Clean her up. Feed her something. Dress her like she’s going to be seen by royalty. I’ll wait.”

Her father blanched, nodding furiously. “Of course. Of course. My deepest apologies, Alpha Rowan. Will you like to come in?"

"No, just bring chairs to sit outside."

He nodded and bowed. Then with shaky hands, he motioned the maids to bring seats for us and his boys to take her back inside.

I didn’t miss how one of them shoved her forward, muttering something under his breath. I could feel my lips curl slightly at the sight but I said nothing.

The maids scrambled to bring chairs for myself and my men, but I couldn't sit, I paced the yard like a caged beast counting down the seconds.

My wolf still raged beneath my skin, whispering, 'Mate," like it didn't know her reputation.

Cole came closer with his voice low. “Maybe the rumors were true. Maybe she's not fit to carry your baby.”

I ignored him and kept watching the door. Cole finally gave up and sank into his seat with a scoff.

The thought of running came as every instinct in me warned : She'll be the end of you. But there was no way I would return without her, Rachael would kill me.

Twenty-five minutes went by. No movement. I was ready to rip the door off its hinges when it opened. This time not with chaos, but with quiet and suspense.

And then she stepped out.

Not the same girl dragged by her brothers.

Her hair had been combed and braided down her back. She wore a deep blue gown that clung modestly to her frame, clean and pressed, cinched at the waist with a silver rope.

Her lips still held their cracks, but her face was cleaner, cheeks lightly flushed from whatever powder they’d hurriedly applied. She walked alone now, no brothers held her and this time her head was slightly bowed… in defeat.

"Come closer." I ordered and she did. She stopped just before me and lifted her gaze.

She didn't speak. Didn't curtsy. And didn't run either.

A strange calm fell over the courtyard as they all stared.

Cole blinked. “Well… better.”

I took one step forward. The height difference was obvious. I towered above her as I studied her face, her posture, the stiffness of her shoulders.

No rebellion. No cry. No words. No reaction. She was almost mute. Interesting.

Why didn't she feel it too? Why didn't her scent shift, her eyes soften?

If we were mates, she was meant to feel the bond too, right? Not this emotionless face she was staring at me with. Or had she had too many mates to feel the bond again? There was only one way to find out.

I gently reached out and took one of her hands in both of mine. It was cold. Bony. But she did not flinch.

Then I bowed, just slightly, and pressed my lips to her knuckles.

Her brothers behind her looked stunned. Her father gaped. Even Cole choked silently behind me, I could hear him.

“You are mine now,” I said, voice low. “And I protect what's mine.”

Her fingers twitched slightly in my palm. I smiled, just a little. It was all the reaction I needed.

I turned, guiding her gently with a hand to the small of her back, leading her toward the royal cart.

I helped her step inside. Her eyes remained forward, like a statue. But her silence was not a weakness. No... I could feel it.

She wasn’t numb, just obedient, but watching.

Cole chuckled under his breath. “Never seen a woman so quiet. This’ll be an easy one.”

I didn’t respond. I just turned back to meet her father.

"Does she have a wolf?"

"No, Alpha. She has never shifted, but I promise you she is good...."

"That's all I need to know. Here is your money."

"Thank you, Alpha."

That was the reason she didn't feel our mate bond. She was not only cursed but wolfless as well.

As the cart began to roll down the path, the crowd behind us faded. I looked out the window, then at the girl sitting across from me.

Lilith...

She just stared forward. Hands in her lap. But her eyes....those strange, defiant silver eyes...watched everything.

Just before I turned away, her lips moved.

"Why? Are you my mate too?”