His Runaway Luna

6. The Deal

Iris

I pressed my back against the cold surface of the dungeon wall. Did they put people here for them to freeze to death? It would take a while to kill a werewolf this way, which made everything even more ruthless. Icy tears slid down my face, but I tried to swallow them back and remain strong for me and for Sapphire. She was trying so hard to keep us warm, the least I could do was to not succumb to desperation. 

Would he leave me here to die because I didn’t submit to his desire? I sighed. He was indeed the monster everyonepainted. 

After hours in which the only sound I could hear was my grinding teeth and trembling body bumping slightly against the wall, I heard the door open and took a lungful of air trying to keep my trembling at bay and straightening my back. I wouldn’t let him see the result of the punishment he was bestowing upon me. 

He walked towards me and opened my cell, his grey eyes filled with anger. I gulped hard and tried to keep my chin up, and my shoulders square. 

Strangely, his frost and dry pine scent made me relax a bit, and my mouth watered at the sight of him. My hazy gaze roamed through his dark hair, piercing eyes, his rough stubble, reaching to the large shoulders.

I sighed softly, averting my gaze—was this what happened when someone has hypothermia? Do they really lose their minds completely? I’ve heard about this winter madness. But in fact, even the most sound of mind person could see that the Alpha had muscles all around, and with a strong and imposing figure. Alpha Zack was what anyone would have in their mind when they think about a strong Alpha: standing 6’5” tall in his chiseled and strong features, he exuded masculinity. Well, toxic masculinity due to his aggressive behavior. But I couldn’t deny it, he was very handsome and my body responded to it, which drove me confused and dizzy.  

“You will come up with me and stop resisting, stop challenging me. I have chosen you to be my mate and Luna, you should be grateful instead of behaving like a rogue who doesn’t understand authority and honor,” he said firmly, anger burning in his gaze, his jaw locked with tension. 

Another jolt of insane courage burnt through my bloodstream and my wolf howled her protest in my mind. I looked intently at him, my breath ragging and my heart racing in my chest. 

“I won’t ever be your mate!” I cried out, my lungs burning after almost hyper-ventilating with the stinging icy cold air. 

I couldn’t carry the mark of this cruel Alpha. I couldn’t give him my soul, my heart and my fate. 

He took slowly, menacing steps towards me and I held my head high, struggling to breathe due to the overwhelming projection of his Alpha aura; his wrath was making the walls vibrate and my heart race. 

He slapped me hard on the face, “You will be whatever I tell you to be. My mate, my mistress, my omega, my wh*re! You are MINE, Iris!”

My lips trembled and the metallic taste of my blood overtook my parched mouth. His hand moved towards me, almost in slow-motion, he was about to strike me again. I breathed deeply through the pain and added, “I won’t carry your mark. I would rather die in this cold hell than have the mark of a cruel man that isn’t my fated mate forced on me!” 

I didn’t know that I cared so much about fate, and fated love, but I did. And this certainty filled every corner of my soul, sustaining me with courage. 

His hand stopped midair and he stiffened for a moment as if he was under a paralyzing spell. He didn’t even blink. Was he shocked by my boldness? Or surprised by my statement and my faith in fate?

“I am sure no she-wolf stood their ground before him like that, Iris. We might be dead, but we are hell strong, girl!” My wolf said, her voice weak. She was exhausted, but I was glad to see that her pride and belief weren’t affected. 

She was firm in her conviction and it gave me even more strength to face the Alpha, to face his wrath and violence. 

He moved his hand down and his grey gaze blinked twice, he still seemed a bit stupefied. 

“I don’t want to mark you. In this pack, we do not succumb to weaknesses such as the mate bond.” His voice was empty of all the emotion I could see flashing in his eyes a second ago.  

A breath of relief warmed my body off for a moment. I could handle anything but having his mark, which would unite our souls together and forever. I knew I could feel it in Sapphire’s DNA that a mate mark was the most intimate of the connections, much more precious and deeper than mating. A mark was forever, unique, strong, the complete confluence of two beings. I couldn’t have that, not forced, not with him. 

He took a step away from me, leaving my personal space, and looked intently at my face. “You will be my Luna, pose by my side as such and give me an heir with your special white-wolf powers.” It wasn’t a question, but rather a statement.  

I was sick of feeling powerless, the feeling of Zita and the guards being whipped while I couldn’t do anything about it still stung, causing a sour taste to my mouth. As the pack’s Luna, I could do something, change things and make life better for everyone. I wouldn’t be powerless anymore, and I could help my pack, just like I saw my dad doing when he was alive. 

I would be a good Luna and make him proud. 

I inhaled deeply, could I endure lifelong abuse and force myself to be the mate of this man for my pack? Should I even do it? 

“Alpha, I will be your Luna and give you your heir… that’s all you want, right?” I asked as an idea popped into my mind. 

I would give him what he wanted if he set me free afterward. If he let me go, of course I wouldn’t abandon my child, but I wouldn’t have anything to do with Alpha Zack anymore. 

He looked taken aback for a moment before nodding, “That’s what will happen, Iris. I won’t force myself into you, but I also won’t have you challenging me without facing the consequences.” 

“I will do it, but could we have… a compromise, a deal? I want some freedom. So, if I would only be your unmarked mate until I birth your heir…”

He interrupted me with a furious growl, baring his canines at me. This was an act of dominance and demanded my wolf to show her submission and bare her neck to her Alpha, casting her eyes down. I gulped deeply and fought to keep my posture, holding my neck high. If I was to negotiate with him, I couldn’t show weakness or vulnerability. Not now. 

“You won’t ever challenge me again, and you will behave yourself. Give yourself to me whenever I want, willingly. After my heir is born, you will become the Luna and be allowed to have your own bedroom and your mating duties will be suspended, you will only be my mate in the name. I don’t need you, Iris. But you will still be mine and no one else will ever touch you or even lay eyes on you. That’s all the freedom you will have.” 

“Can’t I become Luna before it?” I asked and he narrowed his eyes, taking a step towards me. Dammit, this way it would be hard to help the pack and stop being so helpless. 

“No!” 

“Can I think about it?” I asked. His conditions were much harder than I thought they would be.  The only freedom I would have was not being bound to his bed. Would that be enough when I wanted and craved everything? When I didn’t want to belong to anyone but myself or to whom I chose to, guided by the blessing of Fate?  I would still be his pawn and bent to his will. 

“You have a whole minute to give me your answer.” he narrowed his eyes, growing impatient.  

I breathed deeply. I had to make a choice, yet I didn’t really have any agreeable option. But at least now that I knew that he wouldn’t mark me, and I only had to be his mate for a while,  a warm wave of relief washed over my tense, shivering body. 

I could deal with that, endure it for a few months and then be only a mother and a Luna. No bond would confine me to him once I gave him what he wanted, and I would have what I wanted most: my freedom. Besides helping the pack. 

“I accept it.” 

Something inside me knew that he would have it his way in the end and our deal was the best thing I could have. 

He wrapped his arm around mine and tossed me over his shoulder in a neanderthal way, climbing the stairs and entering his ample and very warm room. My heart clenched nervously, did he want to claim my body, to mate me, now? When I was feeling like an ice block? Couldn’t he wait? 

He entered the bathroom and put me down to my feet, driving me confused. 

“Get yourself warm, you are shivering.” His words surprised me, I didn’t think he cared at all. Closing the door behind him, he left me in the bathroom alone with my thoughts and my confused wolf.

I sighed and walked down the warm water of the shower once again. Some of his reactions and his behavior confused me to no end.  

Was he a heartless monster or only someone who never knew any kindness?