Chapter One

Kieran Pov

Rain hammered against my skin, cold and relentless, but nothing could drown the fire burning downriver. 

The pyre drifted away through the storm, taking my heart, my destiny, and my mate with it. I couldn’t look anymore. Wolves who lose their mates usually lose their minds soon after. The pain eats them alive until there’s nothing left but madness and memory.I was only filled with rage. A rage that wanted to swallow me whole and right now I was letting it

I wanted nothing more than to see the fall of the blood pack. But in order to do that, I needed to work in stealth. I knew I wanted to make them pay in blood, it didn't matter what the cost to me was, I had nothing left to lose after all.

Noticing footsteps approaching startled me from my darker reflections.

"She looked beautiful Kieran." My alpha cast had come to support me. He had arranged liv's funeral when I couldn't, she had been a breath of fresh air walking into pack lands and now she was gone for good.

Looking back on how we met, I now see that maybe we were starcrossed lovers. Meant to burn for only a moment. I'm the beta of the second largest pack in the eastern territories of the north. She was a rogue wolf crossing our territory. I was supposed to kill her but we kinda ended up fucking instead. Liv had be in heat and I had been helpless to say no to her. A tear begins to run down my face as I remember all our nights together, all the plans we had. I will get revenge for Liv if it's the last thing I fucking do.

"Hey, there is something important I want to speak with you abo- shit Kieran!" I sang under the weight of my Alpha arm wrapped around my shoulder. I don't really want to hear what my next plan or next steps should be. I don't want anything really. Maybe some fucking booze.

"Sorry, I'm- Can you give me a drink. I think I'll finally stop crying like a little bitch if I have something to do with my hands instead."

Cast looks at me with worrying eyes and crosses the room to where the liquor is kept, he pours me a drink and then another. Cast has boy next door looks, with brown hair and deep dark eyes. He keeps his facial hair neat and shaved close unlike the rest of us. There was a time where me and Cast might have been a thing. But, that time has past now.

"You aren't a bitch Kieran for mouring. You are allowed to mourn her. She was your mate, so you say." Listen I know I wasn't very accepting of her, but I want you to know I'm here for you. Whatever you need." Cast hands me the drink with a small smirk, his eyes are gentle on me like they used to be. Heat begins to pull in my belly slightly by the way he is looking at me.

I stand a deep sigh and I know now is probably the time to clear the air between us. Once and for all. We never officially did once I declared Liv as my mate. She fucking hated that I enjoyed the company of both me and women. She hated it even more when she found out I was fucking my alpha. She gave me a choice. I could stay in the pack but I couldn't continue my affair with Cast. But, she absolutely had to declared publicly that she was my mate and that was the only way she wouldn't regret me. So I did. I wanted her love and for a brief moment I had it.

"I know you couldn't stand her after I left things between us. " I look at him half rolling my eyes as his hand travels down my arm, slight tingles move over me. This is nothing I tell myself. Cast and I we aren't mates. Not for real. That prophecy isn't real. It wasn't and never will be about us. These tingles we feel when we touch it’s just because I’m his beta. We both are powerful in our own rights inside of this pack.

Cast's hand stops down just in time. If he held holding it for a seond longer we'd probably be fucking. He pulls back. His eyes blaze a colbalt blue. Our touches have awakened his wolf, and his wolf is always, always hungry. His wolf wants to fuck but Cast always the control freak keeps him in place. Every move Cast makes sometimes feels cold and calculated. He told me once that if he wasn't like that he'd be crazy. Uncontrolable. So, he puts limits in place and keeps everyone at arms length. Everyone he once told me but me. It had been whispered during a crazy bout of love making.

"You're the only one who truly see's me Kieran. You're the only one who won't walk away" But, I fucking did walk away. I broke him and I did it with a smile on my face. A pang of hurt flashes over my face and reflects back at him he can always read my thoughts.

"Stop staying in the past. It won't help." Cast states and plops down in a leather arm chair right in front of his desk, a desk we also fucked on top of. Sipping on his own burborn he looks out the window. There are still wolves outside mingling, and speaking foundly of Liv everyone loved her but our alpha.

He motions for me to sit down so I do in the chair opposite of him. I can totally do this. I want to kill the person responsible for murdering Liv and I'm going to full enjoy killing her. But, I also can't deal with Cast right now and his we're forever mates bullshit. Right now I'm also drunk, angry and incredily horny and that is thanks to Cast. I can feel his control and his wolf begging me to suck his dick. So, I down my drink instead and word vomit all over, if I can't be myself with Cast then I can't be myself with anyone.

