014~ PISSED OVER A REJECTION

Raze

My mate stands on the other side of the table, clutching the necklace to her chest as sobs shake her small frame.

Wasn't that enough to force her wolf out?

'Why did you make her cry?' Khaos rumbles in my head.

Maybe it only works at night when the moon is full.

'You fucking idiot!'

'I was verifying something.'

And it's not like I lied about anything. Knowing the truth should discourage another foolish escape attempt.

'She's going to hate us.'

'She already hates us.' I remind him.

Her sobs grow louder, and something tightens painfully in my chest.

I don't fucking like what her tears are doing to me. Especially when I'm still pissed that she tried to reject me.

Should've known the Moon Goddess would give me a mate who can't even feel the bond between us.

Stupid ass bitch.

'Do something, you bastard!'

'Okay,' I sigh as I round the table and stop beside her.

After a moment's hesitation, I raise my hand and awkwardly pat her head. "Your mother knows you're better off here, Wildfire."

She immediately slaps it away.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

She glares up at me, her blue eyes red rimmed and glistening with tears.

Before I can say anything, she turns and storms toward the door, slamming it behind her.

I chuckle in disbelief.

What the fuck?

'Well, that went splendidly,' Khaos remarks.

'You're the one who asked me to do something.'

'And what a remarkable job you did.'

This furry bastard.

London's voice cuts through my thoughts. 'Alpha.'

'What?'

'The elders have gathered in the council chamber. They request your presence.'

I knew it was a matter of time before the news that I brought home a shewolf reached them.

But what the fuck makes them think they can summon me without informing me beforehand?

'On my way.' I tell London before severing the link.

They chose the wrong time to test my patient.

I've been in a foul mood since she tried rejecting me, and the warrior's unfortuante enough to train with me this morning had borne the brunt of it. London saved their asses when he mind linked me about my mate being in the library.

London is waiting near the foot of the staircase when I reach downstairs.

"Shall I fetch you a shirt before the meeting?" He offers.

"No," I say as I walk past him. "Wouldn't want to keep the old bastards waiting."

"Very well, Alpha." He falls into step behind me.

I hear voices arguing on the other side of the double doors. When I push them open, the noise dies, and all seven elders rise from their seats around the long council table.

"Alpha," they greet in unison, bowing their heads.

I let my gaze travel across their faces before taking my seat at the head of the table while London stands behind my chair.

"Who called this meeting?" I ask coldly.

No one speaks.

I glance around the table. "I asked a goddamn question."

"I did."

Of course.

My head turns towards the voice on my right.

Malachar Blackthorn.

The old snake sits with a smile on his wrinkled face, looking far too pleased with himself.

"Malachar," I say, glancing at the eye patch covering his left eyes before meeting his good one. "This better be important."

"Oh, it is." His smile doesn't falter as he holds my gaze.

I lean back in my chair. "Make it quick."

An elder clears his throat. "Alpha, forgive the urgency, but we've received some rather troubling information."

"Have you now?"

He exchanges a glance with Malachar before continuing. "There is a rumour going around that you returned from Cresent Moon with a... wolfless Omega who is supposedly your mate."

"And?"

A murmur travels around the table.

He swallows. "Alpha, we mean no disrespect, but surely you understand our concerns."

I turn toward him. "No, Elijah. I don't see how bringing my mate home concerns any of you."

"Blood Moon is the most powerful pack, Alpha Raze. Our Luna must be a woman capable of standing beside you. A woman who can shift and has proven herself, not some wolfless—"

"Finish that sentence, and I'll have your tongue."

'Should have ripped his throat out the first time he called our mate wolfless,' Khaos growls.

The room goes deathly quiet.

Elijah lowers his gaze. "Forgive me, Alpha."

"The next person to open his mouth had better think carefully before speaking."

For a moment, no one speaks, and then another elder clears his throat.

"Alpha, I believe Elijah was merely trying to express our concerns about the future of the pack."

I chuckle. "I thought as devoted followers of the Moon Goddess, you'd all be celebrating my mate's arrival. Or do you also think she made a mistake?"

Malachar hasn't said another word since admitting he called the meeting. He merely sits there, smiling as he watches the othwrs perform the roles he's given them.

'He's begging to lose his only good eye,' Khaos says.

"Alpha, we aren't saying the Moon Goddess made a mistake," another elder beside Elijah speaks. "We simply believe that your mate and our Luna need not be the same woman."

He must have taken my silence as a permission because he starts to spew more bullshit.

"Lady Rhonna has already proven herself capable of fulfilling the duties of a Luna. We should carry out the Luna ceremony for her as it was earlier arranged."

"Your mate can fulfil her natural duty of bearing your pups while Lady Rhonna handles the affairs of the pack," another elder chips in, and the elders murmur in agreement.

'Did he just suggest another shewolf take our mate's place?'

I chuckle darkly as I look around the table. "So, you all are in agreement?"

"Alpha—" Elijah tries to speak but is cut off when I release a fraction of my aura.

The air in the room grows heavy.

Around the table, the elders stiffen, their hands gripping the wood.

"You seem to be under the impression that you have a say in who becomes my Luna." My voice remains calm.

"Should I remind you who your Alpha is?"

The pressure increases.

Chairs scrape against the floor as two elders drop to their knees.

'Look at them,' Khaos sneers. 'They can't even stand before us, yet they question our mate's worth. She kicked your ass without even fully shifting.'

'I let her.'

'Yeah, yeah,' he snorts. "Keep telling yourself that until you believe it.'

"Alpha!" someone chokes.

"Raze Blackthorn," Malachar grits his teeth, fighting to keep his head raised.

"It's Alpha Raze for you, Malachar Blackthorn."

I increase the pressure, and one by one, the remaining elders collapse to their knees while Malachar grips the armrests tighter, fighting to remain seated.

"Alpha, please," Elijah says.

"I'll be introducing my mate and your future Luna to the pack tomorrow," I announce as I stand. "Anyone who fails to attend had better have a death wish."

"Yes, Alpha," the elders gasps in unison.

My gaze settles on Malachar, whose single eye burns with fury.

"Yes, Alpha," he says.

"Good."

I withdraw my aura.

The elders struggle to catch their breath as I move closer to Malachar and pat his shoulder.

"If I were you, Uncle, I'd be careful. I'd hate to leave you completely blind."

His fingers curl into a fist, but he says nothing.

I turn to London, who is still recovering. "Begin the preparation for my mate's Luna ceremony."

"Yes, Alpha."

I turn toward the door.

"The Blood Moon pack will never accept her as its Luna," Malachar says behind me.

I don't bother looking back.

"I'm the Blood Moon pack."