Chapter Three: Runaway Mate

Watching as his newfound mate was pulled away from him and lost in the crowd of weak members before him that this pack held, Alpha Lucian couldn’t stifle the tormented and dangerous growl that rumbled from his lips. That unknown woman was his mate, his to claim and his to keep, but some pathetic and revolting shifter seemed to drag her away… Lucian’s claws and canines extended staring at the place she once stood.

“This seems to be all of my pack members, take your pick of which one you want in exchange for my daughter.” Alpha Lukas spoke from behind Lucian; he had unknowingly broken this Alpha out of his angered stare where his runaway mate stood and with said stare, came the biggest rush of fury.

“There is only one soul we need to pick and from her scent fading, she is not here as that vile man claimed.” Lucian’s wolf growled in his mind sensing their little mate fading away from them, his true animal instincts almost forcing Lucian to shift and hunt her down.

“What do you believe I am Alpha Lukas; do you take me as a fool?” Lucian asked, his words sending a cold and deadly shiver through those who stood watching and for Lukas, to look from side to not unknowing what this Alpha meant.

“Of course I don’t Alpha-.” Lukas began to say fighting his corner only having heard stories of what Alpha Lucian was like and truly, didn’t want to get on the wrong side of him.

But with a growl and Lucian whipping his head around to face the man, canines extended and eyes the darkest shade of black, Lukas couldn’t hide the shock and hidden fear in his eyes staring back.

“Then why are you standing in your spot attempting to make me believe these are all the pack members who live within your borders?!” Lucian roared in anger and pure fury staring at this man, the fact his mate's delicious scent was disappearing from his nose with each second that passed, his wolf hounded at him to shift.

Composing himself once again, Lucian now takes a look down at Heather, her small body shaking violently and tears simply pouring down her cheeks mixing with her blood that spilled from the tight chains that bound her limbs together. Smirking at the scene, he walks closer to the shaking girl and even takes a strand of hair in his hands and holds it between his fingers as he walked slowly behind her, the sound of his expressive shoes tapping off the floor could be heard as each person was either too stunned or absolutely terrified to speak.

“I offered you the opportunity to save your daughter’s life Alpha; I was planning on doing what happens to each trespasser on my land the moment she was captured…” Lucian continued with his dark taunting walking around Heather who couldn’t stop the sobs from leaving her lips especially, when this evil Alpha kneels down in front of her with the same deadly look.

“Killing her ever so slowly while my pack members watch in glee and after, hanging her lifeless and blood drained body from a spike with the others… but in an act of good will on my part, I accepted your offer to trade and you stand in that place and plan to deceive me… perhaps I could claim this land as mine, I am running out of space for my torture chambers and here seems perfect, of course you and each member would have to die first.” Lucian smirked recalling the many times he had done that very thing to anybody trespassing on his land, while leaving Heather to weep on the floor and turned his head to look at the surrounding area while the people in front of him all gasped and some even burst out crying.

“That will not be necessary Alpha Lucian, I give you my word that I am not planning to deceive or mislead you and will accept the trade which you wish to make in return for the safety of my daughter. I have ordered my men to do a headcount who will provide me with any missing persons.” Alpha Lukas spoke up having heard stories of his own about what happens when this man steps into any packs, and as on cue, one of the strongest guards in Alpha Lukas’s packs steps forward.

“After our initial sweep sir, we discovered there are twenty missing persons, fifteen are accounted for as guards who are stationed around the borders while the other five seem to be from the Ashford family.” This border guard who held firm with his hands behind his back and his head high in the air states but from his words, Lucian could only turn to look at the Alpha with a deadly smirk.

“You have a merely ten minutes to bring this family before me so I can make my decision, or my favourite pastime will begin… starting with your daughter.” Lucian stated beyond coldly and without any clear emotion on his face, it was as though the warm summer breeze turned icy and allowed deep shivers through each person.

The silence which gripped the area was so loud, each person could only watch this evil man in freight but all, including the Alpha, refused to make eye contact in case a punishment would follow. While Alpha Lucian, walked up and down with his hands in his pockets, even though he was in another Alpha’s territory, he was not afraid in the slightest. Not only with his sheer size and strength, he could animate each soul within this land without breaking a sweat but the legacy he had built, nobody, not even the Alpha King himself, had enough power or guts to pick a fight with him… he’d win each time.

Through the deafening silence, the guards who had been tasked to go to the Ashford residence and bring the family before the Alpha, began to drag the father Patrick Ashford to the front. No matter the fights he put up, Patrick was soon dragged right to the front and thrown at the feet of his Alpha, with Lucian looking over.

“I demand to know why you and your family are the only people who did not heed my orders and gather before me?!” Alpha Lukas now shouts feeling not only betrayed by Patrick but beyond angry, he blatantly ignored his Alpha’s orders which could have led to his daughter death!

“My mate is too sick sir, she could not leave her bed to attend and as her mate, I cannot leave her.” Patrick began to say while the guards held down his shoulders forcing him to remain on his knees.

“And your children?!” The Alpha asked understanding how sick his mate was but that didn’t account for their three children, Jeremy, Adeline and Isla not being present, but for Patrick, he simply lifted his head up to look the Alpha right in the eyes.

“My children are long gone sir; I had my son take them all out of here and as far away as he could! I couldn’t allow any of them especially, my eldest daughter to be bargained off like some kind of currency!” Patrick shouted finally having enough of the way he was forced to live after his mate became sick, nobody helped their family and now expected him to put the lives of his children into question to help this Alpha!

His loud shouts were only met with stunned gasped from the crowd of onlookers but even more terrifying, a loud and deadly chuckle to leave the lips of Alpha Lucian who stood watching this old man fight against the guards keeping him to the floor. Once his laughter had ended, his long, slow but deadly steps were soon walking towards Patrick who watched his expensive shoes in shock and quite a substantial amount of fear.

“Your loyalty and protectiveness for your family is very amicable, perhaps that is why I have not yet slit your throat but Mr Ashford, here is the truth behind the matter.” Lucian spoke coldly towards this man before he knelt right in front of his face, the eyes of this man similar to that of his mate but not nearly as beautiful and bright, this man could very well be her father.

“If I make the decision to claim your daughter and take her back with me to my pack, there is not a thing you or anybody else can do to stop me. The moment the trade is over, she will become my property, and I can do whatever I please with her and you, her darling father will not have a say in the matter and if I decide, will never see her again, do you understand?” Lucian almost growled staring at this dirty man’s face who planned to keep what solely belonged to him away, his wolf almost taking full control to rip this man apart at such a thought.

“I expect this daughter of his to be brought before me within five minutes so I can make my decision … or I will hunt her down myself.” Lucian now demanded getting to his feet and sending his demands to the Alpha, while Patrick could only plead with this man repeatedly.

The hunt was now underway for Lucian’s runaway mate.