Chapter 2

"Reject me."

The words echoed in the depths of his consciousness as Randall stopped abruptly in his tracks... The nerves...

Kellan instantly looked away, as he thought of how foolish Reyana was to have made that statement.

"What did you just say?" Alpha Randall slowly turned around to face her. He took a few steps towards her and stopped midway. Her eyes were still fixed on the floor.

"What did you say?" He counted his words through gritted teeth, hoping she wouldn't dare repeat those words.

For the first time since he entered her chamber, Reyana lifted her terrified gaze to meet his murderous glare. There was a predatory gleam in his eyes, a hunger that sent a chill down Reyana's spine and made her skin crawl with unease. As soon as her eyes rested on his, Randall felt a sharp thud in his chest.

Her large eyes framed by thick, long lashes shimmered like pools of liquid sapphire, blinking rapidly in panic. The depth and intensity of her stare was spellbinding. Randall's eyes shone a bright shade of red but it was quickly replaced with his usual green eyes as he gazed at the beauty of her eyes.

Randall didn't know why he felt this way. Reyana was no stranger. He'd known her for a while now. But the extra beauty she suddenly possessed made him wonder if he was going insane.

"Reject me," she mustered up all the courage she could, nervously licking her small, plump lips as she stared right into his icy green eyes.

She saw his eyes turn dark before he finally spoke.

"Kellan, leave us," he ordered in a calm tone as Kellan bowed and stepped out of the small chamber that was already heating up with different emotions.

With the speed of light, Randall charged towards her, slamming her hard against the wall as his large palm wrapped around her slender neck.

Reyana let out a weak whimper as she struggled to free herself from his deathly grip, her eyes welling up with fresh tears.

"You think I'd let you go that easily? Not when the Moon Goddess has given me the perfect opportunity to punish you for what you did to Valerie!" He spat angrily, tightening his grip on her neck, his face void of expression.

"Pl...ease..." She attempted, but she felt life gradually leaving her.

"I own you, Reyana. You are mine... Mine to torture... Mine to claim... Mine to punish... and nothing will ever save you from me. Not even death!" His words were heavy and true. He meant every word that came out of his mouth.

Shooting her one last glare, he let go of her, making her fall weakly to the floor as she desperately gasped for air.

Alpha Randall took a few steps backward, his breathing ragged and erratic, his bloodshot eyes regarding her one last time before walking out of her chamber.

Reyana knew that her doom had only just begun and that sooner or later, she'd die at the hands of the Alpha. But she wasn't willing to die this way.

***

Alpha Randall strode into his spacious chamber which was quiet and cozy. A sharp sigh escaped his lips as he undressed, feeling more at ease.

He stopped for a moment when he saw his reflection on the old mirror on the wall, his face contouring into a painful expression.

His fingers slowly traced the harrowing scar across his chest as he closed his eyes, fighting back the emotions that threatened to spill.

This was his space... His privacy... A place where he could be himself. But that wasn't enough reason to be weak. Even in his alone time, he could never show weakness.

There was a gentle knock on his door. He picked up his tunic and wore it over his leather hose.

"Come in," his calm voice betrayed no emotion.

A young woman in her mid-thirties pushed the huge door open as she walked in holding a small salver with a phial sitting on it.

"Alpha," she greeted with a bow, "your potion is ready," she motioned toward the huge oak table in the middle of the room and dropped it there with another bow.

"Klara, these potions don't work. I already told you," he walked towards the table, picked up the phial, and casually emptied its content in his mouth.

"I am working on something stronger, Alpha," she assured him.

Klara was the head of the Blood Crescent white witches. She's been the one in charge of making the Alpha's sleeping potion for years now.

"How long, Klara?" There was silence in the room as he strode towards the wooden window, staring blankly at the sky.

Klara didn't feel the need to answer that question because she knew exactly what he meant. All she could do right now was to pray to the moon Goddess to take this torment away from her Alpha.

"When will it all go away?"

***

The cold night made Ria shiver as she hurried down the dark path leading out of the pack.

Ria was just an Omega and she was happy she had a drama-free life, compared to that of other Omegas she'd heard about in other packs.

Although she sometimes wished she wasn't just a lowly Omega who had to do all the chores around the pack. She wished for a normal life every time, just like tonight.

It was so cold at night, yet she had to go to the stream despite that. She had spent most of her time consoling her friend that she lost track of time, making her lag behind in her assigned daily chores.

It was quite quiet and she contemplated going back to the pack to continue tomorrow. But, of course, the fear of  Azura is the beginning of good behavior. She couldn't afford to get punished by that wicked witch.

"Who's there?" Her small voice called out in the direction she heard the faint rustling of leaves.

Silence.

"Is anyone there?" She panted as she panicked, regret washed over her instantly. She should have just stayed back at home.

Suddenly, a huge, muscular figure appeared behind her, grabbing her by her arm.