"What do you want to talk about Cast? You know I am truly sorry I couldn't be your true mate. I'm sorry I don't believe in a prophecy of us being fated mates to another she wolf and living happily ever after. I fell in love with Liv, and now I"m going to murder the woman who killed her. You can either help or get the fuck out of my way." I stand up and between all the energy in the room and the alchohol I'm shaking.

Cast looks at me biting his lip. Eyes fully colbalt blue now there is no mistaking it. "That's fine. I know you'll never believe. I'm still going to try and convince you every chance I can. But- there is something I do need to speak to you about that's actually not about us at all. You know every wolf has a role to play in the pack right?" I nod my head yes and he continues.

"Well after Liv's murder and your very public outburts. Red Moon pack wanted to go to war. They were going to slaughter us. But, I made a deal instead to save us, to save us all. Our pack is simply not strong enough set for that kinda war. I hope you understand my choice. You threatened to kill the alphas daughter. His only heir. I had to do something."

"What the fuck did you just sign me up for?"

Cast walks over to his desk and pulls out a contract and slides it across towards me. He has already signed it and so has the alpha of the Red Moon pack and so has his daughter. But her signature looks like someone cried into it.

Cast points a very well manicured finger at a line that says beta and my name. "You sign here, your legal name."

I look over the contract. It's a contract of marriage that will unite and bring peace between us. I finish my drink and hand him my cup to pour me another. I want to fucking explode. How can he force me to marry the bitch who killed Liv? I want to rip his head off at his arrogance. But, as I'm reading the contract it says must be married for one year or until a future hire has been bred. This sick son of a bitch wants to breed his own daughter. I'm disgusted. I also begin to do a happy dance inside. The closer I am to his daughter the better I can destroy her from the inside and her father. A plan starts to form in my head. A plan that could give me my revenge or forfill the prophecy Cast so despriately believes in. I've always had a soft spot for Cast. I do fucking miss him. If, I'm honest maybe this time I won't hurt him. Maybe this time we can stay together.

"Are you okay with this Kieran?" Can you do this and not be a complete asshole or worse? I don't need a war Kieran. I mean it we really can't take them on right now. If you ever felt anything for me. Ypu'll do this one thing. For me, for the pack." Cast looks like he's pleading with me. I take a deep breath. His mini speech, his words, are my undoing. The fly around in my brain like rockets. If you ever felt anything for me? For a time I thought I fucking loved him. Looking him dead in the eyes. Mine flashing colbalt blue. His returning the same heated expression.

"I'll do it. But, if I'm fucking my enemies daughter so are you. We will give this pack something to believe in the prophecy and raise our numbers. But I can't promise you I won't hurt her. I can't promise you I'll be gentle with her or with you. I'm still the bad guy. But, you, you can be the one that whispers her promises at night, you can be the one who saves her after I destroy her. I'll only do it if you'll help me.

He looks at me and sighs. "Fuck it." a whisper on his breath. I sign the contract and he extends his hand. "Thank you" he says. and then a sly smile I should have seen coming creeps over his face. "One more thing- Once she is here your in our bed every single night for one year. I mean it. Every night. There can be no doubt that we are all mates."

I looks at him and feel my dick spring to attention. "Okay. every night then. When does she arrive?" I look at him scratching my head. Nerves getting the better of me. His smile widens, fuck this can't be good.

"Oh, shes already here."

As soon as Cast says those words the doors to his office open and the most beautiful scent I've ever smelled hit's me like a hurricane. She smells like lavadar and lemons. Enchanting. I feel like I'm vibrating on another level tingles running all over my body.

Mate my wolf screams. It's really her this time Mate, Mate, Mate.

I look over at Cast who is smiling, he looks like he is about to explode with happiness. Disgusting. As much as I want to fuck this girl and Cast she still killed Liv. If, it's the last thing I do I'm going to make her pay for it.

Cast crosses the room and extends his hand. "Hello, Emma it's nice to finally meet you. Can I get you anything. Please sit. You look stunning. " He motions to me to introduce myself and I stand there frozen. I can't do anything but stare at her. She looks at me nervous and then it hits her. Who I am to her. She looks at me and Cast recogintion forming for Cast too. We're both her mates and she knows it. So do we and I can bet Cast knew this before I signed that fucking contract. She looks again at me and at Cast and then at the door.

The door was left slightly open and she bolts.