Chapter 2

RIFTAN POV

For the past hour, I have been trapped between the land of the living and the realms of the dreams, my mind slipping to both sides at once.

I was vaguely aware of the plump, smooth, and naked body pressed against my own, while soaring within plates of nightmares and solidified hell.

I was thankful for clarity, when my mind mind fully slipped to reality, saving me from the hell of my mind.

The sound of my phone vibrating from my nightstand was what woke me up entirely. I peeled my eyes off before rubbing a hand over my sleepy eyes, then stared to my side at a redhead who was rubbing her small body against mine.

I stretched to the side for the phone but was stopped by Blair as she yanked my arm back and started raining kisses on it.

“Why don’t you ignore it?” She purred before inching closer until her face was a breath from mine.

I ignored her instead, pushing her face from mine, and then picked up the small device from the nightstand and stared at the caller.

GAMMA was written boldly on the screen, and with a swipe of a finger, his voice spilled out.

“I would get rid of any Harlot in the pack house if I were you.” Chase intoned, and my eyes furrowed at him.

“Get to the damn point,” I said begrudgingly getting into a sitting position, and he scoffed into the speaker.

“Honestly, mate, you picked a feisty one this time. I had to use that new Lamborghini you were supposed to fetch to get her on the move.” My ears pecked up at the words, and when they did hit, I shot out of the bed.

“What the hell did you do?” I sounded angrier than I actually was. But I was suddenly so pissed for all the reasons I didn’t know.

“Okay, let me spell it for you. Your soon-to-be Luna, Eden Noles just landed with his brother, and she demanded to ride something smaller and faster. Her words, not mine. And I thought, why not her husband’s new Lamborghini? Besides, she looked so pissed that you didn’t fetch her yourself.” His voice spilled out of my phone and I pinched the bridge of my nose in agitation.

“Is she arriving today?” I couldn’t believe it either. And that’s why Chase’s laughter bubbled in my phone.

A defeated sigh was all I could make from gamma, and it was a response enough for me.

A slurred curse bubbled off my lips before I threw my feet off the bed and rubbed my very tensed neck.

"How did the exchange go?" I got to my feet and walked straight into the ensuite bathroom, very aware of my nakedness and the very fact that today marked the end of May... I wouldn't call it reckless adventure, but freedom.

Yes; freedom.

As much as it has been the last thing on my to-olo list, claiming a Luna came with a bunch of dignified, boring acts. But the Luna deserved respect.

And respect was what my Luna would get.

"The warriors are on their way to Crescent Island Pack as we speak. Congratulations on another victorious conquer. " I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his words.

Conquer? What about a lifetime imprisonment?

"How far are you from the pack house?” I opened the drawer from the vanity table and pulled out my toothbrush, then sandwiched the phone between my ear and shoulder to free the other hand.

“Will be there in 30,” Chase responded, and I cut the call before placing it on the smooth white marble counter.

My eyes caught the monster staring back at me in the mirror, midnight black hair that made its way passed my shoulders, one eye black as sin, and the other glistening red.

An array of tattoos covered the whole chest area, and a tad bit of skin showed.

Riftan Hawk. A foreigner to himself.

“Do you have another pressing pack matter to attend to, Alpha?” Warm pale hands wrapped around my torso before stretching passed my waist, all so slowly and seductively!

I remained silent, my eyes glued to my reflection and nowhere else as I continued brushing my teeth.

Slowly, Blair’s small hand cupped my girth, her small fingers failing to wrap around the whole shaft. The muscles of my stomach tensed, but I didn’t give a reaction.

“I love it when you act unaffected.” She purred behind me, tightening her hold around my shaft. I spit the toothpaste into the sink and rinsed my mouth, then spun around to face her,

“Finally willing to give me some attention?” She arched her brow, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

If only she knew what awaited her.

I reached for her nape, grabbed her neck with enough force to hold her immobile and super turned on; still for my plundering!

“I want you to do something for me,” I said in a low commanding voice, and a small breath escaped her parted lips. Her eyes fluttered close as lust blazed through her.

“Anything for you, Riftan.” Anything… of course, she would do anything for me!

“I want you to step out of this bathroom, my bedroom, and my whole chambers, and never to return.” Her eyes snapped open, confusion boldly etched on her pale skin.

My expression didn’t waver, not even for a single second!

“What… What do you mean?”

Slowly, I watched her reaction, listened to her internal fight, and feasted on her fears, then dropped my hand and walked away from her and into the shower.

“I am to receive my Luna today. I wouldn’t want her to misunderstand anything.” I turned the faucet on, and hot rain poured down onto my body.

Silence reigned for a few seconds before my body roughly spun around, and then a ringing sound filled my ear before a stinging sensation brewed fast and hard on my left cheek.

“What the hell are you saying to me, Riftan?” She was trembling. Her whole body shook as violent emotions raked through her insides.

I heaved a small sigh before shaking my head.

“If I knew you were going to act this desperate, I would have considered Grace instead of you.” As soon as the word left my mouth, the entireraged redhead lunged at me, claws out and aimed at my chest.

I dodged her attack by swerving to the side, then caught her by her wrist and swung her arm behind her. I brought her body against my front, hand around her neck and claws targeting the throat.

“Oh, Blair. How little it will take for me to sink my claws in and rip your throat out.” A small whimper bubbled out of her as she bucked and tried to free herself.

