***Leila POV****
Alpha Xander was observing the scene before him with displeasure. His lips pressed against each other.
There was dried blood splattered all over his face, shirt, and hands. Which meant he just come back from a battle.
“Don’t let me repeat myself,” he ordered, his voice was frosty cold. I noticed my father's posture stiffen slightly from behind me. But he soon regained composure. Stepping away from my stepmother and step-sister, he moved towards Xander.
“Alpha, welcome back,” he said.
“I am sure you…..”
“Don’t waste my time, Carlson,” Xander replied cutting him off. I felt my face flush at his thundering command. Inside me, Lea whined, hiding her face in her paws.
“Yes Alpha,” my father replied, slowly lowering his head in a show of respect.
“This is a simple matter, I am sorry that this dishonorable scene is the first thing you'll see upon your return.”
The atmosphere was enveloped in silence for what seemed like forever. I could see the rage burning in Xander’s eyes as he clenched his fist.
“Leila,” Alpha Xander called my name.
My heart sank in fear as I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. How did he know my name, all this year's I never thought he would notice me. I slowly lifted my head even though I refused to look him in the eyes.
“Look at me,” he commanded. And my gaze snapped to meet his immediately.
“Tell me what happened?”
I parted my lips to speak but no words came out. I felt my vision go blurry as tears pooled down my face. I managed to compose myself. “ I am leaving Damian because he..”
I didn't sense Damian creeping through the crowd towards me, until the sound of him dropping to the ground near me, interrupted my speech.
Damian scrambled on the floor, holding my feet, his face was full of fear and regret. I was stunned. Using this opportunity to his advantage, Damian spoke.
“Although Leila lied to me, that she was my mate despite her being unable to smell or shift into a wolf, I forgive her and still love her. So we can continue our relationship.” his voice barely above a whisper.
“As you can see, this is all a misunderstanding” my father interjected, trying to convince Alpha Xander “Leila and Damian will be getting married as planned. Preparations are being made as we speak.”
I felt a boiling sensation in my stomach, as Father spoke those words. I had just walked in on my fiancé together with my best friend in my room, all alone.
How stupid does my father think I am, how does he expect me to marry someone who already cheated on me with my best friend?
“ I will not marry Damian Rockmeishire,” I yelled at my father through gritted teeth, shaking my head vehemently. Angry tears pooled down my cheek as I continued. “ He is an opportunist, a coward, and a cheat.”
“He's what?” Alpha Xander asked, his eyes wide open. His jaw dropped as he shot a dangerous look at Damian who quivered in fear like a little mouse. There was no doubt Alpha Xander was furious.
“Don't listen to her Alpha Xander” My dad spoke up.
“Leila had a difficult day, she walked in on a situation that she totally misinterpreted. The mating ceremony will go on as planned.”
I felt a knot tie in my belly at my father’s unbelievable betrayal. He didn't love me that much which I already knew. But for him to disgrace me in the presence of the entire pack members was unbelievable.
“Alpha, I will never marry Damianl. I would rather go rogue first before agreeing to such a union.” I retorted, dabbing the tears from my face.
my father sneered, beside me as I watched his nostril flare. He lifted his hand to strike me. And out of nowhere, Alpha Xander stretched out his muscular bloodstained hand and pulled Father by the arm.
“How dare you do that in the presence of your Alpha?” He roared. For a moment, I could only watch in horror as these two men stood, towering over me.
“Alpha, am so sor…”
“ I came home after a victorious battle” Xander continued, cutting my father in his tracks. “And this is what am greeted with upon my arrival?”
“The law remains that, this pack will never force a person into a relationship against their will.” he continued.
I felt a wave of relief and calm wash over me as I parted my lips and sighed.
“The mating ceremony between Leila Romanov and Damian Rockmeishire is off,” he commanded, pausing briefly to let his words sink in. In front of me, my father closed his eyes for a split second as he drew a quick breath, struggling to compose himself again. Obviously, he wasn't pleased with the Alpha’s decision.
“I am disappointed in all of you, creating a fuss like this, and throwing our pack into chaos like you're some bunch of pups” Alpha Xander growled. Each of his words, dripping with venom and disdain.
“Carlson, you'll have to take responsibility for this. You and Damian will all be punished with double-pack training, for creating such a scene.”
Father nodded, as he gave me a dangerous gaze.
“You may all leave” Alpha Xander ordered. And immediately everyone dispersed. I spun to leave when I heard him call my name.
“Leila,” he called out, which made me freeze in my tracks. I felt my heart sink to my stomach as I pursed my lips.
“Come here.” this time around, his voice was compassionate. He held my chin, raising my head to meet his gaze. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me as I stood there in fear. Was he about to punish me too? What was my offense?
“Follow me to my office,” he said, before dropping his bloodstained hand and taking a step away from me.
