MOIRA

Everyone went haywire the moment Alpha Jamie accepted. They all had something to say as I stood frozen in the center of the chaos.

My wrist still burned where the mark glowed. I tried to convince myself none of this was real. It couldn’t be real. One moment I was clearing tables and the next I was mated to the most important man in the pack and bound to marry the most feared man in the continent.

Alpha Jamie stepped down from the balcony. He moved through the crowd with the calm certainty of a predator that knew nothing could stop him.

People parted instantly to let him pass. No one dared block his path not even the royal guards. Men twice his size edged away to let him pass.

I swallowed.

Prince Adan watched his uncle approach with a smug look. His arms were crossed as if he had just solved a simple inconvenience; handing my life over to a literal demon king.

Jamie stopped a few steps away from us. He looked even more intimidating up close.

He didn’t look angry and that made him more terrifying. His eyes settled on me again. I resisted the urge to step back.

Don’t show fear. Don’t show weakness. My mind repeated the command even as my heart pounded painfully in my chest.

Jamie studied me for several long seconds then he looked at Adan.

“This is your last chance to change your mind, nephew.”

“Nah. You can have her.” Adan grinned like he just gave away a broken toy. “You heard the elders. The bond cannot be broken. But there’s no rule that says I must marry her.”

Jamie stepped closer to me, making my body tense unconsciously. He was close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

I refused to look away. His eyes swept over my face, my clothes, the mark on my wrist. It felt like he was assessing me. Like I was some object he had just purchased.

I clenched my hands into fists. Say something, dammit.

The High Priestess stepped forward with a wary look on her face. “If you’re both going ahead with this madness then the marriage must take place immediately to stabilize the bond. Tonight!”

A strange buzzing filled my ears. Marriage. Tonight. Just like that. No one asked me what I wanted. I don’t even get a say in my life anymore.

Jamie took a step then said, “Let’s go,” without turning around.

My brain froze for a second then I started moving after him. Sarah was smiling and she had a look that said she was glad to get rid of me. They were all glad to get rid of me.

The High Priestess cleared her throat. “The marriage will occur before midnight, Alpha Draven.”

He showed no sign to indicate he heard her as he kept walking towards the gate. We exited the palace and stepped into the cold night. A black escalade waited at the gate. The driver got out and opened the door.

He waited for me to enter first before getting in. It was almost as if he didn’t want our bodies touching. He made no sound as the car roared and we left the pack house.

We sat in silence for a very long time. I wanted to scream but my mouth opened and closed soundlessly. The silence stretched longer than it should.

I forced myself to sit up straight. If this man was going to become my husband tonight, I refused to cower in front of him.

Finally, he spoke. “Relax.”

His voice sounded calmer than I expected. I blinked.

“Huh?”

He didn’t repeat himself which was what I expected. It was like he had a word count limiter in his head prohibiting him from using words like a normal person should.

Another silence followed. Then he leaned forward slightly. His amber-gray eyes studied my face again.

“You didn’t beg.”

The observation caught me off guard. “What?”

“Most people beg when they’re handed to me like this.”

“I don’t beg.”

Something flickered in his eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came. Was it interest or amusement? I couldn’t tell.

My heart still hadn’t slowed. The thought I was going to be married to him before midnight was still a hard pill to swallow.

After a moment, I asked the question that had been circling my mind.

“Why did you accept?”

Alpha Draven didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at my wrist again. Then he leaned back in his seat.

“Don’t worry about it.”

That wasn’t reassuring. Suddenly the car slowed to a stop. I frowned, trying to look outside the window.

“We’re already there?”

“No.”

Jamie’s eyes shifted toward the window and his body got tense. His expression hardened and something dangerous flashed in his eyes.

My heart did a marathon. “What is it?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he opened the door and jumped out in one swift movement. Cold breeze rushed inside chilling my toes.

Then I heard the sounds. Low growls. They sounded deep almost guttural like they were resonating from the depth of an abyss.

Multiple wolves.

They were circling the car. Jamie stood in the cold like a predator waiting for his prey to make that fatal step. His voice turned deadly calm.

“You picked the wrong day to ambush my car.”

He vanished in one swift motion. I wanted to go after him just so I could have a glimpse of the legendary monster in action but my legs betrayed me. The closest I’d ever come to witnessing something gruesome was when I tried to kill a roach on the kitchen counter and in my defense, the friggin thing had wings which made it even more scary.

“Alpha Draven?” I called out in a voice that got lost in the wind.

