The grand hall was bathed in the soft glow of morning light that filtered through the narrow windows. Its stone walls were adorned with ancient tapestries, while torches flickered in iron sconces, casting dancing shadows across the chamber.
Alpha Randall sat at the head of the long oak table, his long hair, the color of midnight, hung loosely around his broad shoulders.
"Alpha Randall?" From a very far distance, he heard someone calling out his name and that was when he jerked back to reality.
"Yes?" He responded, trying to mask his emotions.
"Are we on the same page?" Elder Zar, the oldest one in the council asked, looking a bit concerned.
Since the meeting began, Alpha Randall hadn't exactly been participating. He'd been very distant, lost in his own thoughts.
"Yes, Zar," Randall replied, putting in effort to concentrate on the meeting in front of him.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the image of those enchanting eyes off his mind. Those were the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen in his entire life.
The way she stared at him made him feel something he'd never felt before. But, of course, he knew what was going on. The Moon Goddess was never going to get him on this. Damn, the mate bond.
Ever since the incident of last night, Keir had retreated to the far end of his mind in anger. He didn't like the way their mate was treated by Randall. But who cares?
"Since we are on the same page, we can go ahead with the preparation," Elder Troy said, looking around to see if everyone was in support of what he said.
"What preparations, Troy?" Randall asked in his usual neutral tone, totally lost as to what they were talking about.
The council of elders consisted of older wolves and witches who saw the affairs of every pack in the South and West. They made sure to keep every pack and every region in check, maintaining the traditions, morals, and values of their kind.
"The coronation, Alpha Randall," Elder Zar replied, wondering what was going on with the Alpha. He'd never been this confused before.
"What?" Randall questioned, "What coronation? Who are you crowing?" His quizzical stare made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
"Your Luna, of course. Haven't you been listening to a thing we've been saying?" Elder Zar who was now growing annoyed, replied in frustration. He was the only one who dared to speak to the Alpha that way, and that's because he was the oldest in the council and he was a friend of Randall's late father.
"I never said I wanted her as my Luna. She is just my mate, and nothing more. Visha is the one I want as my Luna, not Reyana," He calmly made them know his intentions, hoping no one would question it.
"It doesn't work that way, Alpha. This isn't about what you want or do not want. As long as you've found your fated mate, there is no need to choose another mate. You know the consequences of that, don't you?" Elder Troy warned.
"You also know that your pack is the envy of other packs. This will give your pack a bad reputation," Elder Edgar added.
"And most importantly, as soon as word of you rejecting your mate gets out to the enemy packs, you know they'll use that as an opportunity to strike, knowing how weak you'll be after going through a rejection," Elder Asher said.
"Alpha Randall, don't let your love for Visha bring about your downfall and that of your pack. Do the right thing," Elder Zar added in conclusion. "And, where is Aldric? Why isn't he in the meeting?"
It was at that point Randall realized he hadn't seen Aldric anywhere around the meeting hall. He immediately tried to mind-link him but he couldn't.
"Where is Aldric?" He asked Kellan who was standing beside him, his thoughts running wild but he tried to steady his emotions.
"He said he wasn't feeling too well earlier today, Alpha. I saw him walking toward the South wing," Kellan replied.
Randall furrowed his brows. The physician's chamber was on the East wing. What was he... "Fuck!" He growled, clenching his left fist as he stood up abruptly, his eyes glowing with a bright shade of red as he hurried out of the hall.
***
"Reya... I love you so much. I won't forgive myself if anything ever happens to you. Just come with me. Let's run as far away from here as possible. Please, my love." Aldric's plea made her heart ache even more.
"I am scared, Aldric. What if... What if he finds us? He'll kill us, Aldric," Reyana wished it was that simple.
"He won't. You don't have to be scared. Trust me on this," He assured her.
"Where would we run to? I don't want to become a rouge. What if no pack agrees to take us in? You know we are in enmity with a lot of other packs, all thanks to the monster, Alpha Randall."
She had a point. But right now, all Aldric wanted was for them to leave the Blood Crescent pack as soon as they could.
"There is a pack... I know of one... Far beyond the North Mountains. No one will ever find us there." He said, a glint of hope flickering in his eyes as he waited for her response.
Reyana hesitated for a moment. Running away was as dangerous as staying back. But it was better to die trying than not to try at all.
"Okay..." She whispered, "When do we leave?"
It felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Aldric pulled her in for a tight hug, kissing her softly on her forehead.
"I love you so much, Reya. I can't bear the thought of you belonging to another man."
"I love you too. Thank you for always being there for me."
"Meet me at the bush path behind the Oak tree when everyone is asleep." Aldric whispered, "Take just a few things with you. We need to travel light, okay?"
Reyana nodded in agreement, "I will do so. You must leave now. We can't be seen together."
***
It took Randall all the control he had to keep Keir from completely taking over, but they both shared control at this point.
