Chapter 3 - STABILIZING THE BOND

 MOIRA

“Huh?” I blinked, unsure I heard correctly.

His eyes returned back to amber-gray. He flexed his jaw then pointed to the open door. “Get in.”

I wanted to protest and ask why he called me mate but instead I got in like I was asked to.

Alpha Draven didn’t have a single scratch on him. He hadn’t even shifted. His coat moved slightly in the night breeze as if nothing unusual had happened. A wounded wolf whimpered trying to crawl away not far from where I once stood.

Alpha Draven grabbed him by his neck and lifted him like he weighed nothing.

“Who sent you?”

The wolf didn’t answer. Jamie’s grip tightened. The wolf cried out in pain.

“Who,” Jamie repeated calmly, “sent you?”

Still nothing. The wolf just cried and shut his eyes tight as if he had resigned himself to his fate. For a moment I thought he might kill him. Instead, Alpha Draven dropped the man.

“Run,” he said coldly.

The wolf didn’t hesitate. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the trees.

Alpha Draven got inside and said, “Drive.” He paused for a moment then added. “They were amateurs.”

He sounded like this was a regular occurrence. Almost like it was the same as changing a tire. Great. I’m getting married to a man who attracts assassins.

My mind raced at the thought. If the attackers came for me alone then I’d be dead already. I glanced up at Jamie. He looked perfectly calm again as if breaking bones in the forest had been nothing more than an inconvenience.

We arrived at his territory shortly before midnight. The northern pack lands looked colder than the royal capital but it was bigger and better.

The stone fortress that served as Alpha Draven’s residence rose from the mountainside like it was carved from shadow. Torches burned along the walls giving the place a medieval look.

Warriors stood guard at every entrance armed with the latest tech. Their eyes followed me the moment I stepped out of the car.

The whispers started instantly.

“That’s her?”

“The omega?”

“The prince’s rejected mate?”

I straightened my shoulders and ignored them. Let them stare and gossip all they want. I had spent my entire life being looked down on so this, this wasn’t new.

Alpha Draven walked beside me through the fortress gates. His presence alone kept the crowd from getting too close. Several elders approached the moment we entered the main hall.

One of them bowed slightly. “Alpha. Everything is prepared.”

Jamie nodded once. My stomach twisted again. I knew he was referring to the wedding but I tried not to show I was panicking the fuck out.

I followed them into a smaller ceremonial chamber. The room smelled like burning sage and moonflower oil. The High Priestess stood beside a stone altar.

She looked older than the one at the palace, but her eyes were just as sharp. It was almost like it was the same woman but he had aged a few years in the amount of time it had taken us to make the drive.

Her eyes settled on me. Her eyes were unreadable and her expression blank. “Come forward.”

I did. Alpha Draven stepped beside me. The air around him felt heavy and thick.

The priestess raised her hands.

“The Moon Goddess has already marked the bond,” she said. “Tonight we stabilize it through union.”

My heart raced.

She gestured toward our wrists. “Join hands.”

I hesitated but Alpha Draven didn’t. His large hand covered mine. The contact sent an unfamiliar heat through my skin. I stiffened immediately as my body responded in ways I didn’t expect.

My wolf stayed silent which wasn’t shocking given I’d never heard her before. I just thought it would be something to make an appearance during what could arguably be the biggest night in my life.

The priestess began chanting in lycanic but the dialect was ancient. The silver mark on my wrist began to glow brighter.

Alpha Draven’s eyes shifted to my arm. He tightened his grip on my hand. The warmth intensified until a strange pressure filled my chest.

It wasn’t pain I was feeling but it wasn’t pleasant either. My thoughts went haywire like they had been dropped in a powerful blender.

Why does this feel strange? I wondered, trying to count my breath. The chanting grew louder. The priestess suddenly pressed our wrists together. Bright silver light burst between us.

I gasped. The sensation shot through my body like lightning. Alpha Draven’s grip tightened instantly and then the light vanished.

The priestess lowered her hands. “It is done.”

That’s it? Just like that. I was expecting a big flare at the end or something.

Slowly it occurred to me I was now married. My life had changed forever in less than ten minutes. Alpha Draven released my hand slowly. I stepped back instinctively. Distance felt safer.

The priestess studied us for a moment. “The bond is stabilized,” she said. “But it may take time to fully settle. You can’t be apart or it will cause both of you escruciating pain.”

Alpha Draven nodded once then he turned toward the door. “Come.”

I blinked. “Where?”

“Our chambers.”

My stomach did a flip. I almost forgot I was married now and married couples shared a room. The realization made my pulse quicken again.

I followed him through several corridors inside the fortress. The castle felt enormous and strangely quiet which was different from Alpha Adan’s pack house with its everyday parties and noises you can hear a mile away.

We stopped outside a large wooden door. Jamie opened it. The room inside was bigger than my entire living quarters back at Alpha Adan’s pack.

I stopped in the doorway. Jamie stepped inside and noticed I hadn’t moved.

“You’re standing in the hall.”

I crossed my arms. “I noticed.”

He waited but I didn’t move. Finally he sighed. “You think I’m going to attack you?”

“I think you’re a stranger who just married me tonight.”

His expression didn’t change. “You’re free to sleep on the floor if you want.”

“Ouch.” I sucked in air through my teeth. “That’s not very gentlemanly.”

“I’ never said I was a gentleman.”

Before I could respond he had taken off his shirt and was preparing to get some sleep. He didn’t care or stop to look at me once. I walked to the large armchair near the fire.

“You’re serious?”

He didn’t respond as he got into bed and turned around. Fuck!! He doesn’t even care. I didn’t like that we were too close and I felt like running outside last minute.

After what felt like eternity, I walked toward the bed and sat on the edge of it. The mattress dipped under my weight. Alpha Draven was quiet and I believed he was sleeping.

Then something strange happened. The silver mark on my wrist suddenly burned. I inhaled sharply trying not to panic.

“What was that?” Alpha Draven sat upright. His eyes dropped to my wrist.

“It’s nothing.” I lied.

Then the heat intensified. My chest tightened as I took in deep breaths. My breathing was uneven.

“Nobody said this would be torture.” I scoffed.

Alpha Draven sighed. He got out of bed and walked toward me quickly. My instincts screamed to move away. But the burning sensation worsened when he stepped back.

My body leaned forward involuntarily. Why the fuck does it feel worse when he’s far away? Alpha Draven stopped directly in front of me. The moment he did, the burning eased a bit.

I frowned. “Don’t tell me—”

“The bond requires proximity,” he said.

I stared at him. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

He took a few steps backwards and the mark pulsed again. Pain shot through my wrist making me wince. I grabbed it instinctively.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Stand there then.”

Alpha Draven shook his head. “That won’t solve it.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the pain came back sharp like a pulse in my veins.

I lost my balance and my body moved forward straight into him. His arms caught me in what I could only assume was an unconscious act.

My hands pressed against his hard chest. It felt warm and solid. I noticed the burning in my wrist faded completely.

Neither of us moved. Then Alpha Draven spoke quietly. “There’s something strange about this bond.”

My stomach twisted. “Strange how?”

His amber-gray eyes locked onto mine. “My wolf thinks you belong to me.”

“That’s because we’re married.”

“No.” He shook his head slowly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Before I could respond, a violent knocking shook the door. A guard’s voice shouted from outside.

“Alpha! The crown prince has arrived! He wants an audience with you immediately.”

My blood turned cold. Alpha Adan? Here? What could he possibly want?

Jamie’s eyes hardened instantly. He stretched to get his shirt and put it on in one movement. Then the guard added something that made my heart stop completely.

“He brought soldiers.”