I slid closer to the open door and got hit with teeth-rattling cold. The driver watched my supposed bravado from his dashboard mirror.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

He was right but I knew I had to prove him wrong. The first scream tore through the night like it had escaped from a nightmare. I could smell fear in the air as real as the cold air I was breathing in.

Without thinking, I jumped down and tried to scan the darkness. I caught sight of movements but the darkness acted like a sheet.

I couldn’t see him but I could sense his aura. It was as if he was everywhere all at once. The screams increased all around me and reality suddenly hit me for the first time. This was the man I was meant to get married to before midnight. A living nightmare.

I turned around to retreat but gasped and took a step back. Alpha Draven stood there with his eyes darkened like a demon just escaped the depths of hell. His claws retreated slowly until they were hands once again. He was flawless like he had just taken a walk in the cold not slaughtered a group of thugs.

His mouth opened and the word that came out was a whisper in a voice that wasn’t his. It was the only lycanic word I knew.

“Tamine.”

MOIRA

“Huh?” I blinked, unsure I heard correctly.

His eyes returned back to amber-gray. He flexed his jaw then pointed to the open door. “Get in.”

I wanted to protest and ask why he called me mate but instead I got in like I was asked to.

Alpha Draven didn’t have a single scratch on him. He hadn’t even shifted. His coat moved slightly in the night breeze as if nothing unusual had happened. A wounded wolf whimpered trying to crawl away not far from where I once stood.

Alpha Draven grabbed him by his neck and lifted him like he weighed nothing.

“Who sent you?”

The wolf didn’t answer. Jamie’s grip tightened. The wolf cried out in pain.

“Who,” Jamie repeated calmly, “sent you?”

Still nothing. The wolf just cried and shut his eyes tight as if he had resigned himself to his fate. For a moment I thought he might kill him. Instead, Alpha Draven dropped the man.

“Run,” he said coldly.

The wolf didn’t hesitate. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the trees.

Alpha Draven got inside and said, “Drive.” He paused for a moment then added. “They were amateurs.”

He sounded like this was a regular occurrence. Almost like it was the same as changing a tire. Great. I’m getting married to a man who attracts assassins.

My mind raced at the thought. If the attackers came for me alone then I’d be dead already. I glanced up at Jamie. He looked perfectly calm again as if breaking bones in the forest had been nothing more than an inconvenience.

We arrived at his territory shortly before midnight. The northern pack lands looked colder than the royal capital but it was bigger and better.

The stone fortress that served as Alpha Draven’s residence rose from the mountainside like it was carved from shadow. Torches burned along the walls giving the place a medieval look.

Warriors stood guard at every entrance armed with the latest tech. Their eyes followed me the moment I stepped out of the car.

The whispers started instantly.

“That’s her?”

“The omega?”

“The prince’s rejected mate?”

I straightened my shoulders and ignored them. Let them stare and gossip all they want. I had spent my entire life being looked down on so this, this wasn’t new.

Alpha Draven walked beside me through the fortress gates. His presence alone kept the crowd from getting too close. Several elders approached the moment we entered the main hall.

One of them bowed slightly. “Alpha. Everything is prepared.”

Jamie nodded once. My stomach twisted again. I knew he was referring to the wedding but I tried not to show I was panicking the fuck out.

I followed them into a smaller ceremonial chamber. The room smelled like burning sage and moonflower oil. The High Priestess stood beside a stone altar.

She looked older than the one at the palace, but her eyes were just as sharp. It was almost like it was the same woman but he had aged a few years in the amount of time it had taken us to make the drive.

Her eyes settled on me. Her eyes were unreadable and her expression blank. “Come forward.”

I did. Alpha Draven stepped beside me. The air around him felt heavy and thick.

The priestess raised her hands.

“The Moon Goddess has already marked the bond,” she said. “Tonight we stabilize it through union.”

My heart raced.

She gestured toward our wrists. “Join hands.”

I hesitated but Alpha Draven didn’t. His large hand covered mine. The contact sent an unfamiliar heat through my skin. I stiffened immediately as my body responded in ways I didn’t expect.

My wolf stayed silent which wasn’t shocking given I’d never heard her before. I just thought it would be something to make an appearance during what could arguably be the biggest night in my life.

The priestess began chanting in lycanic but the dialect was ancient. The silver mark on my wrist began to glow brighter.

Alpha Draven’s eyes shifted to my arm. He tightened his grip on my hand. The warmth intensified until a strange pressure filled my chest.