Ria turned abruptly to see who it was as she was about to let out a scream, but she felt his large palm cover he mouth to stop her from alerting others.

"Shhhhh... It's me," His husky, throaty voice said as he firmly held her fragile body from hitting the floor.

Ria struggled to catch her breath when he finally let her go, "By Selene's name!" she felt her heart race increase as she quickly averted her gaze, "I... I am sorry, Gamma Kellan, please forgive me. I was scared," she apologized feeling nervous and scared.

For some time now, she'd been avoiding the Gamma because of his weird behavior toward her. He'd been giving her really unsettling stares that made her scared, almost as if she had been stepping on his toes.

Now, she was face to face with him alone at this odd hour. Only the Goddess knew what he had planned out for her.

"You don't have to be scared, Ria." He said, taking a step toward her, but she took three steps backward.

Kellan, just like the Alpha, was a tall man of about six feet and 3 inches in height in his late twenties. His muscular body and broad shoulders hinted at his dedication to the safety of the pack.

His beauty made a lot of girls drool while having sinful fantasies about him since they couldn't dare fantasize about their Alpha, as he was way more handsome than Kellan.

Alpha Randall, Beta Aldric, and Gamma Kellan were the demigods of beauty in the pack.

"I... I am sorry," she bowed, "How may I serve you, Gamma Kellan?" She asked, just as they've been taught. They were Omegas and they were born to serve.

Kellan's gaze turned dark for a split second as he felt a small twitch between his legs as he imagined so many sinful ways she could serve him at that moment, but he kept his cool.

"I would like to discuss something very important with you, Ria," he said, after a brief silence.

Ria was right... She knew she'd done something to offend him, "have I done something to offend you, sire?" Her soft voice asked, making him chuckle.

"Not at all. You've done nothing wrong..." The only thing she had done wrong was steal his heart and wanting to go scot-free.

"When and where would be convenient for you, sire?"

"Tomorrow night. After your chores," he replied, sensing her discomfort.

Ria swallowed a lump in her throat, "But, sire... We are not allowed anywhere near the fortress... I'd be punished if found out."

"No one would punish you. Just tell anyone who asks that I sent for you to do some chores for me, okay?"

She reluctantly nodded, nervously drawing her lower lip between her teeth

Kellan held back a growl as he watched her do that. He gently reached for her chin, tilting it up to meet his gaze, "Are we good?"

Her big, brown eyes met with his ocean-blue ones, sending a shudder coursing down her spine.

"Yes, sire," She nervously averted her gaze from his.

"Good girl," a smile tugged the side of his lips, "I'll see you tomorrow. Do take care of yourself, Ria," he added before disappearing into the darkness.

***

Alpha Randall's deliberate footsteps could be heard in the empty hall of the fortress as he took long, purposeful strides, his steps bearing urgency.

He stood quietly before the huge wooden door at the far end of the dark passage as if waiting for the doors to feel his presence.

The heavy doors groaned as they slowly swung open, as if acknowledging his presence, granting him passage.

He stepped into a large space that looked almost like a different world from his own world, almost ethereal and peaceful... The calmness of the large room always sent peace to his soul.

He turned around when he felt the presence of the one he had come to see...

Shota. An immortal white witch...

"You've come to seek answers which are beyond me, Alpha Randall," her gentle voice spoke before Randall could say a word as if reading his thoughts.

"Yes, Shota. I am here to seek answers, and I know nothing is above you," Alpha Randall replied, his face giving a hint of his worry.

"I only reveal that which Selene, the Moon Goddess permits me to. I can't act against her," she slowly walked towards the large shelve holding some ancient scrolls, her delicate hand tracing each scroll on the shelve, paying attention to each one she touched.

Shota had lived for almost a thousand years now but she still looked like one in her mid-twenties.

"You are a man with a great destiny, and the fulfillment or destruction of this destiny rests in the choices you make. I can not interfere with that. I can only guide you when necessary, Alpha Randall."

Randall had heard this a thousand times already. All he wanted right now was to hear something new... Something different.

"The one who bears your mark becomes your blessing or your curse. She'd play a great role in the fulfillment or destruction of your destiny. You need to make the right choice," Her voice was calm and her words held a warning.

Alpha Randall stood still, paying attention to all she was saying.

She turned around to face him, "The one with the blessings of the Moon Goddess should bear the mark of the Green-eyed wolf!" Her tone was a bit firm, hinting at the importance of this prophesy.

"The Blood Crescent pack has experienced great blessings since the very day Visha stepped foot into this pack. She is obviously the one the Moon Goddess talked about in the prophecy," Alpha Randall replied without a doubt in his tone.

"Perhaps, she could be the one..." Shota let out a short laugh, "but, remember, she wasn't the only one who was brought into the pack on that fateful day."

Shota's words struck a chord of realization as the events of that fateful day flashed through his mind. Visha wasn't the only one who was rescued and brought into the pack on that day. There were others, and most especially, there was someone else...