*Three Hours Prior*
The elders were stern as they locked eyes with me.It was the same old crap that I’d heard ever since I had taken over the Alpha position a few years ago.Every single one of them were worried about the big bad Alpha not finding his mate yet.“Alpha. You need to understand, you’re well above the age of finding a mate. You’re twenty three and you should have found your mate before you were eighteen. The pack needs a Luna.”My wolf howls at the thought of having no mate. The elders do nothing but piss me off every time they open their mouths.They’ve caused me nothing but pain and now here they are, trying to dig up some more problems for me.Does no one think that I don’t wish to have a mate? My wolf feels empty. As if half of his soul is missing. It’s not even far-fetched because that is truly what a mate is.The better half of your soul.Baring my fangs at the elders, I thud my hands on the table and watch as they jump in their seats.I’m not the most feared wolf for no reason.“I had a mate years ago but you didn’t think she was good enough. Apparently, she wasn’t Luna material simply because she didn’t have Alpha blood.”My words come out harsh and I revere in the trembling of the pathetic wolf's fear.My mate had been everything to me. We had been destined by the Moon Goddess but the elders stomped all over our dreams.I’ve made my peace with it but that doesn’t mean my anger has disappeared.The elders chose to remain silent and not speak. Their stupid black robes swayed in the breeze from the wind but not a single hair on their own bodies moved.“Let’s find a situation that could suit all of us, hmm?”I think over my many options.It’s not as if there were a lack of female wolves that had lined up to be mated to me. It was a common occurrence when one is an Alpha. It helped that I was one of the strongest, if not the strongest of Alpha’s currently.However, it’s clear I need to mate with someone that would make these good for nothing elders happy.A certain name flashes in my mind and I can’t help the smirk that overtakes my lips.“Well. It’s settled.”The elders all looked around at each other. They had no idea what I was hinting at.“Since you are all oh so adamant on the fact that this pack needs a Luna with Alpha blood; I’ll do just that.”“What do you mean, Alpha?” The head of the elders eagerly leaned forward.Whispers were exchanged and surprised looks were sent my way. Even the Head Elder was keen to learn more information.“I mean what I said. I’ll find a Luna for you.”“That is all well and good, Alpha. But the question arises; who? Not only that, but the decision must be carefully made. I hope you will not regret anything. When we find our Luna, the pack has to be stronger than ever. Our continued existence depends on it.”Leaning back in my chair, the smirk grows bigger as I eye each and every one of them.“Trust me. Have I ever failed any of oy before? Even when you plotted against me and made me cast my mate to the side. Did I ever fail you?”Guilty looks were sent my way and I blew them off.I didn’t need expressions of pity. Not when I had practically begged them to not put me through that ordeal.I had to choose between my mate and my pack. The former was a tempting matter but it was several hundred people in exchange for one.I had to sacrifice my personal happiness for the greater good.The two of us had made our peace with it but it still left a bitter taste in my mouth.Alpha duties reigned above all and sometimes, I wish I didn’t have to carry out the duty.“May we ask if you have any people in mind?”A chorus of agreement echoed but one stood out in particular.“There is one person that I do have in mind.”“But who? Every Alpha wolf has been mated already and is over the age of eighteen. Both men and women have all been fully mated. It’s a rare occurrence but you’re the only one left.”I watch as they all scratch their heads in confusion.I’d never met this person before but I knew exactly who I’ll be going after. It was a clear cut solution.Two people in desperate situations?What else is there to do?“The daughter of the Dark Moon Pack’s Alpha. Her older sister has just been crowned Alpha. The current news is that the youngest daughter has just turned eighteen and has been cast out. Don’t you think it’s a good bargain?”The Head Elder was stumped.It’s clear from the way his mouth opens and closes.“Alpha Rodrigez’s daughter?”I clap to show my fake form of congratulations.“The very one. Serena Rodrigez is the new Alpha of the Dark Moon pack and she’s already cast her sister out.I will make Avery Rodrigez my mate.”More murmurs erupted but no one dared say anything else.How could they?Nothing dictated that the female had to be an Alpha in her own right. She simply had to have Alpha blood.Avery Rodrigez has been put into a difficult situation and she’ll be desperate.It would be the best bet.“How will you find her? She probably has people searching for her right now. The woman possesses Alpha blood. A young she wolf like that on her own is a target. How do we manage it?”Standing up to my full height, I assess all the elders.“You’re questioning me? Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?”The man who questioned me shook his head.“No, of course not. We fully believe in you.”“You are Alpha Gabriel after all. The strongest Alpha in the entire region.”The drive was long.I could barely keep my eyes open as I watched the canopy of trees on either side of the road simply blurring by.I don’t know why I’m so tired. Maybe it was the shift that took a severe toll on me? But then again, I had knocked out afterwards for who knows how long. The sun was starting to peek over the edge of the skyline so I know it must have been a good few hours. The car ride itself was quiet but I used that as a means to contact my wolf.‘Aurora? Can you hear me?’This had been the umpteenth time but again, I got no response. I had to blanket my disappointment and pretend as if I didn’t notice anything had happened. I should have the energy to run around in wolf form and switch back into my usual form without beating an eye. Aurora truly was weak and it was all my fault.I couldn’t even shift properly in time. If I had, the both of us would have had a strong bond.“We’re here.”So consumed in my thoughts, I jerk up at the man’s voice. I hadn’t even bothered