It wasn’t pain I was feeling but it wasn’t pleasant either. My thoughts went haywire like they had been dropped in a powerful blender.

Why does this feel strange? I wondered, trying to count my breath. The chanting grew louder. The priestess suddenly pressed our wrists together. Bright silver light burst between us.

I gasped. The sensation shot through my body like lightning. Alpha Draven’s grip tightened instantly and then the light vanished.

The priestess lowered her hands. “It is done.”

That’s it? Just like that. I was expecting a big flare at the end or something.

Slowly it occurred to me I was now married. My life had changed forever in less than ten minutes. Alpha Draven released my hand slowly. I stepped back instinctively. Distance felt safer.

The priestess studied us for a moment. “The bond is stabilized,” she said. “But it may take time to fully settle. You can’t be apart or it will cause both of you escruciating pain.”

Alpha Draven nodded once then he turned toward the door. “Come.”

I blinked. “Where?”

“Our chambers.”

My stomach did a flip. I almost forgot I was married now and married couples shared a room. The realization made my pulse quicken again.

I followed him through several corridors inside the fortress. The castle felt enormous and strangely quiet which was different from Alpha Adan’s pack house with its everyday parties and noises you can hear a mile away.

We stopped outside a large wooden door. Jamie opened it. The room inside was bigger than my entire living quarters back at Alpha Adan’s pack.

I stopped in the doorway. Jamie stepped inside and noticed I hadn’t moved.

“You’re standing in the hall.”

I crossed my arms. “I noticed.”

He waited but I didn’t move. Finally he sighed. “You think I’m going to attack you?”

“I think you’re a stranger who just married me tonight.”

His expression didn’t change. “You’re free to sleep on the floor if you want.”

“Ouch.” I sucked in air through my teeth. “That’s not very gentlemanly.”

“I’ never said I was a gentleman.”

Before I could respond he had taken off his shirt and was preparing to get some sleep. He didn’t care or stop to look at me once. I walked to the large armchair near the fire.

“You’re serious?”

He didn’t respond as he got into bed and turned around. Fuck!! He doesn’t even care. I didn’t like that we were too close and I felt like running outside last minute.

After what felt like eternity, I walked toward the bed and sat on the edge of it. The mattress dipped under my weight. Alpha Draven was quiet and I believed he was sleeping.

Then something strange happened. The silver mark on my wrist suddenly burned. I inhaled sharply trying not to panic.

“What was that?” Alpha Draven sat upright. His eyes dropped to my wrist.

“It’s nothing.” I lied.

Then the heat intensified. My chest tightened as I took in deep breaths. My breathing was uneven.

“Nobody said this would be torture.” I scoffed.

Alpha Draven sighed. He got out of bed and walked toward me quickly. My instincts screamed to move away. But the burning sensation worsened when he stepped back.

My body leaned forward involuntarily. Why the fuck does it feel worse when he’s far away? Alpha Draven stopped directly in front of me. The moment he did, the burning eased a bit.

I frowned. “Don’t tell me—”

“The bond requires proximity,” he said.

I stared at him. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

He took a few steps backwards and the mark pulsed again. Pain shot through my wrist making me wince. I grabbed it instinctively.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Stand there then.”

Alpha Draven shook his head. “That won’t solve it.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the pain came back sharp like a pulse in my veins.

I lost my balance and my body moved forward straight into him. His arms caught me in what I could only assume was an unconscious act.

My hands pressed against his hard chest. It felt warm and solid. I noticed the burning in my wrist faded completely.

Neither of us moved. Then Alpha Draven spoke quietly. “There’s something strange about this bond.”

My stomach twisted. “Strange how?”

His amber-gray eyes locked onto mine. “My wolf thinks you belong to me.”

“That’s because we’re married.”

“No.” He shook his head slowly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Before I could respond, a violent knocking shook the door. A guard’s voice shouted from outside.

“Alpha! The crown prince has arrived! He wants an audience with you immediately.”

My blood turned cold. Alpha Adan? Here? What could he possibly want?

Jamie’s eyes hardened instantly. He stretched to get his shirt and put it on in one movement. Then the guard added something that made my heart stop completely.

“He brought soldiers.”

ALPHA DRAVEN

The moment the guard said Adan, my patience ended. He had no right to be there so late. I released Moira and put on my shirt. I made a mental note to slap him for making me put on my shirt again.

As I walked to the door, I noticed her scent still clung to my chest where she had fallen against me. My wolf settled inside my head like it had finally found silence after years of noise.