****Leila Pov****I had never entered Xander’s office before, I was surprised at how modern his office looked. With its dark rustic color scheme, hardwood floors, and wood-paneled ceilings. The sound of the door being shut softly made me quiver in fear. I was alone with Alpha Xander of the Black Pool pack. A man who killed all his brothers to secure his place as Alpha. My mouth went dry as I thought about it. “Why don't you want to bond with Damian Anymore?” his deep baritone voice echoed across the entire office. “And what was it you said about him cheating?”He had his back turned against me as he soaked up the night view of the city. His frame was muscular, he had a dragon tattoo on his arm that stretched all the way to his back. He ripped the remnant of his shirt off, as he washed his face and hands, before changing into another shirt. “It was a slip of the tongue.” I managed to speak out. “ I just wanted the whole relationship to end”He didn't say a word as he furrowed his
Xander’s POVFor two years now, I had kept it to myself. The knowledge that Leila was my mate. By the time I found out, my reputation as Alpha was already set in stone. Those who knew me would say, I was cold, ruthless, powerful, and uncompromising. I had lived all my life, caring less about finding a mate or starting a family. But on a particular day, my entire world changed forever. That was on her eighteenth birthday. On that day, I was drinking with my friend Carlson when he told me. “I don't feel like going back home,” he murmured. It was his bastard daughter’s birthday. She just turned eighteen. Turning eighteen for werewolves meant that they were officially transitioning into adulthood, taking up certain responsibilities and also finding a mate. Each wolf was given a gift, a small pouch that contained wolfsbane, according to tradition. Everyone in the pack knew how he treated her. She was never accepted as a family member. Carlson was involved with a woman who wasn't his
Xander PovSomeone from his pack? I thought, feeling stupid for a moment. How could I not protect her? I asked within myself. Why didn't I realize that she could be in danger knowing just how many enemies she was surrounded by?I stood up and walked towards my window, boiling in anger as I gazed into the pack from above my office. I placed my hand across my chest, feeling the hurt that came with knowing she was nowhere to be found.I guess this was a journey u will have to go on with to ensure she finally gets to be mine and do that which she deserved to do.He sighted a field at a spot as he looked down and had a flashback. ****The huge field that was more of a playground was beautifully decorated with carpet grass. Kids played around innocently as Leila then ran in with the pure intention of playing with them. At that moment, the kids stood up and walked out like some poison had appeared.I was sitting at the end of the field in between two huge plants as I watched the scene won
Xander pov"Get Carlson caged now!," I ordered through the mind link and immediately there was an uproar at the other side of the pack. I headed straight to the building where Leila laid her head every night. The moment I got to the main door, I kicked it open and burst in only to see an empty apartment. My strong feet walked into it and I headed straight to her room like I knew where it was from the beginning when the truth is, I had never been in there. I opened the little door to her room and couldn't help but take a deep breath as I sighted an already-washed picture hanging on the left side of the wall. "Leila" I whispered and ran towards the wall in a few seconds, grabbing the picture the moment it got to my palm.I looked through the rooms but there was no sign of her in it, so I walked away and shut the main door.When I got back to my office, I saw a bracelet on my table so I ordered Romero to show up through the mind link, and in minutes, he appeared "Who owns this," I aske
Damian's pov"I really don't get the hype really. She doesn't really have to be the one to wear the jewel. I believe there are other beautiful girls who are fit enough to act as the moon goddess." a young she-wolf said, demonstrating with her fingers."the fact that she's gone missing right now makes me really happy." another said."as for me, I feel so pissed by the way Alpha Xander is taking this.""exactly, like she's nothing. Let's just move on.""I just hope when it's time he will choose someone else. Like can't they see me.""Shut up! I think I will look better.""If you have nothing to do with her going missing, then I will suggest you shut up and act like you know nothing else you will implicate yourself for no just cause," I said from above them, cutting these young she wolves off before they put themselves in trouble.They looked at me in shock and stood up immediately. It was obvious they never expected anybody to be around them."I'm sorry Damian." one of them stood up imme
Chapter 9Xander's povLater that evening when it was time to visit the location where the triumph procession will take place. I, Alpha Xander paced all over the room fuming. If I wasn't strong enough, I would have broken down in tears because somehow, I felt as though I was losing a part of me. I sat on my chair and a few minutes later, I heard a knock on my office door. "Come in," I said without looking up 'Alpha it's time" my Delta said to me. I looked up at him for a moment, sick of what to say.One of the things I loved was orderliness but my pack was nothing as such at that moment. I wished everything would go back to normal at that moment but was that possible? Carlson, my beta was in the Red Den and it was the same for a few other important people. I am not done though. I hope for this arrest to carry on if it will bring my mate back to me."Postpone it to the next three days," I ordered Romero and signaled that he leave.Obediently, he bowed and left. The office then went
Xander's povSliding different swords of mine into different parts of my wear for the day, I turned my palm into a fist and gazed into the mirror in anger. ****The forest floor trembled beneath the weight of my fury. Bark tore from ancient oaks, ripped away by the sheer force of my rage. I, Alpha Xander, the protector, the leader, the embodiment of strength, was now a whirlwind of claws and teeth, fueled by a burning injustice.My opponent, a hulking brute of a bear in the forest stood defiant. It was an enemy I had known for years, a rival for territory and resources. Yet, the bear had always held a grudging respect for my strength. I guess it thought I was in one of my best moods that day. The respect had I had saved for it all these years was been shattered by the bear’s latest transgression. Nothing burned me more than the fact that my mate was nowhere near me. Gone, snatched away by the bear’s brazen recklessness, leaving behind me only a trail of blood and fear.I snarled a gu
Chapter 11Xander's povThe next day, every single warrior of mine made their way to the said location. The lead they got happened to be a pack that was rumored to be jealous of my pack. Storm pack was one pack I had never stepped my feet into for one day. The werewolves of the pack come into my pack though but it was just a few of them. What could Leila be doing at Storm Pack? I couldn't help but ask myself. But then there was no time to waste so I followed them secretly as they set out. I trusted Romero. I just don't trust the said location.I followed them all the way to the pack. It was more of a wilderness. In the unyielding wilderness, amidst towering trees and treacherous ravines, my warriors paused as they looked through every hook and cranny almost in silence.At some point, I looked and studied the whole area. I then realized we hadn't gotten to Storm Pack so I kept following them.I stopped at the center of some plants in trees when I felt someone at my back. I guess whoe