Tame Me, Alpha

Chapter 1

Beau

The sly smile of the vixen infuriates me on some level. She is the most cunning person I have ever met. She plays with her words skillfully and manipulates situations to her own advantage. I sigh, watching her take her leave after shamelessly spouting nonsense in front of my father.

"I have entrusted the girl to you, Beau. It was fate for her to be your mate. What took you so long to claim her?" my father looked at me with all seriousness.

It was just business at first. Ember was entrusted to us by her parents, who believed we could tame her better than they could. Especially after her outburst on the night of her first shift, where she almost burned down their pack. But her parents were wrong; their daughter isn't someone to be easily tamed.

"She's not ready to be claimed, father."

His eyebrows shot up immediately. "I doubt you haven't heard what she said earlier. She's waiting for you."

Ember doesn't take anything seriously. She always finds a way out, a reason, a way to make people believe. But I know she's not truly ready to be marked. She's more about exploration, intimacy. I still couldn't forget what she did the last time. She's so open to anything that it scares the hell out of me.

"I'll talk to her about this, father."

My father believes that Ember might have been able to help me unlock my hybrid power. When I was born, my mother sealed it for reasons unknown to me, and now that she's gone, my father hasn't been able to unseal it. Despite being an Alpha with significant power, without accessing my hybrid abilities, I feel incomplete.

"Alpha, she's at the cantina again," Lincoln informed me.

I instantly set down the blade I was wielding. Ember really has a knack for triggering my anger. That girl is a tempest wrapped in defiance. Taming her is like grasping the wind - elusive, wild, and unyielding. Each time I try to rein in her chaos, it's as if I'm attempting to hold flames in my bare hands.

"Should we fetch her?" Lincoln asked.

My eyes lingered on the newly wielded blade, while a flood of thoughts filled my mind. The idea of having Ember as my mate was inconceivable. I know I possess the ability to choose and mark another she-wolf instead of pursuing her. However, my father won't permit it. Defying him would be akin to choosing death over life.

"Let her be," I said, picking up the blade to check for any unnecessary flaws.

Ember will cease her dalliance when she grows weary. I've had my fill of her games. If she wishes to explore relationships with other men, then so be it.

"What if she gets intimate with a lycan? I heard lots of lycans and cultivators are seen in the cantina," Lincoln insinuated.

I swung the blade through the air, relishing the sharp, precise sound it made. This one was sharp and perfectly crafted, capable of slicing any throat that dared to steal Ember from me. She was mine.

"What the heck, Beau. Let go!" she protested, attempting to wiggle free from my hold. Irritation surged through me, and when she persisted, I glared at her and hoisted her up like a sack of rice.

"When are you going to stop playing games, Ember? You're already twenty but acting like a child!" my voice boomed, echoing in every corner of the room.

She stood up from her fall, meeting my gaze with equal intensity. Her thin-strapped dress slid down her shoulder, revealing her chest, while a long slit on her thigh left her legs exposed. I found my eyes lingering on her soft, pale legs, a certain emotion welling up inside me.

"Mind your own business, Beau, and leave me alone," she growled, her dead serious red eyes imposing a sense of superiority, like an Alpha female.

"You're my mate, Ember. You belong to me!"

She scoffed and turned her back to me. "I belong only to myself, Beau. Screw that mating bond."

And, as usual, she left just like that. My patience with this girl is wearing thin. If I were immortal, she'd surely be my tribulation. I exhaled sharply, running my fingers through my hair as I made my way to the comfort room.

When morning arrived, I became a bit preoccupied with pack business, especially concerning the upcoming festival. I needed to coordinate with the heads of the Lycans and Cultivators to merge our celebrations.

Every end of the year, our specific territories, overseen by my father, hosted a festival connecting the three areas of Stardust Shire. One was under Lycan control, another for the cultivators, and the last, for the hybrids, under my jurisdiction.

"She just left her house, Alpha," Melo reported.

I glanced at the wall clock and noticed it was almost eleven. What took her so long to wake up? Ember doesn't cook; she only eats out. That's been her routine for the past year.

"What is she wearing?" I wondered.

"She's still in her pajamas."

It was early when she went home last night. I ruined her night, ensuring she didn't go back to the cantina. Even if she stayed out late, she'd still wake up for breakfast.

Setting aside my work, I headed to where Ember usually ate. As I entered, I found her there, hair in a messy bun, coffee in front of her, lost in thought. I took a seat opposite her, yet she didn't seem to notice my presence. What could be the matter?

"Ember," I called out after placing my order. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to meet mine, looking weary. There was no hint of surprise, just emptiness.

"Are you okay?"

She lazily nodded her head and sipped her coffee. Minutes later, my drink arrived. It felt odd for her to be this silent and composed. I was accustomed to her fierceness every time we crossed paths. She'd usually yell at me or be sarcastic, but today was different. I knew something was wrong.

"Beau... have you ever questioned your purpose? Why you exist and for what reason?" she suddenly asked after a long silence, holding her coffee, her eyes fixed on me, awaiting a response.

I picked up my drink and slowly nodded. "I have."

When you're born into a bloodline burdened with responsibility, you tend to question your purpose. I grew up without a mother; she passed away shortly after my birth. An omega raised me because my father, being one of the rulers of the entire realm, bore immense responsibilities that made it difficult for him to spend time with me. Then, I began questioning why I needed to exist merely to endure hardship.

"Do you think it's wrong for me to blame my parents for my flaws? I never wished to be born like this, cursed as they labeled me. So why must I bear the consequences alone?" she said, almost in a whisper.

"They loved me so dearly, and when everyone began to throw rocks at me, I got abandoned," she added, hurt flashing in her eyes like lightning.

Her sentiments were understandable, but I also comprehended the situation her parents faced. Their priority was their people. Ember almost harmed the entire pack; if it hadn't been stopped, Silverclaw wouldn't exist now. Luna Hope and Alpha Theron made a sacrifice. I knew the decisions they made weren't easy, but it had to be done for everyone's sake. She had to be placed where she truly belonged. Here. If her power burst out again, like the last time, we could atleast handle it.

"My mother was also a cursed child. But why didn't my father abandon her... why me?"

"Your mother's cursed blood isn't as dark as yours, Ember. You possess the highest level, not to mention having a red wolf. You're twice as dangerous as her. That... that must be the reason," I tried to justify the situation.

She sighed heavily and picked up her cup. "You're not helping me at all, Beau," she said, standing up and swiftly left the place, leaving me stunned. What... how? I was only trying to help.