Chapter 3: The Alpha's Ultimatum

Violet

The shouting finally stops, but the silence that follows is somehow even more frightening. I take a step away from the door, my heart pounding against my ribs. My wrists are burning beneath the silver chains, and I can barely feel my wolf anymore. All I want is to get out of this castle and return to my mother.

Suddenly, the door swings open.

A tall man enters, and for a moment, I forget what I was going to say. He's enormous, with broad shoulders, dark hair, and a muscular body that makes the room seem smaller. His face is unfairly handsome, but it's his golden eyes that hold my attention. I've never seen eyes like his before, especially on someone whose expression is so cold.

He closes the door behind him and studies me without saying a word.

"You're Violet."

It's not a question.

"And you're Darius," I reply, forcing myself to sound confident.

"Alpha Darius."

I roll my eyes before I can stop myself.

His expression darkens.

"I suggest you watch that attitude, little girl."

"Then I suggest you tell your guards to stop kidnapping people!"

He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"My men found you trying to flee my territory."

"Your territory?" I repeat indignantly. "You stole those lands from my family!"

"I conquered them. There's a difference."

"Not to the people you forced out of their homes!"

Darius walks toward the large desk, completely ignoring my outburst. He sits down and gestures toward the chair across from him.

"Sit."

"I'd rather stand."

His golden eyes narrow.

"That wasn't a request."

I hesitate before sitting, furious with myself for obeying. Unfortunately, after everything I heard outside this room, I'm not stupid enough to believe he wouldn't hurt me.

His gaze moves toward my wrists.

"Silver chains?"

"Congratulations. You have excellent eyesight."

"Careful, Violet."

I swallow hard.

"The chains are burning my skin," I say, lowering my voice. "Your men put them on me when I tried to escape."

"They restrained you because you attacked one of my warriors."

"He grabbed me first!"

"And you thought you could outrun an entire patrol?"

"I wasn't planning on meeting your patrol!"

For a moment, something unreadable crosses his face. Then he leans back in his chair.

"Your mother came here yesterday. I offered her an agreement that could end your people's suffering. Instead of considering it, you decided to run away."

"Because I don't want to marry you!"

"That much is obvious."

"Then why are we even having this conversation?"

"Because you don't understand what's at stake."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Oh, I understand perfectly. You destroyed our pack, imprisoned my father, and now you want to force me into marriage. Did I miss anything?"

Darius's jaw tightens.

"Your father lost a war, Violet. He should be grateful I allowed him to live."

My stomach twists.

"Don't talk about my father like that!"

"Then stop pretending your family is in a position to negotiate."

Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"Why me?" I demand. "You're twenty-seven years old, and everyone knows you're surrounded by mistresses. You can have practically any woman you want. Why do you need me?"

"Because you're Alaric's daughter."

I stare at him.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Your father still has loyal followers. If I release him without an agreement, he'll eventually try to reclaim his territory. But if his daughter becomes my Luna, both packs will be united under my rule."

I shake my head.

"So I'm supposed to be some kind of guarantee that my father won't fight you?"

"Exactly."

"Then you're even more ridiculous than I thought!"

His expression hardens.

"Choose your next words carefully."

"Do you seriously believe marrying me will make my father forget everything you've done?"

"I don't need him to forget. I need him to understand that another rebellion would have consequences for his own family."

A chill runs down my spine.

He's not talking about love or finding a wife. He wants to use me to keep my father under his control.

"I'm eighteen," I whisper. "I just turned eighteen. I haven't even found my fated mate, and you're talking about deciding the rest of my life!"

"Your personal wishes are irrelevant to this agreement."

I stare at him in disbelief.

"You're unbelievable!"

"And you're testing my patience."

"I don't care! I'm not going to marry a man I hate!"

Darius suddenly slams his hand against the desk.

"YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE THAT!"

I jump so violently that the chains scrape against my burned wrists. A sharp cry escapes my lips, and I instinctively pull my arms against my chest.

He rises to his full height.

"Your pack has been defeated. Your father is my prisoner, and your people are surviving in caves because they have nowhere else to go. You have absolutely nothing to bargain with!"

My entire body begins trembling.

"You're a monster," I whisper.

He steps around the desk.

"Maybe I am. But I'm also the only reason your father is still breathing."

