The Cursed Alpha King's Mate

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Tristan

The weight of my fury settled heavily in my chest as I watched Lucas drag Isla away. She stumbled, her honey blond hair tumbling over her face, but she didn't cry out. The stubborn defiance in her emerald eyes only served to stoke the flames of my anger. Which battled with the need to go and soothe and help her. The deep possessive urge that wanted to rip away the hand of my warrior commander that held her, despite being the one to order him to do so. I nodded to a couple of warriors as they led the rest of her family behind her into the house and the dining room. I was going to have to deal with them as well. Hiding a human within a pack was a serious offence that put the entire community in danger.

"Rest of the pack," I barked, my voice echoing through the tense silence. "Return to your homes. If anyone is caught trying to leave, they'll be killed immediately." Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but they obeyed, dispersing with hurried steps and anxious glances.

“Tristan.” I heard the voice of my beta as I clenched my fists, the growl building in my throat threatening to escape. I knew he knew what I was thinking. We had grown up as friends and the man knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.

"Tristan," Gabe said softly, his brow furrowed with concern.

“What?” I turned to face him with the growl finally letting loose in my words. Gabe didn’t react to my mood. His face was a picture of sympathy.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course I'm not," I snapped, my gaze returning to the spot where Isla had disappeared. "But what choice do I have? She's human, Gabe. Useless as a mate, and yet... I can still feel her, like a fire in my veins." My chest tightened as I remembered the way her lips had felt against mine, soft and warm, trembling with fear but defiant all the same. It was maddening, this desire that threatened to consume me even as it repulsed me.

"Maybe there's more to her than we know," Gabe suggested hesitantly. "And if there isn't, we'll deal with it."

“Deal with it, how?” I urged. But the look on his face told me he had no more answers than I did.

I roared, my patience finally snapping. I stormed to the edge of the woods and punched the bark of a great oak tree. The impact was enough to dent the tree and cause wildlife to fly noisily from the canopy. The fury that coursed through me was like a fire, consuming every rational thought in its path.

"Damn her," I growled under my breath, speaking of the Moon Goddess who had cursed me with a human mate. But at the same time the very thought of her was intoxicating, her scent like a siren's call, and yet... she was nothing but a weak, pitiful human. I heard Gabe approaching me before he spoke again

"Tristan, you need to calm down. There must be a reason the Moon Goddess gave you a human mate." I snarled at him, my anger boiling over.

"A purpose? What purpose could a pathetic human serve for me, Gabe? She's worthless!"

"Maybe there's more to her than we know," Gabe said cautiously, his sandy blond hair catching the moonlight. "I can see that she has a strength about her, a fire in her eyes. Perhaps there's something hidden within her that we can't see."

"Or perhaps this is just another cruel joke from the Goddess," I spat. My wolf raged within, demanding I claim the woman who belonged to us, but the mere thought of touching her made my skin crawl. It was a torment I didn't deserve.

"Look, Tristan," Gabe continued, trying to reason with me. "You've been searching for your fated mate for years, you know you need her if you are going to keep your title. We both know your brother Darius is waiting for his chance to strike. Maybe Isla is the key to breaking the curse, human or not."

"Enough!" I roared, my patience finally snapping. "This discussion is over." Gabe held up his hands in frustration, but his honey-brown eyes were filled with concern.

"Just... think about it, alright? I know you're angry, but don't let your distrust of humans cloud your judgement. You can't just kill her."

"Watch me," I growled, baring my teeth at the challenge. I could feel the wolf inside me stirring, eager to assert its dominance over this human girl who dared to defy me.

“Don’t be a stubborn i***t,” Gabe scoffed, and I growled at him. He just shook his head, not fazed by my anger. “Right now, you need her more than she needs you, and you know it.”

My fists clenched at his words, acknowledging the bitter truth behind them. If I killed Isla, I would condemn my pack to a life under the rule of Darius, my conniving brother who craved power above all else. Time was running out, and I knew he was waiting for any sign of weakness to make his move for the throne.

"Her blood will taint our line," I spat, my voice laced with venom. The thought of merging my powerful werewolf blood with that of a fragile human disgusted me. It went against everything I believed in.

"Perhaps," Gabe conceded, his eyes locked onto mine, unflinching in the face of my rage. "But it's a risk we must take. We don't have time to find another solution. Darius is growing bolder every day." I let out a frustrated snarl, knowing he was right. The weight of my duty settled heavily on my shoulders, and I knew I had no choice but to accept the hand fate had dealt me. Isla was mine. By the goddess decree herself, this fragile human girl who had unwittingly ensnared me with her emerald eyes and defiant spirit in such a short time.

"Fine," I muttered, turning away from Gabe as I tried to regain control over my emotions. "I will do what I must to protect my pack."

"Good," Gabe nodded, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder before stepping back. “And like I said Perhaps there's more to her than meets the eye," Gabe suggested, his eyes filled with concern. "You know, hidden strength or power yet to be revealed.”

"Or not," Lucas chimed in, returning from locking Isla up. “But that isn’t what matters, really.” I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Meaning?” I asked. Lucas was one of the coldest men I knew. He was ruthless, and willing to do what it took to protect my rule. Which is why he made such a good warrior commander. His voice dripped with darkness while his eyes remained cold and uncaring.

"She doesn't need to survive, just the child does. That's all that matters." The words hit me like a brick. He was right. A human could provide an heir, but it was almost always fatal to the human, much like it seemed to have happened with Isla’s own mother. But just as Isla herself had survived, a rare case for a human child of a werewolf mix in itself, I only had need for my heir to survive. I gritted my teeth, a vile mixture of anger and arousal swirling within me. It disgusted me that Lucas spoke so casually about Isla's potential demise, but at the same time, it excited me, the thought of dominating her, bending her to my will until she begged for release. Even if it meant sacrificing her life for the sake of our offspring.

“Seriously?” Gabe asked Lucas, his eyes wide. “You think that it is fine to let a woman die?” Lucas looked at Gabe and shrugged like he was talking about the weather, and not the life of my fated mate.

“Whatever it takes to keep that slimeball from claiming the throne,” he said as a glimmer of emotion flashed through his eyes. I knew that Lucas had a particular hatred for my brother, after what he had done to Lucas’ sister. Gabe went to argue with Lucas, but I couldn't take any more of the bickering, and it didn’t look good to whoever might be watching.

"Enough," I growled, glaring at both Gabe and Lucas. "I'll consider what you've said. But for now, let’s deal with the shitstorm that we have waiting inside the house." I glanced over at the house as I spoke. I could see the Alpha watching me from the dining-room window and his Luna looked to be arguing with Bianca in the background. Gabe nodded, understanding my need for control and order, while Lucas simply smirked, his dark gaze sending a shudder down my spine. They both knew that I wouldn't take this situation lightly, and that I would do everything in my power to maintain my authority. Even if it meant exploring the depths of my own twisted desires.