Enforcing His Will On the Mate Bond

LEVI

“Good.”

My wolf purred with satisfaction, watching his mate stand up to us with fiery eyes full of defiance. He thought she was gorgeous when she was pissed, but he was more ecstatic that she wanted the mate bond.

I ignored his reaction.

Of course, she wanted it. Her life was in danger. I could only pat myself on the back for acting fast. If she’d rejected the bond before I did, I would have been the one brought to my knees instead. I didn't like this woman. I didn't even know her name, and I hated the universe for assigning a human as my mate.

It was like some supreme power was trying to punish me. For what I did to my father.

My face darkened after being reminded of those thoughts, but I forced myself to face reality. I needed to deal with this situation before it got out of hand.

I grabbed Ariella's hand and turned around to leave, intending to put some distance between me and the human as soon as possible. But I had barely taken three steps when my chest began to burn.

My wolf howled in pain, causing me to almost stumble.

Ariella immediately grabbed my arm. “Levi!”

Pain shot up my body where she touched me, forcing a groan from my throat. I had no choice but to yank my arm away to put some distance between us.

What the hell was happening to me?

I looked to the side to see the human's face twisting in the same pain as mine. Her hands clutched her chest, sparking my instinct to go and comfort her. But before I could even move, my girlfriend blocked my path again.

“Levi, just tell me what to do,” she pleaded, her voice full of panic. “Tell me how to stop it. I'll do anything.”

My wolf growled. “Maybe you can move out of the way, bitch.”

I reprimanded him darkly, reminding him that Ariella was my woman. I wasn't going to toss her aside just because she wasn't our mate. Ariella had been there for me when others weren't. She encouraged me to be someone stronger, worthy of being an Alpha.

But now, I had no choice but to push her away.

Ariella flew backward, landing on top of her guards. I walked straight to the human who was barely standing.

She looked up at me.

And my traitorous heart fluttered again.

She was pretty. Most female werewolves and vampires had a seductive beauty that attracted males easily, but this one was different. She had this wild, deep red hair that fell down her shoulders, messy and alive, framing a face that looked way too soft for someone standing up to me. Pale skin, full lips, and those sharp eyes staring back with pure anger.

My wolf growled with hunger. “Fuck. She’s beautiful. Human. Mine.”

I shut him down immediately.

Without sparing another glance, I pulled her along with me and walked away from the party. I could hear Ariella calling my name, but I forced myself to keep walking until we reached the hallway.

I pushed her into the first empty room I could find and closed the door.

Finally, we were alone.

I took a moment to compose myself before turning to face her. Something about my expression must have frightened her, because she stepped back. Her reaction pleased me but I didn't relent at all.

Instead, I took a menacing step towards her.

“What's wrong, human?” I growled. “You seem to have something to say earlier in the party. Now you don't want to talk.”

Her body began to tremble with fear but she didn't move again. Her lips moved slightly, pushing out words that even my enhanced hearing couldn't catch.

Annoyance rose in my chest after a few seconds.

“Speak!”

The human immediately flinched at my voice, her body going rigid. She closed her eyes and replied. “I said my name's Daniella, asshole!”

Daniella.

The name echoed in my mind until I felt something snap in place. Knowing her name now had healed the fractured mate bond a bit, an unexpected development that I wanted to desperately reverse.

“Listen to me, Daniella,” I spat her name out like a curse. “You are going to leave this country. You are going to go as far as your legs and bank account can take you, because if I lay eyes on you again—”

Daniella cut me off. “I've already told you I'm not going to reject the bond—”

“Do not interrupt me again!”

She instantly closed her mouth, face turning terrifyingly pale after my growl. I could feel her shock running through the bond, her desire to flee from the room and never look back again.

A large part of me was happy with the idea. The other part was annoyed by it.

The silence strained between us for a few more seconds before she slowly nodded. My body slowly relaxed at her acquiescence even though the victory tasted bitterly in my mouth.

I stepped back more slowly than I should have.

“Leave.”

Daniella didn't move for a full minute. Her eyes were fixated on me, like she was expecting me to pounce at her for the slightest provocation. My wolf blamed me for it, mocking me for scaring my mate when the truth of the situation was that I couldn't even hurt a hair on her head.

But she didn't know that.

Daniella finally moved. She took slow, testing steps at first, then before quickening them when she got near the door. Before I could blink, she was already gone.

In fact, it was as if she was never here.

I walked to the bed and sat down, feeling the mattress dip under my weight. The silence was welcomed because it allowed me ruminate over the night's events.

My mate was gone. I would never see her again.

Her scent lingered in the room, tormenting my senses over and over again. I pushed all thoughts of her to the back of my mind, so I could focus on other important things like my new position as the Alpha King.

The door opened slightly. My head snapped up to see my best friend and newly appointed Grand Beta, Harrison, entering the room with a grim expression.

He bowed his head once before looking me directly in the eyes.

“Is she gone?”

I stood up from the bed, straightening to my full height.

“Yes, she's gone,” I paused. “And she's never coming back.”