I push myself back against the chair.

"Please," I say, my voice breaking. "Choose someone else. I don't want to live here. I don't want to be your wife."

"I'm not interested in someone else."

"But I haven't done anything to you!"

"And I'd advise you to keep it that way."

Tears begin sliding down my cheeks. I hate myself for crying, but the fear is becoming unbearable. Darius is standing so close that I have to tilt my head back to look at him.

"I just want my family back," I whisper.

"Then accept the agreement."

"And if I refuse?"

His expression doesn't change.

"Your father will remain in prison. Your people will receive no assistance from me. And if you attempt to run away again, I'll send my warriors to deal with everyone hiding in those caves."

My blood turns cold.

"What?"

"Your mother included."

I shake my head desperately.

"No! You can't do that!"

"I can do whatever is necessary to protect my territory."

"They're innocent!"

"Then don't give me a reason."

I cover my mouth with my trembling hands. For the first time since the invasion, I truly understand how little power I have against this man.

"And my father?" I manage to ask.

"One order from me, and Alaric will be executed."

A sob escapes my throat.

"Please, don't hurt them."

"That depends on you, Violet."

I look at him through my tears, struggling to understand how someone can threaten an entire family without showing the slightest remorse.

"You already have everything," I whisper. "The lands, the castle, the warriors. Why isn't that enough?"

"Because conquering a territory is one thing. Keeping it is another."

He turns toward the door.

"And understand something else. I'm now the Alpha of the lands that once belonged to your father. That makes me your Alpha too. You'd better learn to obey me."

I want to scream that he will never be my Alpha, but the words die in my throat.

Darius opens the door.

"Guards!"

Two warriors immediately appear.

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Remove those chains and take her back to the caves."

One of the men approaches and begins unlocking the restraints. I bite my lip to keep from screaming as the silver pulls away from my injured skin.

My wrists are covered in angry red burns.

"Tell her mother I'm waiting for an answer," Darius adds. "And make it clear that my patience is running out."

I stand on trembling legs, refusing to look at him again.

The guards lead me out of the room, and I don't dare breathe properly until the castle doors are behind us.

By the time we reach the caves, the sky is already growing lighter. My legs ache, my wrists are swollen, and my back hurts from the fall during my capture. The guards leave me near the entrance without another word.

"VIOLET!"

I recognize my mother's voice immediately.

She runs toward me and throws her arms around me.

"Ouch, Mom!"

She quickly pulls away.

"My Goddess! What happened to you? Where have you been? I've been looking for you all night!"

"I tried to run away," I confess, bursting into tears.

"Run away? Violet, have you lost your mind?"

She grabs my hands, then freezes when she notices the burns.

"Who did this?"

"Darius's warriors. They caught me in the forest and took me to his castle."

"Silver?" she whispers in horror.

I nod.

My mother immediately starts calling for help. Two surviving healers rush toward us and guide me to the area where the injured are being treated. One of the women carefully removes the damaged fabric around my wrists and begins cleaning the burns.

I cry out when the water touches my skin.

"Easy, sweetheart," the healer says. "The burns aren't too deep, but the silver has weakened your wolf. You need to rest."

My mother sits beside me, holding back tears.

"Why would you do something so dangerous?"

"Because I thought I could find help," I whisper. "There's another pack beyond the mountains. I wanted to reach them before Darius could force me into this marriage."

"You could have been killed!"

"I know."

She gently strokes my hair.

"Did you see him?"

I nod, and the memory of those golden eyes makes my stomach twist.

"He's worse than I imagined, Mom. He threatened to kill everyone here if I try to escape again. He said he'd kill you too."

My mother's face goes pale.

"And Dad?" she asks.

"He said he could have him executed with a single order."

She covers her mouth and begins crying.

I wrap my arms around her as carefully as I can, ignoring the pain in my wrists. I wanted to find a way to save my family, but all I've managed to do is prove how dangerous Darius really is.

He has our territory. He has my father. And now he's threatening everyone I love.

My mother holds me tighter.

"We'll think of something," she whispers.

I want to believe her.

But after looking into Darius's eyes and hearing those threats, I'm no longer sure there's anything we can do.

Because if I refuse to become his bride, my family could die. And if I accept, I'll be handing my life over to the man I fear most.