He hurried towards the South wing, ignoring the greetings from his pack members. From afar, he could perceive the intoxicating scent of his mate.
Her scent was so intoxicating that each time he was anywhere close to her, he fought and struggled to keep himself sane. But right now, all that didn't matter.
Within a few seconds, he was standing face-to-face with her door.
Randall flung the small wooden door open with a dangerous urgency as he barged into her chamber.
He felt his heart stop at the sight before him.
"Reya..." Was all he could mutter. The name slowly left his lips as he swallowed a hard lump in his throat.
"Oh, Selene! Alpha Randall!" Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she stood frozen on the spot, "I... I am sorry, Alpha, I..." She searched for the right words to say, but at the same time, she felt herself choking on her words.
The glow in Randall's eyes intensified and he could feel Keir struggle to take full control. For a moment, everything else ceased to exist, except for his mate, who was standing totally naked in front of him.
Her skin radiated like the morning sun. Every curve of her body, every contour, was a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship, perfectly sculpted and adorned with the grace of a goddess.
Her slender waist and toned abdomen emphasized her feminity. Her shapely hips hinted at the fullness of her behind, making him want to turn her around to have a better look at it.
He slowly trailed his hungry gaze over her body, his eyes resting on her round, succulent breasts which stood firm and pointy, calling out to him.
Randall gulped, tightly clenching his fist as he beheld her, his heart pounding with an intensity that echoed in the depths of his soul. Her wet, silky straight hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of liquid ebony.
He felt a primal pull towards her, a wave of sinful, unadulterated desire surged through his veins and ignited a fire within him that burned with an intensity he had never known.
The urge to possess her overwhelmed his senses with an urgent need to claim her as his. He longed to make her know, in the most sinful way possible, that she belonged to him and him alone. His to torture... His to claim... His to punish... His to own...
Every fiber of his being yearned to feel her succulent body against his.
"Alpha Randall?" Reyana who was dying of shame and embarrassment as his scrutinizing stare made her skin heat up with a feeling she wasn't used to, managed to call out, hoping it would bring him out of whatever trance he was in.
He immediately locked Keir in as the red glow in his eyes was replaced immediately by his usual green ones, shutting out any trace of emotion he just felt. "Where is he?" He asked coldly, his eyes darting around the small room.
"Who could that be, Alpha?" Her tender voice asked, avoiding his glare. She tried so hard to stop her heart from beating so loudly, but it wasn't working.
"Do not test my patience, Reyana!" He charged towards her, pulling her harshly by her long, Ebony hair. "Where is Aldric!"
"I don't know... I haven't seen him... I haven't..." She whimpered as tears welled up in her eyes.
He gave her a menacing chuckle, "I hope I don't find out otherwise, Mate." He whispered slowly in her ear, sending a wave of fear through her body before harshly letting her off his grip.
He could swear Aldric was here. Her sweet scent was mixed with a different scent which annoyed him. He was going to find out for sure.
Alpha Randall charged into his chamber, rage threatening to suffocate him but he managed to keep it all inside of him, not letting it show."Leave," he ordered in a low growl to the ladies who were cleaning his chamber.They bowed their heads and scurried out of his room.Randall leaned against the wooden wall, taking in deep breaths to calm the emotions whirling inside of him.He couldn't understand what was wrong with him, but for some reason he couldn't tell, he felt a burning rage within him, knowing that Reyana had lied to him about seeing Aldric.The mere thought of Aldric being around Reyana ignited a fire within him. Forbidden images played out in his head, igniting a blaze of jealousy and possessiveness as he imagined all the nasty things Aldric must have done to her body while they were alone.He hated himself for letting it bother him. Besides, he hated her so much, so, why should he care?Just as he successfully got rid of those nasty images, he was tormented by another im
Reyana paced the dark woods in panic as she prayed earnestly for things to go as planned. She couldn't help but feel worried.She looked around her anxiously but there was still no sign of Aldric. She was scared. She was far away from the pack and she felt a bit vulnerable. Out here in the woods, a young girl like her could be a victim of rogues who wander around at night looking for wolves to pry on."Reyana..." A little worried voice called out to her from within, "Are you sure we are making the right decision? I am worried," Mia, her wolf asked with concern."Yes, Mia. This is the best we can do for now. Else, we'll die at the hands of the Alpha," Reyana replied, convincing herself."But you also have some doubts in your heart. Why don't we do the bidding of the moon goddess and see what fate has for us?" Mia suggested."No, Mia. What if fate wills us to die at the hands of our mate? We can change that fate," she reassured."But you know it isn't as easy as you think. We have been
