Chapter 03

Arthur’s POV

I forced my wolf back in, and my eyes were back to their normal gray. I looked at the girl in my arms. Her beautiful emerald eyes held mine, wide open with too many emotions running through them all at once, fear, confusion, and something deeper: a silent cry for help.

As if I was in a trance, I reached for her cheeks to wipe her tears, and as soon as we made contact, warmth filled my insides in ways I couldn't explain.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Ariana,” she whispered.

Her voice felt like a melody to my isolated soul. She looked so fragile, like she could break at any moment.

“A—Alpha, I’m sorry about my son’s approach. He didn’t mean to handle her roughly,” Alpha Noah interrupted.

I looked around the room and noticed every eye was on us, and they were equally as shocked as I was. A mate was the last thing I needed right now. I do not believe in them. They were all just unrealistic fantasies to me. I can’t even afford to have one.

“Cut the crap, Arthur. She’s our mate, and you are taking her with you.” Thor scoffed at the back of my mind.

“I am not taking her with me! She’s going to be a distraction, and I can’t let my enemies have leverage over me,” I replied adamantly. “I may not even be able to always protect her. I’m surrounded by enemies, and you know it!”

“Okay, fine. But at least take her with you so you can keep her close. You don’t want her, but I do. I will always reach out to her wolf so I can know if she’s in danger. Agreed?”

“Fine. You better keep your word,” I replied inwardly.

I looked at Alpha Noah and met his curious stare.

“Seems you blanked out.”

“What is it, Noah?”

“I was saying I’m sorry about how my son handled the girl.” He walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, making my wolf growl within me. “She’s the fifth omega.”

I returned to my seat and began observing my mate. She looked malnourished and unkempt, but under the weight on her face, she looked resilient and willful.

“One fit for a Luna, right?” Thor chimed in, making me roll my eyes.

She stared at a couple sitting across the room. They looked like they were people of importance in the pack.

Something seemed off. I wondered about her relationship with them.

After all exchanges had been made, the guards helped the omegas onto the carriage.

“Come here,” one of my guards said, pulling Ariana by the waist.

“No, she’s riding with me,” I growled unintentionally through the mindlink.

“My apologies, Alpha,” he mumbled and scurried away.

“Come here,” I said, ignoring the fact that I just got possessive over a mate I didn't want. I grabbed her waist, pushed her onto my horse, and mounted up to sit behind her.

Alpha Noah and his subjects walked towards me, confusion written on their faces, but they knew better than to speak.

The journey back was faster than I expected. My focus kept diverting to the girl sitting in front of me. Her sweet, honey-like scent filled my nostrils. It took a lot of restraint to stay focused.

Something caught my eye behind her neck. A scar. At my signature spot. A spot only I aim for when attacking. It looked old yet fresh at the same time, almost like it never healed.

“It could be a coincidence, right?” I asked Thor, but he just grunted in my head. I tried to ignore the multiple thoughts jumping into my head. There was no way I could have attacked my mate, right?

In no time, we arrived at the gates of Shadow Howl Pack, the pack I spent years building from scratch. It was now the most powerful werewolf pack.

The familiar trumpet sound echoed through the walls and gates of the pack.

“All hail, Alpha Arthur, the Alpha King!” the pack crier growled as the gates opened and everyone bowed at the announcement of my arrival.

“Send them all to the Pack House to assign their duties and rooms,” I mind-linked Luke and headed straight home with my guards.

We rode to my mansion, and the guards opened the gate.

“Alpha,” Daphne, my chief maid, bowed. “Welcome. How was your journey?”

“It was a little rough, but I’m alright. Thank you,” I replied, getting down from my horse and helping Ariana off. “She’s going to be my new maid. Show her a room and check her wounds.”

“Alright.”

“Alpha, your attention is needed at the pack’s prison.” Luke called through the mindlink.

“I’m coming,” I replied, shifted into my wolf, and raced towards the pack’s prison.

As I got closer, Luke came outside to meet me.

“A rogue was found by the East borders.”

My blood boiled upon hearing that. Rogues knew better than to cross or roam around my pack’s boundaries. I stormed into the prison to see the rogue.

“Hahaha.” The rogue growled maniacally with silver chains all over him. “If it isn’t the great Alpha King!” He laughed and continued. “What? Are you going to kill me? I suggest you do it quickly.”

Thor dared to come out and tear his limbs, but that wouldn’t be enough satisfaction for me.

I walked closer to the rogue. “Now, look who we have here.” I squatted to his level. “Of all the thousands of ways to die, you chose crossing my territory. I won’t kill you quickly. Where’s the fun in that? I will chop off every part of your body, limb by limb, so even your ancestors could feel the excruciating pain.”

“Give me the axe,” I commanded. I opened the cage and walked toward him, lifted the axe, and slid it into his legs.

“Argh!!!” he screamed.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

After I had chopped off his limbs, I dropped the axe and walked out. “Clean up the whole mess and let him stay like that for the next three days. He will feel deep pain to the point of becoming familiar with it.”

By the time I was done, it was already dusk. I shifted into my wolf and raced back home.

“Welcome, Alpha. I have prepared your dinner.” Daphne said.

“Thank you. How about the girl?”

“I have given her a room down the hall, opposite your room. I helped her clean the wounds. In a few days, they should be healed. I’m pretty sure she’s asleep by now.”

“Alright.”

I headed upstairs to my room, showered, and stepped out a few minutes later for dinner. The entire house was quiet, something I had gotten used to. Loneliness was the price I paid to get to where I am today, which is why disclosing my relationship with Ariana is a huge risk.

After I was done eating, I switched the lights off and headed upstairs. I noticed Ariana’s door was slightly open, and the lights were on.

I walked inside quietly, and her sweet lavender smell filled my nostrils and dared Thor to come out. I quietly walked toward her bed to watch her sleep. She looked so fragile with scars all over her body, both healed and unhealed.

“Who are you?” I muttered inwardly, wondering the kind of life she must have lived before coming here.

My hands itched to remove the strands of hair covering her face, but I retracted back. The number of times I’ve lost control or been close to losing control within the last few hours has been concerning, and it’s all thanks to Little Miss Omega here.

“No distractions,” I reminded myself again. I walked out of the room, making sure to switch off the light.