Chapter 4 Let’s go

Draven POV

I became a warrior for my pack, Crimson Fang at a very young age, I knew that true strength was the only way to protect the things I cared about which were my pack, my home.

In two decades, I had conquered so many packs that had threatened us and I now stood at the peak of power as Alpha King.

Finally, I could rest for a while. But my advisors kept talking about how I needed to get a mate. They believed that a mate would fully stabilize my power as Alpha King and put to rest the ambitions of those who might still have eyes on my position.

I disagreed. Contrary to what everyone believed, I didn’t want a mate. A mate was nothing more than a weakness, a flaw that my enemies could easily exploit.

I’d seen what losing my mother did to my father. The strongest warrior I knew turned into a shadow of himself. He had followed her shortly after, her name on his lips and I was left with the heavy responsibility of ensuring my pack's survival.

So no, I didn’t want a mate. And goddess helping me, I wouldn’t find one on this goddess forsaken trip.

************

The journey to Wind Borne pack was uneventful. Quite a pity. I had hoped some unfortunate wolf would try to hinder my journey so I could release my frustrations on him.

When we arrived, Carter greeted me with a wide smile. “It’s an honor to have you here, Alpha Draven.” I grunted in response.

He guided me to the main hall where his Luna was waiting. She bowed in greeting to me and I nodded once in acknowledgment.

“Alpha Draven.” Carter called, gesturing to the highest table “Please sit and allow us to entertain you for a while. The maidens will be called out shortly.”

So I sat down and waited. First the warriors came in and had sparring matches. I watched at first but soon lost interest when I realized they were repeating the same few moves over and over again. In a real battlefield, they would have been wiped out already.

When they finished the matches, the maidens were finally brought in and lined up before me. I could see a few staring directly at me, as if they could seduce me into picking them.

I snorted with cold laughter and they immediately withdrew their gazes and bowed their heads. That was more like it.

I moved from one maiden to another, self satisfaction blooming in the pit of my stomach as I confirmed my mate was not amongst them. Seems like the goddess still favors me after all.

I turned to Carter and shook my head, trying to appear regretful “None of them are my mate.”

His eyes which had been wide with hope dimmed instantly. I sneered inside. He had obviously been looking forward to the wealth and protection that he would gain from being linked in marriage to me.

I get up to start leaving but he suddenly stopped me. “Alpha Draven, you may not have found your mate here, but I still wish for you to enjoy your time fully here. Wind Borne pack is known for our hospitality, how could we just let you leave just because we weren’t blessed with the honor of being tied to your pack by marriage.”

I paused for a moment. He’s a smooth talker but he’s right. If I leave now, rumors will likely spread saying I was so disappointed at not finding my mate that I immediately left angrily.

***********

Carter had excused himself for a while when a woman suddenly burst into the hall. She was bruised in several places but none of the pack members batted an eye. I raised an eyebrow, looks like Wind Borne pack is worse than I thought.

She bowed to me and I nodded, giving her the permission to speak. Her words surprised me, she was a small woman but she stood boldly in the center of her pack and renounced them, despite knowing they would probably attack her for it the moment I turned my back.

Or perhaps, that’s what she had been banking on. My presence here was the perfect opportunity for her to escape the pack without fear for her life. I watched her with a quiet appreciation, this one had the heart of a warrior.

However, her next words shocked me and everyone in the hall. No, not everyone. I could see the anger instead of surprise on Sophia’s face.

I looked to the woman again, when suddenly a sweet scent assaulted my nostrils. It was a blend of cinnamon, vanilla and honey and it was coming from her. My wolf, Ash was already urging me to go forward quickly and investigate. 

I walked towards her, she was smaller than I had expected. She barely reached my chest, but to her credit, she didn’t step back even as I moved closer to her.

I cradled her face in my hand, surprise coloring my voice as I said “Mate.”

Carter had suddenly burst into the hall and tried to attack my mate. My wolf Ash was already bristling, ready to attack, but I held him down as I faced Carter and pushed my mate behind my back.

Sophia, seeing her alpha at a risk soon came forward to try to resolve the situation but her words had Ash bristling even more. He spoke to me ‘Don’t tell me you won’t punish this woman for speaking badly about our mate?’

I released Carter’s hand and asked him “How and what exactly happened?”

He shifted uneasily on his feet for a while before saying explaining the situation to me.

I frowned. I could already feel a steady anger rising in me “Do you mean, no investigations were conducted and my mate was punished just because she came out of the room?”

He tried to defend himself “That’s not all Alpha Draven, when she came out, her hands were deeply covered in blood. She was obviously the murderer.”

I stared down at him in silence. Was he stupid or just pretending to be? “What child, upon seeing their mother lying in a pool of blood would not try to touch her? Are you taking me for a fool Carter?” I finished lowly, a growl slipping out of my lips.

A low moan of discomfort suddenly came from behind me and I turned, only to see my mate fainting. I immediately stretched out my arms to catch her and pulled her closer to my chest as I said “This isn’t over Carter, I’ll be expecting a proper explanation.”

I nodded to my beta, Lucas who had stood silent beside me all the while “Let’s go.”