Chapter 7

DANTE

That girl was my very undoing.

She had only been here a few days, and she had already found her way into this room! I gripped the chair handle tightly, stopping myself from shifting into my wolf and going after her.

I knew I should have trusted my instincts and not married her, but for some dumb reason, I ignored them. She couldn't find out about this secret, no matter what.

I turned to the door and locked it in a way that neither she nor anyone else would be able to open. How in the world did she even find the compartment? Letting out a deep sigh, I checked the time before heading out to the meeting room, where the Alphas had gathered.

The guards at the entrance immediately moved away from the door, and I bit down on the inside of my mouth to stop myself from killing them. Everyone had been testing my patience lately, especially a certain wife of mine.

I pushed the door open, and silence fell so quickly that I could hear a pin drop. At least they had manners, egotistic, bloody fools.

“Who has contact with Darren Strong?” I asked.

A few arms went up.

“Cut it off. I don't care how much you’re losing from it, but cut every business deal, every relationship with him, by letter. If you don't, you will be stripped of your title.”

Murmurs filled the room.

“Your Majesty, we can't cancel our deals for absolutely no reason,”

“It's an order from me.”

“But, Your Highness,”

I growled, and all the noise ceased.

“I make the rules in this kingdom. Do not make me strip you of your titles and render you all dead. I'm sure your darling mates would make good workers for me.”

Tension filled the air as they glared at the table.

“I've given my orders. Alpha George, pair up with Alpha John to counter the numerous rogue attacks. For the packs that were involved with Darren, find trade with another pack. If you don’t, send your complaint to me.”

I sat back, listening to them speak, but my mind drifted. Leah’s image crossed my thoughts, and I shook my head, trying to push it away, but it was impossible.

She had left my office with her eyes red and swollen from crying, and I hadn't heard from her since.

Was she alright?

Why did I even care?

“Your Highness?”

I blinked and looked at the table.

“What is it?”

“The Blood Moon is coming,” George said, and a chill ran down my spine.

Even though it happened every four years, I couldn't help the unease that settled within me. I hated the night of the Blood Moon, especially after what happened two decades ago.

“I'm well aware. You all know the rules, if anyone dies, you carry the responsibility because you've been warned.”

I tried to hide my irritation, but it was impossible.

I stood up from my chair, and even though they had questions on the tip of their tongues, they didn't dare ask. They knew better.

“Why do we not celebrate the Blood Moon night?”

I froze in place as something ticked in my head.

“I mean, it's a night when werewolves get stronger, and,”

In the span of two seconds, I was at his throat, and his head rolled to the ground.

Yet, everyone remained silently seated.

“Any other questions?”

Silence.

“... Gareth, send in that bastard's wife and make the Beta their new Alpha.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

I walked out of the room as a few maids hurried inside to clean up the mess I had made.

My body tremble with anticipation and anger, an overwhelming urge to kill. I immediately headed outside, shifted into my Lycan, and without thinking, dashed through the woods, fast and far.

The wind rushed through my fur, but a distant calling kept ringing in my ears.

There was no doubt that the Blood Moon was near, and Leah was in more danger than she thought.

The image of her crying flashed in my mind again, and I stopped. That’s when I realized where I was.

Even after two decades, I could still smell the ashes of burned flesh.

A branch cracked in the distance, but I ignored it. But then, it kept coming closer.

That’s when I caught her scent.

Does this girl ever stay in one place?

Shifting back into my human form, I climbed onto a tree, looking down at her. She clutched a small satchel and looked around cautiously. I ignored everything in me screaming to go to her, until she suddenly stopped in the middle of the ashes that remained.

I watched as she gently touched the ground, and to my surprise, she suddenly began to cry.

“I know I haven't seen you in years…" she whispered, and I furrowed my brows confused.

“... Everything feels so wrong and right at the same time, and,”

I dropped to the ground. She gasped and moved to run, but I grabbed her.

“What are you doing here?”

“I'm just taking a walk. I'm not going anywhere, I know I can't.” She yanked her hand from mine as if I were a disease.

“A walk? In the middle of the for..."

“Look,” she cut me off. “I know I can't escape you. If I do, I'll get killed. You seem to have a lot of enemies, and with Darren out there, my life is already in grave danger. I have nowhere to go.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

I immediately knew that wasn't the real reason she was crying.

“Why are you crying?”

She wiped her tears and turned away from me.

“None of your business.” She sniffled, making my Lycan restless.

“Listen,”

“I'll be back by sunset.”

I pulled her into my chest so fast that she gasped, bumping her head against me, but I didn’t care.

“You're not going anywhere with tears in your eyes.”

“I don’t want to be with you.”

“That isn't a choice, Leah. Just stay, please.”

Her body suddenly relaxed for an unknown reason, and without thinking, I lifted her, wrapping her legs around my waist.

For someone with such curves, she felt so light, and her scent was intoxicating.

I didn't know what was happening, but I couldn't bear having her far from me.

I had married ten other women before, and it never worked, I had never felt anything.

A warm liquid substance touched my shoulder, and I sat down, rocking her gently.

“Why was my name on the scroll?”

A chill ran down my spine, and I shut my eyes, trying to stay calm.

“You’ll find out when it's time, but until then, refrain from speaking about it.”

“Seeing the ashes made me remember my parents,” she whispered.

My heart dropped.

“I was fifteen when it happened. It was an accident, no one knows the cause. But even after all these years, I miss her so much. Sometimes, I just want them here, but I know that’s impossible.”

She shook in my arms as she cried, and something inside me shifted.

My head whirled, and a deep sense of recognition flooded my bones.

That’s when I saw it, how incredibly beautiful she was.

The rage at the idea of anyone laying a finger on her.

“Mate.”

My Lycan whispered in my head, and a jolt of energy surged through my body so fast that I shuddered.

She looked at me, her eyes full of worry.

"What was that?”

I wiped the tears off her face.

“You felt it too?”

“Felt what? It just felt like... someone was watching us.”

I immediately spun around, sensing a pair of eyes on us.

“Stay here. If there's trouble, scream loudly.”

I set her down, but then I heard footsteps running. Without hesitation, I moved at lightning speed.

The stench hit me instantly.

Rogues.

Twelve of them, standing ready to fight, which was probably the worst thing they could do.

“We come in peace,” one of them said.

I paused, staring at them.

“Yeah, right.”

Without hesitation, I ripped his head from his body.

Growls erupted around me, but then,

Leah's scream rang out.

I spun around and froze.

A dagger was pressed against her throat.

“Give us the scroll, and live!”

She looked at me, pleading.

“No,” I growled. "Let go of my wife!”