Chapter 1: Silver knife
Note: This series is a darker werewolf series not following the usual "plot" of fated mates. (The first book is also more political).
This book is a bound edition and you can enjoy 10 in one.
Also be aware of darker elements such a death, t*rture, described violence and abuse. This also involves possible cheating depending on view point.
-Octavia-
The seething sound as I held the knife in my hand couldn’t be mistaken. A wolf shall not touch silver. The words were so clear in my head as I tried to ignore the pain radiating from my hand. I could see smoke rising from my skin as I clenched the knife even harder. The pain was almost unbearable, but this was training for me. The more pain I could endure, the harder it would be to break me.
“Ah!”
I threw the knife away with force, finally succumbing to the agony. I glanced at my hand, now marked with fresh blisters and wrinkles where the knife had burned me. I smiled as I looked at it. It would take time to heal, but the thought only made my smile grow wider. This knife was exactly what I needed to get my revenge.
I moved further into the cave, seeking shelter from the rain. At the far end, I found the knife. Picking it up, the burning sensation immediately returned. I slipped the knife into a small pocket in my pants, leaving the shaft sticking out for easy access when I needed it.
“Everything has a weakness,” I whispered. But I only needed it for one final blow. “The king dies tonight.”
You can’t trust anyone. Not even your own pack. In the end, you only have yourself.
My father’s words echoed in my head, but he was right. In the end, I only had myself. I had survived for many years on my own, training for this, and now, on my nineteenth birthday, I was going to give myself the best present ever: the death of the king. A title he had stolen!
I started packing my things. The rain had almost stopped, and I had to hurry if I didn’t want to miss my chance for revenge. I knew the king was leaving the safety of his walls and travelling into foreign territory with only a handful of his trusted men to meet his queen-to-be.
I stood at the mouth of the cave, watching the last few drops of rain fall onto the wet ground. My heart raced with excitement. It was time. I smiled as I quickly left the cave behind and sprinted through the woods.
-Valerio-
My fingers drummed on the steering wheel as I drove myself and my men closer to Alpha Michael’s territory. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to what was about to unfold, but a promise was a promise, and I had to honor it.
“Feeling nervous?” Garrett, my beta, grinned as he glanced at me. His cheeky smile was framed by deep dimples, giving him a boyish look. I knew people often misjudged him because of it, but underestimating Garrett was a foolish mistake.
“Why would I be nervous?” I replied, turning my eyes back to the road. Garrett chuckled softly, clearly finding the situation amusing.
“Well, getting mated isn’t exactly a small thing.”
I shook my head. “And what do you know about that?” I snapped, a bit more irritated than I intended.
Garrett shrugged, avoiding the question. But I knew deep down he was a romantic, sometimes letting that part of him rule him.
“It’s just business,” I muttered under my breath.
“Maybe, or maybe she really is your mate,” Garrett remarked, gazing out the window.
“I’ve met Selene before. She’s not.”
Garrett fell silent after that. We both understood that when you found your true mate, the connection was undeniable and immediate, not something to be questioned. Still, this arrangement was better than nothing. A mate made you vulnerable, and I couldn’t afford that.
It was obvious when we crossed into Alpha Michael’s territory. The strong scent marking the borders of another pack was almost overwhelming. It served as a clear warning for rogues and unwelcome visitors to stay away.
The road was dark as we approached the pack house, but the lights from the mansion shone brightly in the distance. The closer we got, the stronger they grew, until we finally arrived in front of the imposing structure.
I parked the car, spotting Alpha Michael, his daughter, and a few of his men waiting outside. He looked pleased as I stepped out. Garrett joined me as he exited the vehicle, while two more cars parked behind us.
Four men stepped out of each. Damian, my third in command, had driven the car directly behind mine and walked over, followed by the rest of my most trusted warriors. I had chosen them carefully because they were not only deadly but also men I trusted with my life. Well, all except for one. I still had my doubts about him.
“Alpha Valerio!” Alpha Michael called out cheerfully as I approached the mansion.
He descended the stairs to greet me, a sign of respect, especially considering we were on his territory. I nodded in acknowledgment and shook his hand. As I glanced up the stairs, I caught a glimpse of a pair of blue eyes watching me.
The moment our eyes met, she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with color. A small smile tugged at my lips. She’ll be easy to control, I thought, loyal and devoted.
“It’s good to have you here,” Alpha Michael commented as he began ascending the stairs.
I had just taken a step to follow when a scent hit me out of nowhere, stopping me in my tracks. My heart raced, and my temperature shot up, making my palms sweat.
My wolf stirred inside me, restless and agitated. Something was off, but I couldn’t quite place it. I glanced over my shoulder, noticing that my men seemed unaffected, confusion showing on their faces as they stared back at me.
“Alpha?” Garrett inquired, but I ignored him.
I pushed past them, moving away. The scent struck me again, sending my wolf into a frenzy. What the hell is going on?
I turned around, scanning my men once more. They still appeared unaffected. How could they not smell the intoxicating fragrance of a warm summer night? It was fall, after all. Yet here I was, enveloped in this heavenly scent, while they remained clueless.
Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed past, and before I could register what was happening, I had turned at lightning speed, grasping something small and delicate in my hand. Its pulse was rapid, and its skin softer than anything I had ever felt.
Is this where the scent is coming from? I wondered. As I looked down at the slender but surprisingly strong figure I held by the throat, I was met with a pair of silver eyes blazing with fury—fury like I had never seen before. But the intensity of her gaze only made something in me stir.
For a moment, it felt as though my heart had stopped, and the world around us faded, leaving just the two of us. One word echoed louder than anything else in my mind.
Mate.
