The Alpha’s Unwilling Mate

iv

As the first rays of morning light streamed through the lavish curtains, I found myself in the same room. I had a dream about my dad that we were back in our pack house and life was normal and most importantly he was still alive. I sat up and stretched I could feel the dry tears on my cheeks and walked to the bathroom to wash them off.

I sat on the edge of the enormous bed, trying to focus.

“I don't want to leave”, Sky said.

“We can't stay here, think of Dad”, I said and I heard her go quiet.

I spent the whole day locked in my room and didn't go down for breakfast or lunch even when Matilda came to call me numerous times. What did they expect? That I'd happily join them in their meals even though they are holding me here against my will?

But after midday, my stomach growled with an intensity that forced me to reconsider my immediate plans. Despite my loathing for the situation, I had to sustain myself if I was to have any energy to execute my escape. Reluctantly, I slipped out of the bedroom, my senses instantly on high alert, his scent still lingering but momentarily pushed to the background by my pressing hunger.

Descending the grand staircase, I found Matilda, waiting at the foot of the stairs. Her face, lined with years of servitude, bore a gentle, yet resigned expression. She nodded to me, a silent acknowledgment of my plight, and motioned for me to follow her to the dining room. I'm sure she knew I was hungry and finally willing to eat and I was ashamed.

I followed her into the grand dining room that looked like it could sit fifty people and the table was set with an array of foods that seemed to leap from the glossy pages of a gourmet magazine—fluffy scrambled eggs, slices of rich smoked salmon, freshly baked croissants still warm from the oven, and an assortment of exotic fruits I could barely name.

“I thought you would like some brunch”, she smiled and said.

My mouth watered despite myself, and as Matilda served the food with practiced hands, I couldn’t help but dig in. The flavors were extraordinary, each bite a mix of comfort and luxury, momentarily distracting me from my grim reality. If she didn't stand next to me I would have moaned.

As I savored the last of the coffee, rich and bold, I cleared my throat, turning to Matildah. "Where is he? Faruk, I mean."

"He had an urgent matter to attend to early this morning," she replied, her voice low, her eyes flickering with what I interpreted as a mix of concern and relief.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. His absence meant a reprieve from his oppressive presence, a few more moments to plan, to think clearly without him watching my every move.

But just as I allowed myself a breath of tentative ease, the front door clicked open. The sound of footsteps approached, and then Faruk himself accompanied by another handsome man appeared in the doorway of the dining room, his presence like a dark cloud descending swiftly upon my brief moment of peace.

His eyes locked on mine, a flash of surprise crossing his features before settling into the familiar, unsettling smile. "Sasha, I’m glad you have finally decided to eat some," he said smoothly, his tone filled with relief as if he was worried.

I stiffened, my fork halfway to my mouth, suddenly no longer hungry. Matilda glanced between us, a wrinkle of worry marring her brow as she excused herself, leaving the room with a quiet efficiency that spoke of years navigating the mood swings of her employer.

“This must be our Lu….”, the man he was with began to speak but was stopped halfway by him.

“Jack, I'll find you in the office”, Faruk said.

The man smiled knowingly and disappeared around a corner leaving just the two of us.

Faruk moved closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "I hope you’re finding everything to your liking," he continued, gesturing vaguely at the array of breakfast dishes. His voice was calm, but underneath lay a controlled edge that hinted at the tension between us, unspoken yet palpable. I could feel Sky steer within me, this was my mate and every piece of me was dying to be in his arms. But what I saw was not only my mate but the man that killed my father and I quickly pushed those feelings to the back of my mind.

I set my fork down, composing myself, ready to face him with a mask of neutrality. "Yes thank you for the meal," I managed to say, my mind racing for a way to maintain a semblance of normalcy while plotting my next move under his watchful eye.

As Faruk slid into the seat beside me, I could feel the air thicken with tension. His presence was overwhelming, an ever-present shadow looming larger as he tried to strike up casual conversation. "The estate is quite lovely this time of year, I would like to show you around so you can meet everyone they are all eager to see their Luna”, he ventured, attempting to draw me into a dialogue I had no heart for.

Hearing the word Luna turned my heart cold, the title reserved for the mate of a pack leader, was a title I loathed.

unwilling to engage, I seized an opportunity to distance myself from him. "I'll take out with the dishes," I announced, rising swiftly from my chair. The sound of my chair scraping against the floor punctuated my need for space, my body taut with the urge to flee.

“Matilda will take care of it”, he said and called for her. Seeing the plates in my hands Matildah was quick to intervene and stepped forward with a gentle hand outstretched. "Oh, no need, Luna," she began, her voice warm but firm.

The word 'Luna' struck a nerve like a bell chime in the stillness, resonating with a role I refused to accept and will never accept. "Don't call me that!" I snapped, sharper than I intended. The frustration and fear had melded into a bitter concoction in my throat. Grabbing a stack of plates more roughly than necessary, I stormed toward the kitchen.