I didn’t like that but I wasn't complaining. Nothing about this situation made sense.

I decided to focus on the current thorn in my side— Adan. Moira followed behind me. We can’t be far apart. I almost forgot.

I knew she wanted to speak but she stayed quiet until we got to the hall.

I turned to watch her for a moment. The mark on her wrist still pulsed. My wolf stirred again.

Mine!!! The word moved through my mind quietly. I ignored it.

The fortress hall was already tense. Warriors stood along the walls with their hands near their weapons. The air smelled like iron and hostility, two of my favorite things.

Adan stood in the center of the hall with five royal guards behind him. They were armed and prepared. That alone irritated me.

Adan knew better than to walk into my territory like this. His eyes met mine as I walked towards him, brimming with rage. Before he could say anything, I slapped the smug look off his face. His guards made a move but stopped when he put up a hand. They were lucky.

“That’s for making me put on my shirt again.” I growled angrily. “Now tell me why you’re here before you lose your men.”

He smiled. “I wanted to congratulate you. You’re a little too tense for a man who just got married.” he said.

“You have five minutes.”

He sighed. “We had an agreement.”

Yes, we did. The memory replayed in my mind. Adan’s plan had been simple. Marry the girl, stabilize the bond, then he would come to collect her from my hands. Simple enough.

The omega Luna would quietly disappear into royal custody, locked away somewhere no one cared about.

I had agreed at the time.

When I turned around, Moira had a look of hurt betrayal on her face. I ignored the look and whispered to her, “Go upstairs. Lock yourself in our room.”

I pulled off my silver ring and pushed it into her finger. It would nullify the effect of the bond for a while acting as a tether like I was there with her. “Don’t let anyone in.”

She turned and ran up without hesitating. One of the royal guards made a move and lost his arm immediately. I checked my sword to make sure it wasn’t bloody.

Adan took a step forward. “This isn’t what we agreed, uncle.”

I didn’t respond.

His smile looked sinister. “Don’t tell me you’ve already grown attached.”

Silence stretched between us. The guards behind him didn’t move but they were tense. Good. They were smart after all. The one handed man had managed to cover up his stump.

“Uncle. Let’s not waste time.” Adan scoffed. “You never wanted the girl anyway.”

That’s true. An omega bride was as useless as a pen in a fight. But my wolf moved again. Protective. I couldn’t get Moira’s scent out of my lungs.

I folded my arms. “The terms changed.”

Adan blinked once. Then his expression hardened. “What?”

“I’m keeping her.”

The hall went silent. One of Adan’s guards shifted his stance but didn’t move. Adan stared at me like he thought he misheard. “That wasn’t the agreement.”

I shrugged. “It is now.”

His voice sharpened. “You gave your word.”

“I did.”

“And now you’re breaking it?”

“Yes.”

Adan stepped closer. I could smell the anger coming off his aura. “You took the girl because I allowed it,” he said coldly. “That was temporary.”

“No,” I said calmly. “That was permanent.”

His jaw tightened. Behind him the guards waited for a signal. I smirked. This was getting interesting.

Adan lowered his voice. “You’re making a mistake, Uncle.”

“I know.”

“She’s an omega.”

“I noticed.”

“She’s weak.”

“Yes.”

“She’s useless.”

My wolf growled quietly inside my head. I ignored that too. “Your five minutes are up. It’s time to go, Adan.”

Adan’s smile faded. He looked like I’d said something impossible to believe. He gestured for his guards to get Moira but my warriors blocked their path.

“You’re starting a fight with the crown prince… over an omega?”

I tilted my head. “You’re in my house.”

Adan cussed. “Fuck! Well if you want her so bad then you can keep her.”

“But understand something,” he continued. “She’s still my mate.”

He nodded for his guards to leave. They were walking towards the door when he stopped and turned. “You’ll never fully claim her while that bond exists.”

Adan leaned closer with a grin. “You’re babysitting my problem.”

I wanted to bash his pretty face in but I growled instead and said, “ Goodnight, nephew.”

They left and the fortress became quiet once again. I wanted to channel my frustration at some training dummies in the arena but something pulled at my attention.

Moira.

I turned toward the stairs leading to my chambers. My wolf stirred again. Something was off. I walked back to the room and noticed the door was slightly open. I told Moira to lock it.

I pushed it wider to find the room was empty. The window stood open letting in a gust of cold air.

I picked up the scent of wolves in the room. My wolf exploded with fury. Someone had been here and whoever it was took Moira.