Chapter 3

She replays everything that happened in the woods last night with a broken heart.

"What did you expect Annaliese", she thinks to herself.

"You should have seen it coming".

She had told her mom what happened the night before when the mother had waited for her to come home.

Cresent on the other hand, has been quiet since last night with the occasional whimpering and pain in Annaliese's chest.

She stays locked in her room as she does not want anybody's sympathy, thinking over and over again, replaying the brutal words of her mate.

"You're not fit to be my mate, i don't want you".

Those words burned her heart and is still burning her heart.

It hurts to have your mate say that to you. The one person the moon goddess has fated with you, the only person who will ever make you truly happy, the only person that is supposed to accept you and love you for who you are.

What was she expecting?.

Nobody would love her, she is blind.

The Clear Waters Alpha mind links his pack to gather at the town square by noon.

According to him, Anybody not present is to be punished. Either way, Annaliese knows she wouldn't miss it. Her father is the delta after all.

Yes, they're a small pack with houses here and there, few shops, a hospital, town hall and some other buildings.

With last night happenings, Annaliese has forgotten the alpha king is around.

She mind links one of the twins and ask for the time then gets out of her bed annoyed.

"10:57 am".

She rushes into the bathroom and takes a quick shower then she puts on a short strapless dress and goes downstairs.

Annaliese can sense her whole family looking at her with pity.

Mark is about to say something but Matt smacks him whispering "shut up". He glares at Matt but thankfully keeps quiet.

At 11:33 am, they leave the house.

They get to the square around 11:50am and wait for the alpha while Eric and her dad goes to stand with Beta Grant and his daughter, Julia. The square was packed full.

Few minutes later, Annaliese smells alpha Cedric and some other new scents.

The scents are strange to her so she concludes the Alpha King's pack, The Zenith Wolves pack are the owners of the different scents.

Everyone murmurs and she listens carefully to grasp what the alpha king is about to say.

Just then, the same scent from last night hits her all over again. Now thicker in air, the scent drifts in and out of her nose mercilessly, causing small whimpers from her.

"Mate", Cresent says quietly in her head.

Annaliese tries to distract herself from the smell by drowning in the conversations around her.

"Look Emma, he's here".

"That's him".

"He's handsome".

"Wish he was my mate"

"He looks wicked"

"What is he looking at?".

Everyone gasps and Annaliese can feel herself being the center of attention.

Her mate walks towards her like a predator checking out its prey. He tilts her head up with his fingers.

"You", he growls.

Why does he always growl at me?, she thinks to herself.

She can sense his wolf trying to come to surface to look at her.

"What is your name?", he asks.

"Ann-Annaliese", she replies, her voice shaking. Her wolf whines, ready to submit to her Alpha.

"Your full name", he asks with a cold voice.

"Annaliese Dayton".

"I, Alpha Kieran McQueen of the Zenith Wolves Pack reje-".

Annaliese's breath hitches. Her voice gets caught in her throat. Her heart begins to beat fast.

No.

Please no, please.

"WAIT!", someone shouts.

His head snaps to the person as he asks menacingly. "What?!".

"You need her, Alpha, She can be of great use to us and you know it", the person says.

The Alpha looks at her and concludes, "You're coming with me".

She almost sighs in relief.

Well, thank you whoever you are, are the words of appreciation running through Annaliese's head.

Her mate holds her hand as warmth spreads through her body and then drags her to the front of the crowd while alpha Cedric delivers his speech.

"Welcome everyone. As you all know, i called this meeting so i could introduce you to the alpha king, Alpha Kieran McQueen. He's here because he wants us to renew our vows to him if a war breaks out".

Everyone starts murmuring, interrupting the Alpha.

"Silence!, I, alpha Cedric Daniels of clear waters pack have agreed to give our full support to the zenith wolves as we must support our kind".

Annaliese could tell there are two sides to this. Her mate lets go of her hand as the warmth leaves. He walks up to Alpha Cedric and faces the pack, his voice hard and commanding.

"Your Alpha has decided, you will all support me and i will not tolerate any wolf going up against me".

He looks around then continues, "if you wish to join my warriors, see your alpha and he'll recommend you to me, that'll be all".

Everyone disperses as her family runs to her side.

"Alpha Kieran", her dad speaks.

"I understand if you wish to take her with you as she is your mate but i want you to promise me on alpha's honour that you will not mistreat her".

Alpha Kieran growls loudly and announces throatily, "Whatever i wish to do with my mate is none of your business, father of my mate. She is mine".

Her father stares at him then nods. Alpha Dayton knows going up against the Alpha king will not only cost him but also cost his daughter as well.

He knows putting up a fight wouldn't help the situation so he steps back while her brothers look on helplessly.

The Alpha turns to person who had spoken earlier, "Quinn, round up the Epsilons, we are leaving now".

Her mother squeaks then looks at him and says, "Please let us have five minutes with her".

He says nothing before he turns to walk away leaving Annaliese behind with her mother.

Mark and Matt tackle her into a tight hug.

"We'll miss you Annie, so much".

"Yeah, who's gonna protect me from this idiot?".

She smiles as she tells Matt to ignore him.

"I never got the names of your wolves".

Mark is too busy hugging her so Matt answers.

"Mine's Leo while this dummy's Liam".

Eric pries them off her and carries her like a little girl.

"I'm gonna miss you, little one", he sets her down as he hugs her too and kisses her forehead. He lets go and her mother sobs into her hair.

"Mom, I'll be fine", she tries to console her mother who just cries harder.

A warrior comes to them and says, "I'm sorry but the Alpha said the Luna should come with me".

Her mom starts whining.

"What about her clothes, her shoes, her je- ".

"She will get everything she needs in our pack", the epsilon says firmly.

Her dad pulls her into a tight hug and pats her shoulder. "Be good kiddo".

She bids her family goodbye, walking away with the epsilon. Her mom cries into her dad's shoulders and the twins wave happily while Eric has a worried look on his face.

Annaliese turns to feel her family looks once more before she disappears into the woods.

Her fate awaits her.