THE ALPHA'S SACRIFICIAL MATE

Ronan's POV: I sat in the council room, listening as the pack leaders reported another wave of illness—pups dying, wolves growing weak. One of the elders announced quietly that an Atoner would be sacrificed tonight to restore balance. Elder Dominic said, "The reports from the infirmary are worse than yesterday, Alpha." His voice was dry and grated on my nerves. The old man tapped his finger on a map of the Silver-Grip territory. "Three more pups were born still. Two warriors collapsed during training this morning. Their wolves are just fading away." "We have increased the rations. We have brought in healers from the neighbouring packs " I said my jaw tightened as I spoke. Innocent lives had already been taken in the past. The weight of tradition pressed on me, if this was truly what the pack needed, I had no choice. Duty and instinct collided within me, a silent tension I carried as the meeting continued. Another elder, a woman with cold eyes said, "It is not a matter of medic

Lira's POV: A few days passed, and I avoided the pack house. Without the small wages from cleaning, I had nothing to eat. No one offered me help, being an Atoner meant living alone. I had grown up without parents and had taken care of myself for as long as I could remember. When my stomach growled again, I finally decided to return to the pack house, pulling a hood over my face so the Alpha wouldn’t recognize me. The walk to the estate felt twice as long as usual. My legs felt heavy and every snap of a twig made me jump, expecting Elena to step out of the bushes with a dagger or a death threat. The Pack House was buzzing with an agitated energy. Warriors were huddled in tight circles, their faces grim. I caught snippets of their hushed conversations as I slipped through the servants' entrance. "...the sickness hit the southern kennels this morning." "...the Elders are furious. They say the Alpha is stalling. "...if he won't choose, the pack will choose for him." I shivere

Lira's POV The air in the sitting room felt thick and heavy like it was buzzing with the power of the kiss that had just broken down my defenses. Ronans hands were still cupping my face his thumbs gently rubbing my skin with a tender possessiveness that made my heart hurt. His question. "Do you hate me much that you want to reject me already?”. Hung in the air between us filled with a vulnerability that didn't seem to fit with the strong Alpha I knew. I couldn't look away from the golden color of his eyes. "I don't hate you Ronan " I whispered, my voice shaking with the truth. "That's the problem. If I hated you this would be easy. I could walk away. Never look back.. Because I... Because I care I don't want to be the reason you lose everything." "You are everything " he growled, his forehead resting against mine. "The pack, the title, the land. It all means nothing if the price is your life. My wolf has been waiting for you my life Lira. Do you think I'm going to let a group of

Lira's POV The sound from the courtyard changed from a chant to a jagged roar. It was a sound I had heard before years ago, when a rogue wolf was caught stealing from the winter stores. The sound of a pack losing its humanity and surrendering to the beast. It was the sound of the pack that Ronan led. My pack was losing control. From my window in the guest suite, I watched the line of guards. Ronans loyal warriors. Buckle under the pressure of the crowd. These were men and women who had shared meals together who had trained in the mud now baring teeth at one another over a girl they barely knew. Over me Lira. CRACK. The sound of wood splintering echoed up the stone walls. The grand doors of the Pack House had finally given way. "Lira get away from the window." The door to my suite flew open. Ronan charged in. He looked feral like an animal. His shirt was torn at the collar. His skin was flushed with the heat of a partial shift. His claws were fully extended, gleaming like stone i

Lira's POV The iron door slammed shut behind me. I was plunged into darkness. It was not the light that was gone but the only warmth I had ever known. I started running through the tunnel my hands scraping against the walls to find my way. My breath came out in gasps and I could see the mist of it in the cold air. I stopped every seconds to listen but all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat. At first I could still hear the roars of the riot behind me but as I went deeper into the mountain the noise started to fade away. It was replaced by a hollow whistling sound. The wind was howling like a beast. When I finally came out of the tunnel it was like being hit with a blow. I found myself on a stone ledge and it overlooked the Northern Ravine. The air was cold. It felt old like it had been frozen for centuries. It was. It made my sweat feel like needles of ice. I pulled Ronans cloak tighter around my shoulders. I could smell him on the wool. It was the thing that was keepi