“Sasha”, Faruk called out to me in concern his voice fading behind me, but I was beyond consolation. As I entered the kitchen, the reality of my surroundings—and the possibilities they presented—hit me. The kitchen was large, utilitarian, and notably, it featured a back door that promised escape. I was never going to be his Luna. I was going to wait until everyone went to sleep but I couldn't stay here anymore.

In a split-second decision fueled by desperation, I let the plates I was carrying crash to the tile floor. The sound of shattering ceramic echoed like a gunshot, and without a second glance, I sprinted toward the back door. I could hear shouts behind me, the sudden commotion alerting the house to my actions, but I didn’t look back.

Reaching the door, I threw it open and burst into the open air. The early morning chill bit at my skin, but it felt like freedom. Without breaking stride, I tapped into the primal force that dwelled within me, welcoming the painless, liberating transformation that overtook my body. Bones reconfigured, skin stretched, and black fur sprouted. My human worries fell away as my wolf form took over, instincts honed on the singular goal of freedom.

I darted through the estate grounds, the grass beneath my paws, the wind streaming through my fur.

My breath caught in my throat as I felt the ominous presence of eyes watching me. A chill ran down my spine, so I briefly twisted my head to glance back. Faruk was there, his expression unreadable except for a smirking glint that sent a ripple of dread through me.

All I heard was the thud of his large paws striking the earth, a relentless rhythm that echoed my pounding heart.

He hadn't made a sound as he shifted, his transformation as seamless as shadow merging into night.

He was right on my tail, I could feel him, his proximity announced by a deep, menacing growl. It was a clear warning, a command for me to stop but to hell with him, I wasn't going to stop my frantic dash for freedom. I couldn’t—I wasn't going to stop. My limbs propelled me forward, every muscle fiber straining toward the thin line of daylight that marked the treeline. Relief surged through me as the sounds of pursuit faded; I might actually make it, might escape—

Just as the forest began to clear and I could hear the cars passing along the highway, an immense force collided with me from my side, sending me tumbling to the ground. The ground slammed against my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. Before I could recover, I felt the weight of Faruk’s formidable form pinning me down, the closeness between us sending electric pulses along my fur. His wolf, massive and imposing, a white dire wolf from a bloodline as ancient and revered as the Lycuns themselves, loomed over me. I knew he was powerful but the thought of him being a dire wolf never crossed my mind.

His growl reverberated through the forest, a sound of dominion and warning. Yet, even beneath the weight of his power and the lineage he represented, My spirit refused to break. I turned onto my belly as I attempted to crawl away, desperation lending me strength, but Faruk was unyielding. He bit into my neck, making me whimper a clear assertion of control, though the bite was restrained, more a claim than an injury.

Panic flooded my senses as I felt him align his body with mine. His intentions were unmistakable, and terror mingled with defiance in my heart. This was not just a capture; this was a claim in our most primal forms. He wanted to mate with me right here.

He growled again, a sound that echoed with authority and dominance. Despite the fear and the pressing weight of his body, my spirit rebelled fiercely. The message was clear: I was his to claim.

"No!" I thought fiercely, a surge of adrenaline igniting her will. She couldn't let this be the end—not like this. I felt Sky begin to yield, she wanted this, she wanted to mate with him, and so did I At this moment but how could I? With the man who killed my father with his bare hands.

With a defiant growl of my own, I gathered my legs beneath me, preparing to twist and throw him off with every ounce of strength I possessed even though he was five times my wolf’s mate. Faruk’s weight shifted, his growl deepening, a sound meant to intimidate and subdue.

But I was not just any wolf to be claimed against my will. I was a fighter, and as the realization of my resolve took hold, I shut Sky out and my body responded with a surge of raw, primal power. The forest around us became a blur of green and brown as I writhed and pushed against the earth, leveraging every bit of my Wolfen strength that I was slowly losing under the mate bond.

The struggle was fierce, a tumult of snarls and thrashing limbs. Faruk’s dominance was absolute, his strength formidable, but I knew the stakes—knew that submission now would mean more than losing my freedom; it would mean losing myself, accepting and forgetting my father’s murder.

But I couldn't hold on any longer I felt myself losing strength so I shifted into my human form even if it meant I would be laying naked and bare beneath him.

I felt his soft fur against my skin and my breath hitched. He didn't expect me to shift so suddenly and I could see the confusion in his eyes. He got off of me and I crawled away putting some distance between us.

A sharp snap of a twig nearby paused their conflict momentarily. Eyes from the pack, hidden within the trees, watched. He growled before turning and disappearing behind some trees and coming back with a pair of clothes in his mouth. Everyone must have gone by now because I could no longer feel their eyes on me.