Her free hand was wreaking havoc on my arm, nails raking and drawing blood.

“I don’t love you, Blair. I never loved you. And I thought you knew that. Now stop acting like a bitch in heat and get the hell out of my chambers before my Luna arrives. Because if she arrives, and you are still here, she is going to have a very nasty perception of me. And I care very much about how my Luna thinks about me. Not you. So pick up the pieces of your broken heart and fuck off. Before I force you into the cell because that’s what I will do.” The last sentence was said with a low growl, the dominance bold in my tone.

Blair’s shoulders slumped and defeatedly, she responded with “Yes, Alpha.”

I unwrapped my arm around her and pushed her out of the shower, then mind-linked the two guards standing out of my bedroom to come collect her.

They arrived in a heartbeat and picked her up from the floor where she was slumped.

“Jack?” I called with my back turned against them, hot water massaging my scalp with invisible fingers.

“Make sure that the omega does not set foot anywhere near the Alpha Chambers starting from now,” I could feel their confusion, and I bet my position in the pack the two guards shared a look before Jack responded.

“Of course, Alpha.”

And with that, they whisked the Harlot out of my chambers and life, leaving my mind to wander about what would transpire when SHE arrived! I spent the remaining minutes thinking of my life, things that were going to change, and those I would hate from having a Luna tied down to me. For the next hour, I convinced myself that Eden was going to be the remedy and that everything would go well if she didn’t get in my way.

She wasn't my mate, that's why I gladly accepted the marriage proposal when her brother presented it. A wolfless Luna was everything merry.at least with her around, I wouldn't be compelled to do everything by the book. Even if my mate were to knock on my door, I'd gladly reject her, now that I had a Luna.

Don't get me wrong, I had no grudge against the mate bond because it was more sacred than my very breath.

But the mate bond was what led to the catastrophe that fell on my pack. The mate bond alone was what created the monster I see when I look in the mirror, and I swore to never have one in my life.

Thank fuck I never had one. Even if we crossed paths, I would simply reject her even before she started brewing ideas of a happily ever after.

A Luna was fine. A mate? No way in hell.

After settling with my thoughts, I walked out of my chambers dressed in a black dress shirt and black slacks, completing the look with shiny dress shoes.

Kylek joined me when we traipsed down the stairs until we stood in front of the pack home, four guards standing behind us. Two of them were in wolf form.

“Are you ready to meet your queen?” Kylek inquired without looking at me, and I squared my shoulders before shoving my hands into my pockets and staring ahead.

“Hell yeah!”

Just then, the three Cadillacs appeared from the neatly polished driveway, one after the other. The hairs at the back of my neck stood to attention, and my wolf stirred inside of me, uneasiness landing like a dense fog around us.

The cars came to a stop and the doors were opened.

Chase was the first to exit and in the car behind his exited Ethan Noles. The renowned Alpha whose name reigns in the north. In the third car was a lady I didn’t recognize, but knew immediately that she wasn’t Eden. Something about her was way too docile and I didn’t perceive my Luna like her.

My eyes met with Ethan’s, and the air charged with electricity.

Dominance dripped in the thin air as he walked closer to where I was, and I chanced a few feet before halting just when he stood a good foot from me.

“Alpha Hawk.” He stretched his hand out, and I clasped it giving him a firm handshake.

“Ethan Noles.” Challenge bubbled on his face from the way I addressed him, and a low growl rumbled from his chest. His eyes flashed a shade of yellow for a second before he smiled, successfully putting his wolf at bay.

My wolf was known to be provocative, and downright pompous. We never bowed to anyone. Alphas and gods alike!

“Welcome to Blood Moon Pack. I am surprised to not see my bride with you.”

He opened his mouth to respond but was stopped by a loud rumble of an engine that came from the other end of the territory where the gate was.

A small smile formed on his face.

“Apologies, Alpha. But my sister is known for her grand entrances.” He finally let go of my hand and spun softly to face where the sound came from.

Slowly, the breeze turned warmer, and my wolf grew more restless. Sweat popped everywhere on my skin and my mouth dried. By the time the white Lamborghini stopped in front of us, I was on the edge of passing out.

“Alpha?” A deep voice called out beside me, and I looked to the side to find my beta and gamma. Kylek wore a concerned expression, his brows furrowed, while Chase wore a smug grin that I wanted to wipe with my fist.

Slowly, the door opened, and the scent of a thousand roses, ripe strawberries, and a waterfall in spring hit me in the face like a whiplash.

My nostrils flared as the scent grew intoxicating, to the point where I couldn’t breathe anything aside from it.

I puffed my chest, holding my breath and waiting.

Someone… No.. I should rather say, something. Something with dazzling silver hair, the most alluring storm grey eyes, and the world’s most caramel skin hopped out of my car.

She flipped her hair to the back of her shoulder, causing the scent to waft at me harder.

My hand flew to my chest and clutched hard, and then something happened!

Our eyes collided, and everything around me came to an utter stop.

My wolf growled low and dangerously, heat traveling to every inch of my body. I felt fur ripping through smooth skin only to ripple and stay there as my human side fought to keep my wolf at bay. The stare seemed to last an eternity, a long, gruesome eternity.

At long last, my wolf settled, and a word fell off my lips. One word that changed my life.

“Mate.”