My first instinct was to run.Alpha Gabriel’s was to laugh at the look on my face.“I see my reputation precedes me.”The mug in my hand starts to shake and the ripples in the tea almost absorb me into a trance. Unfortunately, even pretty swirls won’t distract me this time around. Dread fills into the crevices of my stomach and the tea settles uneasily in my gut.“W-what? Ho-ow?”I try to think back to any alarming instances that could possibly give away his identity but I come up blank. Sure, he has a big house and lives an hour or so away but that doesn’t mean anything.There are a lot of rogue wolves that aren’t necessarily bad. They simply enjoy not being surrounded by pack politics.Of course then there are those types that join into cults and come after people like my father.The image that has been plaguing my mood momentarily distracts me. My father…“You seem a bit disturbed. Is it because of me or…?”The inclination in his tone has me stiffening up and I automatically stand
“Yes.”His answering smirk had me already regretting my notion of impulse.“Yes. What?”“I agree. To whatever it may be.”See? I really should just super glue my mouth shut.“Perfect. Let’s get going then.”Alpha Gabriel slaps his palms against his thighs. He places my mug out of harm's way and turns around. I barely get a chance to protest before he’s already out the door.“What? Where are we going?”I follow him out of the main door and trail after him. He’s already making a direct beeline for the car.“You agreed to what I asked.”I falter before I pounce on him. Grabbing the man by the arm, I hold my ground and stare him straight in the eye.“You didn’t ask me anything. Well, not in the actual sense of the word. I don’t even know what I’ve agreed to. Where are we going?”Alpha Gabriel stares down at my hand clinging onto his arm as if in some pesky fly that needs to be dealt with.The man sits in the car and I have no choice but to follow him. It’s not like I can stay behind.This
“I’m sorry, what?!”Jax’s voice nearly breaks on the spot as he takes a step forward.Alpha Gabriel doesn’t take to this lightly and a loud growl rips from his throat. The harsh sound is guttural and shakes the ground beneath our feet. Everyone is taken by surprise and Jax falters in his steps. Serena bares her neck in a sign of submission. I hate the feeling coursing through me but I can’t help feeling smug at the sight of my sister being put in her place.“I do NOT repeat myself.”My legs feel shaky on the spot and I’m stunned when Alpha Gabriel grabs a hold of my shoulder to steady myself.“My apologies, Alpha Gabriel,” I can tell Jax is speaking through his teeth but he maintains eye contact with the ground.No one dares look him in the eye. Not even Serena.“There are a few ground rules we must go through. Each and every one of them must be followed if you want my help, Alpha Serena.”“Understood,” My sister speaks out through a shaky breath.“I’m glad that is sorted. I’ll be s
“Stop it!”A laugh bubbles out of my throat as Jax presses kisses to my neck. The ticklish fever overtakes me and I find myself pushing him back.My boyfriend pulls back with a huge grin, his eyes dark with lust and he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.“This is supposed to be romantic,” The man voices out to which I scoff before pecking his lips.“You’re trying to get into my pants. That’s not romantic.”Jax pushes himself up on his elbows as he takes in my half naked form. This is what always happens. We plan out our day with lots of fun activities but before I know it, everything gets dropped and we’re having sex like two horny wolves during their heat. It’s happened more times than I’d like to count.Not that I’m complaining or anything.Jax grabs me by my waist as I try to get up and a surprised shriek leaves my lips. He kisses me once more before looking straight at me.“You’ve been a bit distracted lately? Is something wrong?”I chew on my lip as the events of the day catch
My mind couldn’t comprehend anything.It was only when my mother and father rushed out that I realized what was happening. It was all too much too fast.With a gasp, I rushed out the front door and was taken aback.No. No. No!What the hell is happening?It was as if the wolves were coming straight to our main house. The Alpha and Luna’s house was towards the back with the other buildings scattered on either side. It had been designed that way so that the warriors were the first to engage in battle and keep the rest of the pack protected. However, somehow the attackers had infiltrated our land and came to us directly.I watched on in alarm as my father shifted into his large wolf, acting the wolves head on.The sharp smell of rotting flesh and blood attacked my senses.They were rogues.Other pack members shifted and attacked and I stayed rooted in my spot.“Avery. Hide! You’re defenseless. Your father has more to worry about than his daughter that can’t even shift.”I wince at the ha
“What the hell? Why are you sleeping with someone else?”My sharp voice causes Jax to jerk in his sleep. The man sits up with his arm half wrapped around the woman. She squints and turns to me but the anger grows even deeper in my stomach.Jax looked at me with soft and sad eyes. He appeared to be remorseful but something tells me he doesn’t regret it one bit.“I’m so sorry, Ave. I finally found her. She’s my soulmate?”I watch the woman staring back at me, brown eyes comprehending everything as smug satisfaction gathers in her eyes. “Did you mark her?” My voice breaks at the end and it takes everything in me to hold back my tears.I feel like a fool.Jax lowered his head, not being able to answer. My eyes seek out their own answer and I get it when the woman turns her hair to the side. The mark is bright red and healing pleasantly. My boyfriend’s teeth make a perfect crescent. My heart broke into shattered pieces. Pieces too small I don’t think I’d ever be able to put myself back t
My body is shaking with the pain that courses through my body. I can’t stay out here. Someone could come and get me.A tremor makes its way down my body but this one wasn’t out of pain but fear.If someone comes across me like this in such a state…Hoisting myself up, I stagger on my feet. Intense heat and spasms throw my body into contortions. I’m a mess both inside and outside. I’m finally turning into a werewolf and yet I can’t even rejoice over the fact. Teras blur my eyes and sobs make their way through my chest. I’m innocent but everyone is blaming me. I tried. If my body had listened to me, I would have shifted then and there to attack all those rogues.Did I kill my father? Was it my fault?Maybe if I was stronger… better.“I killed him.”Sniffling, I go to wipe my tears away from my cheeks but stop when massive claws nearly tear my skin to shreds.Looking around, I realized my legs had carried me to a clearing with a lake located on the farthest side. Stumbling, I go to w