Alpha Randall's green eyes looked down at her with anger and disgust as she tried to free herself from the chains that bound her hands."Alpha Randall..." She called out his name in fear as his huge frame stood over her, his dark, long hair loosely tied in a bun. The coldness of his stare told her all she needed to know - they had been found out.Immediately, she feared for Aldric. Was he also caught? Is he safe? Questions ran through her mind as she also tried to concentrate on the man standing before her.Klara sat beside her, tending to the wound on the left side of her temple. Reyana winced in pain when Klara administered a herb on the surface of the wound. That was when she realised she was hurt."The nerves..." Randall breathe out, still peering at her face.Reyana tried to piece together the fragments of the events in her memory but everything was foggy and she couldn't recall how she got here."No... I..." She tried speaking when she heard someone walk into the room where she
The air around the dimly lit office cracked with dark energy as a tall, imposing figure stood like a shadow amid the darkness as he listened intently to the report being delivered to him."There is still no luck, Alpha. Our ally is doing everything possible to get the assignment done, but the Blood Crescent pack is one hard nut to crack," The soft ethereal voice of a lady reported.The tall figure clad in a long black cloak turned around to face the bearer of the message. His eyes, pools of inky darkness, gleamed with an intensity that portrayed his displeasure.His rugged masculinity and commanding presence were like that of a god among mortals."For how long?" His deep voice, low and menacing sliced through the air."Just a little more time, Alpha," The young woman replied with a bow."Time is something I do not have, Jasina," Alpha Novak replied in a deadly tone."I know, Alpha. I'll make sure you don't have to wait for so long anymore. I'll come up with a plan," She tried to pacif
Aldric sat up on the bed, "A woman? In the woods?""Yes, Aldric. She was no ordinary person.""What do you mean? Who was she and where was she from? Did she say something to you?""She's from our pack. I never saw her face because she was well covered as if she was hiding something. She was hastily walking towards the border. She had a very dark energy, Aldric. She is a witch," Reyana explained.Aldric let out a slight chuckle, "Reya..." he fondled her messy hair, "Have you been having those nightmares again?" he smiled at her."What have my nightmares got to do with this, Aldric?" She asked with furrowed brows."Remember we found you unconscious in the woods? You must have had one of those nightmares when you were unconscious, making you think all you saw was real...""Stop it, Aldric! I know what I saw! How do you think I ended up half-dead in the middle of the woods? She used black magic on me!" She almost yelled out of frustration"But, Reya, in as much as I'd love to believe you,
It had been two long days since Reyana had last felt the cold grip of chains around her wrists. She had been released and was free to go about her usual activities around the pack.She stood before the mirror, her hands trembling as she brushed her hair in an attempt to regain some semblance of normalcy as she prepared to go out and get something to do with her time. She was done healing.As she stared at her reflection, Reyana's thoughts drifted to Alpha Randall, the man whose presence had become an ever-present shadow in her mind. Since that fateful night, she had not laid eyes on him, and Aldric on the other hand had been keeping his distance.Reyana was eager to go out and mingle with people because she was tired of feeling trapped and frustrated. She was finally a prisoner in her pack.Her heart sank as her gaze fell upon the bracelet adorning her wrist – the Arcane bind. A single tear traced a path down her cheek.The Arcane bind sat mockingly on her wrist. As harmless as it loo
The air crackled with tension as Reyana's heart hammered against her ribcage, her every breath coming out in shallow, ragged gasps. She could see the flicker of surprise in his green eyes.For a moment, time seemed to grind to a halt. Randall's world shrunk to a suffocating darkness as Reyana's words echoed through the caverns of his soul deep down the depths of his existence.Fear, anger, hurt, and pain intertwined in a suffocating embrace, constricting his chest with an iron grip as he felt a knot in his stomach.Reyana's boldness caught him off guard, her audacity piercing through the armor he had carefully crafted around his heart. He never expected her to reject him.Reyana felt fear sipping through the cracks of her fearless facade as Randall's silence and lack of expression sent icy chills down her spine.After almost an eternity of silence, Alpha Randall let out a smile... That was the first time she'd ever seen him smile, and she couldn't deny that he had the most charming sm
"The coronation is in four days," Aldric remarked, gently fondling her hair as they both sat in a hidden place somewhere around the garden with Reyana lying in his arms.Reyana wasn't so sure how to react. She knew how hurt Aldric must have been feeling at that point."You also have the Arcane bind on your wrist..." he stated, unconsciously running his fingers around the bind on her wrist.Reyana was still quiet, waiting to see where he was headed."This means we are stuck in the pack. There is no escape from here," his voice was low and sad.Reyana felt a painful thud in her heart as she sat up to face him, "Aldric... I love you," she declared, gazing into his hurtful eyes, "No matter what happens, we'll still be together. It's a good thing the Alpha doesn't want me. We can keep on seeing each other, just like right now."Aldric chuckled, "I wish it was that simple, Reya. As soon as you are crowned Luna, you officially become his.""I'll only be his Luna, not his lover nor his wife.